How do you ship back to gun maker

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wbwanzer

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I need to send my 229 back to SIG for repair. I contacted FedEx and was told I can't ship with them unless I'm an FFL. I have not contacted UPS yet, but am under the impression that they require overnight which will be very expensive. A friend suggested that I get one of those US Postal boxes that ship whatever you can put in it for one flat rate. Would that work? I'm thinking it can't be that easy.

How do you ship guns for repair back to the manufacturor? Thanks for any help.
 
Call the manufacturer and follow their instructions. Really. Not being a smart alec. They go through this every day.
 
It's actually been a few weeks since I spoke with SIG, but they told me to ship either FedEx or UPS.
 
You spoke to a flunky whose idea of a safe response to any unusal question is "no."
It is quite legal for you to ship a gun by common carrier to the maker or a gunsmith.
Unfortunately corporate policy and officious employees often get in the way.

Me?
I always make it clear to the FFL that if I need to send a gun bought from him off for repair or customization that he will provide shipping from his store at his cost.
 
wbwanzer said:
It's actually been a few weeks since I spoke with SIG, but they told me to ship either FedEx or UPS.
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You -can- ship by either of those carriers, but their rules are such that they will require you to use an overnight service, which can run into some $'s.

The cheaper solution would be to find a friendly FFL that will do a "shipping service" for you. He will charge a service fee, and the cost of shipping ... USPS Priority Mail .... which will probably be cheaper than you shipping via FedEx/UPS.

No, I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night ... but I am an FFL. ;-)
 
if you ship it via your local FFL, it will be returned to your local FFL. You will end up paying him twice.

if you try to sneak it through the USPS, you'll be breaking USPS policy and probably some federal laws.

unless your local FFL gives you a good deal on the transfer, it's probably easier to just pay the UPS/Fedex Overnight Priority rate.
 
Fed Ex made me go to a Fed Ex "Hub" to ship my pistol. The small branches told me "no". Your other option is to have your local gun store ship it for you. They can ship it cheaper.
 
Sent my HiPoint back for repair so I had to ask this same question.

HiPoint told me it is completely legal for me to ship a firearm through USPS directly to the manufacturer without an FFL and to label the package "machine parts". They also suggested not volunteering the fact that you have a boxed gun to the person behind the USPS counter as they tend to be ignorant, claiming they can't be shipped or try to charge higher amounts.

Supposedly they'll be able to send it directly back to me as well without need of FFL.
 
Sent my HiPoint back for repair so I had to ask this same question.

HiPoint told me it is completely legal for me to ship a firearm through USPS directly to the manufacturer without an FFL and to label the package "machine parts". They also suggested not volunteering the fact that you have a boxed gun to the person behind the USPS counter as they tend to be ignorant, claiming they can't be shipped or try to charge higher amounts.
Click to expand...

Rifle or shotgun? Or handgun? Rifle or shotgun can be legally mailed by USPS by Joe Citizen to an FFL such as a manufacturer or gunsmith. Handgun... you committed a Federal felony.

This whole topic comes up three or four times a week on THR. Doesn't anybody notice the search link? It's the third link from the right on the first green bar at the top of every page.

It is not against company policy or statute for Joe Citizen to use FEDEX or UPS to ship a handgun, shotgun or rifle to an FFL.
 
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Ask Sig to send you a shipping label. I'd think it would be free for waranty work or they couldl roll it into the cost of your repairs. They get a much better shipping rate than you or me.
 
J-Bar said:
I have used USPS for shipping blackpowder revolvers with no problem, and I am not an FFL.
Click to expand...

I drove 5 mph over the speed limit today all the way to work (45 miles) with no problems.
 
The one time I had to send a gun in I just brought it to my LGS and they took care of all the shipping. I don't remember any outrageous fees for the service. And it was less than shipping it myself.
 
It's cheaper for me to go through my FFL because, even though I must pay his $25 fee, he can ship very cheaply via USPS. Total cost is $35-45 depending on insurance fees and destination.

AND... I don't have to deal with morons. :)
 
I'm pretty sure that the gun will be shipped back to the same FFL instead of directly to you. You might want to check on that.
 
I had to send my Smith & Wesson M&P back for service just last month. S&W mailed me a completed Fedex shipping label and I simply put the gun in a box with a letter, slapped the label on it and took it to my local Fedex facility (not Kinko's/Fedex). I told them I was sending a gun back to the manufacturer and they said no problem. Two weeks later after S&W took care of the problem Fedex brought the gun right to my front door. Great service from both S&W and Fedex.

The instruction letter that S&W included with the shipping label even gave a phone number to call to have Fedex pick up the package if I didn't want to take it to Fedex myself. The deal is that you have to give the box to an actual Fedex employee, so you can't use a drop off location or the Fedex retail locations. You can take it to a Fedex World Service Center (they handle shipping of "dangerous goods") or you can have Fedex pick up the package from you.
 
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Panzercat said:
Sent my HiPoint back for repair so I had to ask this same question.

HiPoint told me it is completely legal for me to ship a firearm through USPS directly to the manufacturer without an FFL and to label the package "machine parts". They also suggested not volunteering the fact that you have a boxed gun to the person behind the USPS counter as they tend to be ignorant, claiming they can't be shipped or try to charge higher amounts.

Supposedly they'll be able to send it directly back to me as well without need of FFL.
Click to expand...
If that was a handgun, HiPoint just had you comit a felony.
 
RalphS said:
if you ship it via your local FFL, it will be returned to your local FFL. You will end up paying him twice.

if you try to sneak it through the USPS, you'll be breaking USPS policy and probably some federal laws.

unless your local FFL gives you a good deal on the transfer, it's probably easier to just pay the UPS/Fedex Overnight Priority rate.
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Not true. Just put instructions inside that it is to be returned to the owner. I've done it many times.

"Sneaking it through" is fine ... if you feel that saving a few bucks is worth a felony conviction that will dog you the rest of your life.
 
Kahr emailed me a fed-ex shipping label. I dropped the package off at a store front shipping center. They shipped it back to my home address with an adult signature requirement.
 
Licensed Manufacturers and gunsmiths can ship guns back to their original owners, if those guns were delivered to them for the sole purpose of repair or customization. Not even licensed manufacturers or gunsmiths can MAIL, via USPS, guns to unlicensed individuals for any reason. A manufacturer can even ship a replacement firearm directly to the person if they can't repair the gun sent to them.
 
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