USPS/UPS/FEDEX Firearms mailing (take 2)

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Timradcliffe345

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How do I go about to ship a rifle back to a manufacturer for a defect/warranty issue? Which company is preferable? How do I pack the firearm and mark the box? Can I just walk into the post office with a firearm or do I need to let them know prior? Insurance?

Lots of questions here, give me lots of answers. :neener:
 
Tim- We have a FEDEX shipper acount, and I have had no problems shipping to a manufacturer or dealer with them. They do specify that the driver be told it is a firearm, and of course that it be unloaded..

I have had mixed results when using UPS. Some UPS stores will ship a firearm, some won't, claiming it is company policy, which I don't believe. We had one local female manager who simply refused to ship firearms- her policy.

Haven't shipped any firearms via USPS, so can't offer any info there.
 
Take it to USPS

No problem with a rifle as long as it goes back to the manufacturer for repair.

other rules apply to other ?


steve
 
Some UPS stores will ship a firearm, some won't, claiming it is company policy, which I don't believe.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't, they are wrong. UPS should ship (UNLOADED!) firearms domestically. They ARE banned in the international system for obvious reasons. Handguns have to be sent next-day-air. (this is mostly to reduce thefts in the system, NDA packages have significantly less hands on them) I've worked at UPS as a driver and as an international auditor, I know the policies pretty well.

That being said, UPS stores are franchises, there is a chance they can ship/recieve whatever they want, but I'm not really sure.
 
I have found that by going to a local independent shipping store, you can generally get better and more knoweldgable service as well as the best rate available.

Most of these stores deal with all of the major carriers, and the owners can reccommend a specific carrier and packaging methods. They also seem to have sharper help than the high school students down at the local FedEx or UPS store.

I would reccommend that you call ahead re: their firearms policies, and upon arrival go in first sans package to tell them what you're about to bring in. This can avoid any issues or startling the counter help, i.e. "You've got a GUN in there!?!"
 
You can not ship firearms from UPS stores.

From the UPS website: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html
You can ship a firearm (excluding handguns, which are discussed above), from a UPS daily pickup account, UPS On-Call Pickup, One-Time Pickup, or a UPS Customer Center. Note: Firearms are not accepted for shipment through UPS Internet Shipping, UPS Drop Boxes, or at The UPS Store or any third party retailer.
Click to expand...

I have personally shipped firearms via UPS without any problems. I haven't used FedEx because they were considerably more expensive.
 
You can ship via any of the above- USPS, UPS, and FedEx.

Check their websites for their policies.

As long as it's going back to the manufacturer, you do not legally have to tell anyone that it's a gun. If you run into a claims issue with UPS or FedEx, then you probably would want to have it on record that you shipped a rifle back.

Shipping via UPS or FedEx requires that you take it to a hub and not a store, like the UPS Store. It is company policy to do so.

If shipping to FFL, I might be more inclined to go UPS. If going to a big manufacturer, I'd probably just go with USPS and stick a delivery confirmation on it.
 
All I can tell you is that every one of my C&R purchases came to my front door in a brown truck - most recently at the end of July. If a UPS "employee" tries to tell you that the company itself doesn't ship firearms, they're either lying or misinformed. :)

Any advice about avoiding the retail outlets (e.g. UPS Store) is probably prudent.
 
Returned an Mosin Nagant last week via UPS, and I dropped it off at a UPS Store. Didnt tell them it was a firearm or anything. Got to its destination just fine.

UPS (including UPS Stores) ship firearms. They are full of poo if they say otherwise, and should probably be smacked in the mouth for lieing to your face.
 
I've shipped several times from UPS stores without telling them it was a firearm (I did list the contents as the correct model, just didn't specify to anyone it was a firearm.

More recently I just use FedEx and fill out/print the shipping labels online via my free online account, then dropped it off at a shipping center without a word. Totally painless.
 
^

I assume that you need to enter in the dimensions and weight of the package beforehand. Do they actually double check the weight on everything or will they let it pass if it's close?
 
Yes, you enter dimensions of the package and weight. But as far as I know they are just estimates for the online price quote, they bill on the actuals once they receive it I believe. I just guess at the weight, probably pretty far off on alot of the stuff I've shipped.
 
So I guess you don't actually get billed when you create the shipment online, but when it actually gets measured and scanned at the hub?
 
A nonlicensee can use the USPS Mail to ship long guns. No notification is needed that the package contains a firearm if it is going to a licensed FFL.
 
Pack it up well in the origonal box.

wrap it in brown paper to cover up any markings that identify the contents (if applicable)

take it down to the local P.O. and say "I want to send this to timbuktoo"

on the form check "no" to the question about "any hazzardouse material"

they should not ask you what is in it (unless your trying to go book rate or something silly like that)

At least this is what my local postmaster told me and whay I have done myself.

Note: I'm talking about an unloaded long gun.
 
Another useful trick is to 'disguise' the name of the company so as not to tip anyone off as to what's in the box.

For example:
Ruger = SR & CO, Inc.
Busmaster = BFI, LLC.
Rock River = RRA, Inc.
 
I think the safest way to send a long gun for warentee work is USPS Priority "Registered" mail.

Be aware they will want to seal the package with their own propriatary tape (so they can see if the package is tampered with).
 
I like Fedex, they do know what they are talking about and do it QUICK.. UPS is brown for a reason lol.. USPS eh..
 
Pack it up well in the origonal box.

wrap it in brown paper to cover up any markings that identify the contents (if applicable)

take it down to the local P.O. and say "I want to send this to timbuktoo"

on the form check "no" to the question about "any hazzardouse material"

they should not ask you what is in it (unless your trying to go book rate or something silly like that)

At least this is what my local postmaster told me and whay I have done myself.
Click to expand...

...and remember, an AR upper is a "piston assembly":D
 
Thousands of rifles are mailed FedX air with thousands of rounds
of ammo sent ground by the CMP. Only once was there a few days
detay on an estimated delivery date
 
I've always used UPS. I wouldn't ship a lead brick via USPS anymore. Too slow, poor tracking. It's really a shame. A fellow I know on another board had a high end Wby <cough> "lost" by USPS. No trace of it.
 
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