1967PF44
Members
- Nov 15, 2020
- 372
- 52
There may have been a few posts before about this, but a few things have changed recently so I thought I’d have a a bit of a moan and justify it at the same time .
Posting Rifles (between 2kg and 20kg) total weight
Many have got away with posting Airsoft guns using a variety of services and couriers - but please be certain they have “got away” with it
The only Uk mail service that will knowingly ship Airsoft guns for private customers who do not have a special terms account is the Royal Mail Group (this includes Parcel Force).
As long as the package is less than 150cm long and under 20kg they will ship. Most RIFs can be shipped for under £10 (cue my first moan ….. sellers charging £15- to as much as £30 I’ve seen today) for postage for a RIF). If you don’t want to post say that in the add, it’s fine, but don’t charge £30 for postage that will cost £9.
Enhanced Compensation
RM groups enhanced comp does not cover Airsoft Guns, BUT it does cover accessories shipped with the RIF, If you want to cover the full cost and pay the high cost of extra insurance, you have to be a bit smart.
list accessories separately and make you you keep separate valuations in the unlikely event of a parcel force loss - get retail valuation on extra mags, optics, foregrips, suppressors etc, it soon all adds up?
however my experience and it is extensive over 200 RIFs now shipped - 3 damaged in transit, no losses, 1 incoming seized by Rm and destroyed, 1 sent seized and destroyed by RM.
DANGEROUS GOODS RULES
Pistols, GBBRS and HPA- are all potentially caught by the DG in transit rules - with RM group what you have to do is properly vent all pressure vessels (gas mags) and either remove or wedge open the release valve. The easiest way to do this is using a small tight roll of cardboard held in place one the release valve button. Never leave a mag in guns, RM claim they won’t examine a gun with a mag fitted and it is automatically destroyed. I always pack mags outside the pistol box. For ease of examination
for pistol packages under 2kg you can use RM 1st class.
COURIERS
all couriers have different “prohibited” items lists, but all of the Uk couriers specify “firearms” in their list of prohibited items. Please don’t try and be clever with couriers and claim that an Airsoft gun is not a Firearm. The fact is it’s not a firearm under Uk law, but it is a firearm under most (if not all) courier small print definition - the6 don’t have to recognise the legal definition and some have now amended their prohibited list to actually make it clear that a firearm includes anything that looks like a firearm.
KIT AND ACCESSORIES
The best postage option just now for all kit and accessories is by far the RM Tracked 24/48 service. Tracked 48 is currently £2.85 booked online and that’s including £100 comp cover and free collection from home - you can’t beat that, and it’s a service that is prioritised during industrial action. Cue next moan…..people charging £5-£10 to post a £30 optic…… or a JPC because it’s bulky….lol
PACKAGING
when posting RIFs please beware there are minimum standards of packaging rules. If you don’t follow them, you lose your right to claim in the event of damage. Use a minimu of a stiff cardboard box, the original retail box should almost always be sufficient but take extra care when retailers use flimsy boxes. Plea to bubble wrap, vinyl foam wrap (like the stuff new tvs are in) even crushed newspaper helps. Take pictures of your packing layers - you will need them in the event of a claim. And always wrap external layer with something waterproof. Bin bags are cheap and good enough. If you ship a lot of stuff, pallet wrap Is the way forward cheap and makes external wrapping piece of cake.
finally - always keep your proof of posting ! Without it you have no claim.
Happy to answer any questions, there is not much I haven’t come across in terms of shipping problems, claims, losses, dangerous goods seizures.
long post I know, but it’s important stuff to know - and looking at adverts clearly many have no idea (or they are at it…lol)
happy new year 2023
Paul
Posting Rifles (between 2kg and 20kg) total weight
Many have got away with posting Airsoft guns using a variety of services and couriers - but please be certain they have “got away” with it
The only Uk mail service that will knowingly ship Airsoft guns for private customers who do not have a special terms account is the Royal Mail Group (this includes Parcel Force).
As long as the package is less than 150cm long and under 20kg they will ship. Most RIFs can be shipped for under £10 (cue my first moan ….. sellers charging £15- to as much as £30 I’ve seen today) for postage for a RIF). If you don’t want to post say that in the add, it’s fine, but don’t charge £30 for postage that will cost £9.
Enhanced Compensation
RM groups enhanced comp does not cover Airsoft Guns, BUT it does cover accessories shipped with the RIF, If you want to cover the full cost and pay the high cost of extra insurance, you have to be a bit smart.
list accessories separately and make you you keep separate valuations in the unlikely event of a parcel force loss - get retail valuation on extra mags, optics, foregrips, suppressors etc, it soon all adds up?
however my experience and it is extensive over 200 RIFs now shipped - 3 damaged in transit, no losses, 1 incoming seized by Rm and destroyed, 1 sent seized and destroyed by RM.
DANGEROUS GOODS RULES
Pistols, GBBRS and HPA- are all potentially caught by the DG in transit rules - with RM group what you have to do is properly vent all pressure vessels (gas mags) and either remove or wedge open the release valve. The easiest way to do this is using a small tight roll of cardboard held in place one the release valve button. Never leave a mag in guns, RM claim they won’t examine a gun with a mag fitted and it is automatically destroyed. I always pack mags outside the pistol box. For ease of examination
for pistol packages under 2kg you can use RM 1st class.
COURIERS
all couriers have different “prohibited” items lists, but all of the Uk couriers specify “firearms” in their list of prohibited items. Please don’t try and be clever with couriers and claim that an Airsoft gun is not a Firearm. The fact is it’s not a firearm under Uk law, but it is a firearm under most (if not all) courier small print definition - the6 don’t have to recognise the legal definition and some have now amended their prohibited list to actually make it clear that a firearm includes anything that looks like a firearm.
KIT AND ACCESSORIES
The best postage option just now for all kit and accessories is by far the RM Tracked 24/48 service. Tracked 48 is currently £2.85 booked online and that’s including £100 comp cover and free collection from home - you can’t beat that, and it’s a service that is prioritised during industrial action. Cue next moan…..people charging £5-£10 to post a £30 optic…… or a JPC because it’s bulky….lol
PACKAGING
when posting RIFs please beware there are minimum standards of packaging rules. If you don’t follow them, you lose your right to claim in the event of damage. Use a minimu of a stiff cardboard box, the original retail box should almost always be sufficient but take extra care when retailers use flimsy boxes. Plea to bubble wrap, vinyl foam wrap (like the stuff new tvs are in) even crushed newspaper helps. Take pictures of your packing layers - you will need them in the event of a claim. And always wrap external layer with something waterproof. Bin bags are cheap and good enough. If you ship a lot of stuff, pallet wrap Is the way forward cheap and makes external wrapping piece of cake.
finally - always keep your proof of posting ! Without it you have no claim.
Happy to answer any questions, there is not much I haven’t come across in terms of shipping problems, claims, losses, dangerous goods seizures.
long post I know, but it’s important stuff to know - and looking at adverts clearly many have no idea (or they are at it…lol)
happy new year 2023
Paul
Last edited by a moderator:
