Increased conversions by charging accurate shipping rates based on size and weight of items

Ensured adherence to international and state laws for shipping antique firearms and collectibles

Improved customer experience by clearly communicating the shipping restrictions and rules at checkout

# Antique collecting made digital

If you’ve watched movies like Saving Private Ryan or Dunkirk then you’ve seen authentic props provided by [International Military Antiques (IMA)](https://www.ima-usa.com/) an online antique seller.

IMA is the largest military collectibles business in the world. It got its start when founder Christian Cranmer inherited his father’s collection of 300 antique weapons. Since 1965, IMA has been selling authentic military artifacts of all types, ranging from 17th century flintlock pistols to World War II-era Italian General military uniforms.

“ShipperHQ keeps us legally compliant. I rest easier at night knowing they have our back.” **Alex Cramer**  
CEO at IMA

## Navigating strict shipping laws

Selling antiques and weapons online, even deactivated items, can pose formidable shipping complexities. For example, even a deactivated machine gun cannot be exported out of the United States without a license from the Department of State.

While IMA employs a knowledgeable fulfillment workforce that manually reviews all exports, ShipperHQ is still IMA’s first line of defense to catch any errors.

## The legal & logistical maze

Selling deactivated firearms and military antiques involves navigating a maze of international and state regulations, presenting significant shipping and fulfillment challenges.

In addition, IMA could not differentiate between small and light items, and items that cost more to ship such as a heavy antique firearm.

“ShipperHQ has saved us man hours. We no longer have to cancel orders when we can’t legally ship an item, or contact customers after they’ve ordered because we need to update their shipping quote.”  **Alex Cramer,** CEO of IMA

## Mastering complex shipping scenarios

ShipperHQ provided IMA with tools to manage complex shipping scenarios, including Shipping Groups for product categorization and Packing Rules for accurate shipping rate calculation.

By using Shipping Groups, IMA can prevent international customers from purchasing restricted items and clearly communicate shipping regulations at checkout.

### Shipping Rule Win!

By utilizing Shipping Groups in ShipperHQ, IMA prevents customers outside the U.S from ordering a deactivated machine gun, or other restricted items.

## Happy collectors & checkout success

IMA has not only succeeded in selling antiques online while staying compliant with shipping laws but also improved their checkout experience, leading to higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

"ShipperHQ continues to help us provide a better, cleaner user experience. And in our niche industry, when customers are happy, they tell a friend."  **Alex Cramer,** CEO of IMA

## FAQs

### How does ShipperHQ help firearms retailers stay compliant with shipping laws?

ShipperHQ uses [Shipping Groups](/content/features/shipping-rules/index.html) to automatically enforce federal, state, and international regulations at checkout, preventing non-compliant orders before they're placed. IMA blocks international customers from ordering items requiring Department of State export licenses and prevents shipments to restricted states.

### How does ShipperHQ handle shipping costs for items that vary widely in size and weight?

ShipperHQ's [Dimensional Packing](/content/features/dimensional-packing/index.html) calculates accurate shipping rates based on both the size and weight of items, from small medals to heavy firearms.

### Does ShipperHQ reduce the manual work involved in selling restricted items?

ShipperHQ serves as the first line of defense for catching compliance errors, eliminating the need to manually cancel orders when items can't be legally shipped.

### How does ShipperHQ show shipping restrictions to customers at checkout?

ShipperHQ clearly displays shipping restrictions and rules during the checkout process through [Enhanced Checkout](/content/features/enhanced-checkout/index.html). When customers attempt to purchase restricted items, they immediately see which shipping methods are unavailable and why, improving transparency.

### What happens when a customer tries to buy a restricted item from my store?

When customers try to purchase restricted items, ShipperHQ immediately hides unavailable shipping methods at checkout and displays clear messaging explaining why certain options aren't available.