UKARA do not officially respond on Airsoft Forums as we have found in the past that it is very difficult to get a sensible discussion, it also adsorbs a great deal of valuable time trying to keep up with the latest posts, the thread soon tends to get hijacked despite the best efforts of moderators, we do however try to read relevant threads and part of below is an attempt to answer some of the more relevant points.
When a game site does not have an up-to-date record of insurance cover on the database, the database automatically block's that sites players from the search function until documentary evidence is sent through.
Providing the game site operators email address supplied is correct and current they get a warning at 28 days from expiry and a further email when their insurance has expired. The system requests that they should, when they have received suitable documentation from the insurers, supply an up to date copy to us for our records as soon as possible as they will be inactive after the expiry date until this happens.
No new players can be entered by that game site and no retailer can confirm that players are valid current members.
This does not mean that the games site is without cover, it just means that no relevant current paper work has been sent through to UKARA admin.
Players belong to the game site in question are not deleted, remain on the database, and will become active again when the sites details are updated.
If the game site has closed or ceased trading then the players will need to re-registered with a different UKARA game site if they want to be able to purchase RiFs using UKARA registration.
The primary purpose of the UKARA database is to protect airsoft retailers from prosecution and prevent the selling RiFs to non eligible persons, thus making purchase easy and safe for the legitimate player, it so far has fulfilled this operation pretty well as far as we are aware.
Although it is a UK system for UK Airsoft retailers it is also used indirectly by H M Customs to verify importation of RiFs into the UK by players, several phone calls a week are made to admin by Customs to verify whether importers are registered UKARA players. The Home Office were keen for HMCE to have access which we agreed to do on a player by player basis, they have no ability to directly search the database.
If they are not registered then details of their site are given to assist Customs, where it is available, because providing the site is properly insured ( may be a temporary gap in insurance cover paperwork registered with UKARA ) and they are a member, that is the legal requirement for them to import. (As soon as a site is not insured none of its player are eligible to buy Rifs, it does not matter if they are a member of the site or not).
As an association UKARA can only gauge what its retail members think by being contacted by them, there is an in house forum for retail members to use for discussion, ( there always has been although it was revamped to a more user friendly format after complaints by one member ) it is rarely used but the latest email comment we had was from a game site operator ~
By the way - cudos on the database - very easy to use, and generally idiot-proof! Just how i like it!
All sensible enquires made to UKARA's official interface have been answered promptly and with suitable curtsy ( there was a glitch to delivery of emails originally when the database first open ) and despite what may be written by the armchair forum warriors the majority seem satisfied with the service.
Core members :- this section is only an indication of the fact that these firms were involved in the original setting up of the database spending a great deal of time, effort and money to get a system going which would keep sales legal and fluid, they have no more rights or status than Associate members.
The day to day running is purely of a technical nature and does not require general discussion, any major policy matters would be considered by the Chairman and response requested from members, who in most cases are far too busy running their business to have a great deal of time left for mundane matters .
UKARA is an association of competitive retailers formed to protect sales in the era of the VCRB not a cartel to control prices or retail outlets. UKARA was originally 9 members and it now has over 40, who sell a variety of products at varying prices. However most buy from the same distributors and manufacturers, we all pay the same VAT and Duty, similar amounts of shipping costs so it is likely that businesses run independently will charge a similar amount for a similar products. Products are obviously going to be cheap in the supply source countries but the increase when it hits the UK shops is due to exchange rates and normal delivery and importing costs it does not mean that all the retailers have clubbed together to form a cartel.
A players data that is entered onto the database for the logging of their eligibility to buy RiFs is dependent on handwriting. If a players post code and email address is illegible or ambiguous then it will be difficult to get the information into the system correctly, and the look up may fail to match external details given by them as a customer or to Customs, they are also unlikely to receive any emails about their current registration standing.
As a check and balance the UKARA system allows every registered game site access to their own list of players on the database so that they can see who are registered as their members and if the information is correct. If it is wrong it can be changed, it also allows them to renew players or remove players who are no longer considered by them as members of their game site.
It is worth noting that every time a players details are lookup up on the database an audit record of who looked and what was looked at is stored. A unique reference number is supplied that can be written on the invoice. If a query is raised about a sale it is very easy to prove that a retailer was responsible and enquired as to the status of the player. It is also possible for this reference number to be supplied to players if they want a second hand sale and they want to protect themselves against selling to a non airsofter. Any retailer would be able to do the lookup and supply the player with the reference number.
Game Sites and not UKARA are also in control of renewing players to the database.
It is important to remember that the UKARA database is just a repository for storing 2 vital pieces of information.
It stores the fact that a game site has supplied a valid insurance certificate to us.
It record the fact that a player is a member of a game site.
Any system that is intended to replace the UKARA system cannot be based on-line only. It is estimated that still 30-40% of the country does not use the internet so what ever system is dreamt up must be based on a paper submission of information.
UKARA also tries to help the airsoft community by trying to raise the standard for airsoft retailing, in that any retailers wishing to access the UKARA database of players is vetted to make sure that they have suitable contact details, terms and conditions, a warranty description and a returns policy.
We are also proactive in reporting to police forces across the country any retailers who sell RiFs apparently to anyone who wants to buy them without advertising the fact that there are laws controlling the sale of them
When UKARA, UKASGB, players representative and the ABA met with the home office 6 months after the VCR bill, the Home office were very satisfied with the UKARA system and the steps we go through to obtain records of players eligibility to buy RiFs.
A point of note is that when the groups above had the meeting with the Home Office one of their requests was that there were not loads of different schemes running concurrently so this is another reason why sites running their own schemes is not acceptable as ultimately there could be hundreds of individual schemes running along side each other.
Please remember also that a player record (airsoft diary or log) of him playing at numerous sites on different occasions is not enough proof they are an airsofter. The defence states that to be an airsofter you must be a member of an insured airsoft site and to become a member it takes at least 2 months (for some a lot longer) and at least 3 visits.
Currently should you just want to be a member of an insured site and not join the UKARA scheme then it is necessary for any retailer selling to you to have proof that the site is insured and proof that you are a member. He would also need proof that he has made suitable steps to check this information. Verbal agreement is very dodgy and leaves a retailer open to possible problems should they ever be prosecuted.
As a final point of interest there are 6500 mostly happy registered airsofters on the database, with 112 sites supplying members and nearly 50 retailers making use of the data, it may not be a perfect system but we are always making changes and enhancing it. Any suggestions of improvement can be taken on board and discuss.
The UKARA database URL was registered by Zero One Airsoft Ltd but the database site is run and controlled by a professional 3rd party database software company. No one member of the committee or any other retailer can request information or changes, and it was designed to avoid data mining and unfair market advantage with no retailers have direct access to any of the data held barring that required to check a player is registered when an order is being processed.
A scenario of life without the database would be,
1. a player tries to buy a gun,
2. the retailer says please prove you are an airsofter.
3. Airsofter says I am a member of site Xray please call them
4a On a good day a retailer gets through to the site as the site is run by someone whose job is running the site
4b On a bad day the site owner is away on a 2 week holiday and cannot be contacted and also most sites are run by people as second or weekend jobs and they are very difficult to contact.
5b The Customer then has a delay of 2 weeks before we can even speak to the site owner.
5 a On the good day we contact the site owner and he then has to email or fax a copy of his insurance to the retailer, also emailing or faxing written confirmation that the player is a member of his site providing proof that he has checked the players identity.
6 the retailer then has to store this extra paperwork to cover his ass in case checks are made about the sale of the RiF
If the site owner has 300 members who each buy at least 1 RiF a year that is 1 call every day of the year from any 1 of 50 retailers asking for information multiplied by 120 sites.
The system was set up to make it easier for retailers to obtain proof of a players eligibility to buy a RiF and to enable eligible players to carry on buying as if nothing had happened..
It removes the burden of numerous calls to sites for proof
It speeds up the selling process for customers.
At the time of the VCR Bill there was no scheme available and no one else developing anything that would be of any use.
A final point to remember is that whilst worrying about a system that is in place and we feel works very well, there are 1000’s of non airsoft shops selling rifs without any due diligence or care as to who they sell to.
Whilst UKARA airsoft retailers are trying to obey the law and are loosing money doing there are other retailers outside the view of the sport are still buying and selling to anyone. Very few if any forum members mention this fact or even care.
It will not be airsoft retailers or game sites that bring about the final ban of RiF sales but these retailers that the Home Office see as ignoring the law. The Home Office may believe that the defence for RiF sales is not working and may just ban the sale of them removing the problem and confusion for any non airsoft retailers selling RiFs.
The shame of it is that if this happens it will the airsoft sport that is affected first as all the airsoft retailers who are easy targets will be spotlighted first, all the other retailers that had no regard for the law may well continue selling until warned or prosecuted.