Should getting flairs be this difficult?

divelandy · 16 February 2005, 18:54

Based in sunny Oxford, i need to get a new set of flairs for our diving rib as our current set have expired. I contact a few suppliers and even McMurdo directly and no one can ship flairs to me. Guess this is a conspiracy to get me to move nearer the coast...

Anyone have any suggestions before i have to take a trip to the coast just to buy these?

Steve

Neal · 16 February 2005, 19:05

Steve last year i was offered a special mail order service for delivery I will try and find details but from what you have said not sure if it was correct for them to do so. I did collect them in the end asi was in the area.

Purple marine send them over night, sure other mail order chandlers would do.

Louise · 16 February 2005, 19:06

Try online chandlers such as http://www.safety-marine.com/ who say that they cannot ship flares to Northern Ireland, which implies they will ship them to any other part of the UK. Other online chandlers such as http://www.nautequipe.co.uk might have similar policies. HTH

Edit: presumably they use a delivery/courier service other than the Royal Mail, who refuse to deliver explosives.

CJL · 16 February 2005, 19:15

I think mailspeedmarine are one of the few companies in the UK allowed to send flares through the post. Try them at http://www.mailspeedmarine.co.uk/Chris

Tim M · 16 February 2005, 19:28

Compass watersports (compass24.co.uk??) ship them by courier. I bought some last year.

Zippy · 16 February 2005, 20:06

Your problem here is very few courier companies want to carry these products.

Although to you and me they are safety flares that are deemed as dangerus goods in the eyes of a transport operator and theres loads of rules and regs about moving them, especially as they are explosives.

It is possible as people are saying and first point would be to phone around and make sure they will deliver before you hand over the money.

if you still have no joy i can point you in the right direction but it wont be cheap!

Thanks
Zippy

stevetheboat · 16 February 2005, 20:15

Dear Steve,

We ship flairs on a daily basis from our warehouse in Worcestershire to all mainland UK and European destinations - both flare packs and individual.
If your having little success locally then call Janet on 01299 251011 and she will be happy to assist.