International Shipping

[Brit Guy]

Apologies to GB, but I’m not sure which forum to post this in, as it covers most I guess.

I live in New Zealand (originally from the UK), and as much as I love the place, we have little choice in what we can purchase locally. Even if you can get what you are after, you pay a hefty price for most things.  I have had some success at overseas ordering, however, many stores are somewhat “over careful” when it comes to sending anything to do with shooting sports. I realise that there are certain restrictions, and for obvious reasons, however, I’m still experiencing problems finding an outfit who doesn’t charge the earth, and who will willingly deal with overseas orders.

C’mon guys, help me out here…. If you know of any stores (preferably with online site) who will be willing to sell overseas, please let me know.
I’m interested in the usual stuff, reloading gear, optics, cleaning kit, accessories etc… nothing out of the ordinary.

I often brows Midway USA’s website, however, they don’t ship internationally unless you are a dealer… maybe a dealership is the way to go!?!

Thanks guys.

[quickdtoo]

Brownell's ships international

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/CustomerService/international.aspx

As does GBO sponsor Midsouth, but they have a $300 minimum order.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/internationalorders.asp

One option would be to have a friend here in the US do the shopping and shipping for ya, I've bought and sent reloading dies and sights to a friend in Australia, you'd have to check NZ import rules for exceptions as each country has it's own rules, but within those rules, you'd be good to go. USPS priority mail postage for a 4lb package to NZ is about $31, restrictions and prohibitions are listed on their website.

http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/mo_026.htm#ep1737370

Tim

[stimpylu32]

Brit Guy

Ever since 9/11 things have gone to the extream as far as what the US goverment will let companies ship overseas , which is just flat dumb , we all know that the bad guys are buying bullets 100 at a time to load for AKs . 

I do wish i could help more than to tell you to keep looking , someone has to know what hoops to jump through to make the dip-sticks happy .

stimpy

[Brit Guy]

Brownell's ships international

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/CustomerService/international.aspx

As does GBO sponsor Midsouth, but they have a $300 minimum order.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/internationalorders.asp

One option would be to have a friend here in the US do the shopping and shipping for ya, I've bought and sent reloading dies and sights to a friend in Australia, you'd have to check NZ import rules for exceptions as each country has it's own rules, but within those rules, you'd be good to go. USPS priority mail postage for a 4lb package to NZ is about $31, restrictions and prohibitions are listed on their website.

http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/mo_026.htm#ep1737370

Tim

Tim... Thank you for that... I'm looking at Brownells right now, and I will certainly take a look at Midsouth (need to go to work soon).

A 'friend' in the US would be a good solution. However, I wouldn't want to put anyone out of their way... I mean it sounds great from my point, but would take up time from the sends point of view. But, if anyone would be willing, that would be great.

Thanks again Tim.

[Brit Guy]

Brit Guy

Ever since 9/11 things have gone to the extream as far as what the US goverment will let companies ship overseas , which is just flat dumb , we all know that the bad guys are buying bullets 100 at a time to load for AKs . 

I do wish i could help more than to tell you to keep looking , someone has to know what hoops to jump through to make the dip-sticks happy .

stimpy

Yes I agree... the problem is that they (Governments) seem to miss the obvious things, and concentrate on messing things up for ordinary folk who just want to go about their own business. The thing is that in this way the Terrorists actually win, because they have then effected the lives of everyone! Even the guy who wants to place an order for a new hunting scope!!!...

[Graybeard]

I made an international shipment ONCE. I won't ever make that mistake again. And mine was only up to Canada. It cost me about three arms and two legs to ship it so I really do understand why folks have to charge you so much to ship things to you IF they will do so. It costs them a ridiculous amount to ship it.

I shipped two scopes to a guy. We were trading scopes of the same type but I got one with adjustable objective to replace one without it I wanted. I tossed in a Simmons scope for free as I no longer wanted it (or any other Simmons ever again).

The first time I shipped it they sent it all the way to Canada and thru customs and then it was refused and returned for some minor technicality in address he wanted it shipped to. It came back to me and I had to do it all over again and there was only one way I could ship to the address he insisted it had to go to so I had to pay to do it all over again. I think it ended up costing me about $75 to ship two scopes to Canada and I had to do all the customs forms twice.


Nope I'd never even consider an international shipment again no matter how much someone was willing to pay. It's just not worth the hassle.

[quickdtoo]

I've made one used optics shipment to Canada to a friend, it went thru fine, I've also shipped several gun related items, rings and bases, reloading bullets ect, no problems, all items were within the rules governing import to Canada and export from the US by an individual, dealers have other restrictions and need permits, Jon at TOZ can attest to that issue. Those restrictions and prohibitions are listed on the USPS website as I cited earlier.

The shipment to Austrailia was done with an included document from the AU customs authority, the recipient sent it to me and I attached it to the package, along with the required USPS customs document, he got the package within a week with no hitches, all I charged was the exact amount it cost me for shipping, both to me for the items I ordered and what it cost to ship to him.

Tim

[beemanbeme]

One of our problems, Brit, is few people really KNOW the answers in which case the safe answer is no.  This includes BATFE.  And even if you have it in triplicate with a thumb print of the okaying agent, that doesn't mean it won't be over ridden by someone down the line to suit their "needs of the moment".  So if field level agents from BATFE aren't up on the latest, one can hardly expect entry level shipping clerks to know what's going on.  Nor can one not expect to pay a hefty fee to have the papers vetted by someone that is up on the latest. 
Long before 9/11 came along, I worked for an international air carrier.  Show me a Customs Inspector and I'll show you a power crazed bureaucrat.   
 

[Questor]

Brit Guy:

You are not being "over careful". It is an absolute minefield. For example, one of the most trusted and reliable mail order houses in the US is Cabelas. Cabelas has a very nasty reputation among people I know who have tried getting shipments to Europe recently. This surprised me.  because within the U.S. they have an excellent reputation.

Unfortunately I have no solid advice except perhaps to actually telephone prospective companies and interview them specifically on whether they will ship to your location, how the product will be shipped, when the payment will be assessed, and how much the shipping and handling is likely to cost. Another piece of advice is that you poll the members of a more international forum like
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve

[Questor]

I don't know what was censorable in that post, but it's all one word: accurate reloading . com / eve

[Graybeard]

That site IS censored on this one.

[pacer97]

 As a Canadian, I have a problem with mail order companies like MidSouth charging me $20.00 to process an order which has no prohibited items and as far as worrying about duty charges with items shipped in the mail , they are processed very quickly for a minimal charge to myself and the only added service MidSouth has to perform over a US order is entering a declared value on a 3"X3" piece of paper you can download off the USPS website.  And Graybeard, I am sorry to hear about your difficulties dealing with a Canadian, but I see you had 2 problems.   # 1 You were dealing with someone who didn't do his homework.  # 2 Scopes are a tricky thing to ship out of the US, not coming into Canada, but there's no problem shipping binoculars - go figure.  Just my 2 cents - hope I did not offend anyone.


Alan