Post by WTS-Mike on Aug 23, 2002 22:05:11 GMT -5
Hey, I just wanted to put a little note up here to let you guys know whats happening in the world of airsoft importation.
We have our supplier (WGC) comply with all of the customs hoops (orange barrel paint, trades puttied, etc....) and up until this last week everything was fine.
BUT, we just got 2 very large orders siezed....(all of the guns, they let the accessories come thru) and no there is no way of getting them sent back to HK.
I talked directly to the TNT shipping manager, and she deals directly with customs on our behalf (Power of attorney), she said that there is one agent who has a "thing" for airsoft and he started searching out any packages coming inbound from WGC, DEN, and Redwolf "specifically"
a couple of my stateside suppliers have also told me they have had large seizures of airsoft guns this week also. (I hate to prophecy doom and gloom, but the door may be closing.....)
Now we have had shipments come thru actual inspections before, where they opened the boxes and rifled thru everything, but never anything seized.
This is as of Tuesday, the customs agent said the orange paint was the wrong "shade of orange" and it was not permanent ( I asked about the toatally orange flashhiders made of plastic and he said they were NOT PERMANENT, in that thye could be removed leaving a black barrel)
The TNT agent said, that they (customs) are considering not letting packages from these "suppliers" in the country at all, because of so many noncompliant violations. (regardless if it is to you or a company)
I am not sure how this will play out, I foresee guns with dremeled trades and totally orange baked enamel orange paint being the norm, if we(retailers) can get any at all. I say that because of the attitude of US Customs in this wrong shade?, not permanent solid orange plastic? there is no check and balance here, its all up to one or a few agents "interpretation" of the law and if he or she is bent on not allowing airsoft in...........then guess what......yeah, I know, not fair.
. (wish you wouldn'ta sold that fully trademarked M4 now huh!?)
I hope this particular agent is just having a bad week with his wife or something and things can return to normal again soon, but we will see.
Oh, well, we are still in the fray, for now!
We'll keep ya posted!
We have our supplier (WGC) comply with all of the customs hoops (orange barrel paint, trades puttied, etc....) and up until this last week everything was fine.
BUT, we just got 2 very large orders siezed....(all of the guns, they let the accessories come thru) and no there is no way of getting them sent back to HK.
I talked directly to the TNT shipping manager, and she deals directly with customs on our behalf (Power of attorney), she said that there is one agent who has a "thing" for airsoft and he started searching out any packages coming inbound from WGC, DEN, and Redwolf "specifically"
a couple of my stateside suppliers have also told me they have had large seizures of airsoft guns this week also. (I hate to prophecy doom and gloom, but the door may be closing.....)
Now we have had shipments come thru actual inspections before, where they opened the boxes and rifled thru everything, but never anything seized.
This is as of Tuesday, the customs agent said the orange paint was the wrong "shade of orange" and it was not permanent ( I asked about the toatally orange flashhiders made of plastic and he said they were NOT PERMANENT, in that thye could be removed leaving a black barrel)
The TNT agent said, that they (customs) are considering not letting packages from these "suppliers" in the country at all, because of so many noncompliant violations. (regardless if it is to you or a company)
I am not sure how this will play out, I foresee guns with dremeled trades and totally orange baked enamel orange paint being the norm, if we(retailers) can get any at all. I say that because of the attitude of US Customs in this wrong shade?, not permanent solid orange plastic? there is no check and balance here, its all up to one or a few agents "interpretation" of the law and if he or she is bent on not allowing airsoft in...........then guess what......yeah, I know, not fair.
. (wish you wouldn'ta sold that fully trademarked M4 now huh!?)
I hope this particular agent is just having a bad week with his wife or something and things can return to normal again soon, but we will see.
Oh, well, we are still in the fray, for now!
We'll keep ya posted!