Will a UPS Store ship ammo-with no 'catch'?

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Ignition Override

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If they are willing to, is the shipping charge much higher, compared to a small local UPS Hub?

The other option -as always- is to keep the contents very discrete.
Incidentally, I'm quite familiar with ORM-D labeling on what has been shipped To us.
 
You will have to call and ask them. Most will try not to do it. The regs on ORM D have recently been changed also I have been told.
 
UPS Stores in this area will not accept guns or ammunition. I have sent ammo several times from the local UPS "hub". No issue, I just needed to label it as ORM D
 
Ignition Override If they are willing to, is the shipping charge much higher, compared to a small local UPS Hub?

The other option -as always- is to keep the contents very discrete.
Incidentally, I'm quite familiar with ORM-D labeling on what has been shipped To us.
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UPS shipping tariff prohibits shipping firearms or ammunition via UPS Stores or any third party retailer.

UPS info on shipping ammunition:
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/firearms.html?srch_pos=3&srch_phr=handgun


Special Procedures for Shipping Ammunition
UPS accepts for transportation such ammunition as constitutes "cartridges, small arms," as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 173.59. All other allowable ammunition shipments are accepted only on a contractual basis, and must be prepared under the rules for a fully regulated hazardous material. Ammunition cannot be shipped where it exceeds 12.7 mm (50 caliber or 0.5 inch) for rifles or handguns or 8 gauge for shotguns.

The shipper must comply with and must ensure that each shipment containing ammunition complies with all federal, state and local laws applicable to the shipper, recipient, and package, including, without limitation, age restrictions.




Use These UPS Services for Your Ammunition Shipment
In order to meet the exception for "Limited Quantities" shipments or ORM-D materials, which are not subject to the shipping paper requirements of subpart C of part 172 of 49 CFR, ammunition can only be shipped via UPS Ground, and only within the 48 contiguous United States, or via UPS Ground Intra-Oahu and Intra-Alaska. Shipments of ammunition with other UPS services must be prepared as fully regulated hazardous material and are available only on a contractual basis.

Ammunition is not accepted for shipment internationally.




Packing and Labeling Requirements for Ammunition
All ammunition must be shipped in new corrugated packaging which meets the UPS Single Wall Box Strength Guidelines. Ammunition must be packed with internal boxes or partitioning or in metal clips. The internal boxes, partitions or clips must fit snugly into the external packaging that is securely closed so that it cannot open during transportation.

Ammunition will be transported only when packaged and labeled in compliance with 49 C.F.R. Part 172, et seq. regarding hazardous materials shipments, and must be shipped in accordance with the UPS Guide for Shipping Ground and Air Hazardous Materials.

For additional information regarding packaging and labeling requirements, refer to "How to Ship Ammunition (Cartridges, Small Arms)," at the link below, or contact UPS.



How to Ship Ammunition
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/packaging/guidelines/ammunition.html


Getting Your Ammunition Shipment to UPS
Packages containing ammunition may be tendered to UPS through a UPS pickup or by dropping off at the various locations accepting packages for shipment by UPS. However, do not deposit shipments of ammunition in a UPS Drop Box, as hazardous materials are not permitted to be deposited in UPS Drop Boxes.

See the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service applicable to U.S. shipments for information regarding firearm and ammunition shipments.
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Any hazard label material, including ORM-D, must be shipped from a facility staffed by UPS personnel. That is -not- the "UPS Store". Have it picked up or take it to the hub.
 
You can ship ORM from the hub only. And, by the way, the UPS stores do charge the same as standard UPS rates. They are owned by UPS. Now other shipping stores (not UPS Stores with the UPS logo in the sign, not a sticker in the window) can and do charge more than standard shipping rates. That's where they make their money.
 
medalguy ..... by the way, the UPS stores do charge the same as standard UPS rates. They are owned by UPS.
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Nope.
UPS Stores are franchises and independently owned..................and that's why UPS does not want you to ship firearms and ammunition from a UPS Store. UPS Store employees do not work for UPS.
 
Technically you're right. Yes they are franchises but they are UPS stores. They can't ship FedEx or any other carrier. Just the same as McDonald's restaurants. Not directly owned by the McDonald's Corporation but they are all considered McDonald's businesses. Same with UPS stores. Franchisees can only make very limited decisions other than what UPS requires them to do.
 
I've shipped ammo via UPS, at the hub. Ammo is heavy, so expensive to ship. Also, UPS requires the ORM-D sticker (or boldly marked with magic marker) on all 6 sides of the package.
 
Luckily I already understood the basic distinction between the UPS Store and the regional UPS Hub.

The UPS store told me that they don't ship ammo, and if they did, it would be much more expensive than using 'real' UPS.

Thanks for clarifying what seemed to be improbable anyway.
 
I checked with my local store a few months back and this is what they told me:
Come in off the street with a box of ammo, no soap.
Come in with a preprinted label from your UPS account and a correctly sticked box, no problem.
As always, your milage may vary.
 
Just returned a prelabeled, ORM-D box at a UPS Store today...no problems or questions.
 
UPS Stores (not UPS) in my area refused to even ship a rifle STOCK for me. Had to ship it via the post office.
 
mgkdrgn said:
Any hazard label material, including ORM-D, must be shipped from a facility staffed by UPS personnel. That is -not- the "UPS Store". Have it picked up or take it to the hub.
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Yep, that's what I was told as well - by the folks in the little UPS franchise (I assume) store nearby. And when I went to the big UPS warehouse and dispatch center they confirmed it.
Regarding being discreet and not citing the contents, I may be a little Boy Scout here but that is something I would never do. If there was any incident caused by them improperly handling or packing or flying the package based on their assumption of the content, I would be hoping I looked good in orange. I know it's expensive and annoying to play by the ORM-D rules (or whatever they are) but it's part of the game (and part of the contract you sign with them).
B
 
My local UPS hub does. I've shipped ammunition several times in the last two yeras at the normal rate. You have to declare contents, and that means an "ORD" label either you can attach or they will.

A lot of it depends on the local manager I understand. In the last several years, I've also shipped guns to be "adjusted" by the makers (S&W, Glock and Ruger specifically) and my local UPS hub handles them at standard rate of about $19 each for a handgun. Some people find that to be a "tall tale". I just chuckle and move on.
 
We've got UPS stores all over town ... nearly as many of them as fast food joint. But only the UPS hub here accepts ammunition shipments. Given you're shipping lead and brass essentially, and what UPS requires to have special labeling, shipping is not especially cheap.
 
Ignition Override said:
If they are willing to, is the shipping charge much higher, compared to a small local UPS Hub?

The other option -as always- is to keep the contents very discrete.
Incidentally, I'm quite familiar with ORM-D labeling on what has been shipped To us.
Click to expand...
the "UPS Store" is not generally staffed by UPS people, and generally won't accept anything with any type of HAZMAT label on it, including ORM-D. They don't have the proper training to know the good from the bad, hence the need to take it to a UPS hub or have it picked up.
 
The one time I had to mess with shipping ammo, the hub actually turned out to be a great experience. It was so much faster and well staffed then the local stores that I go there now for anything, as they actually know the answers to questions etc.

-Jenrick
 
You can also create the shipment online and pay a small fee and have a UPS driver pick up the shipment right from your house or business.
 
^^^ This is what I do. And by the way you can do this with UPS or FedEx as long as you ship ground. I prefer FedEx. They pick up the box and bill you and if you want you can set it up so the shipping charge is paid by automatic bank draft. Not much easier than that.
 
I used a prepaid label from a manufacturer or a gunsmith to ship firearms from UPS stores. I cannot ship a gun for $30 on my own but a business with a commercial account can send a label for $30.
 
Did you tell them it was a gun as required by federal law?
Around here if you tell a UPS store it is a gun they will refuse it and tell you to take it to the UPS hub. And yes, I've tried it.

BTW what a high volume customer pays to ship a gun is, I suspect, far below $30, another profit center for the manufacturer.
I know for a fact Taurus only paid Fedex something like $16 to ship a handgun back to me, I don't remember exactly but it was well under $20.

The company I retired from only paid Fedex $4 for an overnight letter!
 
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