I just got done shipping a rifle for service. The dealer had specified for me to use UPS. Going to the first shipper (Postman Plus), he tells me he would be glad to ship the gun, but I would "have to remove the stock. UPS requires this, so the gun cannot be shot." So I left scratching my head and feeling dissatisfied. I then decided to try another shipper. (Mailboxes, etc.) This Gentlemen tells me he would be glad to ship the firearm, but not through UPS. "They don't take firearms- you need to use FEDEX." So I told the manager that I know of many people who have shipped their firearms through UPS. He eventually agreed to ship the gun, despite his fear of "having problems with UPS if they realize the package contains a firearm." Is every shipper issued a different set of rules, or does it just seem that way?
The humor of shipping firearms
- Thread starter RM
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You ever go to a gunshow and hear fifteen different versions of some gun law espoused by people who don't actually have a clue what's going on?
Zundfolge
Member
This is kinda accurate as UPS has a policy of not shipping firearms EXCEPT through their hubs ... places like Mailboxes, etc. aren't supposed to ship firearms (of course FedEx has pretty much the same policy IIRC ... thats why I said kinda accurate
)What I really find funny is all the trouble folks have shipping pistols and rifles yet I sit here in the heart of West Los Angeles and Santa Monica (where Kerry signs are still on front lawns and house windows) and can cheerfully ship via Fed Ex, UPS, and my local USPS station with not a batted eye.
Just seems a touch ironic.
Just seems a touch ironic.
Let's see, UPS makes you pay "air" rates when shipping a gun for transfer, repair, etc. But I know for a fact that many of those guns, when being shipped a relatively short distance, certainly never get anywhere near the inside of a plane.
You're not paying for "air". You're paying for "next day" service.
While I agree that the carriers are hosing the customer because they can't control theft in their own facilities, the reality of their services is that next day packages are processed differently and are handled less which reduces the chances of a lost or stolen package.
While I agree that the carriers are hosing the customer because they can't control theft in their own facilities, the reality of their services is that next day packages are processed differently and are handled less which reduces the chances of a lost or stolen package.
This is true. They worry about theft by their own people. I just shipped a handgun overnite FedEx and it cost me almost $50!! Ouch. Thats another reason to NEVER ship a gun Friday. It will sit in a warehouse all weekend and stands a chance of being lifted. Always ship a gun early in the week...
No. They have idiots, morons, dimwits, and the none too bright making them up on the spot. It helps them feel creative.
Zundfolge
Member
Then you run afoul of the fed.gov who REQUIRE you to inform a shipper that you are shipping a firearm.
Not sure if its a felony or not, but knowing the fed.gov it probably is.
I chauffer my guns around. Farthest smith I've used was 300 miles (Gutridge). A couple of 200 mile runs (Michigun). Nearest smith I trust for any kind of standard work I can't or don't want to do myself is 60 miles (Dick Williams).
No chance of theft, no retarded corporate games
or shocking legal risks
Never a problem doing this and it's not an inconvenience. I really enjoy talking with these guys and looking around their shops!
No chance of theft, no retarded corporate games
or shocking legal risks Never a problem doing this and it's not an inconvenience. I really enjoy talking with these guys and looking around their shops!
If you ever ship via UPS again don't go to one of those places. Just go directly to the UPS customer service counter, which is usually in the same building where they load up all the trucks. It's easier to handle insurance issues if something goes wrong and you don't have to mess with misinformation and stuff. Also, I think those places charge more.
brad cook
brad cook
Don't know why that's always sited as the reason. Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that it costs alot more could it....
If an "air" package is sent by ground (which is OFTEN the case if the destination is within 1000 miles of pick-up) it will be handed the same as any other ground package. It is loaded off the same belt by the same people into the back of the same truck as everything else that is going to the same hub.
I still have horrible memories of loading trailers full of the dang things. I always thought it was kinda sad that some poor shmuck was paying for 2nd day air from Seattle to Sacramento and wound up with his package sitting in the very same pile as the regular cheap packages.
here is a great link with the rules for the different shippers. It links directly to each of the shippers policies.
http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html
http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html
You are not required by law to notify the carrier as long as you are shipping to a licensee. If you don't tell, you might have a problem with an insurance claim.
spartacus2002
Member
the simplest time I ever had shipping a firearm was a rifle thru US Postal Service. They had a clerk who had dealt with it before and he made it simple and painless.
The first clerk referred me to him. That first clerk, upon hearing I was shipping a rifle, nearly freaked out. The second clerk just rolled his eyes at her, said yes you can do it, and took over.
The first clerk referred me to him. That first clerk, upon hearing I was shipping a rifle, nearly freaked out. The second clerk just rolled his eyes at her, said yes you can do it, and took over.
AirForceShooter
Member
I think there is a regulation requiring notification of gun shipment but I ignore it. It's one of those laws that doesn't get enforced because it's such a low priority and they know there usually isn't criminal intent involved so prosecuting gets expensive and convictions of otherwise law-abiding people is uncertain. Minor penalty even if you do get nabbed.
I ship long guns via postal service and handguns via FedEx and on the form I write power tool. Cheaper but SOL if stolen because I didn't tell them. BUT, not telling the carrier employees what's in the box makes it LESS LIKELY to be stolen, you know?
I ship long guns via postal service and handguns via FedEx and on the form I write power tool. Cheaper but SOL if stolen because I didn't tell them. BUT, not telling the carrier employees what's in the box makes it LESS LIKELY to be stolen, you know?
c_yeager, locally, we have a different driver and truck for overnight deliveries then the regular drivers (FedEx, UPS, and even USPS). Maybe things are different at our service centers here.
As for not telling them what's in the box, have fun with insurance shold anything happen to it. Knowing a few UPS and USPS drivers and loaders, if you don't think they don't recognize local addresses after a while, you're kidding yourself.
Scary all the dirty laundy they seem to know about the people they deliver to.
Had two shotguns stolen on different occassions in the mid-90's. Had a 1911 go MIA for 3 weeks with UPS as well. The hassle was frustrating, though once the words, "file a report with law enforcement" came up things happened pretty fast and the pistol turned up real quick. Three weeks from Los Angeles to San Diego did seem rather excessive.
I'll pay the extra few bucks to make sure they get where I want when I want.
As for not telling them what's in the box, have fun with insurance shold anything happen to it. Knowing a few UPS and USPS drivers and loaders, if you don't think they don't recognize local addresses after a while, you're kidding yourself.
Scary all the dirty laundy they seem to know about the people they deliver to.
Had two shotguns stolen on different occassions in the mid-90's. Had a 1911 go MIA for 3 weeks with UPS as well. The hassle was frustrating, though once the words, "file a report with law enforcement" came up things happened pretty fast and the pistol turned up real quick. Three weeks from Los Angeles to San Diego did seem rather excessive.
I'll pay the extra few bucks to make sure they get where I want when I want.
Gunsnrovers, You're right about the final delivery driver knowing, but I think they are less likely to swipe than are the handlers in the warehouse.
Hello, I suspect that more people ship guns as "machine parts" than as guns. If you do this, in addtition to violating the law, I think that you'd have trouble making an insurance claim with the shipper should your gun be stolen or damaged in transit.
FedX just leaving firearm Pkg. on doorstep
I read a post a while back about FedX just leaving a guys firearm Pkg. on his doorstep when he was not home. It was a must be signed for shipment from the firearms Mfg.
I read a post a while back about FedX just leaving a guys firearm Pkg. on his doorstep when he was not home. It was a must be signed for shipment from the firearms Mfg.
<<<Quote:
While I agree that the carriers are hosing the customer because they can't control theft in their own facilities,
Don't know why that's always sited as the reason. Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that it costs alot more could it.... >>>
Actually Open Road, UPS themselves stated that theft of firearms by their own employees was why they were requiring overnight shipments of firearms a couple of years back.
While I agree that the carriers are hosing the customer because they can't control theft in their own facilities,
Don't know why that's always sited as the reason. Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that it costs alot more could it.... >>>
Actually Open Road, UPS themselves stated that theft of firearms by their own employees was why they were requiring overnight shipments of firearms a couple of years back.
You're right about the insurancce claim but not about violating the law.
There is no legal requirement to notify the carrier as long as you are shipping to a licensee. Notification is only legally required when shipping to a nonlicensee.
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