DHL: beware!

[my_plague_666]

be careful when sending airsoft guns via DHL, today i got a phonecall from them saying that my VFC AKS74un cannot be shipped as it is an 'air-gun' and a dangerous item and that i would have to collect it in person.

 

has anyone had any similar problems and have you found any easier solutions?

[NeoVeNoM]

See if you can get it shipped with UPS.

[my_plague_666]

bit late now since DHL have it and refuse to send it to me or back to the sender

 

i guess this means an unscheduled trip up to ipswitch *albartroth* barns!

[Stealthbomber]

be careful when sending airsoft guns via DHL, today i got a phonecall from them saying that my VFC AKS74un cannot be shipped as it is an 'air-gun' and a dangerous item and that i would have to collect it in person.

 

has anyone had any similar problems and have you found any easier solutions?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd say the easiest solution is to phone them up and tell them it ISN'T an air gun.

 

You can make yourself appear smarter by telling them that you're fully aware that, in accordance with the VCRA, they're not allowed to ship air weapons any more but your gun is a low powered toy replica.

 

Ask them where they got the idea it's an air weapon and tell them you can email them something stating it's not if it'll help.

[my_plague_666]

ive tried something very similar, though i may try again specifying about the VCRB.

 

last time they refused to budge though saying that the secruity department or whatever are classing it as a dangerous item. i suppose it might be an idea to ask if i can speak directly to the security department if possible so that i can directly bring these points up with them.

 

as i say, i may try one last time and if i still fail i suppose i'll have little choice but to arange a pickup date or it will be destroyed after 1 week.

[M0ldyM!LK]

Have it disassembled and declared "Machine Parts".

[TW17CHY]

Have it disassembled and declared "Machine Parts".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

A machine with a magazine and trigger

 

But I've never had problems with DHL. They shipped my TM Desert Eagle fine..

[Sherlock]

Never had a problem with them. They've even phoned and asked for velocity declarations. Unlucky. Perhaps you need to clarrify that it is not an air rifle.

[M0ldyM!LK]

A machine with a magazine and trigger 

 

But I've never had problems with DHL. They shipped my TM Desert Eagle fine..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm being serious. I ship firearm parts that way; it IS legal to ship them, but I've found that mail employees aren't exactly the most honest -- They like to steal things. If I declare it a firearm, I have to worry about the bliss-ninnys behind the counter freaking out and calling supervisors, etc., then the possibility of another employee seeing a package declared as a "firearm" and thinking he should have a gun, or parts of one.

 

So I declare it machine parts, no one asks questions, no hippies freak out, and most people aren't interested in the contents of the package anymore.

[TW17CHY]

I gotta try that out then...if I ever go back to Asia, I'll see what I can pick up and...disassemble

 

EDIT: Do they ever ask you what the machine is?

[Benson]

I've never had problems with DHL in the past. I've used them a lot before in purchases from overseas, and have been consistently satisfied. However, I was planning on using them again when I bought my VFC HK416 from UNco, but UNco switched the courier to TNT express and said that my gun would have a higher chance of getting seized if it was sent through DHL. Perhaps they recently started cracking down on potentially dangerous/illegal shipments?

[Staceh]

11. Items not carried

The Company shall not be required or caused to carry or convey anything if such carriage or conveyance would be unlawful. The Company will not, without its specific agreement, carry livestock, liquids, perishable goods, glass, gases, pyrotechnics, arms and ammunition or corrosive, toxic, flammable, explosive oxidising, or radioactive materials. The Company reserves the right to refuse any parcels which are neither the property of, nor sent on behalf of, the Customer.

 

- Domestic, straight from their Conditions

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

 

2. Unacceptable Shipments

Shipper agrees that its Shipment is acceptable for transportation and is deemed unacceptable if:

 

it is classified as hazardous material, dangerous goods, prohibited or restricted articles by IATA (International Air Transport Association), ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), any applicable government department or other relevant organisation;

no customs declaration is made when required by applicable customs regulations; or

DHL decides it cannot transport an item safely or legally (such items include but are not limited to: animals, bullion, currency, bearer form negotiable instruments, precious metals and stones, firearms, parts thereof and ammunition, human remains, pornography and illegal narcotics/drugs).

 

- International.

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

 

I'm a manager for a leading UK Courier, we can carry airguns and airsoft guns with no issues, hell if its domestic we can carry shotguns and small bore rifles, along with ammunition.

Personally I'd call them and ask where in their T&C it states they cannot carry replica weapons, because I've just checked and its not in there.

 

Oh and if they refuse to attempt delivery they are in breach of their T&C, they accepted the goods knowing what the customer was sending.

 

PM Me if you need a hand mate.

[junior]

The last time my order was shipped by UnCo they used TNT Express. 3 weeks later, TNT phoned and told me my package was "unofficially" lost and I had to contact the shipper to resend...

 

I don't know which one is worse...

[my_plague_666]

Never had a problem with them. They've even phoned and asked for velocity declarations. Unlucky. Perhaps you need to clarrify that it is not an air rifle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

ive tried twice to tell them it's a low velocity toy and was told the first time (in a very know-it-all manner) "well thats CERTAINly not a toy", and the second that "in our eyes it's a dangerous weapon nonetheless.

 

i guess i'll just have to pick ip up in person.

[my_plague_666]

I'm  a manager for a leading UK Courier, we can carry airguns and airsoft guns with no issues, hell if its domestic we can carry shotguns and small bore rifles, along with ammunition.

Personally I'd call them and ask where in their T&C it states they cannot carry replica weapons, because I've just checked and its not in there.

 

Oh and if they refuse to attempt delivery they are in breach of their T&C, they accepted the goods knowing what the customer was sending.

 

PM Me if you need a hand mate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

thank you SO much mate, you've inspired me to take up the fight again. perhaps the strongest argument yet as its on paper.

 

cheers again, i'll chase them up again tomorrow and with any luck that'll stump them.

[M0ldyM!LK]

I gotta try that out then...if I ever go back to Asia, I'll see what I can pick up and...disassemble 

 

EDIT: Do they ever ask you what the machine is? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Not usually. I'm not sure how well it would go over for international shipments; I've never tried it.

 

 

And for what its worth, nor do I intend to. Import laws are funny, and packages are physically checked by customs. Someone might think you're smuggling arms into the country

[Staceh]

No problem, the other thing to ask is - what the hell were they doing opening the package, assuming its coming covered of course.

 

No courier anywhere is within their rights to open your goods, customs can and will, but the actual delivery depot take the parcel from A to B, thats it, we have to trust the senders not to put anything in there that contravenes our T&C.

 

Dont forget in the box there will be paperwork stating its a toy gun, not a real firearm, not to mention a packet of BB's!

 

Ask to escalate the situation, also contact the sender and get them to start chasing as well, and as a general rule when dealing with anything like this, always take the name of the person on the phone, customer services people hate being held accountable for anything - ever!

 

I hate couriers doing this, it gives the already hated 'white van man' a really bad name, I'm quite tempted to drive to Ipswich and stick a few choice words into them if you end up collecting it (you shouldn't).

 

As i said, pm or msn me if you've got issues mate, I'll happily discuss where you can go from there, same for anyone having courier issues, i know alllll of the tricks

[Staceh]

Any luck?

[Turnip123]

Oh ######, I just had a gun shipped to me via DHL -____-

[my_plague_666]

read the 'guns siezed by police' thread

 

the cretins called the ipswich weapons devision who seized ALL of my gear (in the package and my house), luckily (as stated in the thread) once out of DHL's hands it was very quickly resolved by the police and everything is back with me (except the package which i still have to pick up)

 

edit: that post was directed to staceh

[malcr001]

DHL = Bad, Parcelforce never seem to bother me