Civility strained to the breaking point by UPS Store

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one45auto

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I went to ship my Glock 36 back to the factory today and since the service representative at Glock had recommended that I transport the gun to them via UPS Next Day Air, I dutifully boxed up the pistol, securely taped the parcel, and filled out the delivery slip so that by the time I entered the store everything was ready to go.

The cut off for deliveries is 6:00pm but when I arrived at 5:15 the courier was already busily loading the truck. I walked in, thankful that there was only one other customer in the store, and proceeded to give them the delivery slip and state my preferred shipping method. I then asked for $600 insurance and everything was going well until the counter clerk asked me what the contents of the package were. The conversation then went like this:

"What's in the package?"

"A handgun."

"Oh, we don't ship handguns."

"Yes, you do."

"No, we don't. You can't ship handguns via UPS."

(A loud sigh on my part)

"Yes, you can. So long as I'm sending it to a licensed dealer or the manufacturer it's perfectly legal."

"Are you su-"

"Yes, I am. I even spoke to the factory rep and they told me to specifically send it UPS Next Day Air. Why would they tell me that if it couldn't be done?"

"Um, hold on....HEY SO-AND-SO!"

(At this point he calls over the freaking UPS driver!)

"What the policy on shipping handguns?"

"I don't know, let me check."

(The driver then picks up the phone to call someone at UPS and we all stand there wasting time as he asks the question at least two or three times to different people going up the chain of command. Finally he holds the phone to his shoulder.)

"Is this going to a dealer?"

"No, it's going back to the factory."

"Okay."

(More waiting, more talking on the part of the driver to the unknown third party. Then he finally hangs up.)

"It's okay as long as he's sending it to the factory. (He turns to me then) What kind of gun is it?"

(Well, by this time I'm past annoyed and well into being ticked off.)

"What difference does that make?!?"

"What kind?"

"A pistol"

"What kind of pistol? Forty-five, three-fifty-seven?"

"Those are calibers, not types"

"Whatever...which is it?"

"Why, are you shopping around for one to steal? It's a pistol. PERIOD."

"Does it have ammunition?"

"WHAT?!?"

"Is it loaded?"

"Why the $^# would I be sending a loaded gun back to the manufacturer??"

"Is it disassembled?"

"What the %$^# are you talking about?!?"

"It can't be shipped so that anyone can take it out and load it."

"Excuse me???"

"It has to be disassembled so that anyone can't just take it out, load it, and fire it."

"That's %#&^%$@. It does not have to be disassembled, and in any case anyone taking this out of the box apart from myself or the factory is guilty of theft. If someone steals it do you really think they're going to care whether it can immediately be fired? You think crooks are going around shaking boxes looking for an assembled gun so they can hold up the nearest 7-11 on time??"

"Well, no, but-"

"Look, everything is in order and I've followed the proper procedures to ship it. Maybe you need to call someone higher up in your company - or maybe I do."

"But it's disassembled, right?"

I'm shaking my head in disgust now.

"Look. Maybe I should send this FedEx instead."

"I can take it so long as it's disass-"

"Yeah, okay - whatever. It's in little pieces, okay? Can we get it on the truck today or do I have to take it elsewhere?"

"Sure, I can take it. No problem."



FINALLY I get to settle the bill and send it. One more minute and I'd have had his name and tag number and filed a formal complaint. :fire:

Has anyone else experienced this kind of ignorance? Is this SOP for UPS Stores, or is it just my area?
 
Yeah it happens everywhere. When I had to send my HK back to Sterling for them to replace a part I just decided to do it the easy way.

I used a UPS store and asked for $2000 insurance. "What's in the package?", told em it was a laptop computer. Guess a Heckler & Koch brand laptop sounds kinda funny, but it gets me less grief than saying there is a handgun in the package.

I mean if they really lose the package, how are they gonna know there wasn't a laptop in there in the first place?
 
go to a ups depot the ups stores wont ship handguns says so right on ups's website .. or ship fed ex as smith had me do
 
well, technically, the guy at the counter was sort of right. UPS's official policy is that it doesn't allow any of its ASO's (authorized shipping oulets) to ship guns period. they will take them at their local hubs though, provided you follow all thier rules which you did. the UPS Store is considered an ASO, not a UPS hub. there is NO rule about having a gun disassembled for shipping. how do i know this you ask? i own and operate and independant ASO. i do however ship guns back to manufacturers for repair for my customers. sshhhhhh, don't tell.

Bobby
 
Sometimes it helps to go to the UPS website and print the pages that describe shipping of firearms. Saves a lot of hassle and you (should) get everything done smoothly.

And, the franchise "Stores" are not supposed to accept handguns for shipment. Only the UPS shipping centers. FedEx is a bit better in dealing with shipping guns. A lot of the UPS people have very little training in dealing with things like gun shipments.
 
Boofus,

if you REALLY want your UPS package to be secure, insure it for $5000 or over. anything under $4999.99 gets treated the same. over the $5k mark, the driver must sign a high value report when he/she picks it up, hand deliver the package to the clerk and its tracked very well and the receiver must sign for it and also sign the high value report.

Bobby
 
Shootcraps,

if you send a firearm (or any prohibited item) through your UPS Store and insure it and it gets lost/damaged, UPS WILL NOT pay a claim on it, not matter how much its insured for. they will tell you that you and your UPS store (who will act as your agent for the claim) shouldn't have shipped it in the first place. not saying that you shouldn't do it altogether, but you're taking a risk when you do so. UPS is HORRIBLE to deal with when it comes to claims.

Bobby
 
"Why, are you shopping around for one to steal? It's a pistol. PERIOD."
Click to expand...

I love the irony of that answer you gave.

UPS has made it a policy that all handguns have to be shipped Next Day Air a few years ago because they couldn't stop their employees from stealing Glocks at the Atlanta hub. :banghead:
 
Well, at least you were able to ship your gun. I had a similar conversation when I tried to send a 22 rifle to the manufacturer for repair, but they refused to believe they could legally ship it.

Tim
 
I finally gave up with UPS when trying to ship a revolver out of Alaska earlier this year and used FedEx. Once I found the shipping center it was no problem.
 
Last year I carried a rifle case into a UPS store. I'd bought a rifle, and was shipping the case, with check taped inside, back to the guy I'd got from.

Guy behind the counter's dealing with someone, looks over, sez to another guy "He's got a gun."

Other guy dials 3 digits on the telephone, and starts to look nervous...

I turned around and walked out.
 
The only way to send a package by UPS...

is to send it by Fed Ex.

UPS is fine for t-shirts and sunglasses, but anything you like, want or value should never be trusted to them.

ALWAYS ship Fed Ex for next day.

G (doesn't work for Fed Ex but ships a lot of sh*t)
 
That's true, UPS Stores are not supposed to ship guns but UPS centers do.

Yeah it happens everywhere. When I had to send my HK back to Sterling for them to replace a part I just decided to do it the easy way. I used a UPS store and asked for $2000 insurance. "What's in the package?", told em it was a laptop computer. Guess a Heckler & Koch brand laptop sounds kinda funny, but it gets me less grief than saying there is a handgun in the package.
Click to expand...

I know someone who, when asked what was being insured, put on the form, "Meat acquisition device".
 
I learned many years ago that most employees don't have a clue about most things. How you may ask, cause they worked for me, that’s how! At least for a little while. :D

I always printout the info before I go, it helps to have a ready reference when said employee is talking to their boss on the phone.

Oh ya, and if you think UPS employees need assistance, when driving across country I have found that most LE are pretty much in the dark regarding reciprocity of CCW. I always have a printout available for their state.
 
First mistake, *never* tell them it's a gun. I've contacted three different gun manufacturers and they all tell me to state "machine parts" on the shipping label. Otherwise you run into nonsense like you did.

Second, never state what is in the box...on the box. Even the airlines don't allow that. Too many thefts that way.

Now you know.
 
I've never had any problems with Fedex. One of their truck drivers even helped me get a 200lb printer up stairs.
 
Hi people, Im new so if I screw something up that's why. The one, out of state gunsmith, I use told me to tell Fed X, that Im sending machined steel part's. Im not lying but not telling the truth either. I also send two day delivery and gunsmith return's same. He was the one who told me to do this. No concealed carry weapon's is posted at our local UPS Depot so I will not use them. First time with FED X they were on the phone to clear shilpping a handgun. The clerk finally gave me the phone to explain to his supervisor and within a short time no problem. Last time I declared a handgun to send. My Local Gun Dealer has stated any shipper should not ask what is in the container. True or not, dont' know. Have Fun and Stay Safe. A shooting 1911 NUT. Dave
 
I agree fed ex is far superior. I've gone that way for 10+ years, since my Dad lost a Samurai sword coming from Japan via UPS. In the end they did not pay. I do not advise their service to anyone.

Also, don't buy Dell Computers.
Michael Dell is a 1st class crook and anyone that believes in common courtesy or honor should not buy his products.
PM me for details if you want but he is a BASTARD.

PS Sorry, I've had some tequila but I'm still right.
 
Don't kid yourselves, if you've had a good experience with FedEx you're lucky. They're just as bad as UPS when it comes to having people behind the counters that don't even know the company policy. Shipping via the USPS (rifles/shotguns only for us non-FFLs) is about the same. Guns are just plain taboo nowadays in public and there's not much we can do about it I'm afraid...

It's ridiculous. Since it's not against the law (with the contract carriers, think it is with USPS) I just don't inform of whats in the package and insure it for the proper value and ship it. Guess we'll see how the insurance claim goes if I ever have a problem...
 
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