GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => European/Asian Air Gun Gates => German AirGun Gate => Topic started by: wahoowad on April 06, 2016, 03:16:30 PM
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I thought an HW98 would make a nice 50th birthday present to myself so I ordered one from Krale. They shipped it quick! Unfortunately I just received a call from the US Customs agent who said the manifest identified it as an "airsoft" product and it clearly is not an airsoft product. It also came with an ATF form that further confused the situation because the form implies it is an exempted firearm (which it is not a firearm and thus not meeting the exemption).
I am not sure if someone made a mistake on the manifest or if it hit a different Customs office than everybody else's shipment. I normally would not have received a call but the Customs guy thought I was being scammed by an international seller and wanted to explain it to me.
I have emailed Gerrit for clarification but that won't undo the current situation unless someone in Customs decides they can reclassify it somehow and send it to me. Lucky me!
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Dang, that's rough. I hope you can get it cleared up somehow.
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I would think ( assume ) KRALE is responsible for meeting & complying with export regulations & laws that must be met.
Hanging you out to dry dealing with there Customs declaration misinformation is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
JMO ...
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Well I'm sure Krale did not check the firearm box by mistake. It is far more likely that a customs officer opened it to check it and assess duties if necessary. HW98 is such a nice and heavy air rifle that the officer must have classified different than a regular air rifle, or thought it wasnt an air soft.
So what are they telling you? Are they keeping it? Are they sending it back? Are they asking for something from you such as duties and/or signatures? Did you explain that it is a spring air rifle?
I am not fully understanding of what customs is wanting to do with the situation and maybe you are not either.
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Others have had very straight-forward and positive interactions with Krale so I have to think a mistake was made somewhere. My hope is it will get cleared up and my airgun shipment continues. Customs clearly knows it is a pellet rifle - the paperwork doesn't appear to match so they are just doing their job.
Krale won't be able to resolve this with them - Customs will decide the next steps and then I will have to deal with it. In the end I trust Krale will do what is right as they have a great reputation here.
I was excited as my UPS email said it would be delivered tomorrow and was really looking forward to another long brown box ;D
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I am fairly new to premium air rifles so excuse my ignorance but is it necessary to order this particular rifle internationally?
(I hope this doesn't come across as a smarta** question because I would really like to know).
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I can feel your pain. I spent 3 1/2 hrs at a dealership today negotiating a Lemon Law case with Mrs. Mailman's 2016 car. Something tells me you'll get to go a few rounds with.........."Hi, I'm from the Federal government, and I'm here to help!"
At least your AG wasn't a $36,865 investment. Hang in there.........................the Mailman
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I am fairly new to premium air rifles so excuse my ignorance but is it necessary to order this particular rifle internationally?
(I hope this doesn't come across as a smarta** question because I would really like to know).
Should the sale be trouble free the buyer saves hundreds of dollars buying it overseas. Check the prices in USA and Krale's prices.
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Please keep us posted on their ruling. A lot of us are considering a purchase from that vendor. The dollar savings are real enough to pay some duty/excise tax and still come out.
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Hope it's just a paperwork glitch. After my experience with Krale, I'd advise anyone buying from them have it shipped in a hardcase!!.
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Krale has loads of positive reviewers (including me), so this is not typical.
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Krale has loads of positive reviewers (including me), so this is not typical.
Ditto! My two buying experiences have been stellar in every regard. That said, perhaps my purchases were not of a monetary amount to attract Customs' attention?
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Krale has loads of positive reviewers (including me), so this is not typical.
Ditto! My two buying experiences have been stellar in every regard. That said, perhaps my purchases were not of a monetary amount to attract Customs' attention?
Greg,
Did you notice any paperwork suggesting your items were airsoft products?
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Its not krale id question.
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My HW98 was listed as " airsoft gun Weihrauch HW98" and was accompanied by a BATF import form for firearms, ammunition, and implements of war. It went through customs without a hitch. Maybe you got an over cautious inspector and they'll release it without any further complications.....hopefully.
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Krale has loads of positive reviewers (including me), so this is not typical.
Ditto! My two buying experiences have been stellar in every regard. That said, perhaps my purchases were not of a monetary amount to attract Customs' attention?
Greg,
Did you notice any paperwork suggesting your items were airsoft products?
The words AIRSOFT GUN are on the form as well as the make, model #, caliber, etc. I don't recall seeing this form in my previous purchase? It looks like a bunch of bureaucratic BS to me as it's not approved, rejected or nothing. I think the problem above comes from an untrained and/or over zealous government payee of some sort?
Good luck with a speedy resolution.
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It has been a curious situation. My UPS tracking status suggested it had been released from review before I was ever called. Then I get an anonymous call from a Customs agent who would not give me his name. He called back later and said they clarified this was in fact a pellet rifle and would likely continue being shipped to me. But my UPS tracking hasn't shown any further movement since it supposedly left review.
Airsoft is incorrect nomenclature - at least according to the Customs guy it means a REPLICA of a firearm. My take is Krale is trying to do the right thing and just confused by the rules. The ATF form is not needed since it isn't an ATF regulated import, further confusing the situation.
Not sure where your Krale purchase came through Customs, mine is Philadelphia. Those guys are ON THE JOB protecting us all from pellet rifles! ;D
The worst possible outcome as I see it...is it actually is shipped to me but has been manhandled and non-pristine. In that case UPS is probably off the hook as they can blame Customs. And you know Customs won't accept any responsibility.
I still have faith that all will end well. I have a feeling I can trust Gerrit.
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I am fairly new to premium air rifles so excuse my ignorance but is it necessary to order this particular rifle internationally?
(I hope this doesn't come across as a smarta** question because I would really like to know).
This rifle can be purchased from an American dealer. On many of these Euro rifles though, there can be a 200-300 dollar price difference, a strong incentive to go through the international hassle with a good dealer. So the basic question is, do you prefer cheap or easy?
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You'll probably consume your savings in alcohol, cigarettes and comfort food stressing over the episode by the time the rifle arrives. :D
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Krale has loads of positive reviewers (including me), so this is not typical.
Ditto! My two buying experiences have been stellar in every regard. That said, perhaps my purchases were not of a monetary amount to attract Customs' attention?
Greg,
Did you notice any paperwork suggesting your items were airsoft products?
The words AIRSOFT GUN are on the form as well as the make, model #, caliber, etc. I don't recall seeing this form in my previous purchase? It looks like a bunch of bureaucratic BS to me as it's not approved, rejected or nothing. I think the problem above comes from an untrained and/or over zealous government payee of some sort?
Good luck with a speedy resolution.
Oh, BTW, the DOJ, BATF form with my HW30S listed it as new and the value as $140. Therein, may be what triggers the Customs interference. Who knows?
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They must hire the Customs agents from the same pool as the TSA folks? Anyways this is all I could find?
Importing a bb gun, air soft or paintball gun for my personal use
Can I bring back or import a paintball or similar type gun for my personal use?
Yes, as long as they are not converted from firearms that incorporate the frame or receiver of a firearm, (i.e. a converted AK 47).
Make sure the vendor clearly states it is an air soft, paintball, etc. gun on the shipping documents to avoid confusion over whether or not an ATF import permit is required from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not consider paintball and similar guns to be toys, and duty rates for these guns are provided for in Chapter 93 in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).
Paintball, bb guns, and other guns that use compressed gas, compressed air or mechanical spring action to fire a projectile/pellet are not subject to Department of Commerce regulations for toy or imitation firearms that require bright orange plugs or other markers to be affixed to the end of the barrel (15 CFR 1150). Air soft guns are considered look-alike firearms which require the special blaze orange marking.
State and local authorities have separate rules and regulations regarding entering their state with air soft, paintball, etc guns. Please contact the state in which you will be entering to determine their rules.
If you wish to receive automatic updates to this Q&A, select "Subscribe to Updates" on the left side of this screen.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/809/~/importing-a-bb-gun,-air-soft-or-paintball-gun-for-my-personal-use
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I still have faith that all will end well. I have a feeling I can trust Gerrit.
I think you are in good hands.
I am in the process of placing another order at the moment.
E
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I admire your patience.
I'd be like:
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LOL! I was EXACTLY like that yesterday when the Customs guy was calling me!!!
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Wahoo,
I think you should change your avatar. In fact I insist... at least until your rifle shows up
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I wonder if they will assess a duty on claimed price or the fair market value in USA. And it seems to me that the atf form confuses things further and isn't necessary at all since these aren't firearms under federal law.
All will turn out well in the end.
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It arrived ;D
Still on time too! I ordered it late Monday and it was here Thursday. That's pretty darn good even if US Customs tried to screw it up.
I swear, it looks like a child ripped the box opened and taped it back together. Totally unprofessional given these people unpack and repack shipping boxes for a living. I bet it was twice as hard to repack this thing the wrong way than to just fold the box back together the way it came :-[. They literally ripped the cardboard apart, broke the protective styrofoam and then forced it all back together in a totally different shape where the outer cardboard didn't even cover the inner box. Total bureaucratic incompetence and of course there is absolutely zero recourse.
Despite the rough handling the gun looks OK! Thankfully Krale had triple-boxed it and the inner factory box was mostly intact. I'll be paranoid they did something dumb like dry-fired it or handled it roughly but initially not seeing any scratches or dings.
OK, gotta go put some pellets through it!!!!
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Glad to hear it resolved well for you. I hope it shoots well and there are no issues with it.
What was all the fuss about then? Did they charge you a duty tax?
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Congratulations!!! Hope you enjoy it, they're great rifles.
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Nope, no duty tax
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Well at least you didnt get charged to have your box opened, and for that phone call and miscellaneous duty paperwork.
So does it shoot? And how? ;)
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OK.
So now you're like:
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Nope, no duty tax
;D Great glad it all worked out Now I wil need to see what kind of prices for Daystate rifles
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Nice Rifle, couple hundred bucks saved.
You know how to do Birthdays, Enjoy!
E
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Good news! I'm glad it worked out for you and for Krale Schietsport and for the rest of us. I do not think/believe that Krale is the fly in the ointment. I rather think it is our very own 'gubmint' looking out for whatever they look out for other than their pensions.
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Glad to hear it resolved well for you. I hope it shoots well and there are no issues with it.
What was all the fuss about then? Did they charge you a duty tax?
I believe that import duty is only applicable on shipments worth more than $2,000.
-Y
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Glad to hear it resolved well for you. I hope it shoots well and there are no issues with it.
What was all the fuss about then? Did they charge you a duty tax?
I believe that import duty is only applicable on shipments worth more than $2,000.
-Y
I was charged an import duty on my 98, so there must be some other reason some are charged and some aren't.....maybe I was just lucky. :(
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I was charged an import duty on my 98, so there must be some other reason some are charged and some aren't.....maybe I was just lucky. :(
How much was the import duty/tax?
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I was charged an import duty on my 98, so there must be some other reason some are charged and some aren't.....maybe I was just lucky. :(
How much was the import duty/tax?
"Duty and taxes are not charged if the value of the imported goods is up to US$800."
from:
http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-States/ (http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-States/)
Who knows?
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I was charged an import duty on my 98, so there must be some other reason some are charged and some aren't.....maybe I was just lucky. :(
How much was the import duty/tax?
Mine was about $23.
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I was charged an import duty on my 98, so there must be some other reason some are charged and some aren't.....maybe I was just lucky. :(
How much was the import duty/tax?
"Duty and taxes are not charged if the value of the imported goods is up to US$800."
from:
http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-States/ (http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-States/)
Who knows?
I don't think they read the book. ??? ::) And, UPS would not release it to me until the duty was paid.
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I was charged an import duty on my 98, so there must be some other reason some are charged and some aren't.....maybe I was just lucky. :(
How much was the import duty/tax?
"Duty and taxes are not charged if the value of the imported goods is up to US$800."
from:
http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-States/ (http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-States/)
Who knows?
I don't think they read the book. ??? ::) And, UPS would not release it to me until the duty was paid.
Thanks for the info! :o Sorry for my mistake. :'(
-Y