Should You Trust YOUR Federal Express Delivery Person?

[Ala Dan]

DATELINE: 26 June 03

FROM: The Birmingham, AL News


Falaafua Hicks 37, of Birmingham pleaded guilty
to stealing guns from a firearms importer and
federal firearms licensee while he was a Fed-
Ex deliveryman. Hicks could face up to 20 years
in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is
scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 17th befoe U.S.
District Judge C. Lynwood Smith.

Commentary:

The above article from The Birmingham News
would tend to make one wonder about firearms
shipment's. It excluded the number of firearms
involved, and how long it had been going on!
So, what do you think?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[45R]

I am not really a big fan of those delivery services. I can not remember how many times I have had packages ask for signature confirmation that have been left on my doorstep with no signature.

When I worked in the business. UPS lost several boxes of M1 carbines. The more you read about Fed-EX and UPS from other forum members the more it makes you sick.......

 

[Preacherman]

I voted for "Never trust any carrier", but unfortunately I have to use their services - no alternative... I use FedEx mostly, as I've had less trouble with lost packages and articles with them than I've had with UPS.

Moral of the story - INSURE those packages!!! I usually insure them for 150% of Blue Book value. This means that at least I can replace whatever gets lost... I also make sure that I have a photograph of the gun concerned, and proof of ownership, so that I can prove my claim, but more importantly, so that I can give it to the appropriate law enforcement agency(ies) and document the loss of the gun. If it's used in a crime, sometime in the future, I don't want the cops breathing down my neck as a result!

 

[KMKeller]

Trust no one...

 

[riverdog]

You've gotta trust somebody and FedEx is probably the best option out there.

 

[stevelyn]

Trust none and choose the lesser of the evils.

 

[Edward429451]

What Precherman said.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I voted sometimes. I would rather buy a gun locally in person, buy if the right deal comes along, sometimes you gotta have it shipped.

 

[blades67]

I can't rightly say, I've never shipped any of my guns.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I've never shipped firearms myself as I'm not a FFL holder, but I have lots of friends with retail stores who are FFL's. I've never had any of them volunteer any horror stories related to missing/lost/stolen firearms, but I've never asked.

I've shipped and received several hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of computers and computer components with the Big 4 carriers. My son worked for UPS last year as an overnight warehouse worker and he told plenty of horror stories about conveyor belts eating packages, destroying mylar envelopes, one carrier shipping through another because of expediency, radioactive and biohazardous materials being shipped...plus employees 'disappearing' after rumors of 'missing stuff'.

My stuff has been late getting where it needs to be on one end or the other, but so far, nothing has been 'permanently lost'. Mangled, yes. Gone, not yet. I can't count the number of times "Signature Required" or "Adult Signature Required" stuff has been dropped off outside on the porch or dock without even ringing the bell, though.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[MMcCall]

One of my buddies is a driver for FedEx, and he slings ammo part-time at our range. That makes one, I guess

 

[Standing Wolf]

I don't ever like shipping any of my guns anywhere, but haven't had any success finding competent local gunsmiths. I always over-insure firearms before shipping.

 

[Bobarino]

here's a little secret

i own and operate a mail and parcel center and deal with both UPS and FedEx everyday. i can tell you the problem is not with the drivers, but with the folks at the sorting hubs. so the trick is, insure your package for $5000 or more. it will cost somewhere between $15-$30 extra but when a package has a declared value of $5000 or more, they have to ride with the driver and be turned in to the front office manager at the hub and will not be left on the truck for the unloaders to tinker with. its gets "special treatment".

if it does get lost you will not be paid $5000 however. you will get paid exaclty what you can prove the gun is worth. but when you insure it for $5k or more, you have a MUCH better chance of getting your package to and from where ever in good shape and with all contents still there.

Bobby

 

[CZ-100]

Bobarino


I agree... Insure it for more than its worth and it it does get lost, Buy a bunch more..

 

[BallisticTip]

Only one problem with UPS, none so far with Fedx or USPS.

 

[Chupacabra]

I haven't shipped any guns via either UPS or FedEX but I have had them deliver several hundred dollars worth of computer components a few times and there haven't been any problems.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

My personal motto in life "Keep you guard up and trust no one." This applies nicely to all mail carriers as far as my guns are concerned....

 

[Zackmeister]

My trust in Fedex was shaken when the local Fedex man ran over my dog with his truck one day.

Other than that, my dad has mailed hundreds of packages through their service without any problems.

 

[nextjoe]

I've seen and experienced so many nightmares with UPS that they will NEVER get any business from me. EVER.

FEDEX has done right by me so far, but I still really, really hate shipping guns with any carrier.

Best,
Joe

 

[bad_dad_brad]

My ex-neighbor is a UPS was a delivery man during college days, and is now a UPS supervisor.

He is honest, but he will tell you that there are all kinds of employees, honest and dishonest, and that UPS constantly fights the dishonest.

Most UPS folks are honest, but like anything else, the bad apple spoils the bushell.

 

[10-Ring]

I am far more comfortable shipping stuff w/in the continental US than am internationally. It's tough when you have to put your trust into a system you know has major flaws in it :banghead:

 

[Okiecruffler]

I've never had one lost or stolen from FedEx, but I did have one driver leave 2 Mosin 91/30's along with a sardine can of ammo leaning against my porch when I wasn't home. A neighbor (anti-gun by the way) knew that the package probably contained firearms, and kept it in his garage until I got home.

 

[BerettaNut92]

[dale_gribble]I will not willfully give my guns over anything 'Federal'!![/dale_gribble]

OK yeah I've sent 4 guns out via Fedex.

 

[danny]

I have a C&R and have had UPS leave numerous "adult signature required" packages laying on my front step in our residential neighborhood. After speaking with the local supervisor each time, and getting nowhere, I finally worked my way up their corporate complaint ladder. They have a policy which allows them to leave these anyway and "assume responsibility". I asked if that includes providing me with legal defense if a gun, tracable to me, is used in a crime. The fella hemmed and hawed and now, according to our current delivery man, there's a flag which pops up in their system when a package is addressed to me.