Thread: Lessons learned when shipping rifle scope back to overseas factory

Last month I imported one ZCO5-27 rifle scope from Optics Trade from Slovenia. The scope was great except for some minor defects with turrets. I contacted ZCO factory in Austria. Their manager kindly offered free inspection/repair. The only thing I need to do is to post it back with their UPS label (UPS Express). I didn't realize that was the start of the nightmare.

1. The pickup was scheduled on 20 April. The scope was indeeded being picked up. However there is no tracking information available until 23 April.

Lession: UPS New Zealand sub-contracted delivery and pickup to Aramex. The tracking information won't be available until the parcel is delivered to UPS HQ in Auckland.

2. The parcel didn't move for the next 3 days and no one contacted me since. I contacted them for details then they suggested I made a mistake declaring the value of the parcel. They didn't contact me because the contact details was incorrect.

Lession: Always declare correct value of the parcel. This is very important. Also make sure the contact details are correct.

3. After correctly declared the parcel value, the parcel is finally ready to be exported. Unfortunately there was no update since, again, for the next 3 days. After days of inqueries, the export team from the UPS finally contacted me, requesting for MFA permit so they can export the scope.

Lession: Exporting rifle scopes requires MFA permit, despite there is no permit required to import. Fortunately the officer from MFAT was very helpful. The MFA (single temporary) permit was issued in 3 days. https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/tr...ual-use-goods/

4. The scope departed from New Zealand border on 5 May. Two days later the scope arrived in Australia and held for inspection.

Lession: I can see why the parcel ended up in Australia. Ring them if the parcel is held in a country that is not your destination. Also, there must a reason if your parcel didn't move for more than 3 days.


5. After days of communication, on 11 May, the parcel departed from Australia and there is no further update since.

6. UPS confirmed the parcel is lost and claiming is available on 17 May.



Summary
No one from UPS contacted me when exception occurred, every single time. Overall, my recommendation is to stay away from UPS, expectially if you have parcel going to ship from/to New Zealand.

NZ post lost some stuff for us also, months later no compensation. They just blame it on the CCP virus.

I have imported and sent scopes away for repair before and had no bad luck.
Now days I buy my scopes in nz that has a reputable wholesaler as no way I would want a 5k scope "lost" in transit.
Reputable optics company are the way forward with optics sourced in nz.


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yep one of the benefits of supporting local might be a bit more expensive but are the headaches really worth it.....