UPS no longer ships rifles for individuals

[Texas Republic]

I have ranted before about UPS and their shipment policies towards rifles or firearms. But this takes the cake. Today, I attempted to ship a rifle to a manufacturer for repair. I was told by the UPS manager that under no circumstance may a person ship the rifle. After calling UPS customer service, I was told that a person cannot ship a rifle to anyone unless authorized and paid for by the manufacturer or simliar company. In other words, the liability of a shipment has to rest with a corporation or company that has an liability account with UPS.
I believe that the only way UPS can get away with this is because they are a private entity enforcing their own company policy. Any other governmental agency would be sued for constitutional infringement. I plan on using the Postal Service from here on out.

 

[rick523]

Do you have an FFL?

 

[Browninglover1]

Were you using the ups store? The store will often times not ship them
But UPS itself will.

UPS: Shipping Firearms

 

[Gary Kaney]

I just shiped a rifle to GAP last friday no problem. All the clerk asked is why i was shipping it and i told her for repair. I'm not a FFL.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Well, I can tell you from experience that UPS varies from site to site which it shouldn't of course. So I solved that problem and I have never used them since.
NEVER had an issue with the post office.

Randy

 

[etisll40]

I think the stores have that policy but not ups.

 

[drwindmill]

I've never had a problem, but I just drop off it at a supermarket for UPS to pick up.

 

[eddybo]

The UPS store will not ship even a stock or barrel in my area. They are crazed. UPS is great. They come to my office and pick up the rifles I ship, how easy is that.

 

[Mike 338]

UPS will send a rifle directly back to the manufacturer without a problem or hangup. You can also send one to a independent repair facility (gunsmith). UPS will need to match the FFL to the address your sending it to. I'm not sure if they need a photo copy of the license. They won't ship person to person. See Browninglover1's link.

I'm a little surprised every gunsmith on earth isn't already set up to accommodate for this and guide their customers through it without the hassle. I recently went through this. I spoke with the gunsmith and he said to ship the gun to him and never mentioned the UPS hassle or that U.S. Postal Service might be smoother. Getting his FFL was a hassle and took 2 trips across town and some phone calls both from me and the UPS people. I was a little annoyed that I took that much time from my work just to get the gun in the mail. I'm not exactly sure who to be mad at but I figured since so many smiths get their rifles delivered to them, there ought to be shipping instructions on every website so that doing business with them is a good experience from beginning to end.

 

[Gary Kaney]

I went to ship a gun USPS and the Post Master at my local facility was going to make me unpack it so that she could see that it wasn't loaded. You could just tell my her looks she was an anti gun tree hugging bitch.

 

[geargrinder]

UPS Stores are privately owned franchises, they are not owned by UPS. So, technically they are not a "carrier". Since they are a private entity and not an FFL or carrier, they cannot take possession of your firearm.

That's why you usually have to ship from an actual UPS terminal.

 

[Texas Republic]

So it turns out that UPS DOES ship rifles and their policies have not changed. I decided to try a THIRD, yes THIRD UPS hub and see if another city had more intelligent employees than before. I walked in and had it shipped in 5 minutes. The guy actually knew what UPS procedures and policies were for shipping a firearm for repair. I wont get into the exact technicalities of their policy regarding a sell vs repair vs FFL vs long gun, etc. Mine was just a straight up repair to Savage Arms. Shouldve been simple.

I have no idea why the incompetent employees at the UPS store said they didnt, or why even the upper level of management at the UPS call center does not seem to know their own rules and policies for the shipment of firearms for repair or service.

So overall, I guess it just depends who is behind the counter. I wasnt able to do it this time, but the best method I have found for shipping a rifle is to print out the USPS policy on firearm shipments and take it by the post office a day in advance to let them know they need to educate themselves before hand. By the time you ship, it usually runs smooth.

 

[geargrinder]

Easiest answer is to set up an account with UPS.

Print out a label, schedule a pickup, and send it on its way. Don't have to talk to anyone, or tell them what's inside. Driver just grabs it and goes.

 

[Texas Republic]

Easiest answer is to set up an account with UPS.

Print out a label, schedule a pickup, and send it on its way. Don't have to talk to anyone, or tell them what's inside. Driver just grabs it and goes.

Thats my plan from here on out.