Thread: International order seized in Australia

Hi, I only have 1 mag for my 22lr which makes competitions really hard, but these mags aren't even sold in NZ, so I had to order them from Brownells in the USA.

But a few days ago I got a letter from Australian Border Force saying it was seized in Australian customs, that I need to fill in a form to request to have it released.


I filled in the form and included my import permit but then got a rejection email saying that my request is invalid because I'm not a resident of Australia.


I emailed Brownell support (who's always given me useless answers and always takes 2 days to reply) but they just gave me a one sentence reply of "We would have no control over customs seizures."

Does anyone understand this?
It makes no sense to me that Australia just intersects packages to destroy that's not even for Australia, but if that's what they do, then should Brownells have made sure not to use a shipment that goes through Australia?

Do you have a NZ import permit?
It might be Aussie customs stopping stuff that doesn’t meet requirements to enter NZ

I have heard of this happening before and now I always make sure any gun related stuff I get shipped to NZ doesn't go through any Aussie ports. From what I remember the person lost everything in the order as Australian customs just destroyed it and the shipper took no responsibility

This seems to be entirely unjustified as the goods are not going to reside within the Australian borders. Surely there must be a way to appeal this.

You are screwed - the courier company sent your package to an Australian mail exchange. This is entering Australia. Customs there have seized it because its illegal in Australia. Your not going to get it back. They are well aware that its going to NZ but dont care because it went to an Australian sorting centre. (To understand their point of view, if they found some marijuana in a package they would seize it as well, even if it was ongoing to a country where it's legal to possess.)

Brownells owe you money. They are responsible for the shipping. They have your money and you have nothing. You dont care why it has not arrived, it got lost in a foreign country that is their problem. Ask them what they are doing to get your package back or when they are sending your another one.

Originally Posted by Mintie

I have heard of this happening before and now I always make sure any gun related stuff I get shipped to NZ doesn't go through any Aussie ports. From what I remember the person lost everything in the order as Australian customs just destroyed it and the shipper took no responsibility

Not sure how much control the seller has in which direction your parcel heads. Also things are worse now than they have ever been.
Even pre covid I have had stuff from Brownells go via Lima Peru and even via French Polynesia. Mate had one of his parcels go via Japan.
The posters situation is maybe different though as I'm sure my parcels weren't off loaded at those intermediate destinations. Maybe with Australia there is a transit to another cargo jet for NZ hence some interaction from customs.
Best of luck.

This is exactly the sort of bureaucratic shit that should be sorted out at government level instead of them sitting round singing Kumbaya and patting themselves on the back for useless virtue signaling. This is unwarranted interference in lawful commerce. The importer has done everything correctly and he has been shafted by self-appointed 'Dudley do-rights'. Get onto your MP and demand that Government takes some action!

Originally Posted by gundoc

This is exactly the sort of bureaucratic shit that should be sorted out at government level instead of them sitting round singing Kumbaya and patting themselves on the back for useless virtue signaling. This is unwarranted interference in lawful commerce. The importer has done everything correctly and he has been shafted by self-appointed 'Dudley do-rights'. Get onto your MP and demand that Government takes some action!

This has nothing to do with any NZ Government. It is between the shipper, shipping company and Australian Government.

Assuming the order was paid for using a credit card then contacting the card's bank would be on avenue to follow up as the goods will never be received.

The seller should replace the items as they have not (will not) be received by the purchaser.

Unfortunately this is a price we pay for living in Godzone country a long way from elsewhere.

I've had better experiences where the US seller has replaced the items that have been traveling the world.
One shipment from the US to NZ went to Japan, Europe, UK and back to US eventually making back to the seller after many months.

Ordering from overseas means we take the risk of missing or seized shipments.

Brownells has been good to me in the past and sent another item when what I ordered hasn't turned up. With that said I haven't dealt with then since NZ Post made it too hard.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

This has nothing to do with any NZ Government. It is between the shipper, shipping company and Australian Gover
Assuming the order was paid for using a credit card then contacting the card's bank would be on avenue to follow up as the goods will never be received.

The seller should replace the items as they have not (will not) be received by the purchaser.

I got caught up in the US Postal Service debacle when they suspended all but their most expensive services to NZ.
I had a 21st Century press on the way. It made it to Chicago and after a considerable time was returned to the post office of origin.
The seller didn't even know. I tracked it there and advised them to pick it up. They were good and I got a full refund including the shipping cost.

While my parcel was in limbo I investigated making a claim against USPS. In the bowels of their website I found a claims form but it actually required the seller to submit the claim, not the purchaser. Don't know if this is the same for all shipping services.

As recommended above go for a reverse CC charge which should get a better response from Brownells.
I doubt the goods can be recovered now from Oz customs. As they appear to have closed the case the mags may already have been destroyed.

Aside from the poster's Oz experience buying anything ex USA has lost its shine.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

This has nothing to do with any NZ Government. It is between the shipper, shipping company and Australian Government.

Assuming the order was paid for using a credit card then contacting the card's bank would be on avenue to follow up as the goods will never be received.

The seller should replace the items as they have not (will not) be received by the purchaser.

Unfortunately this is a price we pay for living in Godzone country a long way from elsewhere.

I've had better experiences where the US seller has replaced the items that have been traveling the world.
One shipment from the US to NZ went to Japan, Europe, UK and back to US eventually making back to the seller after many months.

Ordering from overseas means we take the risk of missing or seized shipments.

My point is that it is interference with lawful international commerce and our government should be insisting on on-shipping when it is a lawful import to this country. I know what a pack of bastards Aussie Customs are, but Aussie was only a trans-shipping point, not a destination. This is the sort of thing that should be cleared up at government level.

Quite correct at the practical level, but do you reckon that there's a chance that anyone in the NZ Govt will give a crap? I would be pleased beyond words to find out that someone cared enough to sort this out, but I'd put money on no one doing it.

Even if they did it would also take Australia to give a crap and from what we have seen that would be a big fat no.
They would have to agree that it's a bit stupid but they wont do that.
Just like the extradition of people that have grown up in Australia, possibly paid taxes etc and then ditching them.ba k to us when it suits them

As an aside, there's more than a suggestion that POS "celebrity" that deliberately ran over the cop was a 501 that got assholed out of Oz. The news isn't good apparently for that cop- the talk is it's highly likely he won't walk again.

Brownells USA or Brownells Aus?