A dead end in the UK

[karimeric]

I was very reluctant to write this post , first because I never believed in getting things off my chest , and second because I am still so frustrated and writing this is like walking on thin ice .

I live in Egypt , I am Belgian+Egyptian citizen , I have a passion for precision shooting and been in numerous world competition events some 20 years ago and aced them ALL .
I travel regularly , mainly across Europe for my business , I own and operate scuba diving holidays motor vessels ( liveaboard diving )- and while traveling I buy myself a new toy every now and then - from the UK mainly 2 models of airguns - LOGUN MK II , and RWS RAPIER .

My collection have 7 Logun & and 4 RWS all purchased in the UK, and I keep an eye on all the gun displaying websites for these 2 models .

Naturally I met many people along the line , private owners as well as shops , most of them were extremely nice people and very helpful , some of which came to pay me a visit in Sharm el Sheikh where I live and had a great time together , the others were normal and strict business .
My payment was always very rapid and hassle free ( Bank transfer , paypal or credit card - whichever the seller prefers )- then the guns are shipped to a Gunsmith to keep for my picking up on my next visit .
this morning , I called a shop in North Wales for a Rapier , and the youngish guy after knowing that I am calling from Egypt TRIED TO BRUSH ME OFF !!! , and when I asked him whether he wanted or not to sell the Air Rifle - he told me ( I don't want to sell it to you ) and when I asked why is that , he told me to ( F**K OFF , WHY ARE YOU BUYING GUNS ? ARE YOU A TERRORIST ??)

I don't know how many of you might feel about that , but I was shocked .

I will stop writing now as I feel not up to the task of keeping my blood cool , I have at least a hundred English friends and neighbors , and I never thought that any of them might be thinking that way - but I don't want any member to reply saying that It's an individual thing - this LAD has a family that are thinking that way and who knows what else .

I was banned in this forum a few weeks ago for backing up an idea of liberal minded English people that thought( if you live in my country play by my rules and don't force yours , or go back from where you came from ), and for backing that I was accused of being racist or something .

I would like to know what you think , as the matter is bigger than the first impression , My 2 Daughters might go to university in the UK in a few years , will they be treated by some that way ???

JUST A THOUGHT .

Karim

[Lee Wright]

In my experience of UK universities racism is never an issue as they are very culturally aware, the universities make massive efforts to bring in people from around the world as they value diversity.
We had people from approximately ten different countries on our course and lecturers from possibly five (one Egyptian too who was possibly the most enthusiastic of them all) and the race issue never reared its head. Don't let one bigot ruin your opinion of our generally sound country.

Edit cause spell check had me!

[1961nuffield]

There is an attitude of not selling abroard and not to foriegners, its always been their but I think its a bit worse now, I come across it from time time not living in the UK.

John

[simon180399]

Our local university, Exeter has students from every nationality i think and i know a few people who work at the campus and racism is not tolerated at all, but fortunately these events are very few and far between.

My other hobby is/was amateur radio and i have been doing that for more than 20 years and ive met some wonderful people from all countries/races i don't do it these days as i simply don't have the time and i also had problems with my antennas and neighbours moaning about them, ive had idiots on the radios but it's not put me off so what i am trying to say is similar to what lee said, dont let one narrow minded fool put you off, yes every country has people with differing views but the majority are ok, its the minorities that cause the trouble.

i can see his point about not wanting to sell abroad but his mannerism needs to be addressed, personally i would name and shame the afore mention shop in question.

there's an old saying 'don't let the b******s grind you down'
chin up matey
simon.

[andy46]

if there's one thing i hate in this world its got to be racism,sorry you got treated like that Karim.were not all like that over here,as you know,you should of got his name and reported the little sh*t

[john frum]

There is the old adage of "when in Rome......."

[megga]

Might be down to the amount of scammers from so may countries, we have so many that some people over here do tar every one with the same brush.

We are not a racist country. But we are stopped from being proud of who we are, and when we are proud of who we are, we are called racist.
How we choose to act upon that is different fromone to another, some just go along for the ride, some just take it and say nothing but some take it out of anyone instead of the polatitians

In my view a racist is someone who hates because because of race, i think there are very very few people in this country that this reflects

[stefan]

name and shame the shop

[Titchgamer]

Ime intrigued to know which shop this was?

I think you just spoke to a bad egg there to be honest, And I must say (being Welsh as well) The Welsh are not the most race educated people in the world.
The reason I say that is you typically dont get many foreigners in Wales, Especially not in north wales which is very, well Welsh.

However that being said not all Welsh people are like that and much the same as yourself cant tar us all with the same brush. Still no excuse for that kind of behavior though.