UPS - no firearms shipping policy

[Bedrock Bob]

UPS and FedEx both ship firearms and air rifles. I do it all the time.

The "UPS Store" is not UPS. They are a contractor licensed to use the UPS logo. They will not ship a firearm unless it is a warranty return or service request. They will ship an airgun.

UPS has very few customer counters. You can take a firearm or an air rifle to that counter if you can find one. No problems as long as it's going to or coming from a retailer. If its a firearm they ask if its loaded or if the box has ammunition. Those must be shipped differently because they are classified as hazardous to ship. Airguns are no issue at all.

What the rules are for firearms going from person to person I don't know. But I do know there are no restrictions on air rifles. I asked that question a few days ago and the UPS supervisor said unless it is classified as a firearm you can ship it anywhere.

If the kid behind the counter does not know company policy you are not going to educate him. A discussion on the definition of "firearm" isnt relevant. Just ask for a supervisor.

You won't need to do that at a UPS shipping point but you may at a "UPS Store". Remember they are two different companies even though they have the same company logo on their shirt. The "UPS Store" is just a contractor licensed to use the logo and they have different rules than UPS.

 

[Trucker3573]

Some jurisdictions do classify airguns and firearms the same. Know your local laws and the laws where you are sending items. Just a good idea to keep out of trouble.

 

[bchannell]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's just the UPS "store" that is like that. I used to be an FFL dealer for years and have fought with USPS, UPS and FEDEX so I'm pretty used to it. I've had many conversations with managers and to a person they were all great, just the counter help that sucked.

If I sjip an airgun, I use Pirateship and drop it off at CVS. Never a problem yet. You do know for an extra $5 or so, FedEx and UPS will pick up at your house if you have an account, which is no big deal.

This is just one of the hoops sport shooters go through. It's not right but we have to deal with it.
I've learned to be polite, call the right manager and let them handle it. Worked every time so far. I will say this the Post Office is by far the worst in every sense. Worst delivery, worst to deal with insurance, worst reliability. I hate dealing with them. However our local postal inspector, who is a lady, has been a gem. Dealing with their insurance is not a process I ever look forward to going through. Use UPS&FEDEX!

 

[Mr.H]

I recently had to ship a firearm back to the manufacturer for warranty repair. They sent me a shipping label for UPS and said that it has to ship from a UPS Customer Service Center, not the "UPS Store".

I have also used the same Center to ship air rifles, so yeah, UPS Customer Service Center works. Extra bonus that when you create a shipping label from Pirate Ship, all you do is drop the package off at the from counter and ask for a tracking number. No questions asked about what's inside the box.

Same applies with Pirate Ship at USPS. Easy peasy.

 

[manabeknives]

UPS counters at the hubs are being discontinued.
this is happening now
will have to go to ups stores for future help…not a joke…worked for UPS for 34 years
Counters at the hubs will close by January
Mike

 

[Mr.H]

UPS counters at the hubs are being discontinued.
this is happening now
will have to go to ups stores for future help…not a joke…worked for UPS for 34 years
Counters at the hubs will close by January
Mike

Last time I went to a UPS counter, I went to a different one than I normally go to, it had closed within the last couple of weeks. Sux

 

[BABz58]

Went to my local UPS center on Monday to ship an air rifle back to AOA for service. Big new sign at the counter said in bold print “No Longer Shipping Firearms.”

Counter manager said the only way one can ship a “firearm” is if you get a call tag/label from a licensed manufacturer or dealer that has “registered as such with UPS” in advance.

He said that no one had instructed that he couldn’t take a pellet gun or air rifle yet, so he went ahead and accepted my shipment.

Went back the next evening to ship an air rifle that I had sold via AGN classifieds , only to have to argue with the female clerk that the new policy didn’t apply to airguns. I finally convinced her to accept it.

The world continues to change and not in our favor

Exactly why we don’t need a 95 cal Zeus!

 

[BABz58]

UPS counters at the hubs are being discontinued.
this is happening now
will have to go to ups stores for future help…not a joke…worked for UPS for 34 years
Counters at the hubs will close by January
Mike

Got to love this “New Normal “

 

[bowwild]

We have a local store that won't ship any type of firearm, airgun or powder burner. However, my UPS drop - off location accepts anything, including ammo.

If I'm shipping a firearm (powder burner) to an FFL in another state I can ship through this UPS drop off center. No questions asked. If I want to ship ammo I simply have to print out the "flag" and tape to the box. Then I can drop it off at the drop off UPS location.

 

[rokonman]

I also have used the term pneumatic hole punch when shipping. The best part is it absolutely true. The USPS actually has a written policy on air guns and it’s friendly. I keep a 5 year old copy in my glove box. I hope it hasn’t changed.

 

[elh0102]

UPS counters at the hubs are being discontinued.
this is happening now
will have to go to ups stores for future help…not a joke…worked for UPS for 34 years
Counters at the hubs will close by January
Mike

If "UPS stores" refers to the franchise privately-owned locations, then UPS will not be an option for shipping any type of firearm or air rifle, assuming the franchise agreement has not changed. I expect that ultimately, any type of firearm/air rifle shipping will have to be between FFL holders. And many local gun shops may not offer this service, or only at a substantial fee. Neither the government nor the shipping companies want any connection to unlicensed "gun" trade, and the gun shops are in business to sell their inventory, not facilitate transactions that represent competition. Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks kind of discouraging.

 

[boscoebrea]

I have had over 40 rifles shipped to me over the last ten years,by all sorts of different shippers, even from overseas.It Is a non-existent problem for me.I am sorry some of you had issues,I must ask do this ,How do the air gun suppliers ship their air guns to you? Do the same thing they do

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Seemed not long ago ups thought there law enforcement .

UPS Cancelling Gun Dealers’ Accounts, Destroying Packages in Transit

United Parcel Service is terminating the accounts of gun dealers. Any packages currently in the UPS system may be “seized and destroyed.”

www.ammoland.com

 

[Basher]

UPS counters at the hubs are being discontinued.
this is happening now
will have to go to ups stores for future help…not a joke…worked for UPS for 34 years
Counters at the hubs will close by January
Mike

Yep, my local Customer Care hub closed suddenly and without warning in late August. I was attempting to ship some ammo I had sold, and found I had to drive an hour and fifteen minutes to the next nearest hub. If this is accurate info, soon we won’t be able to ship ammo anymore for private sales. I fear shipping anything firearm related through UPS is nearing the end unless you have a commercial/hazmat account with them, airguns included…

-*^*pRoGrEsS*^*-

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Easy solution. All your firearms purchases go through your local gun shop. It's been that way for a while now.

Would you deliver a gun to someone you didn't know from someone you didnt know? If you do you could be delivering a weapon to a felon and you could be committing a crime.

Why would UPS take that risk? Why would anyone?

Think about it from a business perspective. It's a huge liability for them. They aren't in the law enforcement business and don't want to be. Why would any shipping company take that risk? One incident could ruin their entire business.

It's an inconvenience to a very few customers balanced against the liability and publicity an incident would cause. Refusing to ship firearms between individuals is a wise business decision. Refusing to ship from a dealer that may be violating the law is a wise business decision. Refusing to ship anything that looks like a gun is a wise business decision.

 

[SilentSquirrel]

Easy solution. All your firearms purchases go through your local gun shop. It's been that way for a while now.

Would you deliver a gun to someone you didn't know from someone you didnt know? If you do you could be delivering a weapon to a felon and you could be committing a crime.

Why would UPS take that risk? Why would anyone?

Think about it from a business perspective. It's a huge liability for them. They aren't in the law enforcement business and don't want to be. Why would any shipping company take that risk? One incident could ruin their entire business.

It's an inconvenience to a very few customers balanced against the liability and publicity an incident would cause. Refusing to ship firearms between individuals is a wise business decision. Refusing to ship from a dealer that may be violating the law is a wise business decision. Refusing to ship anything that looks like a gun is a wise business decision.

If you were to strike the last sentence we'd be in total agreement, Bob

 

[Basher]

Easy solution. All your firearms purchases go through your local gun shop. It's been that way for a while now.

Would you deliver a gun to someone you didn't know from someone you didnt know? If you do you could be delivering a weapon to a felon and you could be committing a crime.

Why would UPS take that risk? Why would anyone?

Think about it from a business perspective. It's a huge liability for them. They aren't in the law enforcement business and don't want to be. Why would any shipping company take that risk? One incident could ruin their entire business.

It's an inconvenience to a very few customers balanced against the liability and publicity an incident would cause. Refusing to ship firearms between individuals is a wise business decision. Refusing to ship from a dealer that may be violating the law is a wise business decision. Refusing to ship anything that looks like a gun is a wise business decision.

I’m not talking about firearms, I’m talking about ammo. No license needed on a federal level, and states that require it are retarded. Same for states that view airguns as firearms.

 

[elh0102]

I have had over 40 rifles shipped to me over the last ten years,by all sorts of different shippers, even from overseas.It Is a non-existent problem for me.I am sorry some of you had issues,I must ask do this ,How do the air gun suppliers ship their air guns to you? Do the same thing they do

Air gun manufacturers and dealers have commercial arrangements with the shipping companies, so the carriers have assurance of legal transactions.

 

[Firewalker]

Air gun manufacturers and dealers have commercial arrangements with the shipping companies, so the carriers have assurance of legal transactions.

As do commercial resellers. You can also get an account with UPS and ship airguns with no issues but you will be paying more for shipping.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

If you were to strike the last sentence we'd be in total agreement, Bob

If I had a shipping business like UPS I wouldn't take anything that looked like a gun from person to person. Your staff would have to either know the difference or take the shippers word for it. People would be shipping firearms and saying they were airguns. Just like they ship airguns and call them paper punchers.

The liability is huge and the rewards very little.

I'm not for restricting shipping airguns. But from a management perspective I understand how they could make that policy. Again it makes good business sense. It may be an inconvenience and rub guys the wrong way. I understand that too.

There will always be a way to ship your rifles and air rifles. It just won't be through the usual process. It may be through special carriers. It may be to specific delivery points. You may have to pay more. But there will always be a way.