Shipped a handgun UPS today

[blue_ridge]

Since an individual can't ship a handgun through the Post Office, I went to UPS to ship a handgun today. I've always had good service and no troubles shipping long guns through UPS.

Still, I checked the UPS website and read their Firearms shipping guide. I printed out a copy and took it with me. I also had my signed copy of FFL.

Everything went fine except they would not give me their Next Day Air Saver shipping. The UPS clerk told me only Next Day Air was allowed for handguns. I told them, "Okay, no problem, but are you sure? Because I checked your website and printed it out and it says right here, Next Day Air OR Next Day Air Saver. They told me, "No, sorry, only Next Day Air."

So, it cost me $86 to ship a 1911 from Virginia to Florida. I don't know what other options exist for the next time. I guess I will ask my local FFL what he would charge me to ship a handgun for me. OR, I will just not sell another handgun out of state. $86 is ridiculous.

 

[nalioth]

You got fleeced by a cunning counterperson

Their policies allow either Next Day Air, or Next Day Air Saver (I only use the NDAS service).

If you're shipping out of state, your FFL is almost certainly going to be cheaper than UPS/FedEx.

I only use UPS for intrastate shipments (which can be delivered right to the recipient's door).

 

[kingpin008]

I would have asked for the supervisor. If none was available, I'd be calling their corporate offices. If their own policy states that Next Day Air is an option, I'm getting Next Day Air whether the clerk likes it or not.

 

[blue_ridge]

After the fact, I too was beginning to think I was fleeced. But I believe that when we do anything with guns, hunt, shoot, carry or even ship, that we need to reresent our group well. That means being courteous, friendly etc. In the moment, at the UPS service center, this lady was being very nice and friendly. We talked about growing tomatoes in the garden etc. I just believed her when she said it was only possible to ship it Next Day Air and I didn't want to cause a stink.

Does anyone have any knowledge of the UPS changing their policy recently to require ONLY Next Day Air for handguns?

 

[nalioth]

Does anyone have any knowledge of the UPS changing their policy recently to require ONLY Next Day Air for handguns?

From Shipping a gun - who, how, where, when and why, you can get it straight from the horse's mouth: Shipping Firearms - UPS

Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921,will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air Services, specifically, UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, and UPS Next Day Air Saver®. (Note: UPS Express CriticalSM Service is not available for firearms).

It's not impolite to request they stand by their policies.

 

[hardluk1]

Did you go to UPS or a mail store that ups, fedx and freight all pick up from?

 

[TooTech]

IMHO you were not fleeced, Next Day Air Saver is cheaper, but not by a bunch!

I recently shipped a handgun by Next Day Air Saver and it cost about $75.16.

 

[TooTech]

"Dangerous goods" can only be shipped from a UPS-staffed shipping center.

 

[pecosriver]

UPS

My local FFL will ship for me using USPS priority. Cost plus $15. In other words,using a medium flat rate box plus the $15 is less than $27 total.

 

[blue_ridge]

Nalioth, I already stated that I not only read the UPS regs, but I printed them out and took them with me. So, not much point in quoting them. I showed them to the clerk and she said, "yeah but with all the changes lately, we can only ship next day air now."

 

[9mmepiphany]

The cheapest way to ship is through your friendly FFL. They usually charge $15-25 as a fee and the actually shipping cost (usually <$20)

 

[kingpin008]

I showed them to the clerk and she said, "yeah but with all the changes lately, we can only ship next day air now."

Ask her to show you a copy of the updated regs. If she can't, then it doesn't matter, does it?

But I believe that when we do anything with guns, hunt, shoot, carry or even ship, that we need to represent our group well. That means being courteous, friendly etc.

Who said anything about being rude? I can ask for a supervisor perfectly politely, just as I can explain the situation to a higher-up, should no supervisor be willing to help me.

Futhermore, part of representing ourselves means standing up for ourselves. If their policy states that we can use NDAS to ship, then we should be able to do just that without the hassle. As a consumer, you expect a business to operate within the bounds of their own guidelines, right? Same here.

In the moment, at the UPS service center, this lady was being very nice and friendly. We talked about growing tomatoes in the garden etc. I just believed her when she said it was only possible to ship it Next Day Air and I didn't want to cause a stink.

But it's your right to make a stink. That's great that she was nice and friendly, but she was also wrong. Fortunately, you have the ability as a consumer to correct her - and IMHO, you should have. Think about it like this - would you rather that nice lady be corrected by a nice, calm guy like you, or some raging jerk who comes after you trying to do the same thing, only to be told that she won't allow it?

 

[Canuck-IL]

Whenever I ship UPS I always print out and bring a copy of their current tariff - most of the time it's necessary to educate the staff as to what their own policies are.

The most stubborn one insisted that regardless of the tariff, I had to have a license to ship a long gun. We called Atlanta to resolve that one. She never did have the sense to ensure that the recipient was in fact an FFL.

It's also a good idea to bring a copy of the BATF proof of current FFL with you so they can see that the license address matches the shipping address, just in case you get a slightly brighter clerk than I had.
/Bryan

 

[nalioth]

It's also a good idea to bring a copy of the BATF proof of current FFL with you so they can see that the license address matches the shipping address, just in case you get a slightly brighter clerk than I had.

Not an issue in the commie states, but in the free states you can ship a gun directly to another state resident - so what FFL are you going to show, then?

 

[MrWesson]

I can ship between residents in my state and I have done so tight lipped with UPS ground.

 

[Magoo]

No "tight lipped" about it here. In the description I clearly write "Ed Brown Guardian" or whatever and feel I've disclosed honestly and precisely. If the counter person doesn't recognize it, I don't care. If a claim is required, I feel likemy description was as accurate as possible, and I'd expect compensation for a replacement "Ed Brown Guardian".

One shipment I did the (FFL) recipient requested I remove the firing pin and declare the package as "machine parts". That went without a hitch as well.

 

[makarovnik]

You got hosed. I paid about $16 last time I shipped a handgun via private carrier.

 

[Shear_stress]

You got hosed. I paid about $16 last time I shipped a handgun via private carrier.

And how far across your county did you ship it?

 

[CraigC]

I can ship between residents in my state and I have done so tight lipped with UPS ground.

You got hosed. I paid about $16 last time I shipped a handgun via private carrier.

You can do that without breaking the law but they will not honor an insurance claim if you break their overnight policy by shipping handguns by Ground service.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Nalioth, I already stated that I not only read the UPS regs, but I printed them out and took them with me. So, not much point in quoting them. I showed them to the clerk and she said, "yeah but with all the changes lately, we can only ship next day air now."

When my dad and I went to tour the Norfolk Naval station, we looked at their website and it stated that on Saturdays you could actually go on certain ships. This was in 2007. When we got there, we asked about it and they said "No you haven't been able to do that since September 11, 2001.

So they haven't updated their website in 6 years?

Stuff like that certainly gets my goat.

 

[rellascout]

No "tight lipped" about it here. In the description I clearly write "Ed Brown Guardian" or whatever and feel I've disclosed honestly and precisely. If the counter person doesn't recognize it, I don't care. If a claim is required, I feel likemy description was as accurate as possible, and I'd expect compensation for a replacement "Ed Brown Guardian".

One shipment I did the (FFL) recipient requested I remove the firing pin and declare the package as "machine parts". That went without a hitch as well.

In order for your claim to be valid you must comply with UPS regs. Those regs state that if you are shipping a handgun you must declare it and ship it overnight, adult signature etc... if you do not you are in volation of their policy and all bets are off.

Your insurance claim will not be honored. A standard UPS shippement only has a $100 worth of insurance on it no matter what the contents unless you buy additional insurance. When you purchase that you have to declare what it is. A Ed Brown would bump you into the high $ value category which requires detailed disclosure. You must state you are shipping an Ed Brown handgun.

Now you can continue to do this and roll the dice but your package is not insured. Machine parts do not cut it either.

 

[blue_ridge]

You got hosed. I paid about $16 last time I shipped a handgun via private carrier.

That's real helpful, thanks. Care to share any details? Since US POst office won't ship handguns from private citizens and UPS and Fedex both require Next Day service, I'm very curious how you get a price of $16.

That is the main point of this topic. I got charged an exhorbitant price and want to see if there is a better way. So far, the best method, when you're shipping a handgun as a private citizen to an FFL, is to find a decent local FFL to do it for you. Thereby bypassing the need to send it Next Day Air. If you have a better way, why don't you share it with us?

 

[rellascout]

That is the main point of this topic. I got charged an exhorbitant price and want to see if there is a better way. So far, the best method, when you're shipping a handgun as a private citizen to an FFL, is to find a decent local FFL to do it for you. Thereby bypassing the need to send it Next Day Air. If you have a better way, why don't you share it with us?

Build and maintain a good relationship with your local FFL and you should be able to ship a handgun for about $30 USPS insured.

 

[EOD Guy]

"Dangerous goods" can only be shipped from a UPS-staffed shipping center.

The term "Dangerous Goods" has nothing to do with firearms. It is the term for hazardous materials shipped by air.

 

[CraigC]

The term "Dangerous Goods" has nothing to do with firearms. It is the term for hazardous materials shipped by air.

Regardless of the word used, firearms must still be shipped from a UPS counter, not a UPS store or print shop.