BEWARE- sending GBB guns by post

[straffham]

Just a heads up folks, don't mean to be alarmist but beware that most, if not all Parcel carriers &couriers (including Parcelforce/RM, MyHermes, DPD etc) prohibit sending anything containing gas cylinders. This includes ANY GAS OPERATED airsoft guns (or that are DESIGNED to use self contained gas cylinders- magazines are classed as gas cylinders), CO2 bulbs, gas canisters etc. If discovered there is a good chance your parcel will be destroyed and you will not be compensated. I have today had an email from parcelforce confirming that even if gas inlet valves are removed it is still regarded as a gas cylinder and would be treated as dangerous goods. Obviously this is only relevent if your parcel is discovered EG x-ray scanned, such as at ports/airports (I was enquiring about sending a gas pistol to N.Ireland) but doesn't rule it out in Mainland UK either. So if you post a gas gun in a private sale deal please be aware it is a lottery as to whether it will reach its destination, regardless of whether sent as a special, signed, tracked or insured package.

Business users ie retailers have their own agreements in place to get around this.

I'm sure this thread will be filled with "but my gun arrived fine" replies and thats great. It is purely to warn that you are entering a lottery. One guy on another forum had his 1911 GBB destroyed with no compensation and is currently seeking recompence, not a situation anyone wants to be in but it shows it can happen.

Note this only relates to gas guns; AEGs and Spring powered guns are fine with Parcelforce at least, but not all carriers (batteries are another dodgy minefield area however, best not to send them, especially with a gun).

I am really annoyed at this situation but there it is. This is not an exhaustive list and senders are advised to CHECK that what you are sending is ok with the carrier as the onus is on you, not them.

 

[n1ckh]

Royal mail won't carry, lipos, spray paint and other such things either

Anything designated as dangerous or explosive

 

[Fatknees]

Just a heads up folks, don't mean to be alarmist but beware that most, if not all Parcel carriers &couriers (including Parcelforce/RM, MyHermes, DPD etc) prohibit sending anything containing gas cylinders. This includes ANY GAS OPERATED airsoft guns (or that are DESIGNED to use self contained gas cylinders- magazines are classed as gas cylinders), CO2 bulbs, gas canisters etc. If discovered there is a good chance your parcel will be destroyed and you will not be compensated. I have today had an email from parcelforce confirming that even if gas inlet valves are removed it is still regarded as a gas cylinder and would be treated as dangerous goods. Obviously this is only relevent if your parcel is discovered EG x-ray scanned, such as at ports/airports (I was enquiring about sending a gas pistol to N.Ireland) but doesn't rule it out in Mainland UK either. So if you post a gas gun in a private sale deal please be aware it is a lottery as to whether it will reach its destination, regardless of whether sent as a special, signed, tracked or insured package.

Business users ie retailers have their own agreements in place to get around this.

I'm sure this thread will be filled with "but my gun arrived fine" replies and thats great. It is purely to warn that you are entering a lottery. One guy on another forum had his 1911 GBB destroyed with no compensation and is currently seeking recompence, not a situation anyone wants to be in but it shows it can happen.

Note this only relates to gas guns; AEGs and Spring powered guns are fine with Parcelforce at least, but not all carriers (batteries are another dodgy minefield area however, best not to send them, especially with a gun).

I am really annoyed at this situation but there it is. This is not an exhaustive list and senders are advised to CHECK that what you are sending is ok with the carrier as the onus is on you, not them.

Thanks for the heads up

 

[GingerBreadMan]

What do retailers do then?

 

[clumpyedge]

This was taken from a Facebook group so may help here..... the guy in question that asked the original question to royal mail runs a reputable company up north.

With a recent reply from Royal Mail, there has been some measure of success when it comes to knowing who to post your RIFs with.

Here's the reply I received last week:

------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dear Mr Liggat

Thank you for contacting Royal Mail,

There are no restrictions on insurance sending airsoft guns through Royal Mail. Although we do have specific packaging guidelines .Please find below:
Guns for sporting use

(Guns intended for sporting purposes - including Section 1 and Section 2 firearms, low-powered air weapons and their component parts - may be sent in compliance with UK law subject to any applicable controls on the possession or export of firearms)

UK destinations: Yes

International destinations: Yes

Follow these packaging guidelines: Use 1st Class as the minimum service. The sender’s name and address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.

All items are subject to screening and a delay may be incurred if an item is deemed as suspect and sent for further checking. In order to work with Royal Mail to find any such items compliant, the non-pressurised cylinder should not be attached to the gun so we can clearly see the item is compliant. This is only relevant to guns that are acceptable in our network according to our ‘Guns for Sporting Use’ guidelines.

Canisters must not be attached or contained in gun."

------------------------------------------------------------------

So basically:

-1st class or greater
-Senders info must be clearly visible
-No pressurised containers and gas mags must be empty of gas
-All magazines must be out of the gun
-Insurance IS valid
-Maximum size = Medium Parcel (see below)

The only restriction not mentioned in the reply is that the parcel must not exceed the 'Medium' sizing restrictions or it will go with Parcel Force and essentially not be insured.

To be sent through the RM, the parcel must not exceed 20Kg with maximum dimensions of 610mm x 460mm x 460mm.

This may mean that you have to disassemble the RIF and send it in a box other than the one it came with.
I'm sure it's obvious that this is preferable to sending it with no insurance.

It's also worth noting that you DO NOT specifically need to tell them it's a RIF (but do not lie if they ask). There's no label etc that they need to put on the box.
They usually will ask you what's inside so if it's your first time sending something, it can be helpful to take along their prohibited items list so you can show them it's definitely allowed

Hopefully this clears things up

 

[Chock]

What do retailers do then?

Private courier firms, some of which make their money by virtue of the fact that they will carry stuff like that. dodgy retailers might simply cross their fingers and hope it goes unnoticed. Sometimes it does mean that things have to travel surface only, for example, I've had some types of specialist paint delivered to me in the past from elsewhere in the UK, and the packaging has carried labelling which expressly points out that the package is not to be loaded on board an aircraft.

 

[Richie Boyle]

what about online purchases which may or may not be retailers? Ebay, amazon etc. I am planning on buying CO2 capsules in bulk from ebay soon

 

[Lozart]

Business users ie retailers have their own agreements in place to get around this.

It's like people don't actually read the post they are replying to.....

 

[straffham]

This was taken from a Facebook group so may help here..... the guy in question that asked the original question to royal mail runs a reputable company up north.

/qoute]

Yes thats just it, companies have lucrative contracts so can pretty much send what they like, a company with say a Parcelforce contract and whose address is on the package pretty much guarantee they won't be seen as suspicious, unlike a private name and address

also leaflets of carriage conditions are not exhaustive. And then wording in even full terms and conditions can be open to interpretation, basically if you were unlucky enough to have a gun seized you'd need to be, or afford, a lawyer to have any chance of compensation.