Mailing shotgun = postal confusion

[Badger Arms]

Get me, I wasn't confused in the least. The postal worker asked, "Is there anything fragile, perishable...etc. in the package?" I said, no, but it's a shotgun so you have to have an "Adult signature required" sticker. The guys eyes doubled in size.

I explained his rules to him... you can mail a shotgun as long as it's going to a manufacture or licensee. I even had the recipient's FFL copy in my hand but didn't offer it up yet. He fiddles around and makes a phone call. He's the only one in this little post office. He pulls out his regulation book and starts flipping through it

There's a sign on the wall that I can only barely read, but it shows a picture of a gun so I figure it's got the rules. Sign reads something like, "Handguns can only be mailed by a dealer to a dealer. Rifles, muzzle-loaders, and antiques can be mailed from anybody to a dealer or manufacturer." Nothing about shotguns.

5 minutes later and he's helping people behind me in line while the line grows... then the phone rings. He finishes his call, dutifully processes MY package, and I'm on my way.

You'd think the guy had never done this before.

[Dave McCracken]

Maybe he hadn't, Badger. And if the PO has the same volume of rules we did in Corrections, he has a phone book sized set to look through.

[JoGusto]

I love the Postal Service in that they do a great job for very little money per piece, and if you think about the billions of mailed items that make their way successfully every day, it's remarkable technology.

The place where they don't do so well is following their own rules and procedures, and knowing their products and services, when you ask for something out of the ordinary. International reply coupons? HUH? What's THAT? etc...

I suppose the best thing we can do in these cases is to come prepared with authoritative reference material to show the hapless USPS clerks! :-)

[JShirley]

And let's not get started with TSA. I was stopped from bringing a Ar-15 upper in my luggage. They evidently had to think for a while before they decided just the scope was okay. :fire:

[berettashotgun]

Cut them some slack -
I have to use tech data, "Compliance is mandatory punishable by fines and imprisonment"
Yeah - right - 3 ring binder with double sided pages full of information, often conflicting direction.
179 of these books- each about 400pages (front and back) and then there are the standard engineering approved tech orders - but they haven't made it into the books -YET.
I feel his pain.
My local PO is kinda upscale and L I B E R A L, the first time was a little long and grueling, but hey - I took the High Road and things are pretty smooth and friendly when I go there.
My brother told me some sage advice concerning people at service desks/counters, " Those people CONTROL their little world and nothing else - you ain't gonna win"

[Hungry Seagull]

We have good Post Office. Never bat a eye at all the little things that brings to counter. Been there, done that, stamp this, tape that, throw into mailbox there etc...

How to stop a Post Office that good?

Sprout words such as Gun, Fire arm, ammuntion etc.

The entire place Stutters, double takes and then freezes. After a few moments of mental assessment the special books come out. But things are easy in the South, plenty of time to catch up with your neighbors while you wait.

[MAURICE]

I hear that, Dave. You should see our Policy and SOP manuals. Yeesh.

[dogtown tom]

Badger Arms: Get me, I wasn't confused in the least. The postal worker asked, "Is there anything fragile, perishable...etc. in the package?" I said, no, but it's a shotgun so you have to have an "Adult signature required" sticker. The guys eyes doubled in size.
No such sticker @ USPS as "Adult Signature Required", that's UPS/FedEx.

I explained his rules to him... you can mail a shotgun as long as it's going to a manufacture or licensee. Federal law allows ANYONE,not just a dealer, to mail a long gun to a resident of his own state.

I even had the recipient's FFL copy in my hand but didn't offer it up yet. He fiddles around and makes a phone call. He's the only one in this little post office. There is no requirement to show the receiving dealers FFL. What IS required is a USPS Form 1508 (only required of gun dealers).

He pulls out his regulation book and starts flipping through it I quote them the applicable section of the Domestic Mail Manual (it's section 601 paragraphs 11.1.5 & 11.1.6 )

You'd think the guy had never done this before.

Probably hasn't.

I ship three - five outbound firearms through USPS each week. I went prepared for war (so to speak) armed with a copy of the DMM section 601 the first couple of trips and had no problems. The counter clerk knew the regulations and I was out in a couple of minutes.

The next three months were no problem until a couple of weeks back, when a clerk freaked and ran for the customer service manager. Nice guy, but he had no idea what the regs were. I quoted him chapter and verse of where to find the regs. He called a postal inspector who told him I was correct. The CSM STILL wanted a copy of my FFL "to prove I was indeed a gun dealer". I refused, saying the Form 1508 was all that was required (the postal inspector agreed). The CSM said he would put up a memo for all the clerks.