Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jan 28, 2015 16:16:30 GMT -5
Hello,
So, I have a G&G Kar98 coming in from Canada, and the seller sent it off back on Jan 5th. Seller said it will take a bit, only natural, but its over 3 weeks and both of us are getting kind of worried about it.
Thoughts? Anyone else had airsoft guns shipped from Canada before and can share their experiences?
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Post by brownien on Jan 28, 2015 18:52:49 GMT -5
Did it have an orange tip attached?
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 29, 2015 13:37:21 GMT -5
Indeed my experience wity private sales both into and out of Canada have been consistantly problematic to the point where I now refuse to do any transactions with Canada whatsoever.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jan 29, 2015 16:25:32 GMT -5
Can you please expand on the problems on orders from out of Canada?
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Post by brownien on Jan 29, 2015 18:07:29 GMT -5
All I know about US importation of airsoft guns, is that they have to have the permanently fix orange tip. Not sure what else would slow it up
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Post by shiftsup on Jan 30, 2015 8:31:38 GMT -5
Which Canadian retailer did you have the transaction with?
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jan 30, 2015 9:14:53 GMT -5
It wasn't with a dealer, it was a private sale
So, in case of no orange tip, any one have an idea of what would happen to an airsoft gun? Would it get sent back, would either Canada or US Customs fix it?
I know that if you order airsoft from Asia, if its something that has trademarks, US will sloppily epoxy over the trademarks. I wonder if they would do the same in terms of no orange tip.
I hate to say it, since the guy has been straight with me, but worse comes to worst, I paid through paypal, so I should be able to get my money back.
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Post by shiftsup on Jan 30, 2015 9:50:42 GMT -5
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jan 30, 2015 10:13:44 GMT -5
It does, but I'll be fine if it gets sent back to the guy and he just has to paint an orange tip on it and try again. As long as it wasn't straight up confiscated, I'm fine. Thats what I'm trying to figure out.
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Post by shiftsup on Jan 30, 2015 10:36:58 GMT -5
If it gets seized by US CBP you'll be notified with a letter. Very unlikely that the item will be returned to the seller if there isn't a third party broker involved (UPS, FedEx)
January 5 wasn't that long ago really. Sometimes Canada to USA and USA to Canada parcel service runs at a glacier like pace depending on distance. I have waited as long as 7 weeks for ebay items to be delivered from the USA.
Has the seller informed you if the package has left Canada?
That info is easily found via tracking # on the Canada Post website.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 30, 2015 14:34:26 GMT -5
If US Customs inspects a shipment from a private party or retailer and that inspector is inclined to be stickler for regulations (some are mre dilligent than others ) The entire shipment will be seized and DESTROYED! non compliance could include a lack of orange tip or the presence of proprietary trademarks. (Colt, Remingtonetc.). The wiping out of these trademarks is NOT done by Customs! Nor will they ADD the orange tip. They will seize and DESTROY with no mercy. NONE! ZIP! No compromises.
When you import you must insist the shipper meet all compliance regulations and be confident they will do so OR be willing to accept the risk. My brother was with US CUSTOMS for 35 years and was not a merciful inspector.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jan 30, 2015 16:22:32 GMT -5
Well, damn. I hope thats not the case. I hope its just taking awhile.
On note of the trademarks thing, a lot of other airsofters have claimed to have the trademarks just epoxied over when ordering from eHobbyAsia and some other places.
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Post by brownien on Jan 30, 2015 19:38:10 GMT -5
That sounds like the retailers doing rather than customs. Based on what 2ndBat said, I'd get in touch with the seller and make sure he did all he needed to do to get by customs, and possibly look up some tracking info
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 30, 2015 21:00:42 GMT -5
Most of the Japanese, Taiwan and Hong Kong Retailers know to affix a proper orange muzzle and which trademarks need to be covered (usually with a tape like coating that frankly is easily removed) whats ironic about the regulation requiring the orange tip it refers to non guns and EXCLUDES guns that fire a projectile. Most Customs inspectors failed to read that part and lots of confiscations and destruction of airsoft guns were done CONTRARY to the written law. The law has since been revised to specify the exclusion of traditional BB guns (177 Cal). Pellet guns, and paintball guns.
the argument (which they won in legal action) was that airsoft replicas were more REPLICA than projectile hurler. It sucks but we are a hobby without lobbyist or support. incidently another potential confiscation issue is with simulated silencers. This is seldom enforced but technically anything described as a silencer could cause (and has caused) confiscation and destruction of entire shipments when there even just a few "silencers" included in the shipment. A commercial friend lost an entire wholesale order over $15,000.00 because there were a few guns equipped with "silencers"
INSANE of course but a risk not worth taking.
by the way once imported into the United States with the exception of only a few juristictions orange tips are NOT required to retail or operate an airsoft gun. Most retailers and EBAY don 't seem to realize this fact. Neither do many local police agencies.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jan 30, 2015 22:08:17 GMT -5
Brownien: Thats odd then. Because if the retailer is doing it, why would they be doing as sloppy as a job that others claim? I mean never ordered anything like that just yet from eHobby myself, so I can't really say outside what I've read/heard. I will be eventually though, they have the TM Mk23 SOCOM in stock....
2ndBat: With that in mind, I think most retailers are overly strict about the orange tip rule because of how different individuals "interpret" the rules, whether actually read them or not. Better to be overly safe to please the customer.
Maybe a silly question, but do customs check every single package that comes through?
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 31, 2015 3:49:21 GMT -5
US Customs randomly checks shipments but does NOT have the resources to check all packages which is why many non compliant shipments get through. Whether you want to chance it depends on your risk tolerance.
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