Indians For Guns

A couple of days back IFG member, Deepak Mishra, took receipt of a parcel that many of us have dreamed about....an air-rifle via post!








Oops.... Imagine what may have happened to the rifle if it had been sent in the usual cardboard box.




I will let Deepak give you the details from start to finish but suffice to say that it took less than a month from the date of order to receipt and there was no trouble with postal customs at this end.

Mack The Knife

Hi Mack The Knife,

What was the cost and he must be the member of NRAI. Do let know.

Thanks
Denzil

Hi All,
Happy Diwali and Ramadan to you all. I am Deepak and would like to share my experience about Air rifle import with you.

Preparation
This started on 1st of Sept.
I found out that Ahg-Anschutz channel all their customers via an Indian dealer Mr Vishwajeet Shinde. Collected his address from Anschutz website. Tried to call him. But till 5th of September could not contact him.
Mailing Anschutz also did not help me much.

Some how managed to contact him on 7th Sept. He is new in this business. So some now he tried his level best to provide me the information.

I was interested to purchase (Price in Euro)
1. FWB LAG 700 al Air rifle________________1469.70
2. Extra Cylinder for the Air rifle____________105.00
3. Hand Pump to charge the Air cylinder______160.00
4. Transport case for 2 rifles.________________78.72
5. Torque Wrench_________________________44.40
( which Mack The Knife suggested that I should have one torque wrench)
6. Ag-cleaning Kit 100 cm__________________10.38

I requested the dealer and Ahg to provide me the details of the accessories or any other thing which will come along with the air rifle, which hand pump they can provide me.. and all such details.. for which I got no answers.. so I left it up to God and decided to place the order.


On business now

On my request on 7the I informed the dealer about what all I want.
On 18th Sept I got 2 sets of Performa Invoices from the Indian dealer.
One was with Premium mail (Euro 2092.58)
Other with Economy mail (Euro 2062.85)
Both were insured.

He also provided me with a template requesting the bank to transfer foreign exchange to Ahg- Anschutz.

I opted for Economy Mail. And on 20th September I requested ICICI bank to transfer the amount to Ahg Anschutz’s provided bank account.

For this I had to provide the following documents to the Bank
1. I had to fill in a form to request the bank for fund transfer.
2. Xerox copy of the Govt. Gazette with tells that it is free to import an air rifle for the shooters of any club/association.
3. Identity card of my Rifle Association - KSRA.

Till 28th I got no conformation, neither form Ahg-Anschutz nor from the local dealer. So I mailed them multiple times and asked the Ahg-Anschutz about this. Unfortunately I got no answer from them.


On 9th of Oct I got the following mail:

Dear Deepak Kumar Mishra
your shipment left Germany 29. September with German parcel post
No. 893385319127 , time for delivery in your contry approx. 24 days.
International tracking No. CL 613643098 DE
Hope you will receive it soon.
Best regards ahg-Ulm

But the international tracking number is of no use as in India we don’t use any tracking method. The German postal web site was not showing any information of the shipment.

So I decided to go and ask at the Bangalore foreign post office.

At Postal Customs

On 10th Oct I searched the log of Air Parcels at Bangalore foreign post office and found that mine had arrived on 7th of Oct.. (wow It had just taken 8 days)

Then I collected the Indian tracking number for my shipment and as suggested by the Foreign Postal Dept, I contacted Postal Appraisal Department or Postal Customs dept which was on the 3rd floor of the same building.

Postal Customs dept requested me to provide the following documents
1. Invoice of the shipment.
2. Civilian Rifle Training Course Certificate from KSRA.
3. Club ID card.
4. Though they did not ask but I provided my GVM certificate.

I met the Superintendent (PAD) and gave him all the documents.
He calculated the duty in the following manner
( Total amount paid – Insurance – Freight Charges ) * 36.16 (or some thing like that ) + Rs 100 for repackaging

He forwarded the documents to the Asst. Commissioner and informed that in 2-3 days they will open the parcel and will verify the shipment. And then they will hand it over to the Postal dept.

Start of problem ( Though not that big)

It is important to mention that PAD has a monthly circular of the calculation of foreign exchange. Though the Euro rate on that day was Rs 56.6…. they calculated it as Rs. 59.20.

After explaining to them that the rifle is very delicate and it needs to be packed properly, they did not show me the parcel and told they will do it. Gave example that they handle more costly medical and computer equipment so I should not worry.

I was in no mood to fight with them so came out.

After 2 days on 16th Oct I contacted PAD to know if my shipment was cleared by customs. Asked them the duty and it was more. Found that they have charged the duty on Insurance and Freight Charges also.

I am not sure whether they wanted bribe to reduce the duty.. But I had decided not to give it...

I explained to the Superintendent that they should only consider the price of goods not the freight and insurance charges.. But I was told that the duty calculation is as per rules and it is perfect…

On 18th my Parcel was there at my local post office. The parcel looked to be OK so I collected that by paying Rs. 45406/- as my Customs duty.

As I had some urgent meeting at office I collected the parcel, left it at home and went to office. Unfortunately, I could not come home for 2 days as we had some important work.

On 20th Oct. I came home and opened the parcel to find that the rifle case was broken. Rifle was packed very badly inside that and the bolt was open and rifle was resting on it. One front sight insert was also scratched.

Though FWB say that the rifle should come in a different type of package, ahg-anschutz had packed that in the rifle case for extra safety and forgot to pack the rifle case safely.

Sad thing that there was no handling instructions on top.Nor any check list for the rifle. Go for a cheap Mp3 player … $15- $20 .. you will get all information..

But I am happy ..... I got my Air Rifle..

I asked the Post master today about giving me a letter that the package damaged inside. She refused to give such a certificate.. because if she does the blame will be on her head..

I am not surprised about it, I was expecting worse than this.

Actually I avoid Govt Offices, vegetable markets & finance dept. I prefer it is better to purchase a new one if it is possible than fighting with those people in India..

Hope this information will help you in some way. Now Air Rifle import is so simple.. but.. forget it..

I should go now to try out my new stuff..

Bye..

Deepak Mishra

Wow deepak great going there! Happy shooting
Jonah

Thanks for typing that up, Deepak.

For convenience sake, please post Viswajeet Shinde's contact details.

I suggest you speak to Shinde and have him advice you on how to collect insurance for the damaged rifle case. Don't think you should let it go.

Mack The Knife

Hi Denzil,

One does not have to be a member of the NRAI to import an air-rifle/pistol in .177" calibre, though Deepak is currently in the process of applying for NRAI membership.

However, you do need to be a member of your state's shooting association.

Mack The Knife

Contact details of Viswajeet Shinde is
SPORTSHOT
Sheetal Vishwajeet Shinde
402/3A Vaishali Nagar
Mahalaxmi
Mumbai 400011
India
Phone: 22-23000217
Fax: 22-24313625
Mob: 98691 65683
[email protected]


The office of postal Appraising Department is located at
Shoolay Complex,
III Floor, Museum Road,
Bangalore-560025.
phone 080-25589992.

more details
http://nitpu3.kar.nic.in/blrcustoms/Index_FF.htm

Foreign Post Office BANGALORE
SAME BUILDING AS PAD but in 2nd floor.

Thanks, Deepak.

Mack The Knife

Mack The Knife Bana";p="5218 wrote:Hi Denzil,

However, you do need to be a member of your state's shooting association.

Mack The Knife

More Details can be found at
http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?t=441

Regards
Deepak

jonahpach";p="5216 wrote: Wow deepak great going there! Happy shooting
Jonah

Ya Jonah..
World's best Air Rifle & equipments are with me.
Now It is time for me to be The BEST
regards
Deepak

Deepak,

Congratulations on getting your gun. If it was sent to you CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) then you should take the neccessary pictures and contact the company that the consignment was insured with.

Most companies pay. A word of advice to anyone else contemplating this - please insure your guns for about 15% over the price. Though the insurance company would only pay what the declared value is, the additional insurance would mean that the process is completed faster. In Rupee amounts, it should not cost more than an additional cost of dinner at a good restaurant.

Cheers!

Mehul

Mr. Mehul..
Nice to get your post..

While importing next time .., I will keep your advice in my mind...

I am a regular importer of Electronic components parts and circuits.. from my exp I am telling you .. this type of issues are so often that most of the time when this happens suppliers outside India go to forums and tell that Indians are cheat or they are irretated with this type of issues from Indians.

The lady who was there in the post office .. ( Post Master) acted in such a way that as if she has to pay the money.. and I am trying to cheat..

Its ok.. we know our postal dept or in general how our system functions..

I have already mailed the ahg - anschutz with the photos.. if they give then well and good.. else .. what can I do?

But who knows it will not break again?

regards
Deepak

Deepak,

If you are going to travel to comps by air, get a better travel case. This is okay if it stays with you all the time and you are the one doing the handling.

Get one with a piano hinge - a hinge that spans the entire length of the case.

I am surprised you were charged almost Euro 79.00 for what is the most basic of rifle cases.

Repair it as discussed and get a zippered canvas outer cover made for it. This should suffice for the time being.

Mack The Knife

Mr Mack The Knife,
In INR I have paid 6459/- for that cover and the cover comes with 5 years warranty.

Ya I will some how manage to repire and as soon as possible will try to get a new one (better one). It is most important for the safety of the rifle.


regards
Deepak

And people,
The Most important part I had forgotten to tell you.
After getting the Air rifle, I took that to Mr Mack The Knife.. and he adjusted rifle's various settings made it as per my requirement.

I am thankful to him for this help.

Regards
Deepak