I recently sold a revolver and had it shipped by my FFL through UPS. It is now lost as UPS has the shipping status as an exception and state they are investigating. The exception (lost or stole) occurred 7 days ago. My FFL called and they provide zero information and said they are investigating and it takes 8 business days.

How in the heck do they know an "Investigation" will take 8 days? Are they required to call ATF? Does anyone have an inside number to call? Thanks

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

"Investigation" - We will look and shuffle papers for 8 days (e.g. Longer than the 7 biblical days of creation) before we admit it is Lost, Strayed, or Stolen ...

In a similar context - airlines would list a late/missing flight as OVERDUE until the crash site was located.

Bekeart

I hope it was insured.

In their defense, they aren't God.

Someone working for UPS likes revolvers....at least he/she has good taste in firearms.

I sure hope the FFL at least sent it 2nd day Air as required, which reduces the possible number of "points of disappearance". UPS used to have a horrible rate of gun theft (by employees and contractors) when they still allowed guns to be shipped Ground, which is why they changed the rules to Air.

Did you insure it?

The revolver was insured and shipped by my FFL through UPS ground. Does UPS call ATF?

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

I thought FFLs could use US Mail. UPS Ground is not a good way to go. I doubt UPS will voluntarily call BATF.

I think I would report it as lost or stolen to the Authorities just to be on the safe side,At least it would help if the Weapon was used in a Crime.

Background checks would prevent that from happening.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My FFL ships via USPS. I download the label and give him the box. The mailing address never indicates there's a gun in the box.

For example, if the addressee is: "Acme Guns LLC", the label reads, "Acme LLC". I'm sure most of you already know this.

Your FFL should report this to the ATF as it was last listed on his books. This is why it is a good reason to use a FFL to ship even though you can ship yourself. I once sold a Colt Anaconda and shipped it from my FFL in NY to an FFL in Florida via USPS priority, yep did not show up. Tracking said no one to sign left notice, but there was no notice left. Receiving FFL went to Post Office, not found, new carrier, no one knew anything. My FFL called Buffalo talked to Postal Police, and ATF, after missing for 6 days, was found on incorrect shelf in local Post Office. Story ended well, but was touch and go for a while.

UPS has all kinds of rules but many don't seem to follow them. I thought they had changed handguns to overnight only. I have seen them come from dealers as second day and I place I worked at sent some second day.
I would be surprised if ground is allowed by UPS anymore. Their workers stole too many handguns so they changed it.

That is correct - all firearms shipments must be be shipped by next day air service only - per the website.

That may become a problem in respect to collecting on the insurance. As BC38 said above, FFL's are not exempt from UPS's requirement to ship handguns by air. See snip from their website below.
He may not have told them there was a handgun inside. I know at least one dealer around here who does that routinely to save on shipping.

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Get a call last night from my FFL, he gets a message left on his business door that his Amazon order is available for pick-up. He tell me that he didn't order anything from Amazon but goes and picks up the package. He opens it up and low and behold the revolver I had shipped was in there, same packaging, just relabeled. The revolver made it to CO where it was intended to go according to UPS tracking but no idea how it wound back at FFL? BTW - he hasn't heard a peep from UPS. Bottom line the revolver was located.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

I was under the belief that once you turn the gun over to YOUR FFL and complete the paper work it is no longer your property. If that is true, then I suppose you are no longer legally obligated or have any further responsibilities. Thats what I would follow up on - just to verify, as I am no legal gun law expert.


Assuming the gun was insured for at least what the buyer paid for it, then UPS should (after their investigation of course) reimburse the buyer his full amount, your FFL dealer for the shipping fees and what ever fees you laid out to UPS and your FFL.

As far as reporting the gun stolen you your local authorities - I am not sure because if I was correct in saying the gun is no longer your property after the FFL paper work was completed, I would think the FFL would have to do the reporting - not you.

I know it's a long shot but maybe the will find it and all will be GTG. Good luck.

Sounds like this story has a happy ending. I'll bet that if your dealer contacts UPS and reports that the parcel has been recovered UPS will issue a call tag for pick-up and delivery at no additional charge.

That's why I don't sell any of my guns!! Well that's one reason

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James Redfield
LM #497

Jack, I am relieved that you recovered it. Not all have been so fortunate.

You must live right.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

So is the buyer!!! My FFL is contacting UPS and to this minute still listed as exception under investigation. They are clueless.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

Great that it all turned out well. I'd remind your FFL about not shipping handguns UPS Ground, though.

A while ago a seller (who was an FFL) "forgot" to mention to Fedex that he was shipping a handgun and sent it Fedex Ground without signature required, at considerable profit to himself since I'd paid a flat fee for shipping. The Fedex guy dumped the box on my FFL guy's porch, who wasn't home, where it sat all day along a public street, and anyone could have helped themselves to the package. When contacted, the seller's response was basically "Oops" and some lame squirreling about how he thought his Fedex profile automatically required a signature. Needless to say, I'll never buy from that guy again.

Back on Friday the 5th of this month, I handed a Colt model M over to my local FFL to be shipped by US mail to Florida to another FFL holder that I was selling it to. The local dealer charged way to much for his service in this regard, BUT... it got to its destination, seven states away - overnight! Shipped from PA on Friday, arrived next day Saturday.
Now, the FFL in Florida put a check in the mail for me on June 10th. That first check that he sent still hasn't arrived as of today, June 24th. Go figure. But when I called yesterday and told him about the situation, he got a bank check (not a personal check) for what he owed me and sent it overnight via UPS and it arrived here at my door early this morning. It seems that both the Post Office and UPS's service are variable, but in contrast Fed-Ex seems the most reliable. Fed-Ex is what Dury's in Texas uses - exclusively and for this reason.

Most of my local FFL's don't want to ship guns. They know the Internet is affecting their ability to profit from buying and selling these guns. I no longer deal with local FFL's if possible.

I am glad it showed up. I ship through my FFL USPS priority mail, it is the cheapest, and I have only had that one problem. If you send it registered mail, it is watched, and safeguarded all the way to its destination. It will be the first thing off the truck, and it goes into the registered mail section until it is ready to go on another truck, or be delivered. It is the safest, a little more cost, and a little longer shipping time.

Well my FFL called UPS, they won't reimburse the shipping cost so its now being shipped 2 day air. My FFL says that the majority of the revolvers he receives are from UPS ground. They also had no idea on the tracking or the path that this revolver travelled. Bottom line is, we were wrong in the shipment means; beyond using ground (that's on us) but using UPS in general; they have poor customer service and overall a poor customer satisfactory rating. They bite in my eyes.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

That is exactly why I refuse to sell any of my guns that I have accquired over the years, the tragic consequences that can arise can be emotional and financially devastating and I would not want my wife to experience such a traumatic event. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.