UPS/FEDEX employees- 7 degrees of separation

I shipped a handgun yesterday at UPS and had zero problems. The employees were very helpful. You have to go to a UPS Customer Center though, you can't ship handguns at a UPS Store or a drop box.

Maybe things went easier for me because I already had a shipping label (provided by S&W).

Regulations can be found here.
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/firearms.html
http://fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html#firearms

I don't know about FedEx, but for UPS to require that would be a stupid economic decision. Unless it's costing them more money than I suspect, they're making out like bandits on shipping handguns. I've stopped using them for handguns altogether, since my FFL can ship it via USPS priority for less, even with his fee.

If they want to get out of the business of shipping non-business traffic, they picked the wrong economic environment to do it in.

I suspect the person at the counter you spoke to was just uninformed, an idiot, or both.

jm

Just don't tell them it's a firearm.


-Matt

I ship guns only through FedEx now.

My local UPS shipping center turned me away the last time I tried to ship a firearm through them. I handed them a valid copy of the FFL where the gun was being shipped and then they asked for mine. I told them I didn't have one and that dealer is accepting this gun from me as an individual. They then proceeded to tell me that it's their "local policy" that firearms can only be shipped dealer to dealer and that I need to take the gun to a dealer to have them ship it for me.

Perhaps it was just the guy working their that didn't understand the policy but either way I wasn't going to waste my time arguing with him. So I went to FedEx down the road and shipped the gun out with no hassle at all. Since that time I've shipped a bunch of guns through FedEx and never had a single issue. Normally I like to use UPS over FedEx for most things but when it comes to firearms I only go with FedEx.

I dont get to enjoy such luxury. I have to keep UPS busy delivering something once in a while so they dont forget my address and force me to drive two or three counties to the dist center and fish ammuntion out of their problem rack on thier dock through the supervisor.

RM said:

Another thing the UPS Employee told me today: The Regulations on firearms were recently changed "because something bad happened, REAL BAD."

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Yeah, they hired yet one more complete idiot.

MattTheHatt said:

Just don't tell them it's a firearm.

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Oh boy, here we go.... time to pop the popcorn.

I worked as a shipping clerk for a few years and our company used both FEDEX and UPS.... out of the two, I have to say hands down FEDEX is the one I would trust. They had a much better track record for getting it there, getting it there in one piece, and getting it there in one piece on time. We were shipping very fragile stuff... (lots of glass in some things) Our unofficial motto around the shop was "What can brown screw for you?"
Though I also noted that if you did ship FEDEX, I found it best to ship Monday through Wednesday. Any later and the packages would run the risk of spending the weekend in a storage warehouse, things tended to get broken if that was the case.

Just my observations.

Just don't tell them it's a firearm.


Check BATFE regs. I believe you have to inform the carrier there is a firearm in the package. By not declaring it you can also screw yourself as far as insuring it.

Griz22 your are correct, it is also the policy of BOTH carriers.

They are just too screwed up to do anything right involving guns. you can read a bit of similar experience in a thread I started here

I wouldn't ship my ex wife using ups. in my experience they dont pay on the insurance when they obviously destroy something......said it wasnt packaged properly even though it was DOUBLE BOXED with a hard plastic case and bubble wrap! sorry if this is kind of off topic

Check BATFE regs.

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Been hashed out here time after time after time... legal to ship to an FFL and not inform carrier... against carrier's policy to not inform them... could cost you an insurance claim... will NOT cost you any legal troubles.

Before anyone posts to the contrary... you're wrong. If your source is an FAQ on the ATF website, you're wrong. If you read 18USC-922(e), and you still think it's illegal - you're wrong. Read it again. Note the phrase, "to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors".

When I needed ship a 1911 back to Springfield for repair, I took it first to a FedEx/Kinko's. The guy told me he couldn't ship it until I showed him a copy of the recipient's FFL, despite the fact that it had a FedEx shipping label that Springfield had emailed me. I took it to a FedEx Shipping Center, told the guy it was a handgun - he took it without batting an eye.

Check BATFE regs. I believe you have to inform the carrier there is a firearm in the package. By not declaring it you can also screw yourself as far as insuring it.

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And where would you declare it? I have a daily pickup and typically ship 25-50 packages a day. Nowhere to declare a firearm is inside any of the packages. It might indeed be their "policy" but without a legal requirement to notify them, I don't give a damn.

Never tell 'em what you're shipping, unless you're required to do so. I can understand them asking if it's something fragile or a hazardous chemical. Unloaded firearms are neither.


-Matt

Like I posted earlier, time to pop the popcorn.

First, BATFE does not make regulations. BATFE makes rules. These rules are for FFL's to follow in dealing in firearms.

And there is no BATFE rule requiring notification of a shipper of a firearms shipment IF that firearms shipment is not going out of state or is going to a licensed business anywhere. There is also no Federal law requiring notification of the shipper under the same circumstances.

There is a BATFE FAQ (which holds no legal weight whatsoever) posted on their website which contains an error, to which the BATFE has admitted contains an error.

Tom488 and MattTheHat have it correct.

Bought a Nagant a couple of years ago using my C&R, and it came UPS with a signature required. Since nobody's home during the week they left a card and I had to pick up the package at the local UPS depot.

As I signed for the package, the girl behind the counter said "Do you mind if I ask what's in the package?" I told her it was an antique Russian revolver. She replied: "Cool! We thought it was probably a gun. Have a nice evening!"

I like PA

I no longer use UPS, Fed Ex is cheaper and with less trouble. What can you expect from a UPS counter clerk that makes minimum wage.

NavyLT: ...First, BATFE does not make regulations. BATFE makes rules...

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Wrong.

BATFE is a "regulatory agency", it "rules" are therefore "regulations" and carry the weight of law.

If you don't believe me get a copy of "Federal Firearms REGULATIONS Reference Guide" from ATF.

NavyLT said:

First, BATFE does not make regulations. BATFE makes rules.

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BATF certainly does write regulations. What do you think 27CFR is?. It's not the Code of Federal Rules!

When Congress passed the NFA and the GCA, it authorized the Executive Branch to promulgate regulations for enforcement of the law. In the case of NFA and GCA, this is currently the Attorney General. This authority has been deligated to the Director of the BATF, although the Attorney General bears ultimate responsibility.

27 CFR was written by BATF as are any proposed changes which are published in the Federal Register.

ALso, 27CFR is just not rules for dealers. The regulation applies to the general population as well.

No ups!

Tried to send a pistol to a FFL at UPS. Clerk freaked out and insisted that it is illegal to send a pistol UPS unless it is for repair. It would be a $10,000 federal fine if I got caught. I asked for the manager becuase I am tired of this "person + gun = wrongdoing." He was an idiot too, said he called his supervisor and it is illegal to send a handgun through UPS unless it is for repair. FedEx took care of me no problem just wanted a copy of the FFL. The USPS has let us all down by not allowing us to mail hadnguns at their $10.00 rate.

Check BATFE regs. I believe you have to inform the carrier there is a firearm in the package. By not declaring it you can also screw yourself as far as insuring it.

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I don't get that. I insure $500 worth of "machine parts" for $500. They lose it. They won't pay if I lied on what was in the package, but they have no way of showing that I lied to them because (ding!) THEY LOST THE PACKAGE! I am far less worried about damage as opposed to loss or theft. It's a pistol, not a crystal vase.

Have you guys had similar issues when trying to ship long guns?