Author Topic: Frustrated with UPS gun shipment! (Read 956 times)

Skeeterbaymac · « **on:** March 10, 2006, 01:39:13 PM »

Sorry but I just have to get this off my chest! Has anyone used UPS to ship a gun (owner to gunsmith) before?

I just sent a Ruger Blackhawk yesterday to a custom shop and had the most interesting time dealing with UPS. I called their 1-800 customer service number and they told me just make sure it's unloaded and box it good and take it to one of their offices and request over night air shipping and adult signature required.

When I got to the UPS office with the gun, the little darling behind the counter said I needed one of "these thingy's" and shows me some other gentlemans FFL. I told her very nicely that I didn't think I did and that her own company's customer service said I didn't. When I told her this she gets a blank stare and starts looking at the tiles on the celling. I began to think maybe they keep their regulations up there. After much reflection she decided she didn't need an FFL from me, but she needed one from the Gun smith so "she knew he was a real gun smith"! By this time she had my box and my copy of the gun smiths order form so I said look no big deal If you think I need one I will just take it to a gun dealer or to Fedx. When she handed me back my order form I looked on the back while she was yapping away about her training and I saw that the gun smith had placed a reference to the appropraiate CFR for owner to smith shipments. I showed her this and she then states ok you can ship it now.

What really gets me about all this is she never once steped into the back and checked a regulation (either CFR or UPS policy). Nor did she ever once go get a more experienced person. She took it upon her self to enforce her own version of the rules (I need to know he is a real gun smith!) I just can't imagine how she thought that someones generic order form with some CFR number on it was all of a sudden legal and binding. She didn't even know what CFR stood for until I told her.

Has anyone else had this sort of thing happen or am I just the odd case!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2006, 01:53:59 PM »

It helps to go there armed with their regs. :wink: Ignorant help is bountiful, UPS doesn't have a corner on that market. :?

Tim

https://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2006, 04:23:46 PM »

I am so glad the UPS store I deal with has an owner that is a gun person. I never have a problem.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2006, 06:25:14 PM »

Or you could just set you up an online UPS account. Print out your own shipping label right on your own printer and pay for it via credit card. Then you can drop it off ANYWHERE that accepts UPS shipments. With a gun I'd recommend a UPS office but with the pre printed mailing label so far I've had no questions asked.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2006, 10:18:36 PM »

So frequently there is a way around small minds!!

williamlayton · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2006, 11:14:30 PM »

That is the way the Hen deals with me !
Blessings

Varmint Hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2006, 12:48:10 PM »

The other day I shipped a Rem 700 to my smith for some work. The woman at the Post Office said - "You know this rifle MUST be taken apart, don't you?" I said "Yes". She said - Well is it?" I said "Yes".

Anyone heard this before?

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2006, 03:39:49 PM »

Typical. It's your typical knuckle dragging mouth breather behind the counter. A total doofus that was rejected as being too incomptetent by McDonalds. I had a hauntingly similar event with an adult moron at a UPS store.

tapehoser · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2006, 04:28:57 AM »

I shipped a firearm to Marlin 2 weeks ago with UPS. The girl at the counter even boxed it up for me with TONS of cushioning bubble wrap and popcorn and didn't give me one bit if grief.

However, I did have to remove the lever and the bolt for shipping. That's understandable.

leverfan · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2006, 04:49:58 PM »

Quote from: Varmint Hunter

The other day I shipped a Rem 700 to my smith for some work. The woman at the Post Office said - "You know this rifle MUST be taken apart, don't you?" I said "Yes". She said - Well is it?" I said "Yes".

Anyone heard this before?

She just meant you should take the bolt out before shipping, I expect. I don't know if that's still part of their written requirements, or not. One thing that is in their shipping regulations is:

11.4 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms
Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any shipment of rifles or shotguns. Contact the nearest office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for further advice.

tapehoser · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2006, 03:38:38 AM »

UPS policy states that in order to ship a firearm, it must be rendered incapable of firing.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2006, 05:15:15 AM »

Quote from: tapehoser

UPS policy states that in order to ship a firearm, it must be rendered incapable of firing.

Where did you find that info? I found no such requirement, not even a mention of removing the bolt .....

Tim

Quote

Transportation of Firearms

Shipping Firearms Including Handguns

Customers must observe the following procedures to ship firearms (including handguns) via UPS:

UPS will accept firearms for transportation only according to the terms and conditions in the UPS Tariff.
UPS accepts firearm shipments from UPS daily pickup accounts and through UPS Customer Centers. UPS daily pickup accounts can also ship firearms, not including handguns, through UPS Internet Shipping, On-Call PickupSM, and One-Time Pickup. Firearms are not accepted for shipment via UPS Drop Boxes, UPS SonicAir BestFlightSM service, or international service. Firearms will not be accepted when presented for shipment at locations of The UPS Store or any third-party retailer.
UPS accepts handgun shipments from UPS daily pickup accounts and through UPS Customer Centers. Handguns are not accepted for shipment via UPS Drop Boxes, UPS SonicAir BestFlight service, UPS Internet Shipping, UPS On-Call Pickup, UPS One-Time Pickup, or international service. Handguns will not be accepted when presented for shipment at locations of The UPS Store or any third-party retailer.
The shipper must affix a UPS label, requesting an adult signature upon delivery, to each package containing a firearm.
Packages containing handguns must be shipped via UPS Next Day Air Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air Saver® service.
Packages containing handguns must be segregated from other packages being tendered to UPS. Handgun shippers must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk of any package containing a handgun.
UPS prohibits the inclusion of ammunition in packages containing firearms, including handguns.

https://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html

Quote

Shipping Firearms

Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms

Use These UPS Services for Your Firearm Shipment
Firearms will be transported only between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors, as defined in the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, law enforcement agencies of the United States or of any department or agency thereof and law enforcement agencies of any state or 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.

You must ship your packages that contain handguns with UPS Next Day Air Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air Saver® services
Your packages that contain firearms will not be accepted for shipment at UPS Drop Boxes, with UPS SonicAir® service, at locations of The UPS Store or any third-party retailer, or with international services.

Follow These Packing Requirements
Your packages that contain handguns must be separated from other packages being delivered to UPS
Ammunition cannot be included in your packages that contain firearms (including handguns)

About Documentation and Labeling
When you are shipping your package that contains a firearm with UPS, you must affix a UPS label requesting an adult signature upon delivery

Getting Your Firearm Shipment to UPS
You can only ship your package that contains a firearm from UPS daily pickup accounts and through UPS Customer Centers
When you are shipping a package that contains a handgun, you must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk
You can use UPS daily pickup accounts to ship firearms, not including handguns, through UPS Internet Shipping, UPS On-Call PickupSM, and One-Time Pickup
Your packages that contain firearms will not be accepted for shipment at UPS Drop Boxes, with UPS SonicAir® service, at locations of The UPS Store or any third-party retailer, or with international services
See the terms and conditions in the UPS Tariff for shipping firearms

ttps://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/service/terms/firearms.html

http://www.ups.com/media/en/us_tariff_01032006.pdf

1911crazy · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2006, 07:43:33 AM »

I haven't had a problem yet. But i have been told to ship a handgun i must have my FFL01 to ship it leagally otherwise i can ship C&R's to a C&R holder and modern rifles to FFL01 holders.

doncisler · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2006, 01:54:23 PM »

there is a good summary of shipping regulations in the shotgun news pg.57 thru 60 (the pull-out center) on february 24, 2006.

tapehoser · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:22:03 AM »

Good information, quickdtoo.

I took the nice lady's word as gospel when she told me it had to be rendered incapable of firing and that it was company policy. Perhaps I shall make her aware of the mistake next time.

It didn't bother me to remove the lever and bolt. I could probably take it out and replace it blindfolded now. Just wasn't a big deal.

Thanks!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:49:32 AM »

They could have some other directive that I couldn't find online, but I've shipped several at the local Customer Center and they've never asked anything except if there was ammo included in the shipment. It was probably just the clerk's interpretation of the rules that she read into it in your case. Technically, removing the bolt or just opening the action would render a firearm incapable of firing for shipping purposes. The phrase "Incapable of firing" conjures images of firearms that are for show only!! :eek:

Tim