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View Full Version : Euro mag dealer..

FiXeL
11-30-2007, 11:04 AM
Well, i've been thinking about it before but never have taken initiative because there is a shop in the netherlands that still sells AGD. But the prices are steep, and with the current value of the euro it becomes interesting to start something. In the netherlands, mags are not very popular. Most of the guys that play with a mag i know, and those are just a happy few. But in Germany there is a bigger paintball scene, with way more mag shooters that just struggle to get parts in the country.

In Germany there are specific laws about paintball. A airgun is not allowed to have more than 7,5 joules of muzzle energy to be considered a "Free weapon" Basicly this means these sorry sobs have to shoot at 218 FPS to be legal. Also the guns have to be stamped with specific marks to legally make it a free weapon. If they don't have the stamps, it is considered a firearm and modifications like a upgrade barrel are illegal also.

As far as i can understand, there are little to no shops around in germany that supports mags. Today i've got a PM from a german on www.pbportal.de asking if i would know places to get mags in europe. In germany it is a real pain in the *** to import paintball gear, and the only option would be getting it within the european union (no customs checks) Also i've heard that the local shop that has AGD stuff is hoarded by germans for parts, and i think i know why. Its because i posted a pic of their stock on the german forums... :wall:

This gives me an opertunity to make a buck or two, by importing AGD stuff legally, and shipping it legally to germany. But, there is also the german law that prohibits any marker modifications to consider. I really don't want to get into trouble, but i could sell alot of legal parts there, since there clearly is a market for mag stuff. Gripframes would be a big no no, because these need to have the staps. Also Emag/Xmag gripframes and RT valves are prohibited.

I have hardly any expierence with setting up a buisness, and it will hardly be something i can live off. If i would offer this service, it would be to make a few bucks, pay for my paintball expences, and keep mags alive in europe. But i definatly want to keep it legal, because i have no interest in making a "quick buck" I allready have a good job and don't need illegal things to mess my life up.

What are your thoughts about this matter?
TnDeathInc
11-30-2007, 11:07 AM
sounds very intersting, it does make me worry a little bit, i guess if its all legal and such rock on.
BigEvil
11-30-2007, 11:35 AM
Sounds like an opportunity. You should consider contacting and hiring a customs broker to help aid the process of importing parts legally and hassle free.

Just think how how great it would be if you were able to get some of these parts 'stamped' to make them legal. Thats another possibility to look into.
Dark Side
11-30-2007, 11:42 AM
Good luck man! :candle:
FiXeL
11-30-2007, 11:59 AM
Sounds like an opportunity. You should consider contacting and hiring a customs broker to help aid the process of importing parts legally and hassle free.

Just think how how great it would be if you were able to get some of these parts 'stamped' to make them legal. Thats another possibility to look into.

Well, i could get some parts made legal, but this means a load of red tape to cut trough.. And i'm not really interested in this... Alot of paperwork, and i hate that the most. I was thinking to start easy, offer spares, rails and bodies. Although upgrading a marker is against german law, there are definatly some grey areas, and when it comes to the customizability of a mag, there are many. I really don't want to break the law, but these guys have a pretty hard time getting stuff from the US. German customs act like most germans: Gruntlich - Punktlich and that means you will not get away with importing paintball gun parts. Here in the netherlands we have different laws, and importing a minimag or tac-one is not really a big deal over here... But if you tried in germany, you would be up **** creek.

There is surely a demand for parts, but the big difficulty is keeping it legal. I don't want to break the law for sending stuff over to germany.
Cold Steel
11-30-2007, 01:28 PM
Could you stock these parts legally in the Netherlands and let your German customers come to you to get them? Might be a simple fix that would take any legal liability off of you.

CS
FiXeL
11-30-2007, 03:06 PM
Well, if they come and get them i could only refuse sale on moral standards... And i probably would. I'm not the kinda guy that would sell a emag frame to a german knowing he surely would get into trouble with it. But focus on the legal parts here. Customizing a mag is basicly forbidden, but unless the local police officer is a expert, and you have a stamped grip and everything matches you should be cool. By law this would be illegal, but basicly this is a grey area. Same als ramping boards, those are illegal too, but widely available. Also ** stamps euro guns as standard, but from what i've heard from their own techs, it's a grey area too.
mongoose
11-30-2007, 05:06 PM
sounds like you found a niche
RogueFactor
11-30-2007, 05:18 PM
I ship stuff to Germany all the time. Im surprised its so hard to get?:confused:
FiXeL
12-01-2007, 02:14 PM
Probably because not all german mag owners know you. :p

From what i've understood it is a real pain getting paintball related stuff into germany.
RogueFactor
12-01-2007, 02:31 PM
Probably because not all german mag owners know you. :p

From what i've understood it is a real pain getting paintball related stuff into germany.

The German customs is most certainly the strictest of all Euro countries Ive dealt with. If you dont follow the rules, youll have issues. Ive just never had any difficult in shipping there. I know AGD ships there, and so does Tunaman without any issues.