Shipping airguns you should be using ...pirateship.com

What do you use for shipping labels? I bought one of those Zebra laser magic printer things but still havent hooked it up.

Pirate ship. It's the best.

I just print out the label slap it on the box and ship it off.

If you can't put it in a $5 USPS mailer Pirate ship is the way to go. All the cool kids are doing it.

I've been back charged using pirate ship a couple times. Sometimes their rate is too low and the end delivery service bills PS, and they just take it out of your funding source.

I shipped a rifle stock to California. Gave true measurements and even added a couple pounds to make sure they charged enough, and got an email about a week after delivery saying I had been charged an extra almost 20 bucks for "shipping partner adjustment".

Dr. Kralenstein said:

I've been back charged using pirate ship a couple times. Sometimes their rate is too low and the end delivery service bills PS, and they just take it out of your funding source.

I shipped a rifle stock to California. Gave true measurements and even added a couple pounds to make sure they charged enough, and got an email about a week after delivery saying I had been charged an extra almost 20 bucks for "shipping partner adjustment".

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Fight it, they did that to me and refunded me. I double check before i ship. If you are right, they will give in and refund. I also had proof from the dropoff receipt.

Thanks for the post!

Yes! I use them all the time.
Plus it's so easy to walk into the UPS store, they scan the label, give me my receipt, and I'm done.

Yep I started using them in 2024 and have shipped dozens of packages with them now, and have no complaints and their customer service was great to when I accidently mixed up package destinations and needed to do a package intercept and redirect they got back to me quickly and got everything sorted out for me before the package arrived at the wrong address.

Personally the only back charge adjustments I've gotten have been under $4, and I believe that's only happened once or twice to me across 40+ packages. To top it all off its free and actually a better interface than several payed shipping services I've used in the past.

farmerjoe99 said:

Yep I started using them in 2024 and have shipped dozens of packages with them now, and have no complaints and their customer service was great to when I accidently mixed up package destinations and needed to do a package intercept and redirect they got back to me quickly and got everything sorted out for me before the package arrived at the wrong address.

Personally the only back charge adjustments I've gotten have been under $4, and I believe that's only happened once or twice to me across 40+ packages. To top it all off its free and actually a better interface than several payed shipping services I've used in the past.

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Same story here, my fault, small charge, even got one refund for declaring too much weight.

Print labels out on regular printer paper and tape it on the package... done.

I’ve been using them now for several months and think it’s a wonderful service. Shipping rates are a lot lower that going to the source. In fact, I’ve been offering free shipping a lot due to the money savings.

I'm confused. You print a label & drop off your package where ? Regular UPS/ FedEX / USPS ?

Contndr35BB said:

I'm confused. You print a label & drop off your package where ? Regular UPS/ FedEX / USPS ?

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Yes. It's just like a return shipping label. Print it, slap it on the box and drop it off at the UPS store.

UPS dosent have many customer counters left. The UPS Store contracts that now. Many businesses in small towns will accept UPS dropoffs. And there are UPS pickup boxes located all over the place. There are privately owned shipping businesses that will also accept drop offs.

I'm not sure about FedEx but I think the USPS accepts packages with prepaid labels as well. That's my understanding but I might be wrong. The Pirate ship program tells you all about that in the instructions.

It's an extra cost but you can have them pick it up at your door. So if you can't get it to a shipping point someone will collect it from you.

I got turned on to pirate ship doing a trade with another member on here. I like it, simple and cost effective. I do accurate measurements and add a little extra weight and never had a problem.

bchannell said:

I've seen a few posts on here in the last little while griping about shipping, and I have some advice.

1) USPS Ground Advantage, it's ok, but in my mind not really worth the, sometimes, long delay in delivery. I've used it a time or two, but have sworn off it.
2) USPS Priority Mail, it's their best option, but mail service is getting worse every day. My last incoming shipment took 9 or 10 days and was 60 miles form my home for over 3 days. Then the funny story is... when you come to my house, my driveway is roughly 300 feet long, and then it splits, you go right into my garage, on that side you could conservatively park a dozen cars. If you go left, you could literally park a 747 in front of my house. But, and this is the great part. If a delivery is on saturday, (not my normal mailman), I will almost always get a notice, "driveway inaccessable" HOLY COW! how much room do they need!!!!!?

So, I'm not using USPS any more than is necessary.

I've had good luck with both UPS and FedEx, so when one of the service techs at AOA had me send in my Impact for work, he said use pirateship.com and save a bundle. He was right. You can ship a gun, which normally would cost something on the order of $60-100 for around $35, it's amazing and they use UPS or USPS, and there may be another too, I can't remember. So that's what I use and it's amazing how much you save and I've never had a problem and when you go into your "free" account, you get a history of all shipments and tracking numbers. So if you haven't give it a try.

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Fine print = they will not honor an insurance claim for an air rifle as they are a second party shipper, they defer to the carriers policies. I still use them, but be aware and verify pirates policies. ask for the definitive answer in writing!

cavedweller said:

Fine print = they will not honor an insurance claim for an air rifle as they are a second party shipper, they defer to the carriers policies. I still use them, but be aware and verify pirates policies. ask for the definitive answer in writing!

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Pirate ship just offers labels online. As long as the label works, their job is done.

UPS still insures all shipments up to $100. You can declare a higher value. If the goods are received damaged the receiver files a claim with UPS and notifies the sender.

UPS pays the claim to the sender. Not the receiver with the damaged goods. Their contract is with the purchaser of the label.

The receivers contract is with the sender. If you get goods damaged in shipping, you have to deal with the person who shipped them to you. They are the ones that get paid for the damage. (Unless it's COD)

The person that pays the shipper is insured based on the declaration of value. They follow up on the claim and make it right with the receiver. Sooner or later UPS writes them a check for the damages.

The sender needs to have photos of the damaged boxes and merchandise. And the receiver has to notify UPS so they can inspect the damage. Everyone has to work together or someone gets the forked end of the stick and UPS gets off the hook for the damage.

Bedrock Bob said:

Pirate ship just offers labels online. As long as the label works, their job is done.

UPS still insures all shipments up to $100. You can declare a higher value. If the goods are received damaged the receiver files a claim with UPS and notifies the sender.

UPS pays the claim to the sender. Not the receiver with the damaged goods. Their contract is with the purchaser of the label.

The receivers contract is with the sender. If you get goods damaged in shipping, you have to deal with the person who shipped them to you. They are the ones that get paid for the damage. (Unless it's COD)

The person that pays the shipper is insured based on the declaration of value. They follow up on the claim and make it right with the receiver. Sooner or later UPS writes them a check for the damages.

The sender needs to have photos of the damaged boxes and merchandise. And the receiver has to notify UPS so they can inspect the damage. Everyone has to work together or someone gets the forked end of the stick and UPS gets off the hook for the damage.

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probably pretty much the same thing as if you go straight to the UPS..I'd imagine the same thing as you described..
or is it different?
it's been a long time since I've had anything damaged..
but I just assume that whether you ship pirate or direct ship it will be basically the same process??
Mark

markhooper said:

probably pretty much the same thing as if you go straight to the UPS..I'd imagine the same thing as you described..
or is it different?
it's been a long time since I've had anything damaged..
but I just assume that whether you ship pirate or direct ship it will be basically the same process??
Mark

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It's the same. Your claim is with the shipper. Pirate ship is just a middleman selling you a label. UPS insures safe delivery no matter who prints the label.

Just like a travel agent selling you a ticket isn't responsible for lost luggage at the airport.

I think they handle it like that to make it confusing for everyone. You would think the guy that bought the damaged goods would get the reimbursement. He has to make the claim to UPS for shipping damage. But he's got to deal with the sender about the damage. And the sender in turn has to deal with the shipper.

It's easy when dealing with a big outfit. They just return or refund and collect from UPS later. But an individual sending another individual an airgun that gets damaged can be tricky.

No seller wants to refund a sale and get a broken gun back, then deal with a claim. And no buyer wants to wait for the seller to get his reimbursement to get his money back. It's easy for the deal to get contentious.

Meanwhile, UPS sits and waits for them to sort it out and denies the claim if their requirements aren't met.

so a couple questions..
can you buy the additional insurance for the gun on pirate like you do at UPS or USPS?
so since they damaged the shipment, does the company return the damage item to the shipper? otherwise how would you know if everyone met obligation.. maybe the receiver just said it was damaged and you give them the money back but then UPS doesn't cover it because they kept it?
I remember when I was just a kid Mom got a grain grinder and UPS had ran the forklift right through the center.. totally destroyed it.. I'm not sure but I think my parents left it at UPS and said no point in taking that home..I think it was a warehouse pickup.. anyway another one came and it was good..
Mark

Yes. You declare a value when you buy the label from Pirate ship. Your item is insured by the shipper for this amount.

The receiver has the right to refuse delivery, accept delivery, or accept delivery as damaged.

The shipper has a right to inspect the damage and deny the claim for good reason.

The sender has the right to request a return of the damaged item FOB to its origin. They also have a right to reimbursement for damage under the claim. They also have the obligation to deal in good faith with the receiver.

Big retailers have a damage policy. The receiver must follow that policy. It's part of their purchase contract.

The shipper has a damage policy. Both sender and receiver must follow the policy or the claim can be denied.

Individuals shipping between each other decide what is fair. As a receiver you have the right to refuse delivery of damaged goods and request a refund or replacement from the shipper. If you accept the delivery (damaged or not) then you are dealing with the seller for a solution. They have to deal with the shipper for their remedy.

The seller can tell you to take a hike and still collect damages from UPS. Then you file a suit against them in court and/or request a reversal of charges on your credit card. That's the most common worst case scenario when shipments are accepted as damaged.

You deal with the sender in good faith. Just like any other deal if it does not meet your expectations you have the right to remedy in court. A judge sorts it out.

If UPS refuses to pay the sender has the right to a court remedy.

If the receiver or sender does not follow UPS damage claim policy they have the right to refuse the claim.

Everyone must work together towards an agreement. Unless there is a written policy it's whatever is agreed upon between the parties. Big retail outfits have a written policy and so does UPS. Two individuals may not have a written policy (contract) so any disagreement is settled in court by a judge.

Then the sender and receiver have explicit court instructions on how it should be handled. If they don't comply it goes back to the judge.