Recently had an air rifle to return to an airgun vendor in western USA. I was issued a return label from the vendor that had nothing suggestive in the address on the ship label. I’m going to say, and maybe I’m profiling here, that because the UPS nazi saw the length of the box, was thinking it was a gun and says “Can I ask what’s in the box?”. Since the gun had a 480cc cylinder on it I said “Carbon Fiber Tubing”. Was that a lie ? Gray area I’m thinking. The funny thing is, the vendor has a contract with UPS for their entire product line, but a private individual has no right to ship as a private person/customer. Fortunately UPS does not have X-ray machines or my package would probably have been destroyed. I kept an eye on its progress across country and it made it safely. I received a UPS notification last night that it is on its way back to me. I have shipped many firearms through UPS and they always ask what long packages are. I always say “machining samples”. Never a problem. They ask what their told to, I give a non-threatening answer that assures the world is safe while they handle my package. Once in their hands, the survivability of the package depends on how I packaged it and the ability of a UPS gorilla to destroy it.
I have had 100% luck with USPS on any kind of package. I have shipped medium flat rate boxes completely totally full of 9mm range brass, at least 20 to all over the USA with not one ever breaking open from poor handling. I do tape them up really well to help prevent “accidents”. USPS never asks what’s in boxes, regardless of shape or size. They do ask if there’s batteries or chemicals, which I never ship.
I guess with USPS I’ve been lucky. Reading some posts here I’ve read some real horror stories.