shipping to Ruger - my experience at fedex today

[thomis]

I have a revolver that needs to go to Ruger. When I talked to customer service, they told me I could use Fedex or UPS to ship the gun directly to customer service, and they could actually ship it directly back to me as long as someone over 21 could sign for it.
Anyways, I went to fedex and told the guy I wanted to ship a handgun. He all but freaked out. OMG he says, I got to go talk to the manager. Waiting, waiting... he comes back and says it has to be over-nighted, "we want these things in our possession as little as possible" he says, as if there were an atomic bomb in the small box in front of him. Then he quoted me $76. I walked out. That is ludicrous.

 

[tarosean]

Normal price and procedure ( with exception of the manager involvement )

 

[Goody3086]

Unfortunately, that is their rule. Same with UPS, has to be Overnighted. When I ship a pistol I have a friendly FFL do it for me, usually charge me 25-30 dollars total. They can ship through USPS because they have an FFL.

 

[Havok7416]

It's a liability issue nothing more. If it's sitting on a truck somewhere or in a distribution center that opens up the chance for theft or damage of the gun.

 

[DPris]

You'll find the same basic policy at both FEDEX & UPS, that's just life.
You want to conduct business, you have to pay for it.
Denis

 

[dirtykid]

With my past experience with ANY carrier, UPS or Fed-Ex
I too would want them to handle it as little as possible

 

[brickeyee]

Or you can find an FFL to send it by USPS.

 

[jogar80]

Is it a warranty issue? In the past, whenever I've had a warranty issue, the manufacturer sent me a UPS or Fedex prepaid label.

 

[tgrogg]

Shipping firearm

FedEx and UPS don't need to know what's in the box. Just ship it. I've done it 20 times. Thye only ask questions if you insure for value.

 

[Old Fuff]

I would call Ruger again and explain the situation. They do a lot of pre-paid shipping back and forth, and I suspect someone there can straighten out things with FedEx (or whoever) very fast. I believe their shipping label specifically says, "pre-paid," or words to that effect. Most likely a FedEx hub would take the package while other sites wouldn't.

 

[DPris]

If you violate their shipping policies by NOT telling them it's a firearm, they are under no obligation whatever to make good on any subsequent loss or damage.
I choose to pay the money & do it right, and I've spent hundreds at both places over the years in shipping handguns.
I won't take the risk involved in playing games with them.
Denis

 

[Old Fuff]

I wouldn't fool around either, but there is no reason to pay big-bucks when the receiver is a large company that has pre-paid the shipping company.

Otherwise I have always had an FFL handle the shipping, as they can do so for a much more reasonable cost.

 

[1KPerDay]

FedEx and UPS don't need to know what's in the box. Just ship it. I've done it 20 times. Thye only ask questions if you insure for value.

BAD advice.

 

[zxcvbob]

FedEx and UPS don't need to know what's in the box. Just ship it. I've done it 20 times. Thye only ask questions if you insure for value.

BAD advice.

Not really. Just have to make sure you go to the main shipping depot (UPS calls it their Customer Service Center. Not sure about Fedex), and make sure the recipient has the appropriate FFL or is within your state of residence.

 

[Elkins45]

Most satellite locations won't ship firearms. You have to go to the main hub. I shipped a gun back to Glock last fall and the lady behind the counter didn't bat an eye, just asked "It's just a regular handgun, right?" or words to that effect.

The price seems high, though. Shipping my Glock from KY to GA was $48. I don't know "where the green fern grows" is, but it must be a LOOONNNGGG way from Ruger if that's the rate they quoted you.

As others have stated, I do seem to recall that an FFL can ship it through the post office.

 

[BYJO4]

It's costly to ship guns these days but Fed Ex and UPS are the same. I would definitely declare what I was shipping and insure for the proper amount. If you know someone who has an account with them, you might be able to use their discount on shipping charges.

 

[Black Knight]

The last time I shipped a gun back to the manufacturer was in 2003. It was a Colt Python and I used Fed-Ex Overnight. If I remember correctly I was charged somewhere between $25 and $30. The sooner it gets there the sooner it comes back was my thought.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

How much it cost depends on whether it goes to a business address, how far it goes, and the size and weight of a package, along with the speed. What you pay ($25-$30) is not what someone else might pay, to say ship form Jersey to AZ. It's a crap shoot, and a rape of gun owners to pay for overnight because UPS and FedEx can't stop the internal theft of firearms (by their employees). THAT is why they require them to not be in the system too long.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I shipped a pistol back to Colt for warranty work many years ago. Just went through a local gun store when I did it. A nominal fee at the time, plus insurance.

Turns out I made out a little bit by doing that, too. The owner of the LGS advised me not to ship my gun with any magazines. I asked why and he smiled: "Because if you ship the gun without a magazine, they'll ship it back to you with one!"

Sure enough, when I got it back, it came with a new magazine! The invoice read "Received without magazine. Shipped with new magazine."

Gotta love the little things in life, you know.

 

[ares338]

When I shipped my XDS back to Springfield Arms they sent me a shipping label for FedEx. The lady said" do NOT tell them it is a firearm or write firearm on the box. In fact it is better to use a box From Walmart or some other company because drivers have been known to steal anything marked firearm. There was no fuss at all.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When will it end? We are forced to pay excessive overnight charges because a company can't trust their own employees. It's their problem but we pay the price. You want to save money on buying bulk, well we will fix that. We are going to charge you a hazmat fee even though we really don't do anything special with that package. Again, they are taking advantage of shooters. So I ask again, when will it end?

 

[DPris]

You DON'T write "GUN" on the box.
You DO tell the counter people it IS a gun.
Anything else is gambling.
I'm no gambler with firearms.
Denis

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Yeah, it's a pain. I had UPS drop my revolver off at my house after service. They left it on the porch. I tracked it real close on UPS's website and ran home about 10 minutes after it was supposed to be there. Did not care for it being left on the porch. Delivery guy had no idea what it was obviously.

 

[jrdolall]

I had one to ship back to Ruger a month or so ago. They sent me a pre-paid label via email which I attached to a box and took to one of the "mail drop" places that handle Fedex and UPS. They took the package, gave me a receipt, and I got my gun back from Ruger 2-3 weeks later.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.

27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]
Pay special attention to 27 CFR 478.30(a).