Shipping Ammo

[LordGibson]

I have a bit of a conundrum.

In the past I've purchased ammo and other accessories/supplies from natchezss.com and had it shipped to my office. UPS always takes a signature when delivering these packages. Until recently this was working out great.

Over the past few weeks I've had some discussions with co-workers about guns and shooting in general (given that it's a new hobby of mine, and with the VT and Franconia, NH incidents in the news) and it's pretty clear that they're strong anti's.

I've never said anything about the contents of those heavy, noisy packages in the past - don't ask/don't tell, if you will. But now I'm concerned that if someone were to find out I'd be in some fairly hot water. So I need to work out something different.

Here are the problems, as I see them:
1) I can't have the packages delivered to work anymore, not willing to take the risk.
2) The packages require a signature, so I can't have them shipped home as I'm at work all day.
3) I'd rather not shop locally because, even after shipping costs, I'm saving considerable money and there are quite a few things I simply can't get nearby.

Any suggestions? Are you in a similar situation? If so, what have you done?

Thanks.

 

[cbsbyte]

Either have the packages set to a friends house who can be home to sign for them, or let UPS hold the packages at the depot so you can pick them up at your convenience.

 

[foghornl]

Some carriers will do a "Hold at warehouse for personal pickup" kind of thing. Ask your ammo supplier if they can ship that way, and if the carrier will do the "warehouse hold".

May be inconvenient, depending upon warehouse location, but might be a good option.

I can't have ammo delivered to my work, either. The Looney Left is in charge there.

I got a bunch of crap due to a package from Tapco...nothing in the package but Mosin-Nagant stripper clips and some of those leather ammo pouches, and a gun book. Looney Leftist shipping/receiving clerk went nuts when he saw the book on (IIRC) AK-47's.

Not to mention the very "Low Road" things I said to & about him opening a package addressed to ME.....some things about mail fraud, mail theft, and his general lack of character for being a snoopy busybody.

 

[BrewCityProp]

I believe you can have them shipped to your home address, then contact UPS and have a hold put on them (They won't take to your door) and then pick them up and sign for them at the UPS distribution center in your area.

Cheers

 

[LordGibson]

I'm not sure the warehouse route is very practical, it's nearly 40 minutes away. This made me think of "The UPS Store", though. It seems they provide Mailbox services and there's one nearby.

I've sent an e-mail to the local store asking about specifics and rates. I think I'll also take a peek in the yellow pages for independent practitioners of the mailbox arts to see if anyone offers a per-package rate. I only order every 4-6 weeks, so I'd hate to wind up spending an extra $10/month for this purpose alone.

I've considered asking a friend or family member, but I can't find one who's reliably home a lot during the week. And I'd hate to force one of them to stay home all day on delivery day so as not to miss the UPS man.

Thanks for your input, if anyone has other suggestions, I'm all ears.

 

[cbsbyte]

I am quite sure UPS Store company policy forbids them from accepting ammo or firearms shipments. That topic has been discussed to death in other threads. If you do have ammo sent there they will probably refuse to accept it since the boxes

 

[K-Romulus]

The UPS Store can't SHIP ammo outbound (can only be done at the UPS regional distribution hub if you don't have a UPS business account), but I don't think the UPS Store policy extends to personal receipt of inbound packages.

FWIW, Ammoman's boxes have the ORM-D stickers that just say "Consumer Commodity" instead of "small arms cartridges."
They don't ask, you don't tell. . . .

 

[TX1911fan]

Can you get a PO box in one of those mailbox places? They let you use their street address and they will sign for the packages. I don't know how much they cost, though.

 

[hotpig]

I never ship mine signature required for this reason. In the last seven years I had one delivery come up missing from a customers porch. He ordered the ammo and left on vacation the next day. The ammo sat on his porch for lord knows how long before it was stolen.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I've never had a signature-required ammo shipment through UPS. Plus it's like christmas morning when you get home and there's that brown box on your doorstep with the ORM-D stickers!

 

[GRIZ22]

The packages require a signature, so I can't have them shipped home as I'm at work all day.


I just had UPS deliver some ammo today and no signature was required. Of course I wouldn't want my ammo sitting on the front porch all day.

I am quite sure UPS Store company policy forbids them from accepting ammo or firearms shipments.

A friend just sent a rifle to my dealer where I live so I can take delivery. He shipped it from a UPS store. The guy said he couldn't take it, my friend told him it was going to a FFL. Didn't show him anything and the guy at the UPS store said okay. I guess it depends where you go. Generally, I think your better going to the hub or depot or whatever you call it.

 

[Larryect]

I use Postal Annex. They sign for my packages all the time. I have not had a problem with them accepting anything . It is NOT the same as a PO Box. The address looks like a business with a suite number. Fedex, UPS and USPS deliver my mail there. I think I pay something like $65 for 6 months service.


.

 

[harthamm]

I've bought from Natchez a few times. My carrier leaves them on my doorstep without a signature.

 

[LordGibson]

Hrmm, I've always just assumed that ORM-D packages required a human being to receive them. They always took a signature when delivering to my office in the past. Maybe I'll try just shipping one to my house and seeing what happens.

I called around to a few places - apparently a lot of self-storage businesses offer mailbox rental (and package signing). The cheapest one nearby costs about $8/month after $30 in deposits and fees up front. I'll have to do some serious figuring to see if that's really worthwhile. I guess if nothing else works I can go that route.

I think, too, that I'll actually flat out ask my co-workers how they feel about taking those deliveries. I suspect it won't go well, but it won't hurt to just ask. And maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

 

[glockman19]

It's a good thing your co-workers have never asked what the OREM-D sitcker means on those packages.

 

[PAshooter]

When I used to order from ammoman.com, and more recently from natchez & AIM, I've never had a problem with UPS just leaving the package on my back porch. Just contact your vendor, explain the situation, and request that they NOT send your order "adult signature required."

 

[ravencon]

When I've picked up packages at the UPS depot it was very unpleasant. Long, long lines and a long, long wait. I would not do it again if I could help it.

 

[PAshooter]

When I've picked up packages at the UPS depot it was very unpleasant. Long, long lines and a long, long wait. I would not do it again if I could help it.

I've had quite the opposite experience in my area. One time I did have to go to the depot and sign for a package was for the Nagant revolver I bought using my C&R. Since it was a firearm it required an adult signature. Showed up at the little hole in the wall UPS Air depot and tracked down a young lady who seemed to be in charge (they didn't really have much of a customer sdrvice counter). The driver had just returned and pulled my package off the truck... it was sitting on her desk. I signed, and as she handed me the box she said "If you don't mind my asking, what's in the package?" I replied "Ummm... an antique revolver." "Cool!" she replied, "the driver said he bet it was a gun. Have a nice day!"

Gotta love PA

 

[LordGibson]

Hate to resurrect an old thread, but I wanted to provide some closure.

I placed a new order this week and had it shipped to my home - just to see what would happen. I tried to be home early enough to catch the UPS guy and have a little chat about any special handling requirements for ORM-D packages - but I missed him. Instead he just left the package on my porch.

Apparently no signature is required - and the packages don't need to be received by a human being. Problem solved!

Thanks for everyone's input. Sorry it turned out to be a non-issue. But hopefully I'm not the only one who learned something from this.