Shipping Firearms via Canada Post
 

Folks,

I saw another thread about a package that went missing in the mail even though it was shipped within Canada, and I thought i'd post my experience here as a warning to others.

• First Point - the Government has declared that firearms may be shipped via Canada Post, using their most secure delivery method, with signature verification
• Second Point - Canada Post has declared that their most secure shipping method, with signature, is Priority Courier.
• Third Point - Canada Post shares aircraft with Purolator for Expresspost delivery.
• Fourth Point - Purolator forbids the shipping of firearms.

Now why is all this relevant to airsoft and the sale of AEG's?

About 4 months ago I ordered and paid for a STAG ARMS AR15 from a retailer on the East Coast. The rifle was shipped Expresspost, and was expected to arrive within 3 days. When the rifle didn't show up, I initiated a trace and found that it had dissappeared at the post office.

After dealing with the postal investigative service, it was determined that in this instance, Canada Post shared an aircraft with Purolator. A Purolator worker noticed a box that was rifle shaped, and although there were no markings identifying the contents of the rifle or the shipper's business name to suggest a firearm was in the package, it was pulled off the plane and put on a truck where it was delayed for a week due to severe storms in the area. Two weeks later, it arrived at my door.

Canada Post apologized for the incident, stating that although they share aircraft, Purolator is not supposed to handle any CP merchandise EVER. That being said, he acknowledged that this type of thing happens all too frequently.

So here's the punchline - if you ship an AEG using Expresspost, and depending on your location, there is a chance the package will be on a Purolator aircraft at some point. If the package looks like it may contain a firearms, it may get pulled off the airplane and put on a truck, if it gets sent on it's way at all. IF the package dissapears, Canada Post WILL NOT honour your insurance on the package because you were effectively breaking the law by sending a firearm in the mail without using THEIR declared "most secure delivery method", being Priority Courier.

So if you have purchased an AEG, you have an Expresspost tracking number, but the tracking seems to dissapear at a post office, this might be the case for you.

Wow, I've never heard of that happening. I wonder how often that has happened to members here.

Isn't the AR15 on t he prohibited firearms list? How did you buy one?

Uh, no. It's restricted.

do the dealers use the most secure method?

Interesting because the Canadian firearms center FAQ states that any gun with a 'military appearance" is prohibited.

Read further....
Especially the part on the list of restricted and prohibited firearms.

http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/default_e.asp

No it doesnt.

The Criminal Code defines the following firearms as prohibited:

• automatics, including those that have been converted so that they can only fire one projectile when the trigger is squeezed;
• handguns with a barrel length of 105 mm (4.1 inches) or less, and handguns that discharge .25 or .32 calibre ammunition, except for a few specific models used in International Shooting Union competitions;.
• rifles and shotguns that have been altered so that their barrel length is less than 457 mm (about 18 inches) or their overall length is less than 660 mm (about 26 inches); or
• any firearm prescribed as prohibited – These can be found in the fact sheet listing restricted and prohibited firearms.

On Restricted Firearms: (http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/r&p_e.asp)

Firearms Prescribed as Restricted

This list of restricted firearms specified in the December 1, 1998 Criminal Code regulations includes all firearms that have been restricted by a former Order in Council.

• The firearm of the design commonly known as the M-16 rifle, and any variant or modified version of it, including the:

1. Colt AR-15;
2. Colt AR-15 SPI;
3. Colt AR-15 Sporter;
4. Colt AR-15 Collapsible Stock Model;
5. Colt AR-15 A2;
6. Colt AR-15 A2 Carbine;
7. Colt AR-15 A2 Government Model Rifle;
8. Colt AR-15 A2 Government Model Target Rifle;
9. Colt AR-15 A2 Government Model Carbine;
10. Colt AR-15 A2 Sporter II;
11. Colt AR-15 A2 H-BAR;
12. Colt AR-15 A2 Delta H-BAR;
13. Colt AR-15 A2 Delta H-BAR Match;
14. Colt AR-15 9mm Carbine;
15. Armalite AR-15;
16. AAI M15;
17. AP74;
18. EAC J-15;
19. PWA Commando;
20. SGW XM15A;
21. SGW CAR-AR;
22. SWD AR-15; and,
23. Any 22 calibre rimfire variant, including the:
    1. Mitchell M-16A-1/22,
    2. Mitchell M-16/22,
    3. Mitchell CAR-15/22, and
    4. AP74 Auto Rifle.

ANYWAY

This has nothing to do with firearms other than a box that looks like it MIGHT contain a firearm may be pulled out of the shipment, depriving you of your airsoft gun.

back on topic here,do the dealers use the most secure method?

That would depend on the dealer.

Officially, they don't have to. AEG's are not considered firearms. The issue is that because it looks like it MIGHT be a firearms, some dink from Purolator can pull your package off the plane.

Keep in mind that Priority Courier is also the most EXPENSIVE shipping method. I sold a .22 rifle to someone in BC, it cost me $60 to ship it.

So you're saying if a retailer ships us a gun via Expedited parcels even with tracking number it's absolutely useless even with Signature on Delivery!?

Uh....no, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that if it's shipped any method other than priority courier, and if Canada Post elects to contract to Purolator to use one of their planes, your package might be pulled off the plane and shipped ground. You will still be required to sign for it, but it will take a LOT longer to get to you, IF the Purolator dink who pulls it off the plane actually puts it on a truck and doesn't leave it sitting in a warehouse "orhpaned".

I'm saying that contrary to policies, Purolator often interferes with Canada Post's shipping when Canada Post elects to pay Purolator to use one of their aircraft. Because the package is taken off a plane by Purolator and NOT by Canada Post, there is no scan on the label and the tracking system is bypassed.

In the example I stated previously, for three weeks the tracking information at the CP site listed my package as "accepted for delivery at postal outlet". Three weeks later, one morning, it said "out for delivery to customer". Nothing in between.

Okay but let's say your package is lost and requires tracking, they won't reimburse you unless you do signature right? I do understand though that it could be pulled off if it looks like a gun.

Yeh, two years ago i shipped a gun to a guy in Alberta... and Canada Post not only managed to loose the package (im sure one of their staff probably swiped it). They only gave me half the insurance that i paid for $400 of the $800 - only after almost 5 months of dealing with their incompetent staff, AND the ombudsman.

Anyway to make a very long story short, they only honored HALF the insurance amount, because the ombudsman ruled in their favor. Their excuse was i was unable to provide any receipt of ownership of what was in the package. I claimed it was a paintball gun as i was unsure how to deal with airsoft....

Soo always get double the insurance.