Skip to main content
Menu
Case Study

How IMA Mastered Online Antique Sales with ShipperHQ

  • Antiques and Military Collectibles
  • Shopify Plus
  • Gillete, New Jersey
  • Shipping Groups, Dimensional Packing, Delivery Date & Time

  • 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

Introduction

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) 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 military weapons 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

Objectives

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.

Challenges

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.

Solution

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.

“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

Key Results

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 at IMA

Ready to turn your shipping problems into solutions? We can do it.

Start your free trial Free trial is risk free Request a demo