Handgun via FedEx, need EXACT info!

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cpileri

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I will be shipping a handgun (and one piece of fired brass) intrastate (TX) to a manufacturer/gunsmith for repairs.
My local FFL declined to send it, saying i could send it without his help as an FFL for the purpose i described. Pretty nice guy, since I was basically handing him free money! He recommended Fed Ex, not UPS. OK, FedEx it is.
Anyway, i would like to walk into the fed Ex office with my package and a copy of THEIR OWN REGULATION and/or RULE on the subject.
That way i can proceed like 'Mr. Non-plussed' and just get the shipment done without hassle.

Does anyone have a copy or link to the exact reg, the verbatim quote, of Fed Ex's policy on shipping handguns??

i have a copy of the receiver's FFL ready to go with the package.

Have i any reason to think I will need all that? No. i havent tried it here before. But i dont want to make a trip down there, or be called a terror suspect, or whatever. i want to have everything lined up and ready to go.

Thanks in advance for the help!
C-
 
FEDEX will ship to an FFL (e.g. dealer, or mfgr/gunsmith for repair) overnight only. You are not required to have a copy of the FFL. You are not required by law to declare it because it IS going to a licensee (see prior threads here for the cites).

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html

FedEx Express can only accept and deliver firearms between areas served in the U.S. under the following conditions: (1) you agree to tender shipments of firearms to us only when either the shipper or recipient is a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, licensed dealer or licensed collector and is not prohibited from making such shipments by local, state or federal regulations; (2) the shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable state law.

Firearms must be shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. or with a signature release. Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx is required to notify the FedEx employee who accepts the package 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. Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.

You also agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the samepackage. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as dangerous goods. 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.
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Make sure you take it to a Fed Ex depot. Don't take to a storefront like Mailboxes Etc. The contracted storefronts aren't supposed to accept firearms and probably will turn you away.

Also, although you might not have to declare that it's a firearm under law (not sure on that myself) if you DON'T declare it, the Fed Ex insurance will refuse to honor your claim if it's lost or damaged in transit.
 
I used FedEx

I had to ship my Hi-Point back to Beemiller for repair. I called Beemiller to get the RMA and they said to ship it via FedEx and label it as Broken Machine Parts if any label was required.

I did that, and FedEx shipped it. Beemiller recieved it. Beemiller repaired it and shipped it back to me.

Both Beemiller and I live in the same state. No Federal boundries were being crossed.

Since the weapon was not operable when I sent it a label of Broken Machine Parts was far more accurate than a label of Firearm.

If it had crossed state lines then due to the receiver being shipped it would have had to been declaired a firearm.

The people to ask is not us, on the internet. You should ask these questions of the business you are shipping your firearm too. They have to deal with this on an hourly basis and have a lot more tied up in doing it correctly than anyone else besides you.

dzimmerm
 
perfect

That about answers my question! Excellent.
Probably wasn't too hard to find, but thanks for saving me time just the same.
C-
 
Trebor said:
Also, although you might not have to declare that it's a firearm under law (not sure on that myself) if you DON'T declare it, the Fed Ex insurance will refuse to honor your claim if it's lost or damaged in transit.
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federal law requires you to declare it as a firearm:

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b9

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier? [Back]

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by 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) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]
 
obm,

The ATF FAQ makes up that part. We've covered this before. If you look up all those laws they cite at the end of the FAQ answer, you see that the ATF cut off the quote without finishing it:

18 USC 922 (e)
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, 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; except 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 the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. 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 that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm
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Make sure you take it to a Fed Ex depot. Don't take to a storefront like Mailboxes Etc. The contracted storefronts aren't supposed to accept firearms and probably will turn you away.
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Actually, I do this all the time. I have a FedEx account, and I box the weapon and put the label on at home. Then I go to the local PostNet store, which is a FedEx drop location, and just put it on the stack. The store never gets involved in the transaction, other than to tell me if "the guy has picked up yet" or not.
 
The rules and regulations vary from Federal Express office to Federal Express office.

The self-inflicted genius at my local office wants to see with his own two eyes that there are no "bullets in the handle part."
 
Is $70 reasonable for shipping?

I see that people can ship for like $25, but is that for FFLs only? I want to sell handguns, but I can't find a cheap way to do it!
 
Ummmmm......seventy dollars sounds a little on the "un" side of reasonable. I think we've paid $40, tops.
 
I see the difference. If you have "inaccessible dangerous goods", it doubles the rates. Forgetting to mention that it's a handgun will keep the rates to about $40.
 
Fedex is definitely the way to go, but they have conflicting regs on their website. Here are the links.

https://www.fedex.com/us/services/termsandconditions/restrictions.html
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/popup_tc_us_body.html#firearms

Go with the second one, its less restrictive. Print it out as they may or may not know what their own policies are.

Also, check out this thread, you might find it helpful.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201043

I would recommend that you insure it, but that means they'll most likely want to look inside the package to verify the contents. Another thing to consider is how you label it. When I sent my USP to HK I addressed it to "Service & Repair". That way I avoided putting the company name anywhere on the package, which would have identified the contents. I didn't want someone walking off with it.
 
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When I sent my USP to HK I addressed it to "Service & Repair". That way I avoided putting the company name anywhere on the package, which would have identified the contents. I didn't want someone walking off with it.
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Reminds me of when I sent a shotgun back to Mossberg for repairs a few years ago. I used the very colorful box that they sold it in, but if used alone to ship it to them it would have screamed "Steal me!" to anyone with a dishonest bone in their body. To avoid that problem I covered it with that brown shipping paper that everyone used to use. When I handed the package over to the clerk, before even asking, she just started tearing off the paper covering muttering something about "not supposed to use this stuff anymore". After she got the artwork exposed she looked at me sheepishly and said "Oh I see why you wrapped it".

Yeah.
 
I checked FedEx's web site last summer before shipping a gun for repair.

No mention of "don't use a drop off at Kinko's", so I printed up the waybill and drove over there.

The countergal refused it, giving me a pre-printed map to their main terminal across town. :fire:

Faced with a decision as to whether to drive back home and cancel the shipment in favor of paperwork for UPS, or to just drive out to the terminal, and remembering that I'd planned on being out that way "next week" anyhow, I drove out.

The Supervisor there (I'd already told the countergal at the Kinko's that I was going to cancel my account shortly) asked why I was cranked and we checked her manual. Nothing....

IAC, she accepted the shipment without problems. (Bubble wrapped inside of one of their boxes.)

I sent FedEx a letter in a day or two and got back an apology and a $20 coupon (which I didn't use before it expired, naturally). The apology letter (guess I should post it) pretty clearly says that FedEx-Kinko's should take the things....

Next shipment went via my dealer - if they don't charge you for the service (other than actually paying the freight bill), they can get away with at least $10 less....

I didn't cancel my account, but my dealer's a friend. I should have used him the first time. Didn't want to drive that far, and figured I'd buy something else I couldn't tell the wife about. :evil:

FedEx and UPS both require the "premium" service - about $40. Dealers can use a slightly slower and cheaper service. There's little sense to it, as I see it, other than getting it out of the system faster. I can't see the dealer's marque on the package doing anybody any good v.s. "John Q. Public" to "POA", for example.

My understanding is that UPS is to be avoided, and here in OH their terminal package drop area may be posted. I haven't been out there since forerver - a friend of my daughter's works at the local "UPS Store" so I go there when I need to ship other things. It's not posted....

Regards,
 
Since the weapon was not operable when I sent it a label of Broken Machine Parts was far more accurate than a label of Firearm.
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WRONG. The serial numbered frame IS a firearm. Period.
 
Intrastate verses interstate

Shootcraps,

"WRONG. The serial numbered frame IS a firearm. Period."

That is a federal regulation that applies if you are crossing state boundries.

I think I mentioned that in my post.

So if you are saying a federal regulation applies to a non federally controlled transaction I beg to differ.

You are allowed to disagree with me all you want though, :) .

I think I also said that broken machine parts was a more accurate description of what I sent. No where did I say that it was not a firearm. The gentleman asked for information on an intrastate transaction, not a federally controlled interstate transaction. I also pointed out that the manufacturer would be the best authority to ask this question of as they are in the business and have to deal with inter and intra state transactions on a hourly basis.

I have also found that absolute statements of fact are almost always wrong, even this last one. :) .

dzimmerm
 
So if you are saying a federal regulation applies to a non federally controlled transaction I beg to differ.
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You can beg all you want, it won't make you right. :)

The federal regulation makes the serial numbered frame a firearm. The transaction must therefore treat it as a firearm and not "broken machine parts".
 
Have i any reason to think I will need all that? No. i havent tried it here before. But i dont want to make a trip down there, or be called a terror suspect, or whatever. i want to have everything lined up and ready to go.
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You're making it more complicated than it needs to be. Put the handgun in it's case. Go to the Fedex office and put it in the smallest shipping box it will fit in. Fill out the label with the gunsmith's address. Walk up to the counter and say, "I need to ship this next day air". Answer any questions truthfully and pay the fee. Done.

You don't need copies of regulations or statements from your Kindergarten Teacher about what a nice guy you are. Just the money. ;)
 
Shootcraps:

You do have to tell 'em there's a firearm in the box.... :what:

Otherwise there could be some issues if any problems come up.

Reminds me of a story.... Many years ago the former day job had a plant in SC. We popped a modem down there and I asked one of the gals to ship it (UPS actually) to wherever for repairs. In those days a really good error-detecting modem was about $750. She forgot to tell UPS to value the thing at $750. The default insurance amount was $100.... Of course, UPS lost it.

(The girl was afraid she'd get fired. I was collecting firewood. Lesser minds won out and we made the whole thing vanish into "corporate accounting" :D ....)

Regards,
 
Isn't it just store policy that you have to tell them it's a firearm?

There are other threads that say that you only are required by law to tell them if you're both non-FFLs or something like that.
 
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