Shipping Scopes out of the USA

[Dangermouse]

I just found this topic on Accurate Shooter. It does not read too well for us in the UK, or in deed anyone outside the USA.
Posting so that you are aware that should you be trying to get something out it may just be easier to buy new from someone who has done the paperwork,

DM

http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/in ... 677.0.html

Here it is in cut and paste form should that link not work...


FYI shipping scopes out of the USA

Steve here... I sold a scope to a guy in Finland that I had in the classifieds back in the first week of January. He paypal'd me for the scope and I sent it thru the mail.
Bout a month later I got an 8 page letter from US Customs. They seized my scope, claiming I needed a permit to send it out of the US.
The short of it. I had to fill out two forms one of which had to be notarized, I had to send a letter of what happened, and had to pay a $250 fine. All of which i had to send with a prepaid shipping label for them to return my scope. I just got home from the post office with my scope(finally) and with two more forms to fill out and mail back to US Customs.
just my 2cents guys...don't ship anything out of the US without contacting customs. There rules are totally different than the Post office rules.
Steve

Logged Steve.NorCalMikie
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Re: FYI shipping scopes out of the USA
« Reply #1 on: Yesterday at 11:37 AM »ReplyQuoteAt least you got the scope back! I shipped a stock to Australia, in pieces. The first parts went through no problem. The second package got picked up at Customs in Australia and the guy that was to recieve the parts got raked over the coals. That was over a year ago and I havn't heard anymore from him. He mentioned being treated like a criminal? Things in different parts of the world arn't quite the same as here in the USA.
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Re: FYI shipping scopes out of the USA
« Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 12:34 PM »ReplyQuoteThats why it is just easier to just sell only in the US. Sucks for the others who arent here, but it just aint worth the trouble.

I had some trouble shipping a stock to Canada to a member from this site. It got there, but it took almost 30 days(25or28 I believe) and he said he had to pay like $70 just to recieve it. It cost me $35 to ship it. I sold him the stock for $150+ shipping, and was not allowed to insure it or ship priority cause it was leaving the US.
Luckily it didnt get held up at customs though. I described it in the paperwork as a piece of laminate woodstock, just left out the part of it being inletted for a Savage action .

Bad thing is, California is almost as bad! Right Mikie. A friend of mine sold a gun on another forum to a guy in Ca., and no FFL around here will ship to there because of all the paperwork they need to fill out. My friend is allowed to ship from him to an ffl in Ca. legally, but the guys FFL wont accept from a private person. He's probably gonna have to cancel the deal.


Steve, glad to hear you got the scope back in one piece. Logged www.savageshooters.com.hedditch
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Re: FYI shipping scopes out of the USA
« Reply #3 on: Yesterday at 01:13 PM »ReplyQuoteUnder the patriot act, an American citizen has no rights. The government can do this by labeling you as a terriosts. You can be detained for months, years, without your allowed phone call and you are automatically terriost suspect if you leave the U.S. then return. If a customs agent gets up on the wrong side of the bed, he can make your life misserable. Same with Home Land Security Agents. Did you know Home Land Security has their own airforce? I toured their operations base in Great Falls, MT. I could go on and on about what I found out but I won't. It is just when you read these stories about these other countries keep in mind they same horror stories are present here in the U. S. Logged David R. Hedditch.40X Guy
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Re: FYI shipping scopes out of the USA
« Reply #4 on: Yesterday at 08:43 PM »ReplyQuote10-4 David on our beloved Homeland Security people and Beloved PAY-triot Act which does nothing to keep people safe, but only puts American Citizens under constant watch so they know who does what! Our newest local US House rep here in Pa. who defeated a Democratic one termer voted for the PAY-triot act. When asked at a local town hall meeting 2 weeks ago about his vote, he responded " I will vote for anything that keeps us safe" Wow, maybe he should vote for the American Republic and the American People that own firearms to keep us safe, but that would be too easy wouldnt it!?

Back to the original poster's FYI, yes, I knew this a few years ago, as i sell a few used Leupold scopes on E-bay, and seems like a lot of people bidding were from S. Africa or China and would still bid even though I would post in auction description CONUS bidders only. I would instantly cancel their bids. I also canceled a bid from a Mexican bidder also. Heck yes, keep it within the 48 states and there will be no problem!

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Re: FYI shipping scopes out of the USA
« Reply #5 on: Today at 07:52 AM »ReplyQuoteWhat a mess. I shipped a scope to fellow in Australia about 2 months ago and had no problems with Customs. I listed the contents as "Rifle Scope" and it sailed through. I guess it's the whim of the individual inspector. Logged .zcrackshot
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Re: FYI shipping scopes out of the USA
« Reply #6 on: Today at 08:55 AM »ReplyQuoteI also sold a scope on e-bay to a fellow in BC. I shipped it USPS and it got through their customs and in his hands in 2 1/2 weeks. I guess I was lucky? I know a bit better now.

Zac M. Logged "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson.

[Robin128]

And the sh1t I got for advising on form filling...see Importing from the USA in Library section.

[TobyH]

Cheers DM, interesting to read their side of things.

[Holds Tight]

In 2009 the regs changed drastically! The guys who are REALLY hurting (more than us not in the USA) are the small businesses who we purchase goods and services from that depended on specialized shooters buying their kit. Barrels, sights, stocks, scopes, triggers, bullets, actions heck even holsters.

It has and will mean that we have to be creative on sourcing items for our sports, I.E. buying non restricted (in the USA) while travelling to the USA for competition or even vacation.....shopping around getting a Barnard vs. a Kelby.

[TobyH]

Although its bad for us shooters at the moment, I'm hoping that this drastic restriction in goods coming over will get the british engineering systems back up to the speed they used to be at.