The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

meles meles wrote:What is this concept of ''selling" a firearm ? Once we have a bangstick in our paws, it's our's. Forever. Our preshus. Never to be relinquished...

Daddy (anti gun liberal) asked once if I sell a gun when I buy a new one.. strange man ;-)

Mattnall wrote:I was told the reason it had to go via an RFD was because between you receiving the firearm, working on it and sending it back the FAC holder could have had his FAC revoked. The RFD receiving the firearm can check the FAC at the face-to-face handover.

I'm under the impression that it can never be sent directly to an FAC holder in any circumstances.
I guess it is all OK until something goes missing, then we'll find out which way it should be done for sure.

I ship and receive firearms fairly regularly, I have lost count of the amount of times I have been on the phone trying to find a parcel, sent with Parcelforce.
The last one went to the destination as planned however the one before went to Wales twice and then finally was sent to the recipient, that adventure took from Monday to Friday, sent to another RFD. Correct label.

I also dispatch and receive with Royal Mail on a regularly basis, same experience.

One thing our previous FEO in Bedfordshire always made sure was absolutely clear was to ship TRACKED. That is either Royal Mail Next Day or ParcelForce AMSecure, no other options.

Yes, the FAC could have been revoked however then we are talking about breaking the law.

An RFD should do what he/she feels is best AND adhere to the law.

What service do you use to send firearms back to the owner?

Mattnall wrote:What service do you use to send firearms back to the owner?

Both.

It depends on what I am sending, if it is an action only then RM Next Day insured to it's value.

If a complete rifle then PFamSecure, again insured to it's value.

This of course raises another interesting question, what if the recipient is not home and the item goes back to the local PO or PF depot.
When they go to pick the parcel up with their card (the notification card saying there is a parcel) are they asked for ID? What sort of ID is accepted?
(Hypothetical question)

I have heard a lot of real life stories, "my mother stopped by the house and picked the notification card up because she was going shopping and was going to pick the parcel up on the way thinking it was books ordered for Christmas, there she is in the parking lot at Tesco with a gun in the back of her car (not knowing) thinking the parcel contains books". The depot did not ask for ID because she had the card with her. A lot of guns can be packed to look like anything.

Or the other half takes the parcel in.

Even PF who has a "no to neighbour" policy will give the parcel to whoever is at home, so an RFD who has just gone down to the local shop for milk when the parcel arrives the other half could take it in, is the other half a servant of the company?
Or it is a part time RFD who stays home in the morning, has to go out in the afternoon, PF does not specify a delivery time.

Even sending the firearm tracked by either method does not mean it won't go walkabout. Our three barrels did with PF, nobody got upset about the loss (apart from us) because they were just lumps of metal sent for paint. However they were sent as firearms and PF lost them.

From PFamSecure pick up at your address to delivery at the RFD at the other end, any idea how many hands that firearm goes through, are they all vetted, do they know what they are handling?

I think the safest method is face to face however it does make life difficult.

As a business we have chosen to ship with either method adhering to the law and safeguarding us as much as possible to make life easier for everybody.

So many different scenarios, it is people we are dealing with after all.

My PF account doesn't allow delivery to non RFDs, thats the norm with BASC linked accounts. BASC told me they wouldn't recommend sending to non RFDs in general and certainly not on accounts acquired through the BASC/PF arrangement.

They mentioned all the negatives you have but they also mentioned when it comes to carriers it doesn't matter how many characters' unvetted hands it goes through as carriers are exempt from the provisions of the act.