Misleading claims in adverts and timewasters

[Rogerborg]

PayPal still consider airsoft guns to be prohibited items

They've been back and forth on it a few times, and I'm sure they have purple-haired employees who will potato-screech and ban the face off of anyone flogging so much as a toy cap gun.

However, at the moment, the UK prohibition is on "(j) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories".

They don't mention imitations or replicas, and airsoft guns (under 1.3J / 2.5J) are not firearms (for the purposes of the Firearms Act 1968).

https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/acceptableuse-full

We could ask their CS goons, and it might be interesting to see how many different answers we get.  

I agree with not putting "Real replica imitation firearm shooter gun" on the invoice, but "Jing Gong G36C" or similar is specific without being overt and at least gives you some options.  I'd rather have something on an invoice than no invoice at all.

 

[1967PF44]

They've been back and forth on it a few times, and I'm sure there have purple-haired employees who will potato-screech and ban the face off of anyone flogging so much as a toy cap gun.

However, at the moment, the UK prohibition is on "(j) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories".

They don't mention imitations or replicas, and airsoft guns (under 1.3J / 2.5J) are not firearms (for the purposes of the Firearms Act 1968).

https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/acceptableuse-full

We could ask their CS goons, and it might be interesting to see how many different answers we get.  

I agree with not putting "Real replica imitation firearm shooter gun" on the invoice, but "Jing Gong G36C" or similar is specific without being overt and at least gives you some options.  I'd rather have something on an invoice than no invoice at all.

I actually have a formal response from them that confirms that their definition of firearms is inconsistent with Uk law and includes imitations, including airsoft and interestingly paintball markers.  - but that said I have both won and defended claims involving RIFs where they have seen actually images of the items from the sales adverts or from messenger chat extracts 

 

[Rogerborg]

I actually have a formal response from them that confirms that their definition of firearms is inconsistent with Uk law and includes imitations, including airsoft and interestingly paintball markers.

Secret definitions put them on shaky footing.  Contra proferentem seems to apply here: they drafted this contract, so any ambiguity in it would ultimately be decided against them.

I'm flirting with their chatbot just now, let's see if I get anywhere beyond "Thank you for your query, fellow human..."

UPDATE: Timed out before a response, I broke their simulated brain.  

 

[Rogerborg]

Update again:

It looks like you are referring to our PayPal Acceptable Use Policy. The clause has been very direct because when you think of firearms, it always refers to a rifle, pistol, or other portable gun or any of the sort that involves with anything that is related to this categories.

I hope this information that I provided helps you.

<eye-roll.gif>

I've asked (again) for the actual text used internally by PayPal to decide UK transactions, not for a summary, synopsis, interpretation or opinion.

I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Cannonfodder]

Well that's about as clear as mud

Also with the word portable being part of their definition of a firearm, can I use PayPal to buy a Phalanx CIWS? Afterall they're not exactly portable 

 

[Adolf Hamster]

Also with the word portable being part of their definition of a firearm, can I use PayPal to buy a Phalanx CIWS? Afterall they're not exactly portable 

I mean they are portable, if you have a 65,000 ton ship to do the porting.....

 

[Rogerborg]

Well that's about as clear as mud

I think it's fairly apparent that this answer is from someone who not English as their first language speaks.  Not a criticism, but it's impossible to comply with contractual terms that can't be explained cogently by the people whose job it is to do that.

What I'm not going to do is to ask a leading question about airsoft, since I want to avoid an answer of "Very sorry I am to be informing you that all gun soft airs firearm are prohibit most strictly."

 

[Cannonfodder]

I'll have to see if Pepsi have anything left from that deal they did with the Russians

I mean they are portable, if you have a 65,000 ton ship to do the porting.....

 

[Adolf Hamster]

I'll have to see if Pepsi have anything left from that deal they did with the Russians

I'll take an akula if they have any going spare

 

[Druid799]

I have to find myself disagreeing....lol, its user error, if you actually use the locking lugs with the proper technique they don't break.  Top one in with a downward motion and rotate clockwise to lock lower lug in place, removal is the reverse of fitting. I've never broken one since learning that technique....broke tons before that.. But always get severely frustrated having carefully packed G36 mags I've sold to be told they were damaged in the post.... err Naw, yer an erse and broke them trying to force them together or apart.

In the nicest possible way , bollox they won’t break ! It’s an inevitable fact eventually they will break if only due to the fact there made of plastic and not the ‘proper’ polymer like the real ones(which do crack but very rarely break) .?