Shipping guns
 

Sorry if I'm rehashing here. I need to send a gun for trigger work which of course requires shipping the entire gun. I guess I can ship via USPS but I've heard UPS or FedEx may be less expensive. However, I'm hearing that I now would need to have an FFL to ship a gun or those carriers (I don't have one of course). Also, do I need to prove that the party I'm sending to has an FFL? Discussions on the boards seem to be all over the place on this. Thanks...

I typically use USPS and never have any issues or questions at my local post office. But I am in a small, rural community. If questioned, the only thing you are suppose to present is a copy of the FFL of the person or business you are shipping the gun to.

I send all UPS but I have access to an FFL at all times . Also we have UPS pickup so I need not carry boxes anywhere .

UPS and Fed Ex will no longer accept a gun from a non FFL. The post office will accept it but you need to show a copy of the receiving FFL to verify it is going to an FFL. I tried to send one last week through a Nashville post office and the clerk refused to take it even though I had a copy of the FFL. I went to a post office out of town and they took it with no problem. The government at work.

I haven't shipped one in a while ,I suppose a C&R doesn't count ? So I guess the best alternative is to go through your local FFL Dealer if they will do it we have one that refuses to get guns from the internet because he feels you are buying around him :banghead: !!!!!Even though I only remember him ever having one Parker Brothers gun in the shop for sale !

Why would they ask? Why disclose? And why would they refuse to accept it? This is simply a case of a rogue clerk refusing to do their job. I have heard of this happening from time to time. There would be hell to pay with their postmaster if it every happened to me.

The postal service should never ask what the contents of the package is. Only if it is perishable, hazardous, blah, blah, blah. Even if it is being insured. It is not in their paperwork or script of questions.

Phil, I ship guns all the time to gunsmiths, stockers, etc. You can send any gun you own to a gun smith or FFL, they do not need an FFL. I always send them insured via USPS. I never use FedEx or UPS.


Hope that helps,


Thanks,


Bobby

Food for thought ...... so, let's say the "gun smith" to whom you're sending a post-1898 gun is in another state and s/he doesn't have a Type 01 FFL for gunsmithing. Are you in violation of Federal law by transferring a firearm interstate to an unlicensed person? Also, let's say the gun is damaged or stolen while in transit, how do you file a claim with the USPS if in fact you violated federal law by sending it to an unlicensed individual?

Legally any gunsmith taking in someones firearm for work needs to have an 01 FFL by federal guidelines. And possibly state licensing depending on individual state laws. So, such a scenario should not exist. Unless of course the smith is not operating their business properly. But I suppose it is no different than “collectors” who regularly sell more guns than some dealers. It happens.

I shipped two to Ohio on Tuesday via USPS from Virginia to a gunsmith for work. Both in the same box and packed quite well. They were shipped fully insured. They didn't ask what was in the box other then the usual (liquids, hazmat, explosives etc etc). Got there on Thursday and picked up yesterday with no damage by the smith. I have shipped from three different post offices in the area and have never been asked what was in the box. I don't list something "Bobs Firearms" on the label. I'll list Bob's full name. I've also done UPS is the past, but that had to be taken to a hub and that's too far away with the price of gas/traffic etc. The only complaint I have about USPS is they now charge $15 for an oversize package. My box was 32" long and that' considered oversize. Shipping 11 lbs to Ohio insured and priority mail was circa $100 bucks. Is what it is as they say.

A C&R is a type of FFL License and should suffice for these types of transactions, especially on a C&R qualified gun.

I've found that insuring the package for a large amount is what triggers the questions of what's in the package at USPS.

These two items are why I got my C&R and an Eastern insurance policy on my collection that covers shipping by common carrier plus while the gun is at the gunsmith's shop. The C&R is a bit of a hassle to get at first, but it pays for itself the first time you use it. The Eastern policy gives a comforting piece of mind overall & cuts down some of the shipping hassles. There are other insurance companies out there who offer similar coverages.

IMO it's a no-brainer to get a copy of the FFL you're shipping the gun too. If someone refuses to email you a copy of their FFL to you, don't use them, you're only possibly putting yourself in violation of federal law!

It is my understanding that if you ship a gun through USPS and do not declare it they will not honor any damage or loss claims. That has been told to me by several postmasters. I always tell them what I am shipping for that reason.

Where as UPS says FFL to FFL or they won’t make good on the insurance . What I’ve been doing for over ten years now so no biggie to me . I have no use for USPS . I understand they get plenty complaints , but that’s a two way street . A couple of the clerks at the local PO are some downright RUDE assholes and they’re WOMEN no less .

I have shipped dozens of long guns via USPS. I print my own labels with appropriate insurance. There are no questions concerning the contents being insured. My mail carrier rings the doorbell and takes my box, no questions asked.

If that were the case, insurance coverage would not be able to be purchased online without asking about contents. And they dont ask online. You fill out how much to insure for and thats it.

I need to look into this printing of my own labels, even though I've never had an issue with my local post office shipping or receiving guns. Also, I'd like to hear more about the chance of them denying claim coverage if you didn't "declare" what was in the package. This should be as simple as looking into what the regs say concerning the issue.

I realize you're a dealer and in a different boat as far as insurance is concerned where an Eastern type of policy may not be applicable to you.

I haven't taken out extra insurance from a shipper in a long time now due to having private insurance that covers shipping loss. This eliminates the need for declaring what's in the package or needing to file a claim for loss with the shipper. I imagine the caveat would be that the insurance company will probably want me to exhaust all efforts with the shipper to find a lost gun/package before they will pay-up.

Personally, I would rather deal with my insurance company than any of the shippers run around purposeful designed policies to wiggle out of a claim, plus I get the benefit of having the gun insured while it's at the gunsmith's location or while I'm traveling domestically, Internationally & at gun shows.

It has been impossible for me, personally, to find a commercial firearms business insurance policy that will cover shipping losses as part of the policy. Every company I have ever talked to has told me the same thing. Just purchase insurance through the carrier. Actually, being in NY and operating my business from my home, it was near impossible to get a company to insure my business. But I finally found one. And it is NOT cheap. It even causes issues on my personal side with my homeowners insurance too. It is a nightmare. But even when talking with the larger national firearms insurance companies, same answer on the shipping coverage. NO.
I really envy the personal collector that can get this kind of coverage on their guns for reasonable rates.

The insurance/declared value discussion aside, all three carriers (UPS/FX/USPS) provide the ability to create an online account and pre-print labels. During the create shipment process, only UPS requires a description of the contents. I believe it is triggered when declaring value. I have never seen an agent for any of the three ask for any documentation if the shipment is pre-labeled.

Value has nothing to do with it on the ups site. They ask contents regardless of if you insure it. Before the recent changes, I used to be able to put “shotgun” or “rifle” in that area with no issue. Then after the recent restrictions, it kicks back a “prohibited item” warning and wont let you ship. I changed it to “M70” and got around that easy enough. I used to exclusively ship Postal Service. And still prefer to. But with their recent surcharges on larger packages ($15 adder on boxes over 30”). It is hard not to use the other couriers with much lower rates.

UPS - "Shipments containing Firearm Products are accepted for transportation only from shippers who are federally licensed and have an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of Firearm Products."
I contacted UPS in effort to learn how to acquire the "approved UPS agreement for transport of Firearms Products" and establish the new account. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE.
bOB jUREWICZ