I'm sure for some this is a waste of time, but for others it may be useful...
Okay... let me begin by saying (again) that we don't ask anyone to deal with us who isn't comfortable with doing so. I respect your concerns and suggest you would be 100% correct to take your business elsewhere if you aren't 100% comfortable with our policies.
When it comes to firearms I think most of you understand that the information being requested is required of us by CFC as part of our Business License. We don't meet you face to face, and we're required to "identify" our customers... that is how we do it.
When it comes to parts there are two reason we ask for the information. First, because all it would take would be one illegal purchaser buying components that get used in a crime and we'd be accused of being lax in our methods and likely shut down... it's just not worth it to me. But also, the information we aks of you is required for the permits that we fill in.
The IIC (Internationa Import Certificate) requires that we specify who the End-User of the items are (both firearms and parts). So does the Export Permit Application... only more so.
Go on-line and do a search of the following US forms: DSP-5 and DSP-83
The DSP-5 is the application to Export which we need to complete and submit to US State Department. In that form we need to supply them with all of the information (whether it's a $1,000 gun or a $10.00 part)... the manufacturer, the wholesaler, the exporter, the importer, the shipping company, the broker, and most important THE END USER! (that's you!!!!). They want to know the specific purpose of the part (including any sub or final assemblies it is being put into)... they want to know what the item (parts or firearms) will be used for and that the end user is approved by the foreign government to have it. By showing and supplying that information to the US State Department we get our permit approved... in very quick time... with almost no rejections or RWA's (Return Without Action).
The DSP-83 is an End User Certificate. The State Department used to have guidelines that these were only required when we imported on behalf of law enforcement or military (prohibit items) or very large shipments... however, this has changed. We are tied into the US State Department and the Commerce Department via electronic link (D-Trade System). We get exceptional processing and approval speed, but one of the requirements is that every submission requires a DSP-83. This is a certificate by us swearing that we know the end user and the purpose for which the items are being imported, etc.. In order to complete that document we need hard copy information as a file backup.
If that information makes you uncomfortable then I respect your decision to source your items somewhere else and wish you all the best.
Hopefully that will explain the reasons behind asking for this information.
