Dear Happy & xl,
Thank you very much!
I have recd multiple PMs on my import experience, cost, custom process etc. and hence for the benefit of all first-timers like I was a few months back, am posting the same here.
Once I started visiting MRA every weekend regularly & using their spring action pistol, I decided it was time for me to own one. While as an initial start, the spring action pistols are good, but once you start shooting regularly, it does become distracting and cumbersome to load it after every shot. With all due respects, I do not deny that many of the best pistol shooters in India & world over have won practising on these same weapons, all am saying is that I took as a need than luxury and had been saving for it for a long time.
So after some guidance of some senior IFGans here, some research on net and discussions at MRA, I zeroed down on Steyr LP10. I went to their website and came across the contact point in India who can help me in "placing the order" - why I have highlighted the same is that no matter whoever claims what, the only thing these mediators can do is help you place the order, after which its your responsibility to get it cleared from customs on your own. While Mr Bhatia was upfront about that to me saying that he will help me only to place order, the other gentleman through whom I finally booked the weapon, on recommendation of range officer of MRA, told me that I would be assisted at the every step until the weapon is cleared. He is a well known gentleman in this community and his name has appeared a few times on this forum & many of you are good friends of his.
Now it was not precisely he who made these promises, but a person from his office. It was a complete first experience for me including using international wire transfer facility. My bank (SCB) made me fill multiple forms, generated IMEX code for no rhyme or reason inspite of me repeatedly telling them that it was for personal use and I am not an importer. They took atleast 3 days and numerous phone follow-ups to ensure that the transfer was done. It seemed like it was a first time even for the relationship manager who was handling my case. No one in the branch had any clue on the procedure including whether the exchange rate applicable would be "Buy" or "Sell".
Once the transfer was done and I recd the remittance slip, I was shocked to see that I was charged Rs 3000/- + service tax in form of commission & service charge. While the slip clearly mentioned that the charge will be 0.1% of transaction amount. I argued with bank and sent a mail too. I got a complete breakup on mail stating there is commission involved over & above the service charge. I left it at that! But pls check with other banks on their fee. While nationalised banks exchange rates are slightly higher, their service charges are as low as Rs 500/- and you only have to fill up 1 form and transfer happens almost instantly.
After the transfer happened, I kept waiting to hear from the gentleman (here by gentleman I mean an employees of the gentleman's sports company) & Steyr. Pls note that in this entire deal, I was the one who constantly followed up with the gentleman, there was not a single call from him on the status of consignment. I was damn pissed and decided not to pay a single penny as service charge when the time came. Anyway, apparently Steyr did not confirm the receipt of the transfer and my order got further delayed. I had an ugly exchange of emails with this gentleman who apparently told me that the lady in Steyr who was their contact point was on leave. I was amazed as to how work outside India too can stop in absence of an individual while they boast of everything being online. That way I was floored with systems & processes of Pyramydair when I recently imported something else from them.
Coming back to the topic, after mail war where finally the gentleman did admit there was goof-up somewhere, I finally received a confirmation with airway bill of DHL. Apparently, the only service they use is DHL & DHL India sucks big time. I started keeping a track on the consignment and was happy when it reached Mumbai & called this gentleman asking him what next. He asked me to wait until the package gets detained in customs. The package was recd on 4th June and there was no news on detention either from the customs (they send a call letter for necessary documents to be submitted) or from the gentleman. For him it was usual business & for me it was my proud possession lying in the wrong hands.
Inspite of no action from the gentleman inspite of numerous phone calls & atleast a week after the package had arrived, I decided to go personally to customs. Unfortunately I reached at around 1315 hrs and it was lunch time. The address is Videsh Daak Bhavan (Foreign Post), Next to New Customs House, Ballard Estate, Fort.
I waited until 1400 hrs and then was asked to go to customer support on second floor. I met an official there who dug out my paper and said that it had not yet come to table for custom inspection and the current consignment lot for inspection was of 1st June, that meant that I may have to wait for a week more. I requested this official if the same can be considered. He asked me to write a letter stating that I was an aspiring shooter and need the weapon for competitions asap. I wrote a letter to DC - Post who was a sweet lady. She said that lot of people were importing air pistols & rifles and seems that likes of Abhinav Bindra has rubbed off everyone
. She immdtly signed the letter and asked me to meet Mr Kale, DC - Customs.
Mr Kale, a very fine interesting man indeed. He heard my case, went through the papers, gave me a letter which I had to show in ground floor for the package to come to customs table for detention. So with his letter, the package was detained by customs. I did have an interaction with him and discussed about Delhi HC decision on air guns etc. He had a neutral stand but was encouraging and helpful. To ensure that I came prepared for clearing consignment next time (since I had gone only with invoice & tracking number) he listed down documents reqd for clearance which are as follows:
1) Invoice copy
2) Payment details (remittance slip)
3) Original letter from the rifle association mentioning that you are member of the club & mention of your membership id number
4) A copy of membership id (original to be carried)
5) Photo id copy with original for verification
6) Ration Card copy with original for verification
7) Notification that .177 airguns can be imported by club members (though he did not need it as he was aware of the laws, the others did need it)
Notification on waiver of import duty (again others needed it to waive off the duty)
The rifle club in order to give you the bonafide certificate will need the following documents (atleast in case of MRA):
1) Invoice of pistol
2) Payment details
3) Call letter from customs (photocopy as you will need original to be submitted again while taking delivery)
Since I had gone personally to customs and got the package detained before its due date, I had to request Mr Kale for a call letter immdtly since I could take it in person. Else it is posted and would have taken atleast 10 days. He readily obliged and issued the call letter immdtly. The post is already too long and hence not writing down my experience of waiting for 6 hrs to get all the above & gory details of the process in post office.
Once I got the letter & id from MRA, I reached customs house at 1400 hrs straight to Mr Kale. He checked all my documents and after that what followed was the apathy that rules the roost in India. The file was given to another gentleman (am forgetting his name, from his accent he sounded like a Bengali) who was to inspect my weapon. He went through each & every document atleast 5-6 times making faces and trying to find a flaw. As an additional precaution I had attached my passport copy as well (just-in-case). Now after showing him originals of Ration Card, Pan Card & Driving Licence, he also wanted to see original passport. I told him that I were to get only 1 photo id proof and have shown him multiple and passport as optional and that I can get it from my car. He was ok and once again started checking all documents and actually checking quality of the paper (probably to check if it was forged).
Finally when he could not find any flaws, he asked one of the guys to get the parcel out for inspection. The guy then started doing his bit to show how much he was helping me in turn expecting a tip. He got the parcel out and got the other guy to come for inspection. After waiting for 10 minutes or so, the parcel was opened, he checked everything and it was sealed again. By now it was 1530 hrs and the ordeal had just started. He signed the papers and said that same has been sent to ACP who was not in office. He asked me to come either next day at 1100 hrs or that the package will be delivered after a few days to my place. I was not convinced and did not want to leave the package in their custody anymore and hence I said I will wait. He tried to dissuade me by saying he may not come several times. But I stood my ground and waited for him. It was over an hour & when I went again he was like the file has been signed and I should go to ground floor again for 4 more signatures.
A new guy came in my life running around with my file showing how much he was pushing my case and helping me. Just when it was 1620 hrs, 1 lady who had to sign the document, got up took her bag & started leaving. This guy requested her that all that was required was one signature but she did not bother & walked off. Just then like an angel Mr Kale yet again came to my rescue. He took that guy & file to first floor while I waited in ground floor. After sometime the fellow returned with the signed document and it took another 4 signatures, a few stamps and I got my clearance for delivery.
With that I went to dispatch section. They (Mr Jadhav) quickly made the gate pass and took another 20 minutes for some other signatures. It was 1700 hrs now & people were showing how late it was and how they were staying back just to complete my work.
At last, I did get my gate pass and I was out of that place a free, educated & liberated soul and just when I stepped out, it started pouring after a break of 2 weeks dry spell. Luckily my car was parked close by.
So thats my experience of owning this beauty with which am yet to fire my first shot.
And a special mention here of my friend silver9 who was there to support me mentally while I was going through this ordeal
Hence pls keep in mind the following points while importing an air weapon:
1) Try avoiding any middle man unless they have credentials and are authorised by the company as their distributor in your country. If not try ordering directly
2) Check with your bank on rates, fees etc. for wire transfer. Pls ensure you get the remittance slip asap and the same is emailed to the company from whom you are importing
3) Keep a track on movement of the consignment and reach the customs house personally if you do not hear from them in 3 or 4 days after the consignment has reached
4) Meanwhile also gather all the documents & carry the file with you. If your club gives you a bonafide certificate without a call letter, that would be great as you can get the weapon cleared on the same day. If not then you may have to make atleast 2 visits
5) Pls plan your day assuming you will not get back to office
All the above including list of documentation reqd is as per Mumbai Postal customs, am not sure about other places and modes of import. And its not necessary that you too may have to go through what I went through. There are people for whom it may have been a cake walk or people who may have gone through worst.
That was my day, my luck and my experience...Pls do share yours
Hope the above helps!
Cheers,
Rup
-- Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:23 --
O btw! Just before I went to custom house to get delivery, I got a call from the gentleman stating that the consignment had still not reached customs for clearance & until then he cannot do anything
I had to break his bubble and told him that the custom has cleared it because I went in person to ensure it was done and that am going again for delivery with all necessary documents. He sounded shocked and after that I have not heard from him
Cheers,
Rup
. I did go through the manual and kept looking at the weapon, but aint sure where to start from. Will be going to the range this Saturday to try my hand on it.
