Royal Mail & Airguns (New As Of August 2013)

[Phantom 631]

I'm sure that you all know of the changes that Royal Mail tried to implement last year/early this year? IE the banning of carriage of airguns and their component parts?

This would have fecked us all up the rectum if they had gotten away with it!

 

Thanks to BASC and others (a huge amount of airgunners registered their protests with the Royal Mail).

 

I run (along with a few dedicated members) the first and THE most sucessful International Air Pistol Forum on the internet (you may of heard of the Umarex Boys Club in the UK Airgun Magazines?)

 

Over the last few weeks we have become aware that the Royal Mail have been holding "deliveries" of Air and Co2 Powered Pistols (even those sent RM Special Delivery 24hour) for over a week, sometimes two, and then either destroying those pistols (Totally Illegal) or returning them back to the sender, OR sending them to the Mail Sorting Office in Northern Ireland, where they jiust happen to get '"LOST" never to be heard of again!

Some of these 'Dissapeared' Pistols are worth a serious amount of money Hundreds of Pounds Stirling!

 

I am wondering if the same is happening with Air and Co2 powered Rifles?

 

I have already informed BASC of what seems to be a "Back Door Implemetation" of their rejected proposals!
And a good friend of mine; a fellow Admin on the UBC Forum And Specialist Pistol RFD has also been so kind as to offer his help (free of charge) to the Royal Mail in a simple identification process to aid their (Prohibited Items Team) in identifying Perfectly Legal Air Pistols and their Section Five counterparts!

The Royal Mail has REFUSED his help

 

I would like anyone who has sent either a legal limit Air Rifle (or co2 Powered Rifle) that has experianced problems with sending or receiving such guns with the Royal Mail to report it on this thread so I can pass on the information to my contact at BASC.

 

All the best

 

Tony

 

 

 

[slave 33]

A Bbs member has had his Fx verminator seized by Rm

copied from Bbs

 

I sent a fx verminator to Scotland on Tuesday in its original case bubble wrapped and in cardboard box..by rmsd £25 with compensation of £500 as its inside their package requirments...
it was stopped at stanstead airport as a suspicious package and was told on Wednesday when I rang royal mail it would be going by road.
ive checked the tracking n0 again today and it says its on its way progressing through their system..so ive rang them today aswell to be told as it was a suspect package its now on its way to Belfast to be opened and if its a prohibited item it will be destroyed and no chance of compensation..i have gone through royal mail's prohibited items and it states they do take low powered air rifles posted by rmsd ?

 

http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?336904-Royal-Mail-MUST-carry-airguns/page9 this is on the sales thread so you will need to log in to view it

[Phantom 631]

Cheers Slave,

 

That's the first Rifle I've heard of.

A friend of mine down Cornwall way was told by his local Post Office that all air-weapons must go by Parcel Force 48hour only a day or two back.

Parcel Force have no legal obligation to carry guns of any description what so ever! Where as the Royal Mail DO have a Legal Obligation.

It's strange how all this lot is happening now only a short while after they had planned on banning all carriage of guns and component parts.

Most people are beginning to share/come to the conclusion that the Royal Mail are "Actively" making the transport of such items "Problematic" for the sellers and buyers in the hope that the poster will chose a different courier!

 

All data received will be collated and sent to BASC and other Organizations that helped in the defeat of the RM's last batch of discriminatory proposals.

 

Tony

[Phantom 631]

Further to a member in Cornwall being told a load of Bull Pucky from counter staff, another member has finally had a response from the RM about his complaint to them

 

 

I have had a reply back from Royal Mail, below is an edited version - xxxxx names have been removed to protect the innocent parties :wink:

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

Dear Mr xxxxx,

Thank you for your email.

I was sorry to learn that an item of your mail took longer than expected to be delivered. I fully appreciate the importance of delivering all mail on time and I would therefore like to offer you my apologies for any problems this may have caused you.

Having checked our list of Prohibited/Restricted items I can confirm the following for Weapons:

Weapons

Including Section 5 firearms (e.g. handguns, machine guns), CS gas and pepper sprays, flick knives, tasers and stun guns. Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays.

Guns for sporting use, including Section 1 (e.g. hunting rifles), Section 2 (e.g. shotguns) firearms and low-powered air weapons may be sent in compliance with UK law and subject to domestic controls on the possession of firearms. Please see http://www.royalmail.com/restrictedgoods

I would like to draw your attention to the sentence 'Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays'

I am therefore not in a position to confirm that these air guns will not be subject to additional scrutiny.

Thank you for contacting me about this matter and I am sorry that I could not send you a more favourable reply. Please accept my apologies once again, and if I can be of any more help, please get back in touch.

Regards

xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx
Customer Service Advisor

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

It is interesting to see that on the "restricted goods" page Royal Mail clearly say that low powered air guns can be sent 1st Class as the minimum service, with the sender’s name and address clearly visible on the outer packaging.
Personally, I always send guns via special delivery, insured against loss.

The reply is helpfully in that I now have the "restricted goods" page printed out and it will be “in-hand” next time I dispatch a pistol, just in case.

With a mind to safeguarding a pistol in transit, should it get stopped, it would seem that some extra actions may be wise, like including information detailing the guns low power and confirming its legality, as has already been mentioned.

 

Tony

 

 

[slave 33]

Hi Tony here's another Rm gun seizure

coppied from the consumer action group forum

 

Me V's Royal Mail (advice needed! I have had an ongoing problem with Royal Mail now for over 1 year, which has led me through all of their complaints procedures, then onto POSTR's and finally small claims. I made a small claim application against Royal Mail in April and have just received a copy of their 'defense' through the post. I'll attempt to summarize a VERY long story below.

In April of last year I posted a parcel to Belguim via RM's International signed for service and took out extra insurance up to the value of £500.00. The parcel never arrived.

The parcel was a toy/replica pistol and even though it was marked as a replica and boxed inside the original packaging the parcel was confiscated at the airport and sent for 'testing' to the N.I police service via RM's depot. When I was eventually informed of this (some months later) I called N.I Police who confirmed that the parcel was never handed over to them (they record all items received from Royal Mail for testing and give them a reference number).

I made a claim for compensation but was refused. At first RM argued that the item was a 'weapon' and was on their list of 'prohibited goods'. I successfully argued that this was not the case, and so RM changed its argument and told me that it had a right to refuse any item that they considered might be harmful or dangerous to their customers or employee's. I commented that the item had been sent for testing but had been lost before it could be ascertained whether it was dangerous or harmless, however this point is never acknowledged.

POSTr's response basically said that it could not respond to allegations of theft as it did not fall within the scope of the scheme?! I hadn't accused RM of stealing the parcel , just losing it!! It also said that although it accepted the parcel was not a banned item it observed that RM had the right to refuse any item that it felt was a danger to it's staff or the public. They offered me £10 compensation for my trouble.

I filled in a small claims application in April and received their defense last week (summary below).

1. The defendant reserves the right to refuse and item that in its opinion may be harmful or dangerous. Liability for such items is not accepted.

2. No contract was entered into between parties for the delivery of the parcel (they mention Harold Stephen & Co V's RM 1978 as reference)

3. The defendant has immunity to a claim in tort in respect of the transmission or delivery of post.

4. The defendant may only be liable to pay compensation to the claimant if the conditions of a scheme known as the overseas letter post scheme are satisfied.

5. The defendant is not liable for consequential loss

6. The claimant has not particularised the sum being claimed ( the small claims application form didn't allow a breakdown of the sum being claimed other than 'court fees'??)

Basically I'm not sure whether or not to continue with the claim. It appears from reading this forum and others that RM can do whatever it likes and is immune from the usual laws and responsibilities.

Any and all advice welcome.

heres the link http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?392591-Me-V-s-Royal-Mail-(advice-needed!)

Edited August 21, 2013 by slave

[marticus 9]

Just read the above. I may be being cynical, but I reckon there's 'other forces' at work here. It's no coincidence that the Scottish government have been trying to ban airguns altogether,

We had riots a couple of years ago, and I reckon the politicians are doing such a crap job of running the country, they're worried about an eventual backlash, and don't want the masses to have any chance of fighting back.

jmo, but as most of US know, the real criminals use illegally held firearms, and the authorities don't know where to find most of them.

But as they wreck our country, they also misjudge it's people, both sides of the political divide, they aren't to be trusted, and they don't trust us!

[Phantom 631]

Cheers Slave,

Again Noted and posted to those whom need to know

 

Tony

[slave 33]

Hi Tony Rm have seized a co2 pistol

coppied from Bbs

parcelforce 48 is now the approved way to send i sent a co2 pistol (no co2 or pellets where included)by next day del with royal mail over 1 month ago they seized it and have it on hold saying it is a suspicious item and may be disposed of i have spent hours on the phone to them and have got noware/ there are others in the same situation as well/ i have been told by them i should have sent it p48! although they will accept air pistols and airguns they may well hold it and treat it the same way so beware

here's the link

http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?673189-Posting-an-Air-Rifle

Edited August 26, 2013 by slave

[Phantom 631]

Yeah, I'm aware of that one bud

 

Tony

[ghillies 209]

I'm sure that you all know of the changes that Royal Mail tried to implement last year/early this year? IE the banning of carriage of airguns and their component parts?

This would have fecked us all up the rectum if they had gotten away with it!

 

Thanks to BASC and others (a huge amount of airgunners registered their protests with the Royal Mail).

 

I run (along with a few dedicated members) the first and THE most sucessful International Air Pistol Forum on the internet (you may of heard of the Umarex Boys Club in the UK Airgun Magazines?)

 

Over the last few weeks we have become aware that the Royal Mail have been holding "deliveries" of Air and Co2 Powered Pistols (even those sent RM Special Delivery 24hour) for over a week, sometimes two, and then either destroying those pistols (Totally Illegal) or returning them back to the sender, OR sending them to the Mail Sorting Office in Northern Ireland, where they jiust happen to get '"LOST" never to be heard of again!

Some of these 'Dissapeared' Pistols are worth a serious amount of money Hundreds of Pounds Stirling!

 

I am wondering if the same is happening with Air and Co2 powered Rifles?

 

I have already informed BASC of what seems to be a "Back Door Implemetation" of their rejected proposals!

And a good friend of mine; a fellow Admin on the UBC Forum And Specialist Pistol RFD has also been so kind as to offer his help (free of charge) to the Royal Mail in a simple identification process to aid their (Prohibited Items Team) in identifying Perfectly Legal Air Pistols and their Section Five counterparts!

The Royal Mail has REFUSED his help

 

I would like anyone who has sent either a legal limit Air Rifle (or co2 Powered Rifle) that has experianced problems with sending or receiving such guns with the Royal Mail to report it on this thread so I can pass on the information to my contact at BASC.

 

All the best

 

Tony

 

 

 

sort of prooves the slightly addled (spoilt brat) appraoch doesnt it....any one who's had kids, had freinds or family...neighbours etc, all dem kids say things like no! no! dont want here it etc....

[slave 33]

Hi Tony Rm have seized and destroyed a co2 pistol

coppied from Bbs

 

royal mail have disposed of my co2 pistol for me thanks for nothing royal mail

posted a smith and wesson co2 pistol next day del in july was held held by royal mail as a suspicious item been told today its sent to belfast police for disposal due to its nature/ it was posted to an address in england was sent to various centres for examination and is now being disopsed off? sweet fa i can do it was insured for £500 and cannot claim compensation either royal mail are robbers ill never use em ever again for anything, spent over £

on postage alone this week with a courier thats half of what royal mail would have charged me/ whos the loser now then pack was sent without co2 or pellets just the pistol with x1 mag be careful and be prepared to take a loss

heres the link http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?676486-royal-mail-have-disposed-of-my-co2-pistol-for-me-thanks-for-nothing-royal-mail

Edited September 19, 2013 by slave

[blackscale 9]

How the Fek are they getting away with this?????

Surely they have to prove that the 'item' is illegal....and if it is a firearm, should they not be handing it to the police so you can be arrested for being the dangerous criminal you are..... ...please explain how they can commit a criminal act and get away with it!!?

Surely if they say 'this isa firearm' then they have to produce paperwork to prove it....god they piss me off so much!!

[Phantom 631]

 

Hi Tony Rm have seized and destroyed a co2 pistol

coppied from Bbs

 

royal mail have disposed of my co2 pistol for me thanks for nothing royal mail

posted a smith and wesson co2 pistol next day del in july was held held by royal mail as a suspicious item been told today its sent to belfast police for disposal due to its nature/ it was posted to an address in england was sent to various centres for examination and is now being disopsed off? sweet fa i can do it was insured for £500 and cannot claim compensation either royal mail are robbers ill never use em ever again for anything, spent over £

on postage alone this week with a courier thats half of what royal mail would have charged me/ whos the loser now then pack was sent without co2 or pellets just the pistol with x1 mag be careful and be prepared to take a loss

heres the link

http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?676486-royal-mail-have-disposed-of-my-co2-pistol-for-me-thanks-for-nothing-royal-mail

 

I already know of this one, it's one of the reasons I put this thread up.

 

 

How the Fek are they getting away with this?????

Surely they have to prove that the 'item' is illegal....and if it is a firearm, should they not be handing it to the police so you can be arrested for being the dangerous criminal you are..... ...please explain how they can commit a criminal act and get away with it!!?

Surely if they say 'this isa firearm' then they have to produce paperwork to prove it....god they piss me off so much!!

Unfortunately not and I've no idea how the feck they are getting away with it.

I had a Dan Wesson Revolver sent to me last year, it was sent RM SD.

It took days to get it to me after it was sent and opened for the Police to verify it was 'Just' an air pistol. There was no CO2 enclosed, but they decided it was "Prohibited" from flying.!

I was lucky, I received it The way they are going now is getting beyond a joke and what is worse is that they apparently don't need to justify their illegal actions.

 

Tony

[j j m 6,536]

Totally shocking

[secretagentmole 1,701]

They have just shipped someones R10 which was being returned by XTX Air off to Belfast....

 

http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?684085-BSA-R10-Mk2-sent-to-Belfast

Edited November 16, 2013 by secretagentmole