Posting problem.

pa_broon74

pa_broon74

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Hello all.

Just looking for some context for this issue, if anyone has any to offer.

I posted a pistol and Royal Mail have had it flagged as a suspected prohibited item for 29 days. (I posted it on the 1st of April).

Please assume I did everything correctly, I told the postmaster what it was, I removed any CO2 caps, and followed T&C's/the postmaster's instructions, delivery and return addresses were on printed (not hand-written) labels.

I phoned (I think) three, possibly four times. The last phone call, if I'm being honest, I think the lady to whom I spoke - just lied. Previously I was told 14 days to check, she advanced that to 30 days - a number I think she just plucked out of the air. None of the people I spoke to on the phone were able to offer more than stock answers - they were not able to offer any pertinent information, or escalate. I tried to make a complaint - and I'm not joking when I say - the last person I spoke to (the lady I mentioned) only pretended to record the complaint, it was obvious it wasn't going on any system anywhere.

My main concern is, it went by Special Delivery 'by 1pm'. Obviously no one reads and memorizes Royal Mail terms & conditions, but it might be that because it went by air, a higher level of scanning occurred and the item does resemble a 'real gun', but obviously isn't.

I fear I'm going to have to enter into battle with Royal Mail over the item.

Have any of you had experience with similar circumstances?
 
The fact that it went by air is i believe the reason for this as items that go by air are subjected to more rigorous scanning prceedures. As has been mentioned it's probably ended up in N.I so it could be a while before it's sorted out.
The problem is that many of these people that answer the phone don't have the knowledge or training to answer these problems/queries and have no one to pass the problem/query on to.
Gone are the days when you contacted a company about a problem and the person at the other end was either able to answer the query definitively or said, I don't know but i'll ask my supervisor or some who can and i'll get back to you.
 
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It will be X-Rayed before going on the plane as all air mail does and sent to Belfast by Sea.

The Firearms inspector in Belfast at one time was part time and only worked one or two days so that can cause a hold up if its still the same .

They have inspection hubs on the mainland but I don't know of they cover air mail.

There is a thread on the bbs from years ago where a member had one seized and he never got it back. He or the sender put co2 in the package if I remember right.

@Tinbum had a HW45 seized in 2018 and sent for inspection.

 
Many thanks for the replies.

As I suspected, it may very well be a case just waiting.

On the on hand, it is not a prohibited item, I don't own any fire arms to send error - it's definitely a pellet gun. As far as I am able to tell, I didn't infringe any of RM's T&C's.

The complaint about 'customer service' is an evergreen one. Customer service phone lines are not there to resolve issues, they're there to act as a buffer between customers and decisions made by managers. I always try to be nice to people who work on the phones, it is hardly ever their fault. (That lady who 'recorded' my complaint slightly to one side...)

The package is no doubt sitting in a cage somewhere in the corner of a warehouse.

Ho hum.
 
pa_broon74 said:
Many thanks for the replies.

As I suspected, it may very well be a case just waiting.

On the on hand, it is not a prohibited item, I don't own any fire arms to send error - it's definitely a pellet gun. As far as I am able to tell, I didn't infringe any of RM's T&C's.
Click to expand...
Airguns are classed as Firearms in the UK under the Firearms act even if it is sub 6ftlb or for a pistol or sub 12ftlb for a rifle .



The law​




Quote
The law makes no distinction between air rifles and more powerful guns for which you need a licence – they are all classed as firearms. This means that any offence you commit can carry a very heavy penalty, and there are at least 38 different offences. Following this code will help you to keep on the right side of the law, but if you have any doubt, seek advice from BASC or your local police firearms licensing department.




From the Royal Mail website.
Guns intended for sporting purposes - including Section 1 (e.g. hunting rifles) and Section 2 (e.g. shotguns) firearms, low-powered air weapons and their component parts - may be sent in compliance with UK law and subject to domestic controls on the possession of firearms.

If it was lost and you were getting now where and reported it last as a lost Firearm then they have to treat it as such even if it only an airgun in peoples opinion.

If you feel you are getting no where call and tell them you want to report a missing Firearm and you want to speak to some one further up the tree.
 
The new labels that must be added to front of package since January 26 are:

Screenshot_20260429-192659~2.webp


I've used on several air guns this year 3 sticky labels one for each - saying on front of package stating clearly-

No Fly

Empty of Air

Address/ee only

With my full address on the reverse of package.

And only send Parcel Force Express 48, well packaged with a sticky ' Documents Enclosed' address pouch to make it look a bit more business like.

I've never had a problem in all these years with Parcel Force Express 48.
 
Dodgyeye said:
The new labels that must be added to front of package since January 26 are:

View attachment 967031

I've used on several air guns this year 3 sticky labels one for each - saying on front of package stating clearly-

No Fly

Empty of Air

Address/ee only

With my full address on the reverse of package.

And only send Parcel Force Express 48, well packaged with a sticky ' Documents Enclosed' address pouch to make it look a bit more business like.

I've never had a problem in all these years with Parcel Force Express 48.
Click to expand...
Im sure that is for account customers like RFD's but you could use it for personal customers.

Business accounts

Business help & support hub | Royal Mail

help.royalmail.com help.royalmail.com

  • UK destinations - Allowed in the mail, with restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
A service for Section 1 and 2 firearms and low-powered airguns (as defined by the Firearms Act 1968, as amended), imitation firearms, de-activated guns, antique firearms, paintball guns and inert projectiles (not prohibited by s5 of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended) is available to contract customers only, at the absolute discretion of Parcelforce Worldwide, and is subject to Parcelforce Worldwide providing prior written agreement in advance. Where Parcelforce Worldwide provide concurrence to sending firearms, it is subject to a number of conditions which include:


  • Collections and deliveries of section 1 and 2 firearms will only be accepted where it can be shown to Parcelforce Worldwide’s satisfaction that both the sender and the recipient are Registered Firearms Dealers.
  • Section 1 and Section 2 firearms, low-powered airguns, imitation firearms, antique firearms, and paintball guns may be permitted for zone 1 to 1 on express secure 10, AM, 48 services; deliveries to zones 2 and 3 must be on an express48 service and include ‘do not air uplift’ sticker on the parcel.
  • Inert projectiles (not prohibited by s5 of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended) may be permitted on express48 service only.
  • Customers may only despatch low powered air weapons for the purpose of repair in accordance with UK law.
  • Imitation firearms, de-activated firearms, antique firearms and paintball guns can be sent to a home address, subject to compliance with UK law.
  • Parcelforce Worldwide reserve the right that if any item is sent on the incorrect service, or does not include the correct labelling, or is a prohibited / restricted item then a charge of £20 will be levied in addition to the carriage charge and returned to the sending customer.
  • All firearms must be clearly labelled ‘Strictly addressee only’ and ‘Do not leave with a neighbour’.

As of 19 January 2026; the below prohibitions and restriction apply when sending firearms.


  • International destinations - Not allowed in the mail
  • UK destinations - Allowed in the mail, with restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
A service for Section 1 and 2 firearms and low-powered airguns (as defined by the Firearms Act 1968, as amended), imitation firearms, de-activated guns, antique firearms, paintball guns and inert projectiles (not prohibited by s5 of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended) is available to contract customers only, at the absolute discretion of Parcelforce Worldwide, and is subject to Parcelforce Worldwide providing prior written agreement in advance. Where Parcelforce Worldwide provide concurrence to sending firearms, it is subject to a number of conditions which include:


  • Collections and deliveries of section 1 and 2 firearms will only be accepted where it can be shown to Parcelforce Worldwide’s satisfaction that both the sender and the recipient are Registered Firearms Dealers.
  • Imitation firearms, de-activated firearms, antique firearms and paintball guns can be sent to a home address, subject to compliance with UK law.
  • Section 1 and Section 2 firearms, low-powered airguns, imitation firearms, antique firearms, and paintball guns may be permitted on expressAMF and expressAMF Weekend only and the label clearly showing ‘do not fly’. Extended delivery times are applicable for some postcodes, please visit Extended Delivery Times for more details.
  • Customers may only despatch low powered air weapons for the purpose of repair, in accordance with UK law.
  • Parcelforce Worldwide reserve the right that if any item is sent on the incorrect service, or does not include the correct labelling, or is a prohibited / restricted item then a charge of £20 will be levied in addition to the carriage charge and returned to the sending customer.
  • All firearms must be clearly labelled ‘Address Only’

Personal Customers

Personal help & support hub | Royal Mail

help.royalmail.com help.royalmail.com
Royal Mail only

  • International - Allowed in the mail, see restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
    • Guns intended for sporting purposes - including Section 1 and Section 2 firearms, low-powered air guns and their component parts - may be sent in compliance with UK law and subject to applicable export controls on the shipment of firearms.
    • Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays.
    • Guns must not be loaded.
    • Air weapons with an integral gas cylinder that are de-pressurised can only be accepted. Air weapons with gas cylinders that are pressurised are prohibited
    • Air weapons with a pressurised removable gas cylinder which is still attached are prohibited
    • Sender's name and address must be visible on the parcel.
    • Must be packed in rigid outer packaging suitable for the gun size and weight, for example a fibreboard box, with sufficient inner packaging to prevent movement during transport.
  • UK - Allowed in the mail, see restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
    • Guns intended for sporting purposes - including Section 1 (e.g. hunting rifles) and Section 2 (e.g. shotguns) firearms, low-powered air weapons and their component parts - may be sent in compliance with UK law and subject to domestic controls on the possession of firearms. Antiques, deactivated and imitation firearms are also permitted. When sending deactivated firearms include proof of deactivation.
    • Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays.
    • Use 1st Class as the minimum service.The senders name and address must be clear on the packaging. Low-powered air weapons which exceed the Royal Mail size restrictions are accepted by Parcelforce Worldwide, using express48 via the Post Office.
    • Guns must not be loaded.
    • Air weapons with an integral gas cylinder that are de-pressurised can only be accepted. Air weapons with gas cylinders that are pressurised are prohibited
    • Air weapons with a pressurised removable gas cylinder which is still attached are prohibited
    • Must be packed in rigid outer packaging suitable for the gun size and weight, for example a fibreboard box, with sufficient inner packaging to prevent movement during transport.

Low powered air weapons​

Low-powered air weapons (air rifles, air guns and air pistols), together with lead pellets and other airgun and airsoft projectiles, can be sent but are subject to the following conditions:

Parcelforce Worldwide only

  • International destinations - Not allowed in the mail
  • UK destinations - Allowed in the mail, with restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
    o These items must be sent on an express48 service only.
    o These items must be sent via the Post Office only, and presented at the counter.
    o Enhanced compensation cover is not available.
 
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On the Express 48 delivery only.

I think Post office Counters need to update their info. The rifles I parted with, all went via Parcelforce, I sent two pistols, a CP99 - which went by RM small parcel on a 24hr service and got to its destination, and this one - which so far has not.

With each (and all the rifles) I told the PM what was in the boxes.

As an aside, is it a great idea to advertise the contents of a parcel if it's a firearm? I would have said not.

And... I'm old fashioned. I know the wording of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, the term firearm is used, but in operation they're not firearms. I also wouldn't have called it the Air Weapons act.

But I digress.
 
An update on this, no change really.

I've refunded the (very patient) buyer their payment. And Royal Mail still have my property.

It was posted on the 30th of March.

Interestingly (or not), if you send an item and it goes awry, then successfully claim for a refund, RM's online systems refuse to accept any further complaints or claims for that reference number, (if, say, the item goes missing).

You're then faced with Vivaldi on a loop for 45 minutes to speak to someone who is not empowered in any way whatsoever to 'help'.
 
Further update - after only 20-odd minutes of Vivaldi...

They say they've destroyed the package.

But wait. Since the lady sought to convince me - based on her reading of postage rules - that it was a prohibited item, I thought I'd ask if it had been marked on their 'system' as destroyed.

She said - no it hadn't.

So. I now need to send in a paper claim form for the value of the item, not just postage.

I did get the impression that she didn't really know for sure what I'm supposed to do. She was just reading from a script that didn't really suit the circumstances.

I've written this item off, it's as well it wasn't something truly valuable. Since I've previously been told that specialists will open and look at the item and ascertain that it is obviously a low-powered pellet gun, and not Dirty Harry's EDC - it may yet arrive... Somewhere...

I don't think I'll be sending anything through the post again though. (I know, out of 8 or 9 items, only one went astray. But confidence is lost...)
 
As others have said unfortunately 24 special delivery is often air freight and as a result x-ray checked . I have had sellers send by 24 a couple times without my wishes and never had a issue but it was fairly close by i.e a county or two over so imagine it was still transported by road . Unfortunately they are not great at lodging complaints and or acting on them.
 
Michaelmilneminster said:
As others have said unfortunately 24 special delivery is often air freight and as a result x-ray checked . I have had sellers send by 24 a couple times without my wishes and never had a issue but it was fairly close by i.e a county or two over so imagine it was still transported by road . Unfortunately they are not great at lodging complaints and or acting on them.
Click to expand...
I think as well, there is the added wrinkle of Post Office Counters interfacing with Royal Mail.

I feel RM may weasel out and say its POC's fault.

I said what it was at the post office counter, and that it needed to be at its destination ASAP - and that's what they recommended.

As usual, the RM website is as clear (and accessible) as mud in terms of policies.
 
pa_broon74 said:
I don't think I'll be sending anything through the post again though. (I know, out of 8 or 9 items, only one went astray. But confidence is lost...)
Click to expand...

That's really sad, and sounds incredibly frustrating. I know it's selfish but I'm glad I was one of the lucky ones there - the sig you posted has been an absolute delight to fettle with!
 
I had an actual S1 muzzle loading pistol end up in Belfast because they thought it was S5. It was also sent Special Delivery. It took over 2 months until they finally released it. You need to keep WRITING. Stop talking to people on the phone, WRITE. It all needs to be written down. You need to keep quoting their own T&s. The clowns on the phone don't have a clue what they're talking about -I was repeatedly told by people that i was 'illegal' to send it via the post, which it most certainly was not, or that it was not compliant with their T&Cs, which it clearly was - and are a waste of time and energy. Keep writing and elevate your complaints. If you sent it in compliance with their T&Cs, and they have destroyed it, you will be successful in your claim - eventually.
 
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pa_broon74 said:
On the Express 48 delivery only.

I think Post office Counters need to update their info. The rifles I parted with, all went via Parcelforce, I sent two pistols, a CP99 - which went by RM small parcel on a 24hr service and got to its destination, and this one - which so far has not.

With each (and all the rifles) I told the PM what was in the boxes.

As an aside, is it a great idea to advertise the contents of a parcel if it's a firearm? I would have said not.

And... I'm old fashioned. I know the wording of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, the term firearm is used, but in operation they're not firearms. I also wouldn't have called it the Air Weapons act.

But I digress.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify, it's called the 'Air Weapons' Act because that's the legal term given to them by the UK's Firearms At 1968. They had no discretion to change it. Similarly, 'air weapons' are firearms because the Firearms Act says so, not the Air Weapons Act.
 
jukibom said:
That's really sad, and sounds incredibly frustrating. I know it's selfish but I'm glad I was one of the lucky ones there - the sig you posted has been an absolute delight to fettle with!
Click to expand...
I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Definitely a gun for the fettlers.

And I'm also glad it arrived safely.
 
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