Oh lord. Krale shipment gone wrong - but then right :)

[wahoowad]

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!

[UCChris]

Dang, that's rough. I hope you can get it cleared up somehow.

[Motorhead]

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 ...

[stija]

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.

[wahoowad]

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 

[Lost]

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).

[mailman]

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

[stija]

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.

[tnutater]

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.

[uglymike]

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!!.

[vestlenning]

Krale has loads of positive reviewers (including me), so this is not typical.

[Oldgringo]

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?

[wahoowad]

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?

[Grover]

Its not krale id question. 

[Gary in WV]

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.

[Oldgringo]

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.

[wahoowad]

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! 

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.

[mobilemail]

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?

[Grover]

You'll probably consume your savings in alcohol, cigarettes and comfort food stressing over the episode by the time the rifle arrives.

[Oldgringo]

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?