Rifle Is 100% Repaired, Tuned, and Ready for Shipment--Await Owner Shipping Funds

7-22-09...The rifle was 100% ready to ship after 3 days of testing and holding very-steady throughout the entire testing period. Although Stan said he realized it probably couldn't be repaired and would settle for just the return of his rifle, it does in fact work very-well. It has not only been repaired, but also fully-tuned as originally-planned.

Although the factory specs are somewhat-inflated, it's still a formidable hunter at 21+ FPE. This RWS 460 shoots several ~14.3 gr. (medium weight) pellets at over 825 fps with very-good accuracy and consistancy. It's thus comparable in power to a properly-operating RWS sidelever air rifle.

7-23-09...Shipping was put on-hold due to some unexpected hiccup by Stan or UPS: At the outset, Stan said he'd arrange for his own return shipping instead of paying me to ship it back. He sent me a pre-printed UPS label with the rifle that was supposed to be used for that purpose. According to UPS, however, it's not usable due to the fact that the account and label have both been cancelled. I had taken the time to check that in advance...


7-19-09....In anticipation of shipping, I contacted Stan to ask if the shipping label was still good. He told me that he had no idea.

7-20-09---I contacted UPS and a female agent said the label was still in the system and should still work.

7-23-09...Right before I was going to take the package to UPS, since UPS makes no note of it on the label, it also occurred to me to see if Stan had included insurance to cover possible loss or damage. That phone agent said she couldn't find a record of it--and said she didn't know if I could possibly purchase insurance coverage to add to the label, so I asked to talk to a supervisor. The supervisor (Steve) said the label couldn't be used at all because it, and the entire shipping account, had been cancelled at some untrace-able point of time in the past.

7-23-09...I also asked both UPS and FedEx if I could send the package with COD collection of the shipping charges, so the rifle could still leave right away. They BOTH said it doesn't work that way--that even 'COD' shipping has to be pre-paid by the shipper, they would attempt to collect a check from the receiver, and hopefully I'd be re-imbursed at some later date. I already had at least 30 extra-unpaid hours of my own time in the repair of a manufacturer's defect, and I didn't want to take the chance of losing the shipping money on top of it.

7-23-09...I contacted Stan right away by email, told him what UPS said, and asked him how he wanted to handle the return shipping charges.

7-24-09...Stan said he didn't expect me to pay for shipping, so he would check to see if he could pay on his end, and if not, he'd send me a Postal Money Order to cover shipping.

7-26-09...The shipping charges with insurance are calculated at $35, and I await notification of the arrangements from Stan so I can ship the finished rifle.


Ed, The Airgun Tune-Meister

edward73@sbcglobal.net