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posting air bottles

ethanl

Active Member
Sep 14, 2009
149
7
28
I was wondering if any of you could give me a hand. I am trying to buy an air bottle off the forums but apparently royal mail and all other courier services don't allow you to post air bottles anymore.
Anyone got any feedback or suggestions?

Cheers
 

Tom

Tom
Nov 27, 2006
4,082
1,211
198
Salisbury
www.TaskForceDelta.co.uk
No, Royal Mail policy has been changed regarding prohibited items, and they are enforcing it.
Courier services will allow - but check their policy.

As a buyer its not your problem, the seller is responsible for getting the item to you.
Pay through a protected method (e.g. PayPal), don't avoid the fees, have the seller use an appropriate method for delivery with tracking.

If it all goes wrong then you reclaim back from the seller via PayPal, they get their compensation from the courier if it was lost, they lose out if they ignored policy or mis-declared.


Alternately buy new from a paintballer retailer, or at a stall at an event.
A 3000psi aluminium / steel cylinder is finacialy a best buy at around £30-£40
Second hand 4500psi fibre cylinders average out at around £80 irrespective of its depriciated / lifetime value.
E.g. a new fibre cylinder is approx £150, it has 2 tests for its 15 year life - £200 lifetime cost.

The maximum value of a fibre cylinder at anytime is:
£200 / 15 * remaining life less remaining tests.
But then deduct the 'secondhand saving'
Postage is an added expense and affects viability. Its no added value for a buyer and is an expense to a seller

A 4 year old cylinder is worth:
£200 / 15 years = £13.33
£13.33 * 11 years = £146.66
£146.66 - £50 for 2 tests = £96.66

A 6 year old cylinder (tested) is worth
£200 / 15 years = £13.33
£13.33 * 9 years = £120
£120 - £25 for 1 test = £95

A 4-6 year old cylinder has depriciated to around the right point for the £80 second hand value
 

ethanl

Active Member
Sep 14, 2009
149
7
28
Cheers for the insight.
I've found a bottle I want to buy but the seller and I are trying to find a way to get it to me.
 

metalfof

Member
Jul 3, 2011
46
12
18
Croydon
The Dangerous Goods Act 2013 refers to compressed gases,if you have the regulator removed and sent along with the empty bottle,you should be fine.
 

madness

i love formula 5's
Mar 27, 2006
862
132
78
south east london
As I understand it removing the high pressure burst disc and making the bottle open to atmospheric change. Meaning can't become pressurised is a safe way to send a composit bottle through the post and can be declared as such.
 

CraigofScotland

Naked fun time
Oct 4, 2009
992
252
88
Glasgow, Scotland
by removing a burst disk you give it the pressure holding capacity of a sock.

Airports can be picky on this as they want to see inside but technically, the bottles inert.
 

ethanl

Active Member
Sep 14, 2009
149
7
28
So if the burst disk has been removed, royal mail or any courier service for that matter will be more than happy to post the air tank?
 

metalfof

Member
Jul 3, 2011
46
12
18
Croydon
Any large organisation can be an arse when they want to be,find out from one of the paintball retailers how they remit air bottles.
 

PaulBox

Active Member
Oct 8, 2013
107
33
38
54
SW Herts
Buy some shares in Royal Mail, then you can tell your local postie that you are effectively his boss and he should do as he's told... ;)




Then run!
 
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