UPS "Store"

While I understand your frustration at the store owner, I'm pretty sure the UPS website states that firearms must be shipped from a central UPS shipping facility (one owned by UPS).

Oddly, when I went to ship several long rifles from a UPS shipping center in Ohio, there was a sign in the parking lot "no guns allowed"??? Nevertheless, I took them in, told them what I was shipping, and didn't have a problem.

Same here in IL. No shipping guns from the UPS store.

True: UPS policy is to only receive firearms from non-FFL's at the regional distribution hub. This would be the place where you would go to retrieve a package late in the day if the UPS driver was unable to deliver it to your house during the regular run (i.e., needed a signature on delivery).

I do it all the time. Just don't tell them what's in the package. A lot of gun companies have alternate names that aren't a give away. For example, Kel-Tec uses CNC Industries. For Glock, I wouldn't put that on the package. Just the address and ATTN: Service or the like. I'm not breaking any laws, only the UPS store's policy, which I couldn't care less about.

And how in the heck is it even legal to open peoples' packages whenever they want? I don't think they x-ray them or anything.

I see nothing wrong with the policy (inasmuch as I feel any business should be free to set policy as it pleases, I don't agree with the policy, I just think it's OK that they would set it), however the fact that the store failed to notify you is absolutely unforgivable and clearly warrants a complaint to whichever part of UPS oversees their franchising.

I do it all the time. Just don't tell them what's in the package.

Click to expand...

If you do this "all the time," it's only a matter of time before your package is lost or damaged. Unless you accurately report the contents, don't complain when you're SOL with UPS.

Do you violate many other company's strict, written policies? Just curious.

I always list machine parts, which isn't a lie, as the contents and get the proper amount of insurance. I actually did have something firearm related get lost and I was reimbursed just the same. Yes, I violate company policy all the time. How many times have you and others simply ignored no firearms signs at the entrance to a business? I know I do if it's not illegal for that particular state.

Just don't tell them what's in the package.

Click to expand...

Bad advice. You're violating federal law as well as UPS policy by not informing them of the contents.

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]

Click to expand...

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b8

Well, ya learn something new every day. Been doing it for a long time with no problems, however. Seems kind of stupid to have to tell them, especially with the high occurrences of thefts. I'd prefer they didn't know altogether.

Bad advice. You're violating federal law as well as UPS policy by not informing them of the contents.

Click to expand...

Nope. There's an exception for sending to licensees. Read the referenced underlying codes.

I have shipped a Hi-Point model 995 back to the manufacturer for warranty work using the UPS Store. The contents were noted as being "finished machine tool parts."

I run a private pack and ship place (not UPS Store), and we deal with UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS. The only way we are allowed to ship firearms is via FedEx Priority Overnight to a FFL or Mfg. I ask the customer to show me that the firearm is indeed unloaded and there is no ammo in the case. I must package the box for shipping, using new materials, sending to a non-descript address (usually just abbreviate the name).

UPS requires any firearms to go directly to their distribution centers for handling, so the pack and ship stores (including their own UPS Stores) cannot ship. There are huge consequences for the franchise owner if very strict guidelines are not followed, which may include fines or having their UPS account suspended. It simply isn't worth the risk to a store owner.

Any store is responsible for the packages that leave it's store, and thereby has the right to open and inspect any package. I have asked people to pickup their packages when it was discovered there were items I was not allowed to handle (such as liquor). However, this store SHOULD have notified you right away, not let it sit for 2 weeks.

Have you ever run into a UPS store that won't ship your firearm?

I just did.....I tried to shipped a shotgun to my buyer. The UPS store took the package and I thought it was all done. Two week go by and my buyer is hot. He never received the shotgun. I go to the UPS "store" and find out that they did not ship the shotgun. They had openned the package and were holding on to it.

Click to expand...

My first question would be to ask why ou didn't hop on the web and begin tracking it the next day. Their automated tracking is sinfully easy and takes only a few seconds. If it took you two weeks to figure out it never left the store, well... , not a lot of sympathy there.

Brad

Car Knocker, thanks. I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong. Besides, I'm sending them to a manufacturer and not a licensee. And, Mikee Loxxer, great minds think alike!

Yes, the one in this town has a page taped to their counter saying they can't ship firearms and it has to be done through their hub in a town 30 miles away.

The local Pack n Ship place at first wouldn't allow any firearm to go out of their store, but after some gentle nudging they finally told me I could do so through FedEx if the firing pin was removed first.

Now, that's pretty difficult on most firearms, expecially the HiPoint I sent back.

I've shipped C&R firearms using UPS store. It IS against their rules. However, I showed my 03 FFL, and told them it was an antique.

at that time i didnt know it was against their rules; the manager shipped it.

if i were to do it again, i would probably bring it to a hub.

Long guns can go through the regular old post office.


[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 27, Volume 3]
[Revised as of April 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 27CFR478.31]

[Page 33]

TITLE 27--ALCOHOL, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND FIREARMS

CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES,
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

PART 478_COMMERCE IN FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION--Table of Contents

Subpart C_Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions

Sec. 478.31 Delivery by common or contract carrier.

(a) No person shall knowingly deliver or cause to be delivered to
any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in
interstate or foreign commerce to any person other than a licensed
importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector,
any package or other container in which there is any firearm or
ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or
ammunition is being transported or shipped: Provided, That any passenger
who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported
aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in
interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition
into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such
common or contract carrier for the duration of that trip without
violating any provision of this part.
(b) No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label,
tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package,
luggage, or other container indicating that such package, luggage, or
other container contains a firearm.
(c) No common or contract carrier shall transport or deliver in
interstate or foreign commerce any firearm or ammunition with knowledge
or reasonable cause to believe that the shipment, transportation, or
receipt thereof would be in violation of any provision of this part:
Provided, however, That the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply
in respect to the transportation of firearms or ammunition in in-bond
shipment under Customs laws and regulations.
(d) No common or contract carrier shall knowingly deliver in
interstate or foreign commerce any firearm without obtaining written
acknowledgement of receipt from the recipient of the package or other
container in which there is a firearm: Provided, That this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to the return of a firearm to a passenger
who places firearms in the carrier's custody for the duration of the
trip.

[33 FR 18555, Dec. 14, 1968. Redesignated at 40 FR 16385, Apr. 15, 1975,
and amended by T.D. ATF-354, 59 FR 7112, Feb. 14, 1994; T.D. ATF-361, 60
FR 10786, Feb. 27, 1995]

The shippers all have regulations requiring notification so THEY can comply with (d).
The carrier is protected from prosecution if he is not notified, but the consignee is NOT protected.
Inducing someone to break the law is a violation.

I'd be pretty mad that the store owner took it upon himself to not only open my package but also made no effort to notify you. Ultimately you get the blame for not looking up the UPS policy on the things, but I wouldn't want to be the shop owner when my angry customer calls the ATF and tells them that I'm taking guns that pass through my store.

The UPS Store is the Mailboxes, Etc chain that was purchased by UPS, but Mailboxes, Etc is still contracted to manage/maintain the stores.

I was told by my local franchise owner (fellow gun guy) that it is strictly Mailboxes, Etc policy, and not UPS' to refuse handling firearms, ammunition, and all firearm related parts. He almost made me lose my lunch when he said they wouldn't even let HIM ship a few hundred hand-cast lead balls to his friend a few hours away. He had to go to the Post Office!

submoas,

Did they reimburse you for the shipping costs that they originally got from you?

Just Don't Tell Them Its A Gun. It's Not Like You Must Declare What You're Shipping.

Just Send It To To The Person You're Sending It To Without Declaring It.

Duh!

You might as well go on to the post office. If you go to the UPS store around here and it isn't first or second day air the post office comes by the store picks the packages up and they carry them for half the price you gave the UPS sore. UPS doesn't.

My wife used to have a UPS store on her mail route.

When shipping a handgun to the factory using the prepaid labels (that on different occasions have said "Return Service" or "Machined Parts") they e-mailed me, I take a small but perverse delight in using a "UPS Store." The nearest UPS "hub" is 35 miles away.