Advice needed on shipping a marker component from the US.

[BigKris]

Ello.

I'm in touch with someone who's got an Automag trigger frame for sale in the states and he's a bit twitchy about sending the part over as he had problems sending something before.
Check this out :

He sent some parts over before marked as "FIREARMS ACCESSORIES"eek: oh.my.word) suprise suprise UK customs got a little anxious about the parcel.

Has anyone got some advice apart from the obvious dont put "things to do with FIREARMS" on the customs dec labelling mistake ,about how to go about sending the trigger frame from the states,such as what to put on the declaration form stateside etc? Someone must've imported form the US before?

any help will be graciously received.
Chris

 

[BigKris]

P.s. i have already used the search function.

 

[Lucky]

I've seen on several of the forums where people have been bleating on about it being difficult to send to the UK?
I got a lad to send me an E2 solenoid and it arrived in a couple of days at a cost of about $5, without any hassle at all.
I'm sure that they are just stupid americans, and ticking the low value "gift" box often helps.
Declare a gun in a box and it will get stopped, declare "sporting goods" and your chances increase ten fold without lying

 

[BigKris]

Thanks for that.Much appreciated for the advice.

 

[Rider]

agreed. make sure stuff is labelled as sports equipment, or as sports accessory. both are 100% true and should have no bother at all.

just ensure the words "gun" and "trigger" are avoided.

 

[Mactoshdog]

hi,
tell him to mark the parcle as a trade sample.

i bought a barrle from the usa, and it was marked as that, i think it was only 2$ for the customs

 

[Tom]

Have it labelled as paintball parts and that will be fine.

There is no problem with importing paintball gear other than anything that could fall foul of replica firearms. These can be imported if you can pass the firearms declaration process. (e.g. Registered airsofters, re-enactment societies etc)

Marking something as 'gift' or 'trade sample' is a well known trick for avoiding import duty. These do get through, but increase the chance of customs paying attention.

If something is marked gift but is from a commercial address it increases the chance of customs attention, and if they open the box to find your invoice it gives the game away The use of 'gift' increases the value you are allowed before incurring import duty.

'Trade sample' attracts attention in the opposite manner. If its to a private address it gets attention and if the invoice inside shows the price you paid that blows the sample clause.

Without making any of those declarations the worst you will be charged are the VAT 15% as import duty, plus Parcel Force or Royal Mail will put on a fee for paying your duty. (I have a delivery at Parcel Force with £8 VAT & £12 Parcel Force fee)

It's your choice whether you ask the sender to put a declaration on he package. But if customs open it you are held liable for the false declaration.

 

[cwkotw]

plus Parcel Force or Royal Mail will put on a fee for paying your duty. (I have a delivery at Parcel Force with £8 VAT & £12 Parcel Force fee)

i've just found that out but do they have the authority to do that as i haven't asked them to pay the duty. i'd be happy to collect it for my self

 

[s1im]

going back on a couple of posts, do not mark it as a gift, these are one of the 1st things that customs will look at! if you give the commodity code for toy or toy misalanious (internet will help here!) and put a value up to £32 it should get through fine. but remember buy buying from the states you are not getting a good exchange rate and you are helping in the demise of local p8ntball stores!

 

[s1im]

rm parsel force will charge that and send a red letter through, you have to pay that before you can get your hands on it or they will keep it as they have paid the customs charge for you. I had a 32p charge plus £12 because they paid it!!