FedEX clerk “we don’t ship guns”

[Phydeaux642]

I've read through many threads about shipping handguns and long guns and have yet to find any answer that everyone agrees on. I would like to sell a few guns but it seems like a huge pain in the behind to try and ship the darn things. If I ship through a local shop they charge $50. If I ship the gun myself, does the FFL on the other end accept packages from a private seller? Who knows? I don't want to sell face-to-face unless I know the person and most people in a face-to-face won't go through a check at the shop I deal with.:banghead:

 

[atblis]

If I ship the gun myself, does the FFL on the other end accept packages from a private seller?

Most do. I've never run into one who wouldn't, and I've shipped plenty of guns. Anyways, that's the person who bought your gun's problem, not yours.

 

[Mags]

I am finding it very disturbing....

Well, hell, that changes everything !!!

I am sorry I just thought members of a forum called "The High Road" would choose to follow the rules whether they be actual laws or the rules of a company. My bad.

 

[oasis618]

I just recently had to ship my CZ P-07 Duty back to CZ for a warranty issue and CZ emailed me a prepaid FedEx Overnight shipping label, so FedEx must be okay with shipping firearms.

Off topic but more exciting to me was this; 5 business days from the time the gun left my hands to the FedEx counter, a brand new replacement P-07 arrived at my doorstep. Now that is what I call good service. It was my first experience dealing with CZ-USA customer service and I couldn't have been more impressed!

 

[garand_man]

I've shipped guns by UPS, Fed Ex, and the Post Office. Everytime I shipped a gun, I never had a problem and I told the clerk everytime I was shipping a gun. I used a UPS store when I shipped by UPS. I have an FFL. But I didn't have an FFL when I shipped a handgun by Fed EX back to Taurus for repairs. Fed Ex was also used to ship it directly back to me after the repair. Taurus told me to ship by Fed Ex because they have an account with Fed Ex and they took care of shipping charges both ways. If you have a problem shipping by a carrier, find out the reason or cotact the carrier, somebody higher up and discuss the problem.

 

[docpadds]

Our Fedex driver gets a kick out of it whenever we tell him its a gun we are shipping, he has stood there while i finished packing one for him, our counter staff at the Post Office know us so well they ask us for pricing on various bits and pieces whenever we are there and the UPS guy waited while we unpacked some Den Wessons because he loves them and wanted to see them

 

[American_Pit_Bull]

Originally posted by The Real Mags:
I am sorry I just thought members of a forum called "The High Road" would choose to follow the rules whether they be actual laws or the rules of a company.

It is also the place where people admit that they were wrong.


Some guys struggle with the choice to break "rules" that only help to infringe our rights.

Another example...
There are many honest men that choose to legally conceal their firearm in a business that posts a "no guns" sign that doesn't carry the weight of the law. To them, the safety of their family is more important than following a "rule" that takes away their rights.

 

[garand_man]

Legally a dealer can accept guns from private sellers, but not all do for their own reasons.The dealer receiving the gun charges the person who bought the gun from you a transfer fee and does the background check. Before you ship a gun, you need to make sure it is leagal in the buyer's state. Contact the state attorney general's office of the buyer. Buyer needs to know if it is leagal in his city and county though and should know the law before buying the gun. The ATF explained to me this when I got my FFL and gave me a book with different info including state attorney general office phone numbers. The ATF agent told me I am not expect to know the laws of every city. Another reason guns go to a dealer is to make sure it is legal there.

 

[navyretired 1]

I've been told by 2 different gun manufactures (High Point, don't remember other) to tell shipper it has machined parts. It's the absolute truth.

 

[Librarian]

Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR):

§ 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:

If shipment is within 1 state, no need to inform the carrier.

If shipment is to an FFL, no need to inform the carrier.

BUT both FedEx and UPS have company policies requiring disclosure.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Quote:
By the way it is against Federal Law.
Sorry, no. This has been covered quite exhaustively in another recent thread.

David E, you happen to be incorrect on that one. It has been covered quite exhaustively in MANY, MANY, MANY threads.

And to make this yet another thread that covers it exhaustively, there is only one instance that Federal law requires notifying the shipper....

awwww heck, never mind, Librarian beat me to it!

The FedEX clerks immediate response when, as the law requires, I told her the package contained a gun was to say we don’t ship guns.

By the way, Bru88, IF the law required you to notify the shipper, you STILL did not comply with that law, because that law requires WRITTEN notification, not verbal.

 

[Magic_Man]

I'm never asked what's in the box

 

[David E]

Sorry I just thought members of a forum called "The High Road" would choose to follow the rules whether they be actual laws or the rules of a company. My bad.

The world is full of tough decisions. Like, if guns were banned, would you turn yours in? I mean, if it were the law and everything.... Like, if the business posts a "no guns allowed" sticker on the door, will you ignore it, or risk it being stolen from your car? Or watch as a killer murders your parents a few feet from you because you did leave it in the car? (As happened to a woman at the Luby's massacre)

You make your tough decisions, I'll make mine.

 

[BruM]

This was a FedEX company facility. I see nothing wrong, or even unkind, in insisting the clerk follow company regs. Perhaps she didn’t know but that is not what she said, she said they dont ship guns.
The reason for my post was to alert folks to the potential problem. If I hadn't researched the FedEx rules I probably would have walked away. Th full Fedex policy is below:

http://fedex.com/us/services/terms/Firearms
FedEx Express will transport and deliver firearms as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, between areas served in the U.S., but only between:
Licensed importers; licensed manufacturers; licensed dealers; licensed collectors; law enforcement agencies of the U.S. or any department or agency thereof; and law enforcement agencies of any state or any department, agency or political subdivisions thereof; or
Where not prohibited by local, state and federal law, from individuals to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers or licensed dealers (and return of same).
If your shipment contains firearms, select the Direct Signature Required or Adult Signature Required Delivery Signature Option, depending on the requirements of your shipment. See the Delivery Signature Options section for details. Firearms shipments are not eligible for signature release or indirect delivery.
Firearms must be shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx Express cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.
Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx Express is required to notify FedEx Express that the package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm.
The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable law.
The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.
FedEx Express will transport ammunition when packed and labeled in compliance with local, state and federal law, and the Dangerous Goods section of this Service Guide. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as dangerous goods. You agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the same package.
Fuel Surcharge

 

[David E]

§ 478.31 Delivery by common or contract carrier.

(a) No person shall knowingly cause to be delivered to

any common or contract carrier

for shipment

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

David E, you happen to be incorrect on that one. It has been covered quite exhaustively in MANY, MANY, MANY threads.

I'm not sending my gun to Joe Schmuck, I'm only sending to the manufacturer or to an FFL holder.

So, I am not required by Federal Law to notify the carrier that the package contains a gun.

See the BATF letter here: http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=112691&d=1262928478
space
space
space

 

[BruM]

I see that i missed the line that law does not require notice even though FedEx does. Surely there is less consequence to violating FedEx policy that Federal law. []

Another example of why I am not a lawyer.

 

[American_Pit_Bull]

Originally posted by David E:

Originally posted by NavyLT:
David E, you happen to be incorrect on that one. It has been covered quite exhaustively in MANY, MANY, MANY threads.

Then maybe you should re-read them.

David, he was agreeing with you....

He said that you were wrong because it wasn't covered in "another" thread, but in "many, many, many" threads.
-He jokingly told you that you were incorrect.

 

[MinnMooney]

UPS "stores" (again - not the same as UPS hubs) not only refuse to accept guns of any kind but they won't take ammo either.

 

[David E]

David, he was agreeing with you....

Oh...........

 

[garand_man]

Not all UPS stores. I shipped a gun through a UPS store before and told the clerk that is was a gun. Actually, it was a Remington shotgun in the box it comes in from the factory and it said Remington on the box in big letters. He covered the Remington name though. You can also ship handguns by the post office, but there are certain rules to follow for that. It is for shipping dealer to dealer or manufacturer and also to ship to police officers.

 

[AirForceShooter]

My Mail Box guys takes guns and asks what carrier I want to use.
He does comply wiht the rule that handguns go overnight delivery.

AFS

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Do yourself a favor and ease the process; call ahead to the FedEx location you'll be dealing with and find out EXACTLY who is best able to handle a firearm shipment in that place and when they will be there. Talk to the manager on duty on the phone, THEN go in.

It smoothes everything out. Quoting 'chapter and verse' about policy to someone working behind the counter who is frightened of guns or lacks knowledge won't do a darn thing except maybe re-affirm wrong attitudes they may hold about 'gun people'. Nothing wrong with doing so, no, but NOT very effecient either.

Yes, in a 'former life' I was an Ops Mgr at FedEx. Some locations are FAR BETTER set up to handle things like firearms in terms of staffing or security (or BOTH).

You know, your frontline staff gets a bit jaded when they have had goofballs wander in w/ 5 pistols tossed in a brown paper bag and said to the young lady at the counter "I need to ship these right away!". It happens. Not 'OUR' fault---but who does THAT staffer think of when a 'good' gun guy walks in the next time?

 

[mgkdrgn]

Thats funny I had some shmuck at the UPS "store" pull that line on me about not shipping guns. "Is that a shotgun!?! OMG!" He refused to ship it. Didn't have any trouble at FedEx, they were happy to ship it. UPS lost a customer with that little stunt.

Thats because YOU went to the wrong place. UPS accepts firearms for shipment only at their hubs ... not the "stores".

 

[mgkdrgn]

Save yourself the headaches and simply ship your item as a "high speed hole punch", works every time.

until you try and collect on a claim .....

FAIL

 

[NavyLCDR]

David, he was agreeing with you....

He said that you were wrong because it wasn't covered in "another" thread, but in "many, many, many" threads.
-He jokingly told you that you were incorrect.

Sorry, I can see how I could have been misunderstood. Yes, I was saying the ONLY thing he was incorrect about was the topic being covered exhaustively in just "another" thread" He is correct about the law.

Do yourself a favor and ease the process; call ahead to the FedEx location you'll be dealing with and find out EXACTLY who is best able to handle a firearm shipment in that place and when they will be there. Talk to the manager on duty on the phone, THEN go in.

When I made my one shipment of a handgun back to the manufacturer, that's what I did. I looked at FEDEX regulations, then called the main FEDEX 800 number and asked about the specific location I was going to (a FEDEX/Kinkos). The 800 number told me they would ship my gun from there, and had no problems. The counter guy did ask if he could look in the box, and I let him. He looked at the gun, didn't touch it, sealed the box back up and asked "Air or Ground?". I didn't hesitate for a second and said, "Ground!" and saved about $40!