Royal Mail - A Warning

[venoman]

He is right you know, just went down the post office and got the services and price book. On page 18 under arms and ammunition -low powered air weapons. item 3 enhanced compensation cover is not available . For years iv been paying for extra cover BUGGER.

[bighit]

He is right you know, just went down the post office and got the services and price book. On page 18 under arms and ammunition -low powered air weapons. item 3 enhanced compensation cover is not available . For years iv been paying for extra cover BUGGER.

and for years angrybear and others have been telling people there is no extra cover for airguns whether the post office says there is or is not any extra cover.

[venoman]

and for years angrybear and others have been telling people there is no extra cover for airguns whether the post office says there is or is not any extra cover.

Just been down the Post Office and we checked the services and price list booklet and on page 18 under Prohibited and restricted items. If you read the section Arms and ammunition-low powered air weapons it states that air rifle can be sent and that enhanced compensation cover is not available, but if you look on the right hand side of the page you will see two columns one with UK on the other with INT. This means that you can enhance the cover on air rifles sent in the UK and not if you are sending abroad, i then phoned Parcel Force and they confirmed this to be correct. You can not send any part of a gun even a wooden stock with not metal parts fitted to it Air Mail but you can send a cricket bat ? you have to send it surface mail .

[angrybear]

Just been down the Post Office and we checked the services and price list booklet and on page 18 under Prohibited and restricted items. If you read the section Arms and ammunition-low powered air weapons it states that air rifle can be sent and that enhanced compensation cover is not available, but if you look on the right hand side of the page you will see two columns one with UK on the other with INT. This means that you can enhance the cover on air rifles sent in the UK and not if you are sending abroad, i then phoned Parcel Force and they confirmed this to be correct. You can not send any part of a gun even a wooden stock with not metal parts fitted to it Air Mail but you can send a cricket bat ? you have to send it surface mail .

On the copy of "Prohibited & Restricted items" I have there is a key at the top of the page that states the tick means it is allowed in the post and the X means it is not allowed in the post

They have nothing at all to do with enhanced cover, THERE IS NO ENHANCED COVER ON AIRGUNS AT ALL, and international post of airguns is PROHIBITED full stop.

[jack-daniels]

Lets put this to bed once and for all shall we.

Arms and Ammunition - low powered air weapons

Low-powered air weapons (air rifles, air guns and air pistols), together with lead pellets and other airgun and airsoft projectiles, can be sent but are subject to the following conditions:

1. These items must be sent on an express48 service only
2. These items must be sent via the Post Office only, and presented at the counter
3. Enhanced compensation cover is not available

Send within UK - YES

Send International - NO

See Parcel Force Website

http://www.parcelforce.com/help-and-...d-restrictions

[Squirrelking]

Just to chime in, although it doesn't apply to rifles you can still send pistols via RM Special Delivery for the full compensation value and no mention of enhanced cover exclusion. It is ONLY PF that exclude enhanced compensation.

The RM leaflet in the PO is out of date. It's still published on the RM site and the same terms are given in the official terms and conditions BUT (and this is the big but) the T&C's also state that essentially anything published on the website overrules the T&C's. Handy:

Guns intended for sporting purposes - including Section 1 (e.g. hunting rifles) and Section 2 (e.g. shotguns) firearms, low-powered air weapons and their component parts - may be sent in compliance with UK law and subject to domestic controls on the possession of firearms. Antiques, deactivated and imitation firearms are also permitted. When sending deactivated firearms include proof of deactivation.
Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays. Please see www.royalmail.com/prohibitedgoods

Use 1st Class as the minimum service. The sender’s name and address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/...a1ElMjElMjE%3D

For note the copyright on the website is 2016 which clearly supersedes any advice in the May 2015 leaflet.

The only thing preventing a seller sending a rifle by RMSD is the size unfortunately.

[angrybear]

Just to chime in, although it doesn't apply to rifles you can still send pistols via RM Special Delivery for the full compensation value and no mention of enhanced cover exclusion. It is ONLY PF that exclude enhanced compensation.

The RM leaflet in the PO is out of date. It's still published on the RM site and the same terms are given in the official terms and conditions BUT (and this is the big but) the T&C's also state that essentially anything published on the website overrules the T&C's. Handy:



https://personal.help.royalmail.com/...a1ElMjElMjE%3D

For note the copyright on the website is 2016 which clearly supersedes any advice in the May 2015 leaflet.

The only thing preventing a seller sending a rifle by RMSD is the size unfortunately.

Sorry but;

Air Pistols are covered by the same compensation rules as air rifles, no enhanced cover, the difference is that RMSD has a basic £500 of cover where as PF48 only has a basic £100 of cover, and for standard letters or small parcels a "signed for" delivery has £50 cover where plain 1st/2nd class is only £20 cover.

And the same list of exclusions apply to both RM & PF.

[Shed tuner]

the difference is that RMSD has a basic £500 of cover where as PF48 only has a basic £100 of cover

yup.. and whilst £500 is plently for most pistols, £100 is unlikely to be enough for anything but budget springer rifles. However, most break barrel rifles can be stripped down to something that "you can get away with" in terms of RMSD size limits

[Zummerset]

As my parcel was 1cm longer than the small parcel size limit. Unreal!

[angrybear]

As my parcel was 1cm longer than the small parcel size limit. Unreal!

Why is it unreal ???

If it was over the size limit for small then it becomes a medium...simple as that

[AllanM]

The size limit for standard PF48 has not changed it is still 1.5m long or 3m length & girth combined.

If the parcel is over the above size then it will become PF48(large) up to 2.5m long, 5m length & girth combined.

This can be found on Parcelforce.com under help & advice - max dimensions, or leaflet PWOS24.

I posted a rifle (minus stock) today for resealing.

I was informed it was a "large parcel" and would cost £29+ by Parcelforce Express 48.

Thanks to this thread I was able to refer them to leaflet PWOS24 and, bingo, they accepted the charge should only be £11.99.

[AdeC]

Isn't it cheaper just to use a courier?

[bighit]

Isn't it cheaper just to use a courier?

how many carriers do not prohibit airguns? wont be many unless it goes via an RFD. if you find one that lets you send it ,you might have a few happy people on here. and not cost more than royal mail and Parcelforce.

[angrybear]

I posted a rifle (minus stock) today for resealing.

I was informed it was a "large parcel" and would cost £29+ by Parcelforce Express 48.

Thanks to this thread I was able to refer them to leaflet PWOS24 and, bingo, they accepted the charge should only be £11.99.

Excellent result,
It makes arguing the toss with the "opinion impaired" worth while

[AdeC]

WTF is wrong with this country?
What's the difference between delivering an airgun or a piece of pipe? (which essentially it is)
If it's a legal item then anyone should deliver it.
I smell a business opportunity!