UPS only ships FFL to FFL?

[wasrjoe]

I tried to ship a rifle today via UPS. However, after much delay, they told me they only ship FFL to FFL - not non-licensed to FFL. Is this true, or was the person informing me of this incorrect?

Had to ship the damn thing USPS. The guy there was very nice and helped me throughout the process.

See, not all federal employees are JBTs.

 

[W Turner]

The UPS guy you dealt with was wrong, you can ship private to FFL.


W

 

[mete]

As I understand it there are two sets of rules - ATF and UPS. UPS does not want problems more than necessary so they say FFL to FFL. I also understand they require overnight shipment - that is to limit the time they have it and minimize theft.

 

[ALS]

UPS does ship private to FFL. I have sent and received 3 different rifles to and from my smith. I dropped off a pistol at Colt for some custom work and they shipped it UPS back to my house.

 

[Standing Wolf]

In exactly two words: Federal Express.

 

[TimRB]

Just on a hunch, were you at a UPS Store? In my area the box droids who operate the UPS Stores are universally misinformed about shipping firearms, but if you go to a UPS hub (or whatever they call it) they will ship it for you.

I once called a half dozen local UPS Stores to ship a rifle back to the manufacturer for repair and had no luck. Giving up, I called my local gun shop thinking I would pay them to have it shipped, and instead they just told me where they go for UPS--the local hardware store.

Tim

 

[George S.]

The little UPS Stores which are franchises are not supposed to accept any firearms for shipment. You can go to a UPS shipping facility where they will accept all firearms including handguns that are going to an FFL holder or the manufacturer.

 

[Coltdriver]

This just came up a couple of weeks ago.

Although you may be able to ship private to FFL at some ups locations, if you read their rules on their web site it says ffl to ffl only.

For a rifle I always ship USPS. It is cheaper and every bit as reliable.

 

[wasrjoe]

The little UPS Stores which are franchises are not supposed to accept any firearms for shipment. You can go to a UPS shipping facility where they will accept all firearms including handguns that are going to an FFL holder or the manufacturer.

I went to both. The last one was the UPS shipping facility. They're the ones that said no non-licensed to FFL.

 

[DMK]

Call 1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877) and ask them.

I had some problems with shipping some ammo a while back. I called the number above and they verified that I was correct. Of course, that didn't help me deal with the moron at the counter since she just stated that she "knew the rules" and didn't need for me to tell her what she could or couldn't do, even after I showed her an email that customer service sent me. So, knowing that I was right, I just went back during the day shift(it was the night shift supervisor that was giving me trouble) and they didn't even bat an eye about shipping it.

Man, can deal with those who are ignorant, but arrogant idiots really get me. :banghead:

 

[Billmanweh]

my local UPS shipping facility will not ship a gun from a non-FFL

 

[HankL]

The following text was copied from the UPS tariff terms of service. Their web site does not put it this way.

FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
Firearms will be transported between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers and
licensed collectors, as defined in the United States Gun Control Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-618,
enacted October 22, 1968), as amended by the Firearms Owners' Protection Act (P.L. 99-308,
approved May 19, 1986, and a subsequent amendment thereto, P.L. 99-360, approved July 8, 1986)
(“the Actsâ€), law enforcement agencies of the United States or of any department or agency thereof,
and law enforcement agencies of any State or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof,
and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and
when such shipment complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws. The shipper must affix a
UPS label, requesting an adult signature upon delivery, to each package containing a firearm. Adult
means a person 21 years of age or older. Handguns, as defined by the Acts, will only be accepted for
transportation via UPS Next Day Air Services, but will not be accepted for transportation via UPS Drop
Boxes, Internet Shipping, or in response to a request for On-Call Pickup Service. Firearms, including
handguns, will not be accepted when presented for shipment at a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet or a
UPS Commercial Counter. Small arms ammunition, as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 173.59, will be
transported only when packaged and labeled in compliance with 49 C.F.R. § 172.

As you can see by this section

and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and

Most folks are good to go.

HTH

 

[Billmanweh]

I'm just saying that the UPS facility here will not let me. I've even asked to speak to a manager and explained that the firearm was going to an FFL, and that I had a copy of his FFL with me, etc. No go. I've never had a problem at FedEx.

 

[Bobarino]

i am the owner-operator of an ASO. (Authorized Shipping Outlet). i've been dealing with this for 6 years and UPS is constantly changing their policies. as of the latest update from the UPS account rep., ASO's are not allowed to ship firearms period. however, some of us will under certain circumstances anyway. the only time i will ship firearms from a private party is when they are going back to the manufacturer for repairs. handguns go next day air, rifles and shotguns go whatever way the customer wants. signature from someone over 21 is required for delivery on all firearms.

UPS CAN, (but probably won't) suspend or revoke your UPS ASO account if you are found to be violating their terms of service agreements. if that happens, i'm out of business. so you can see why i'm leary of doing it. its just not worth the risk of losing your main source of income because someone didn't want to follow the rules, or wanted to save the $25 service charge for a legal FFL to FFL transfer. i give references to local FFL's that will ship firearms for people.

its a real bummer that this is the case. i lost a few good customers from these rules. of course, they blame me personally for UPS's policies and ATF regualtions so i get the brunt of the anger. i would love to be able to ship firearms for my customers but its just not worth the risk of getting my UPS account pulled which would spell the end of my business. same thing with your local UPS store or independant ASO. its not their fault so don't blame them. they have to look out for their own best interests. gaining a $50 sale is not worth risking $150k+ of sales per year from UPS alone.

i highly doubt its ever happened as UPS pretty much turns a blind eye to just about everything as long as you pay your bill. they are all about the dollar dollar dollar. not much else matters to them.

if you want to risk it, you can package your item yourself, take it to your local ASO, and send it without declaring what's inside. you should request an adult signature though. if you really want to be sure your package is looked after, insure it for $5000 or more. it will cost you about 70 cents per $100 of insurance but packages insured for over $5k are given special treatment. i don't ask what my customers are shipping if they package it themselves. on the shipping form, there is a spot to list contents. if they leave it blank, thats up to them. that also means though, that if you ship your firearm against regulations and don't tell me what's in it, your claim will be denied if it is lost or damaged. like i said, its a risk you can take if you want to. if you package your item yourself, YOU ARE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENTS AND ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO IT aside from loss, which is very rare. (UPS has lost 2 packages i've sent in the last 6 years and 75,000 packages)

one good way to prevent theft of a firearm is to make it NOT look like a firearm box. if your weapon breaks down, do it and put it in a shorter box (packaged properly of course) so it doesn't scream I'M A GUN! when you look at the box.

don't bother asking your local ASO to package it for you and then not declare the contents. if your gun gets lost, and you sue, we lose because we knew what you were doing and did it anyway.

now you have the point of view from the other side of the counter. so take it easy on the clerk. its not their choice. your $15 worth of profit for them is not worth putting their entire business in the line.

Bobby

 

[musher]

or wanted to save the $25 service charge for a legal FFL to FFL transfer

If the implication is that a non-ffl to FFL transfer is illegal, then you're wrong. Federal law doesn't require a person to be an FFL to ship a firearm. The recipient must be an FFL only if they are in another state and they aren't also the shipper.
Your state law may vary, I suppose.

It doesn't seem unreasonable to me to want to save a $25 transfer fee if it's not legally required.

At any rate, seems to me that there's an important distinction between 'legal' and UPS policy.