Private Party Sale - shipping to FFL - how to?

[KI4LIV]

Good morning - TGINLM (Thank goodness it's no longer Monday!)

I am selling a firearm via a web forum and historically I have only done face to face transfers, but someone has offered to overnight payment to me if I were to ship.

What's involved when shipping from private party seller to an FFL holder?
What steps do I need to take in order to cover my six?

Any websites out there that could tell me everything in English without all the legal jargon?

Thanks so much!!!

 

[loumarch]

The easiest way to do this is to take your gun to your local FFL and have them do everything.
The other way is to ship UPS next day air if it is a handgun, and use the post office if it is a long gun.
Make sure you get a signed copy of the receiving FFL.

 

[strat81]

Clear the gun and make sure it is unloaded.
Do some kind of minor disassembly (remove the slide or bolt).
Pack it well (VERY well!).
Take it to your local UPS hub. A UPS Store is NOT acceptable.
Declare it as a firearm.
Pay for the insurance.
Pay for the ridiculous overnight shipping.
Stop at Starbucks on the way home.

ETA: loumarch has a good point: get a signed FFL. Verify it here: https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck

 

[KI4LIV]

So, it's just that easy? No rediculous BATF forms or anything like that??

 

[fletcher]

So, it's just that easy? No rediculous BATF forms or anything like that??

Nope, no forms. Just do what strat81 mentioned. I just requested the FFL number from the FFL to receive, verified it on EZCheck, and shipped it to the business name & address that was on the EZCheck page (which matched what they told me, so it worked out). I also included a photocopy of my driver's license in the package.

The overnight shipping $ made me

 

[strat81]

So, it's just that easy? No rediculous BATF forms or anything like that??

Nothing from the BATFE. You're in FL which is a free state, so assuming you're shipping to another free state, you should be ok. Restrictive states may have more rules, check with the receiving FFL.

 

[Obiwan]

Make sure the receiving FFL will accept it from a private party

It is legal....but some still refuse to

 

[Zundfolge]

So, it's just that easy? No rediculous BATF forms or anything like that??

You do need to have a signed copy of the Federal Firearms License from the dealer you are shipping to.

 

[KI4LIV]

Would a faxed copy work?

 

[Zundfolge]

Yes ... the ATF recently changed the rules to allow for a faxed copy (I also believe a scanned/emailed copy would work as well)

 

[MAX100]

Get a signed copy of the FFL dealer you sending it to. Ship it to the premises address at the top. Handguns are the only guns that have to be shipped overnight, rifles can be shipped by ground. This is for UPS and FedEx only it is their policies. You can ship handguns or rifle by USPS Priority mail which is much cheaper. They will not ask you what is in the package. They will only ask if it is liquid, perishable, hazardous or fragile. The answer to all of those questions is No. I would not put the word Gun or Firearm any where on the address label. Like if the name of the business is Joe's Firearms I would just put Joe's or the owners name then the address. The reason is employees for all of the shipping firms: UPS, FedEx and US Mail have been known to steal packages with firearms in them it is rare but it does happen. Why not be on the safe side. If you ship US Mail get Delivery Confirmation, insurance runs about $1 per every $100 declared value. I only get insurance on packages when the customer ask and pays for it. I have never lost a package and I have shipped close to a thousand guns.

If you ship by USPS make sure they deliver to the address you are shipping to. Ask the customer. I once shipped two Vaqueros to downtown Tombstone, AZ and the US Mail does not deliver there, go figure. The package came back 10 days later all beat up with holes in it. You could clearly see it was handgun cases in the package.


GC

 

[fixyurgun]

If you are not a ffl holder you can not ship handguns thru the usps. Long guns are legal. jim

 

[yomama]

What's shipping for overnight via UPS? Last time I did that it was almost $65! Now I just take it to a pawn shop who has an FFL. I pay him $10 for the FFL fee and usually it's about $10 for insured shipping via USPS Priority. I just think it's easier and cheaper this way, at least for me.

 

[KI4LIV]

Thanks so much for everyone's replies!

WOW, I feel like such an idiot now - had I known it was so easy I could have sold a number of pistols in the past without any problem!

I do know that if I were to have shipped in the past that I could not do it via Paypal payment unless there was no mention of any firearm in the receipt because of the anti-gun mentality of Paypal.

I appreciate the wake-up call!