Shipping A Parker

[Mark Callanan]

I am thinking about the best way to ship a costly Parker
At least costly to me
It seems Postal,UPS and Fedex are 3 three ways to go
I like everyone else have heard horrible tales of problems with all 3
So what would you all say is the best way to ship a gun
If lost or stolen who would take best care of the gun owner
Pay the claim with no issues?

You know show they care about their customers...
Thanks for any help

[OH Osthaus]

this is a regular topic on the double gun board

the highly tracked USPS seems to get the most votes, may be the way to go for a high end gun - it is claimed the amount of sign offs make theft less likely

in spite of the horror stories - i have shipped and had them shipped by all three and never had an issue

from the way I have seen some packed - I do wonder how many damage stories have packing as a contributing factor

also - search Dean's posts for his easy to make shipping crate- if one gets damaged in there- they had to try very hard

[Bindlestiff]

I don't know what it would cost to buy insurance on your gun but I have found Eastern Insurance Group in Marshfield. Ma. very reasonable; if your interested their contact number is (800) 545-9326. Then you can pass on USPS, UPS or FEDEX insurance when you ship and what you would spend there would go toward your own insurance with coverage for the entire year. My insurance with them covers my guns in the home, in travel, during shipment and while hunting in the field. It even covers it if you trip and break the stock. Good outfit. I have never had a claim but I think its all on the up and up and the price is far better than any others I have called about.

See this for some info on USPS shipping, it can be a packing pain in the butt but in my opinion its probably the most secure: http://www.parkerguns.org/pages/faq/Shipping.html

[Bill Anderson]

I have shipped 100s of guns over the last couple decades, up to $25,000 in value, without any insurance, with zero losses or claims. Spend your money on packing materials and over size heavy cardboard boxes or very hard gun cases, not insurance. I have never had or heard of a box disappearing completely from either UPS or FedEx (which I use the most). I have had USPS packages that gave me long periods of unexplained, no tracking sometimes. Days overdue, they finally show up. If you have heard about damage claims, I'll bet it is always from thin boxes and/or little or no packing, and not being run over by a FedEx truck or a train. Also remember that there are limits as to what any carrier will pay you on a claim.
The "not so intelligent" have shipped guns to me in boxes large enough to ship a small boy with no packing whatsoever. I have received guns with the barrel poked out through the boxes like spears.
If you are going to ship only one gun in your lifetime, you can throw your money in any direction you want, but I have saved $1000s, by not buying insurance, still waiting for my first claim!

Bill

[Dean Romig]

I recently shipped a butt stock and forend to Canada in one of the boxes I make (Allan Swanson's design) and foolishly secured both top and bottom sheets of luan subflooring with the smallest size square-head screws.

Canadian customs needed to verify the contents of the box and apparently didn't have the correct square bit... so they DESTROYED the box! Fortunately the contents were undamaged.


But I always ship via USPS for the very reasons BFT lists.


Further, I always insure my guns and gun parts for the simple reason that 'they' will know I'm serious and they will know that each person who handles the package will be under closer scrutiny.
I may be wrong, but that's how I hope it works.






.

[Dave Moore]

We ship or receive more than a 1000 guns per year and any problem is rare. We mostly use UPS but we have plenty of experience with all the regular carriers.

The packaging is the most important thing, use a fresh sturdy box, break the gun down, wrap the pieces in several layers of paper then bubble wrap, pack the box tight so the wrapped pieces cannot move.

The weak link is the insurance with any of the carriers, I suggest that you use outside insurance or be sure that your insurance covers transportation.

[Bill Anderson]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I recently shipped a butt stock and forend to Canada in one of the boxes I make (Allan Swanson's design) and foolishly secured both top and bottom sheets of luan subflooring with the smallest size square-head screws.

Canadian customs needed to verify the contents of the box and apparently didn't have the correct square bit... so they DESTROYED the box! Fortunately the contents were undamaged.


But I always ship via USPS for the very reasons BFT lists.


Further, I always insure my guns and gun parts for the simple reason that 'they' will know I'm serious and they will know that each person who handles the package will be under closer scrutiny.
I may be wrong, but that's how I hope it works.






.

USPS shows that packages are insured on the package, but no one knows you're insuring your packages, except the person who receives the package, with UPS or FedEx. UPS and FedEx do not state this on the package, so in turn "no special treatment". Anyway, I really don't think a carrier employee would think twice about throwing it across the truck or staging room, insured or not. So shipper beware, pack it well !

Bill.

[GH-16]

I agree that packaging is the most important factor when shipping a gun. You can't use too much bubble wrap or have too strong of a box. Always break down a gun if you can. I hate when I buy a Parker and it shows up in a one piece box for shipping a rifle. Nine times out of ten the box shows signs of being bent somewhere in the middle.

I also agree that Eastern insurance is a good way to go. By having a policy with them I know the gun is covered when shipping by common carrier. They are also covered in my home, when I have them on hunting trips both domestic & international, when at gun shows, shoots etc. The piece of mind I get by having my Eastern policy is probably some of the best money I spend on my gun/hunting passion every year.

[Phil C]

Like many have already stated protection and proper packaging is key. That's the best insurance your gun will arrive safe. I ship my guns broken down. Barrel, forend, butt and recover individually well protected. I use excellent quality boxes and make sure items are separated from each other using card board, foam, etc. plenty of packing so Items to not shift or rub each other in transit.
I use USPS PRIOITY MAIL. I print my own postage and mark the option to get tracking updates as well as send a notice to the receiver of the gun or parts.
I put all values at $50.00 as this amount is free.
Finally as others are doing I have a great insurance policy on my guns through John Richardson with a Eastern a Insurance. Eastern is one of the largest independent insurance companies in New England and coverage through The Hanover Insurance Group. This is really first class coverage a a great price. Also PGCA members get a 5% discount.
It might not make financial sense to buy a policy if you were only wanting insurance for one gun one time, but I Have a policy for all of the other benefits.
I have had the unfortunate experience with a damaged gun, as well as a theft. In both instances I have never been treated any better by a company than I was treated with Eastern Insurance.
Further I like the security knowing if my guns are stolen or damaged whether they are being hunted, shipped, at my home, in my vehicle or in the field I am covered.
I pay $3.14 per Thousand per year with a deductible of $250.00 pen incident.
I wouldn't think of not having a policy on my home ( gun coverage is a max of $2500.00) or vehicles and sleep better at night knowing my guns are also covered.

[Hammer Gun]

Wooden boxes, well wrapped guns and plenty of bubble wrap, last box I sent weighed 40lbs just for one gun but I believe you could run over it with a fork lift and not hurt the gun inside, just saying, Gary