I recently sold a handgun and took it in to UPS for shipping with $900 insurance. $72.00 . I usually runs around $40.00 for 2nd day air. Lady says its got to go next day air. So it went next day air.

Any of you run into this yet?


Charlie

All the time. Must have been a pretty light handgun, seems lower than I've paid.

Heck of a good salesman for the company ............ !!

Yes. Handguns have to go next day air. Had the same issue but i don't remember the exect price. This is why I use my lgs to ship handguns. $40

Did she ask you for your ffl license from you and to where it's going?

My ups copied both ffl licenses. Now there on there file but I wonder who sees them?

The most ive ever been charged overnight was $25.00, and was for a crated rifle.

Ringo,

Was it Pony Express?

Charlie, I've encountered these prices before. It makes selling a firearm, for a small, but fair profit, very hard. Which may be just fine as this prevents me from selling part of my assortment.

Yes.I've found a few local shops that will ship a gun for $40.Saves me time and money.

Best strategy is to develop a good relationship with an FFL 01 (actually buy something from them once in a while, don't just treat them as shipping agents). Mine charges me $10 plus the actual cost of insured Priority Mail. Best deal around.

It creeps me out on how they get away with shipping prices.

I sent two collector grade N frames early last year (packaged together in the same box) and with insurance it was near $160.00.

I sent a real big Smith last year and it was damn near $140.00 for the one gun and the large S&W plastic box. Their story was that the destination was kinda rural and didn't have any hubs close. Wow, so burn me?

FEDEX and UPS have to be laughing their tails off. They demand it and get it because we have been had.

I feel for you Charlie.

bdGreen

I wanted to ship a Revolver and the Guy at UPS told Me if I took it apart it could go by the regular way.I can see His point as it would no longer be able to fire but I decided to let My FFL ship it.It was far cheaper.

I would rather pay my local FFL a fee to ship, he can send handguns USPS Priority, and the overall cost is much much less. Plus, it gives me a reason to visit...never know what I will see to buy. Win/Win all around.

Long guns do not have to go air next day as handguns do. I have used FedEx Ground for that (Green Label), much cheaper. Mainly because I live very close to a FedEx terminal, and a long way from the UPS terminal. The storefront locations will not accept guns or ammo, must take to a terminal.

Next day air UPS is never cheap. I am surprised it wasn't more. Your mistake was telling her it was a gun.

I use FedEx and I have never paid over $29.00 to ship a gun and it is usually closer to $25.00. I am not an FFL. Go one town over and it would cost me close to $70.00 for the same service. It all depends on the manager of the individual store and how they chose to implement policy.

Standarad procedure for both UPS and Fed Ex. It's cheaper to pay your FFL at the range to send it USPS.

Most of the C&R guns that I buy are shipped to me Priority Mail using the USPS. I believe that the USPS and UPS rules are anti second amendment. If I have a Government issued FFL 03 which is a license issued by the same body that issues the FFL 01 commonly referred to as a "dealer's license", what difference should it make.

If these groups want to prevent an individual from shipping a firearm to another individual, then I have no problem. However, if I have a government issued license that allows me to receive eligible firearms through interstate commerce, then they should have to abide by that license. It would be like saying that I can't drive on the interstate because I only have a drivers license and not a CDL.

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James Redfield
LM #497

It isn't just guns!

A friend in the Czech Republic wanted to read Doyle's, The Lost World in English and had a hard time finding a copy in Prague.

I paid about $12.95 for a paperback and found UPS shippers, etc. wanting as much as $144 to mail that book!

I finally found a shop that UPS'd it for about $20, still far more than the cost of the book.

Another girl, in Austria, wanted to read a couple of David Lindsey's murder mysteries in English. I got to the US Post Office and was informed that there are no post offices in "Australia."

I explained the differences between Austria, by Germany, and Australia, half a world away, and noted that in fact, HM Royal mail is delivered just fine in Australia, better probably than the USPS works here.

The window clerk called a supervisor and after a lengthy discussion with reference to some book, they accepted my shipment. The recipient in Austria got the books the next week. She reimbursed me the cost in brand new US bills, newer money than I'd seen here. Got the money at some bank there.

I asked the USPS clerk if she'd ever heard of an actor and politician named Arnold Schwarzenegger. She had, but was amazed that he came from Austria.

That's not a mistake, it's the law. It's also required in the UPS and Fedex terms of service, which means that if they lose the gun or it gets stolen or damaged, it doesn't matter how much you insured it, you're out out of luck and they're off the hook if you didn't declare the content truthfully.

Both UPS and Fedex instituted their Air Only policy several years ago because their Ground service involves several transfer centers and multiple contractors with minimum-wage employees of dubious backgrounds and they were losing way too many firearms in transit to theft.

I think the rates are outrageous, too. So I use my FFL guy and the Post Office. Defrauding UPS or Fedex is neither honest nor particular clever or safe.

Try the post office. They give dealers a discount so it's easier and cheaper to just use your local FFL if you have one.

Texas Star - a few years ago I was sending my daughter, in San Juan, a care package. Grits, peanut brittle, frozen Arby's packed in dry ice, some other things they did not have there. The nice lady at FedEx wanted to know what was in the box. "Why?" So she could fill out the Customs declaration. "Why?" Because it going overseas, obviously.

"Lady, Puerto Rico is part of the US." Not according to FedEx. Fortunately, the Post Office knew better.

And it wasn't just this one moron. Six months or so later I tried again. Different woman, same demand. "We MUST KNOW the contents, so we can fill out the Customs form."

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I always take precautions

Do you know the UPS still has a fuel surcharge built into each of the shipping costs? The last package I shipped a week ago had about 10% of the total cost allocated for fuel surcharge. With the price of gasoline around $1.50 a gallon you would think they would drop the charge, but extra $s are always good!

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Bill

That's why I now deal only with local FTF sales, or sell on consignment

I shipped some firearms by UPS. Cost was well over $100 for one pistol. With new State laws, I had to ship through an LGS= total cost was <$160 for 2 pistols, including his transfer fee

And I had to put up with a stupid woman who didn't know who the BATF was (Duh==the people who ISSUE FFLs), pick up only for 1 hour per day, Customer Parking blocked by UPS trucks.............also, they don't deliver in snow!

The few guns I've sold I gave to my FFL to ship for me USPS. I pay him $25.00 and it costs around $22 to $24.00 with insurance for him to send. Spending $47.00 to $49.00 and he books it and takes it to the Post Office to send to another FFL is well worth the money.

Probably ask same thing for shipments to New Mexico, too.

FFL dealers are permitted to use Priority Mail service, but unlicensed individuals may not. I pay a local dealer's transfer fee ($25.00) and send via Priority Mail (about $12.00) to the buyer's chosen FFL dealer.

Less expensive and also overcomes the problem of FFL dealers who will not accept deliveries from non-FFL holders.

Only 01FFLs can ship via the USPS. Those holding 03FFLs are excluded from using the USPS to ship handguns. They are both holders of FFLs so why wouldn't the same rules apply? Only know to the BATF!

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Bill

All so true!
Don't send me any Arby's unless I am a POW.
I already have grits,
And most important of all - I don't like Caviar!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Well Worth The Money only because the Big Brother guvment loves to FORCE we peasants to do as they say!!!! Guarantee you that all of this Special Shipping hasn't stopped ONE crime of any type................

Don't complain. The handguns I have shipped with UPS and FedEx cost appreciably more than 72$ for overnight delivery with insurance.

Outside of a local friendly FFL, sometimes you can't do better than shipmygun.com which is one of Bud's operations I believe.