Posting PF48. Persistence and politeness pays off.

[12/200]

Went to my local post office today to post the MFR I've just sold. Told the posty it had to go PF48 and he asked me what was in the package. "An air rifle" says I. "You can't post those" he says, after perusing his laminated restricted items sheet. After a couple of minutes trying to persuade him otherwise I went home, dug up the 'restricted items' page of the Parcel force website, and armed with my iPad, I returned to the post office and showed it to him. Good as gold, he asked if he could take a screen shot of my iPad on his phone, exclaiming that he had never been aware of this before. I offered to take the parcel elsewhere if he wasn't happy, he would have none of it and duly accepted the parcel.

The moral is, be polite, arm yourself with a copy of the facts and educate your local posty.

update when it arrives

[kash2001]

Just received a gun a while back through parcel force without any issue. Had many come and go using PF so it's a good service. Never had one stopped although there's always a first time.

When sending I never tell them it's a gun. I just say farm equipment which to me it is, used on a farm as a tool so that's what it is. Bottle always empty and not had an issue. It's unfortunate but some of us just can't travel to pick up so posting is the only alternative or rfd but that cost £30 each end which is a turn off, so what other choices do we have.

Atb

[chris u'5]

Had a similar issue with their laminated sheet recently!

It's understandable that they refuse when the info they have been provided with is incorrect. I was standing at the counter right next to all the leaflets, grabbed the Prohibited Goods one and showed it to the lady...she still phoned her main office and queried though - of course it was all fine in the end.

[angrybear]

Well done that man, thank you for your persistence it is annoying when people make up their own rules and don't accept any responsibility.

I must admit I haven't had any issues here but we've a new owner of the postal service so it'll be interesting when I come in with a suspicious package

Atb

Just received a gun a while back through parcel force without any issue. Had many come and go using PF so it's a good service. Never had one stopped although there's always a first time.

When sending I never tell them it's a gun. I just say farm equipment which to me it is, used on a farm as a tool so that's what it is. Bottle always empty and not had an issue. It's unfortunate but some of us just can't travel to pick up so posting is the only alternative or rfd but that cost £30 each end which is a turn off, so what other choices do we have.

Atb

This is exactly the stupidity of the general public that causes the issue of the OP

They are not "making up their own rules" they have read & remembered the section prohibiting weapons, probably because it has been specifically shown to them.

Then because you and other idiots like you lie &/or hide posting an item that is allowed under another different section (guns for sporting use) they are not corrected and therefore educated that in fact the item is perfectly legal to declare & send.

Do not dare to complain about a situation that you deliberately fail to address when given the opportunity.

[kash2001]

They are not "making up their own rules" they have read & remembered the section prohibiting weapons, probably because it has been specifically shown to them.

Then because you and other idiots like you lie &/or hide posting an item that is allowed under another different section (guns for sporting use) they are not corrected and therefore educated that in fact the item is perfectly legal to declare & send.

Do not dare to complain about a situation that you deliberately fail to address when given the opportunity. [/QUOTE]


Carm down dear - Blimey living up to your handle yes you can send them under that category, this gun went under that heading, so your last statement is pointless. The system isn't exactly reasonable or practical for the selling of new or 2nd hand guns as those that bow to media pressure and in office, don't wish for or provide a simple solution other than standing in a post office debating whether it's legal or not, its a ridiculous situation.

The system is squeezing the gun community in all directions, if the system doesn't accommodate then we have to adapt. I don't care for high morals statuses when we are all guilty of something it is in parts, the bottle empty so its safe, it's just the stupid system that needs changing but that's another conversation.

Original poster is correct, politeness and education does help, but some still refuse to accept them, and not many people want to stand in a long queue arguing with staff as to the right to dispatch a airgun, so respect to the seller for his determination to enlighten these people getting inaccurate information from management.

I'm done.

[Garvin]

This is exactly the stupidity of the general public that causes the issue of the OP

They are not "making up their own rules" they have read & remembered the section prohibiting weapons, probably because it has been specifically shown to them.

Then because you and other idiots like you lie &/or hide posting an item that is allowed under another different section (guns for sporting use) they are not corrected and therefore educated that in fact the item is perfectly legal to declare & send.

Do not dare to complain about a situation that you deliberately fail to address when given the opportunity.

As you know, Steve, I disagree profoundly with you on this point. It's not the stupidity of the general public that's at fault, it's the failure of Post Office staff to update themselves on the rules.

It's not a lie to say 'sporting goods' or similar, and since you know the actual rules and they don't, you're not doing anything wrong.

Ultimately if an airgun is discovered in a Parcelforce 48 consignment, it is well within the rules and the exact declaration made in the Post Office is immaterial, as long as it's not an out and out lie.

Obviously PCPs with air bottles are another matter...

But all power to the OP for doing what he did.

[angrybear]

As you know, Steve, I disagree profoundly with you on this point. It's not the stupidity of the general public that's at fault, it's the failure of Post Office staff to update themselves on the rules.

It's not a lie to say 'sporting goods' or similar, and since you know the actual rules and they don't, you're not doing anything wrong.

Ultimately if an airgun is discovered in a Parcelforce 48 consignment, it is well within the rules and the exact declaration made in the Post Office is immaterial, as long as it's not an out and out lie.

Obviously PCPs with air bottles are another matter...

But all power to the OP for doing what he did.

I know we disagree over method, but surely the point must be to EDUCATE those who have failed to understand their own rules.

And surely the way to educate them is to be open about what is being sent, when it is in compliance with those written rules, & where necessary to be the one who stands there & says politely "Actually you're wrong, read the rule"

The stupidity I refer to is by those who deliberately avoid correcting the error, by disguising a perfectly legal action, & by doing so further promote that error within the system.

[Garvin]

I know we disagree over method, but surely the point must be to EDUCATE those who have failed to understand their own rules.

And surely the way to educate them is to be open about what is being sent, when it is in compliance with those written rules, & where necessary to be the one who stands there & says politely "Actually you're wrong, read the rule"

The stupidity I refer to is by those who deliberately avoid correcting the error, by disguising a perfectly legal action, & by doing so further promote that error within the system.

I take the point and it's well made.

Realistically though, not everyone has the time or energy to do their civic duty in this way, especially when it may mean spending ages persuading some officious jobsworth that he/she is wrong about the very rules he/she is meant to oversee!

In a perfect world, yes, we should all take the time to educate the ill-educated and insist on our rights, like the OP has done.