Changes to Restricted Item Deliveries to Northern Ireland

A Difficult Decision We Never Wanted to Make

From today, Vector Air will no longer be offering standard delivery of restricted items to Northern Ireland.

This is not a decision we have taken lightly.

For many years we have supplied customers throughout the UK, including Northern Ireland, and we know there are plenty of legitimate shooters, collectors, and enthusiasts who simply want access to the same products as everyone else.

Unfortunately, increasing border inspections and customs intervention have made shipping certain products to Northern Ireland increasingly unpredictable.

What's Changed?

Over recent months, we have seen a growing number of shipments being stopped, delayed for extended periods, or subjected to additional scrutiny by border authorities.

In some cases, parcels have been held indefinitely.

In others, products have been destroyed due to authorities being unable to obtain what they consider sufficient evidence regarding legal ownership or the intended recipient.

The frustrating part is that these outcomes can occur despite the products being legal for sale and despite all required information having been provided at the point of purchase.

Once a parcel enters that process, there is often very little we can do to influence the outcome.

Why We Have Taken This Decision

At the end of the day, we are a business. Every shipment that is lost, destroyed, or indefinitely held creates costs that somebody has to absorb.

Repeatedly replacing products, refunding orders, paying shipping costs, and dealing with administrative disputes is simply not sustainable.

While we understand this decision may disappoint some Northern Ireland customers, we cannot continue offering a service where the outcome is increasingly outside our control.

What Products Are Affected?

This change applies only to restricted items, including:

• Air rifles

• Air pistols

• High-powered replicas exceeding 1 Joule

• Moderators and silencers

• Barrels

• Power and pressure-related components

• Other items that may attract additional scrutiny during border inspections

Accessories, consumables, optics, clothing, targets, pellets, BBs, and many other non-restricted products remain unaffected and can still be ordered as normal.

What Are Northern Ireland Customers Supposed To Do?

Unfortunately, for many customers this will mean purchasing restricted products from Northern Ireland retailers who already hold stock within the province.

We appreciate that this reduces choice, and we understand that some products available from mainland UK retailers may not always be available locally.

However, given the current situation, we believe this is the most reliable option for the majority of customers.

Can I Still Order Restricted Items?

Potentially, yes. If you are a Northern Ireland customer and are willing to accept the risks involved, we may be able to arrange a bespoke order on request.

However, these orders will only be accepted on the understanding that:

• Delivery cannot be guaranteed.

• Delays cannot be predicted.

• Border intervention remains outside our control.

• No compensation, replacement, refund, or protection can be offered if the shipment is seized, destroyed, lost, or otherwise prevented from reaching you.

We appreciate that this may not be suitable for many customers, but it remains an option for those who understand and accept the risks involved.

Looking Forward

We genuinely hope this situation improves in the future.

If procedures become clearer, more predictable, or more commercially viable, we will happily review this policy.

Until then, our priority must be protecting the business from losses that are increasingly outside our control.

To our Northern Ireland customers, thank you for your understanding and for your support over the years. We know this won't be welcome news, but we'd rather be honest about the situation than continue making promises we cannot reliably keep.

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