Question about gun shipping charges

[Phil Yearout]

I shipped a gun today; the charge including insurance was $83 and change! I have never paid close to this amount to have a gun shipped to me, so I'm wondering where I went wrong.

Standard shipping via UPS, with proof of delivery, + insurance for $2500. Insurance was $2.00 per hundred after the first $100 (free) so insurance was $48.00. What's more, the insurance covers loss but not damage because I didn't use one of THEIR cartons to pack it in.

The last gun I had shipped to me, the seller charged $35 and shipped UPS.

So what did I do wrong?

[Mark Landskov]

I don't use UPS, but, when I ship long guns, via USPS Priority Mail, the cost gets up there with yours, especially with $5,000.00 insurance. I do know that, with UPS, the dimensions of boxes can cause a nominal fee to be charged, regardless if there is one pound, or 10 pounds in the box.

[Kirk Potter]

Ouch.. That does seem a bit excessive. I've only ever used USPS to ship long guns, that insurance cost seems ridiculous.

[Dean Romig]

I've shipped UPS with $10k insurance that I think cost about $76 and that was a couple of years ago.






.

[Kirk Potter]

Maybe I'm crazy, but I've never bought insurance when shipping a gun.. Just shipped a 12 gauge Parker reproduction USPS Priority mail for $17.03. I just go overboard on the packaging and tape and always ship with signature delivery, haven't had a problem yet.

[Brian Dudley]

Shipping rates are going up as of late. But it varies based on location and weight of course.

I always use usps. Priority mail usually and sometimes express mail. Insurance used to be different for the different services, now it is all the same. They also used to give an on-line discount. Not so anymore.

But, you can usually ship a gun priority mail anywhere in the country for less than $50. Sometimes as cheap as $15.00 if it is within a few states of your location. But that does not factor in insurance.

[edgarspencer]

Phil, I just shipped out a gun for work, via UPS. Insurance ($5000) $49.50
16lbs, 11x50x4, $12.65, Delivery Surcharge $3.75, Additional Handling $10.85. That one I can't figure out. In addition to what? Not handling it?
I Figure about a buck per hundred on Insurance, so I don't know why they charged you so much. I take all my UPS directly to the Desk at the UPS Hanger at the airport. (it's only 7 miles away)

[Jeff Higgins]

We ship both long guns and handguns out on a weekly basis. I have noticed both UPS and Fed-Ex have raised their prices quite a bit. Ups and Fed-Ex state you must ship handguns two day even though it is not what the law requires. If they don't get it there in two days their attitude is O'well sorry about that. But no refund.

[Jean Swanson]

I just shipped a Parker to Mo. via USPS--- Certified , Priority , and Insured for $10,000 in a 3/4 pine box that I made to protect the gun---TOTAL COST $73.35. Cheap to protect 28 bore.

Allan

[Phil Yearout]

Maybe I'm crazy, but I've never bought insurance when shipping a gun.. Just shipped a 12 gauge Parker reproduction USPS Priority mail for $17.03. I just go overboard on the packaging and tape and always ship with signature delivery, haven't had a problem yet.

Yeah, I thought long and hard about that; it would have been under $40 without the ins. Then I thought, "how hard will I be kicking myself over 50 bucks if the durned thing doesn't show up?"

My daughter has shipped two items in the past year that never made it and didn't even get logged in to the system so they could be traced. Luckily she had receipts on both to prove she sent them; they either got stolen before they were logged in or somebody didn't do their job. One was an item she sold on ebay. Dillions (Kroger) was processing mail at that time; the store manager acknowledged they screwed up and paid her for it. The other was an item she was returning to a store through the post office; the retailer credited her account anyway even though they never got the item back.

[Rick Losey]

just shipped a 10 - so not light - USPS $44

[wayne goerres]

Most of the larger ffl have private insurance so they don't pay the high prices we pay to ship. I would like to know how it got to be that we had to have insurance to cover there negligence.

[Jerry Harlow]

I have insurance through Jack Richardson, Eastern Insurance, so I am covered for losses, repair of damages, etc. when shipping or receiving. So the policy is usually mostly paid for by not having to buy overpriced insurance. I just keep the receipt for the shipping of the item. I've not lost anything (yet).

Eastern is the cheapest and best insurance I have found.

[Phillip Carr]

I second what Jerry stated. I always ship USPS Priority mail, with a signature required. Pack well, and no additional insurance.
Eastern insurance is great with a low $250 deductible. With our PGCA discount a little over $300 for 100K per year. I figure I save close to this in shipping insurance each year.

[Mike McKinney]

Tell us about the PGCA discount, I think I missed that.

[Phillip Carr]

Jack gives members a 5% discount on their insurance policy.

[Bill Anderson]

I have shipped hundreds of guns over the years with shipping FedEx & UPS rates between $18 to $25 with gun values up to $30,000. I never buy insurance, just pack very well in good heavy cardboard boxes. Also keep the boxes under 48" in length. Never had a problem. I spend my money on packing materials, not fattening carrier wallets. Just shipped a gun yesterday, 48 x 12 x 4, weighing 11 lb for $18. I calculate that I have saved upwards of $18,000 in shipping rates, over the last 15 years, by not buying insurance and keeping my shipping carton from getting too large, especially in length. What brought me to the "no insurance" approach was right after I started heavy into gun collectiing, I recalled that I have seen hundreds of packages, in my lifetime, arrive without harm or being lost, through various carriers. So I decided shipping guns should have the same results if done correctly. Also, I have read that carriers have rather small limits on what they will pay on a gun claim. So, you may be buying insurance for $8000, but may only receive a fraction of that in a claim. Maybe even $0 on a claim, if the inspector decides that the shipping materials were not enough to protect the gun properly. But again, if you only ship a gun or two a year, well, go ahead and buy the insurance if you like. I am sure the carrier will deeply appreciate the extra cash you are putting in their pockets.

Bill

[William Davis]

Insurance from the carrier is never a good deal risk coverage or cost. Insurance sales high profit item with carriers. All larger shippers carry separate policy's to cover loss. Today most transport covers multiple modes different owners , truck to air or rail back to truck and owned by 3rd parties not the carrier you left the parcel with. Something goes wrong getting paid is not easy. UPS may pay you, after they settle the claim with the railroad or truck who lost the package.

Exception is USPS, multiple modes, the same as private carriers, loss payment much better. And stealing from the Post Office is a federal offense aggressively prosecuted. No matter who you ship with best defense is good packing.

William

[Phil Yearout]

...No matter who you ship with best defense is good packing. William

Good packing isn't much of a defense against loss or theft.

[Bill Anderson]

Good packing isn't much of a defense against loss or theft.

In 15 years or so, hundreds of guns, I have never had a theft or loss. Sounds like something an insurance company or identity theft company would use for "come on" to purchase coverage. Also, theft is really a very over rated fear. If I were a Fedex or UPS driver, how would I know which package is worth the risk and consequences of stealing it?

Bill

[Rick Losey]

Several years ago. They busted a small group in the Upstate NY UPS locations. They were stealing guns going through the system. If (big if) I remember correctly there was someone identifying certain packages leaving Ilion so that they could be redirected

It is likely very rare with modern tracking. But it does happen. I had an item -a big package - lost by FedEx last fall. A big heavy odd shaped package - one of a set. One no good with out the other, so I doubt it was a theft. One arrived. The other was never found.

[Rich Anderson]

I just sent a Fox from MI to TX via UPS with insurance of $4000 for $53.00. I went directly to the UPS hub not one of the mall outlets AKA The UPS Store.
Dimensions and weight contribute the most to the shipping charges. I know it's less expensive if I'm sending a shotgun that can be broken down vs a rifle that requires a long box.

[William Davis]

Any insurance is just a bet. I don't insure against any loss I can afford to assume, placing my bet on delivery. Well packed package shipped with USPO signature on delivery no extra insurance is a pretty good bet.

Fed Ex on the other hand has a large number of contractors. Uniform may say Fed Ex, Truck too, They don't all work for Fed Ex, low pay, no company loyalty. Most UPS drivers are employees and theft not a real big issue. Very rare for a USPO employee to steal packages.

It's a choice not everybody see's it the same.

William

[Rich Anderson]

I bought two Pre64 M70's from a fellow from Georgia who shipped them using USPS in the plastic gun guard cases no box!! When they never arrived he got the postal inspector involved and low and behold the guns had made it to Detroit where there was film of an employee putting the cases in the trunk of his car:shock: I did manage to get the guns and it all worked out ok but IMHO there was a lot of luck involved with this one.

[Harryreed]

In the southeast, the UPS Store policy in strip malls will not knowingly accept a firearm for shipment. I have been turned away many times and then have to find a UPS hub that will accept firearms. Shipping from a UPS Store is also the most expensive rate you can pay. I usually have my local FFL dealer ship them for a flat $40. They have a UPS account with better shipping rates. I have successfully shipped a firearm from a UPS Store back to the manufacturer for warranty/repair work, but the UPS label was provided.

[John Allen]

The insurance is what runs the price up but you need to unsure for at least your cost in the gun.All of these shipping companies and the USPS have people who can tear up a steel ball with a rubber hammer.I once had a Midas grade Browning delivered with tire tracks on the box.The gun was totaled and it took me 6 months to get reimbursed.I have long felt that most dealers just estimate shipping and wind up losing money on most shipments.