Cost of shipping handguns

[Bottom Gun]

I realize that handguns must be shipped by common carriers but I am wondering how some sellers on Gunbroker and similar sites charge approx $25 shipping for handguns.

I shipped a handgun from Arizona to Ohio a while back and it cost me $52 to ship via UPS. A friend of mine just spent $70 sending one through FedEX.

I would like to list a couple of handguns for sale but I can’t be very competitive on price when we are looking at such exorbitant shipping rates.

Are we being charged more because we don’t hold FFL’s? I asked the clerk at the Sierra Vista UPS counter and received nothing but a blank stare. Then I asked if there was a more economical means of shipping . . . . . .another blank stare but this time no finger in the nostril.

Does anyone know why our shipping rates are so high and can anyone suggest a more economical way to ship handguns?
How are others shipping for $25? Will someone please enlighten me?

Thanks in advance,

Ken

 

[atblis]

Fedex UPS

It is corporate policy, and not law that you have to ship overnight. Just something to consider.

 

[Bottom Gun]

I'm aware of that but how can we get the cost down? How do others ship for $25? That's my question.

 

[MRIman]

Yup,handguns can get very pricey to ship next day.
I sold one a few months back,was a Dan Wesson pistol
pack,4 barrels and a large frame,in a case.
UPS wanted $68 to ship it.
The cheapest way was to go and have my dealer
ship it USPS. That was $32,and she didn't hit me for a
transfer fee because I walked out with a Glock 19.
Some times it's better to let your dealer transfer it to
the buyers dealer. Saves big on shipping.

MRI

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

FFLs can ship handguns to other FFLs via USPS. The USPS rate is cheaper than what FexEx or UPS will charge you for overnight. That's the difference.

 

[atblis]

Uh

Don't tell them it's a firearm. Perhaps.

 

[waterhouse]

How do others ship for $25? That's my question.

Jorg nailed it. I've got an FFL. Before insurance (which is way more expensive when using USPS instead of Fedex) I can drop a pistol in a USPS flat rate priority mail box and it costs less than $11 to ship. After insurance, delivery confirmation and signature fees it comes out around $20-25.

If you don't have an FFL, you might see what your dealer charges for the service.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Don't tell them it's a firearm. Perhaps.

That's an extremely bad idea.

 

[W.E.G.]

Don't tell them it's a firearm. Perhaps.

How do you make a claim if the package is damaged or pilfered?

Plus, if you do that at the United States Post Office, you will go to jail if you get caught.

 

[Soybomb]

How do you make a claim if the package is damaged or pilfered?

Sometimes it doesn't matter, I'll gamble on the chance that my $200 keltec is going to make it back to the factory for $10 more than I'd spend $50 on shipping it. If it is pilfered though I don't know how one would prove that the $500 box of machine parts was really $500 of gun. Damage would be harder to claim on I imagine.

 

[cbsbyte]

They probably have a business account with the shipper which gets them a 20%+ discount off normal prices.

 

[1 old 0311]

I just shipped a pistol from Indiana, to Texas, by UPS. The cost was $45.00. The clerk explained that UPS REQUIRES handgunds be shipped overnight. Fed Ex, and DHL do Next Day Air. Their cost is $25.00.

 

[cane]

According to my DHL rep. they don't ship any firearms. BTW I've also been told that DHL is owned by the German Postal Service.

 

[atblis]

DHL

If you read DHL's user agreement, I think it basically says they won't ship anything gun related.
EDIT: Found it. Only from and to dealers

May be acceptable for transport
Firearms
(Parts thereof including paintball, pellet guns, air rifles, etc.).
Domestic (USA) transportation only from and to licensed dealers.
Domestic firearms must be rendered mechanically not fireable.

How do you make a claim if the package is damaged or pilfered?

I am fortunate that my local FedEx doesn't care. I'll tell them it's a handgun, and that it's being shipped to a federally Licensed gun dealer, and they ship it standard. Now, how does that work if I have a problem? They violated their own corporate policy without me prompting them. I haven't figured this one out yet. It'll be a matter of he said, she said. Small claims court?

 

[hotpig]

I ship hand gund Priority Mail also. It is very reasonable but the extras like signature and Insurance run the price up real fast. Long guns I do UPS ground.

 

[zeroskillz]

As an FFL, I can ship by USPS. Their flat rate box is $8.95 I believe. Insurance kicks up the price a bit, but rarely do I go over $20 for shipping. If you kicked oin a fee for a local FFL dealer to send it for you, you'd probably still come out ahead.
fwiw,
-Ted

 

[obm]

as other have mentioned USPS for FFLs come out cheapest. other ways to lower cost is to use the cheapest Overnight Air options. Sigarms returns my handguns to me by Next Day Air Saver which is the cheapest next day air option for UPS. last time i sent a pistol in to Sig they only charged a $30 return shipping fee.

also, NSSF members are offered discount rates by Fedex so if you are a NSSF member look into signing up for the Fedex discount.

 

[Fatelvis]

How do others ship for $25? That's my question.

It is corporate policy, and not law that you have to ship overnight. Just something to consider.

I think Atblis answered this question.