Local UPS says, "New Federal Law, no more shipping of firearms, period."

[The Real Hawkeye]

Local UPS says, "New Federal Law, no more shipping of firearms, period. Only FFLs can ship firearms through UPS now." I have a gun I want to ship to an out of state gunsmith, and they say I have to do it through an FFL now. Is this true? Why haven't I heard about this law change? I've been shipping to gunsmiths and to FFLs for many years, and I can't believe I have to do it through a gun dealer now. This is ridiculous! :banghead:

 

[Outlaws]

No, you just can't ship it through any UPS store. Its up to the individual store. Yould need to go to the UPS hub. If they tell you its a new law, it might just be a new UPS policy.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

No, you just can't ship it through any UPS store. Its up to the individual store. Yould need to go to the UPS hub. If they tell you its a new law, it might just be a new UPS policy.

They told me I couldn't even do it at the hub anymore. They said they just got off the phone with them about it.

 

[S.P.E.C.T.R.E.]

The person you were talking to on the phone is full of shat.

From their website:

"Firearms will be transported only between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors, as defined in the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, law enforcement agencies of the United States or of any department or agency thereof and law enforcement agencies of any state or department agency, or political subdivision thereof, and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and when such shipment complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws."

This is the same policy they've always had. If it's legal for you to ship it (for example, nonlicensee to FFL) then it's ok by UPS if you ship it from the service center. Next time you talk to this asshat, read him the statement from his own company's website.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Ok, I called the UPS 800 number, spoke to a supervisor, and he told me there has been no such law change. I will pass this along to the lady I spoke to.

 

[Baba Louie]

Can you Insure your package just in case they accidently lose it (to some employee type who likes to collect things)?

 

[El Tejon]

THR really needs a UPS and Walmart forum.

 

[tellner]

A "Shipping Guns" sticky thread which included the laws on importing from other countries and the intricacies of re-importing guns you took outside the country with you would be wonderful.

 

[langenc]

Hawkeye Id suggest the supervisor call the lady you spoke to.

 

[highlander 5]

I've done that dance with the 800# but never had a problem at the local UPS depot and I just sent out a pistol to Mag Na Port for porting and other work to be done 2 weeks ago

 

[Old Fuff]

Many UPS employees seem to make their own rules and regulations on the fly. None of them like to ship firearms because of employee theft. If they do ship it they will probably require overnight costing at least $25.00 or more. Be sure to insure it for full replacement value, and if possible take something in writing to back up that value. A photocopy of a page in your dealer's Blue Book should do nicely.

 

[redbone]

The answer in two words:

FED EX

RBH

 

[Deanimator]

Many UPS employees seem to make their own rules and regulations on the fly. None of them like to ship firearms because of employee theft. If they do ship it they will probably require overnight costing at least $25.00 or more. Be sure to insure it for full replacement value, and if possible take something in writing to back up that value. A photocopy of a page in your dealer's Blue Book should do nicely.

When I sent my Model 29 to S&W after they mutilated the barrel, I used the UPS label they sent me and took it straight to the UPS hub. They were slightly confused, but it got there.

By the way, there's a story going around that S&W are saying not to enter a value, and that they will "replace" your gun if it's lost. Maybe if you send them back the junk they make now. They couldn't replace the BARREL on my Model 29 when they ruined it. What makes you think they're going to replace an entire Model 29-2? If they tell you that, they're LYING. If you're sending them something out of production, make sure you enter the likely REPLACEMENT value. If you've seen how much Model 29s and Model 57s are going for on auction sites these days, you'll agree that you'd have to be crazy to trust in S&W's word on them "replacing" your gun.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Just use Federal Express and forget about "brown".

 

[SMMAssociates]

I know I've mentioned this before....

I had to return a gun to the manufacturer's service center a couple summers ago.

I printed up the paperwork and packaged the gun, after checking the FedEx and UPS websites. Since the FedEx/Kinkos was closer, I used FedEx. Their web site said nothing about where to take the thing. (UPS wanted me to drive to their terminal. Only a couple more miles, but....)

Kinkos counter-[expletive deleted] refused to take it....

I ended up driving to their terminal (quicker than coming home and redoing the paperwork for UPS) across town, where the manager couldn't find anything in her manual either.

A nastygram to FedEx resulted in an apology and a coupon for about $20. (I never used the fool thing - I don't ship that much....)

I'm not sure if that's changed. I'm not happy with the rather expensive "panic" shipment requirements, but I guess it does get 'em out of the system faster. My dealer (as I later worked it out) is willing to ship stuff for me at their cost - about $30. End of problem, except that they're about twice as far away as the UPS terminal and I seem to always buy something when I'm there....

Regards,

 

[bender]

THR really needs a UPS and Walmart forum.

lol !!

I guess it could be in Venues:

WalMart and UPS Complaint Forum

 

[lamazza]

Its because a non FFL holder is not responsible enough and does not know how to properly ship a firearm-some of the firearms were getting uppity and killing people.

 

[michiganfan]

I just shipped a pistol back to Taurus yesterday UPS. They knew it was a gun. I declared it to be a gun. No problem other than the 54 dollars next day air from Detroit to Miami

 

[orionengnr]

...sigh.

I really should save this as a Word doc... it would save me a lot of typing.

Go to the Fedex/UPS (as applicable) web site, find the Company requirements, print them (including the url in case you need to show them where you found it).

Take the printed pages with you. Show the counter clerk their own Company requirements.

Do not hesitate to ask the clerk to call for supervision (either local or at HQ). You may have to repeat the url to the person on the phone.

I've been through this... shipping a gun UPS and shipping ammo UPS (both times they said it couldn't be done). Both times, they were mistaken.

Be civil, be informed, be persistent. Be correct. Be successful. It can be done.

 

[LAR-15]

A "Shipping Guns" sticky thread which included the laws on importing from other countries and the intricacies of re-importing guns you took outside the country with you would be wonderful

I totally agree- shipping, export and import info for the US and visitors to the US.

 

[gezzer]

Ok, I called the UPS 800 number, spoke to a supervisor, and he told me there has been no such law change. I will pass this along to the lady I spoke to.

Place a formal complaint with UPS, they should straighten out their employee for you. Make a point that they are forcing you to use the competition.

 

[Zundfolge]

If they do ship it they will probably require overnight costing at least $25.00 or more.

Double that.

Last time I shipped a handgun UPS overnight it was $45 (and I used "overnight saver"...standard overnight would have been about $10 more).

 

[chris in va]

The problem is, an employee will believe their immediate supervisor much sooner than anything printed off the internet, even if you did bring it in with phone numbers backing it up.

 

[rmmoore]

Althought this is not Firearms related, it IS very much UPS related. Be afraid, be VERY afraid of shipping ANYTHING UPS. My father was caught in the hurricane season of 2005 in Florida. He lost power, water, sewer, and phones for almost 6 weeks. I had a brand new generator, still in original shipping carton that I sent him. Insured for replacement value. I asked the Shipping Clerk who accepted it if she wanted to inspect the packaging. She declined stating it was in the Original Shipping carton, so no further packing was necessary. Well boys and girls, can you guess what happened next? 2 weeks later my father receives said package with two sides caved in and top smashed. Generator has following damage: frame broken, air box (filter housing) cracked, fuel tank weld cracked, and generator housing cracked so you could see wiring inside. He's remote so they left it at local gas station. Dad called UPS to come pick it up. Return to sender (me). I had an electrical buddy take a look, he said no way he would attempt to run it, might blow up with all damage. Took said now POS generator back to UPS with documentation and Insurance forms. Am told, sorry, looks like insufficient packing, we won't pay! Insufficient packing ????? The clerk even admitted she didn't inspect it because it was in the original carton. Owner basically says piss off, you're screwed (my words, not his). So, UPS has cost me about $550, not counting untold hours on the @#$#%^&* phone with this supervisor and that who tell me to go back to the SOB that I statrted off with. UPS DOES NOT stand behind their insurance if there's ANY way they can weasel out of a claim. I have told them to shove it up their a.s, they'll NEVER get another penny from me or my company, but FED EX now has a new customer. Just something to consider folks. I had a few friends wish me luck when all this crap started. Now I know why, and so do you. You've been warned.

 

[Ed Ames]

I've been involved in several UPS insurance claims.

Two because I had a F#*ing moron of a customer who was shipping computers back to me by putting them in a box, throwing some foam, peanuts, and whatever else on top, closing the box and shipping it... computers were totally smashed (bent chassis, components flopping around lose, drives smashed through the face plate, etc) so I billed the customer for the replacement value of the computer. Customer called UPS and filed an insurance claim. UPS inspectors showed up and said, "insufficient packaging".

Two were packages I shipped... and I have access to all the fancy expanding foam packing material and so on and I've had friends who worked as loaders for UPS so I know how packages are handled so I'm very careful about padding and packaging. I file the claim, UPS inspectors showed up and said, "Insufficient packaging."

In all four cases UPS paid the claim. Why? Because they ALWAYS say "insufficient packaging" to get rid of anyone who will go away without a fight. That probably saves them from paying 30% of the claims. Everyone else just gets back on the phone and keeps arguing until UPS finally pays.

I've had bad luck with UPS, but horrible luck with FedEx... I use UPS by preference.

As for "new laws" ... everyone has employees who make up their own special "regulations" to suit their politics or laziness. USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc... there are no exceptions.