Idiots at UPS

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I sold a Holmes Mp82 machine pistol late last year, paper work finished in early Feb, Sold to a class 3 dealer in SW MO. he handled all paper work all I had to do was fill out and return to him. I asked about me shipping, no problem he said I will send a gun case in the shipping carton with a pre paid Fed EX label he said just put the transfer paper work with the buyers name in the case with the weapon and take it to Fed EX. I have had problems in the past with UPS even with a FFL so I really wondered if they would take the box, No problem just lay it there with the others, do you want me to sign any thing? Nope your good what a bunch of great guys! Jeff
 
Seems to depend on just who is working the counter at the time. Some are pretty good, others are complete idiots. Once had a UPS Supervisor tell me that he wouldn't allow any blackpowder pistol to be shipped through his facility and he didn't care what the UPS regulations were. Wish he would have put that in writing.
 
Evil Dog said:
Seems to depend on just who is working the counter at the time. Some are pretty good, others are complete idiots. Once had a UPS Supervisor tell me that he wouldn't allow any blackpowder pistol to be shipped through his facility and he didn't care what the UPS regulations were. Wish he would have put that in writing.
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I'm inclined to ask what we can do get such employees fired. After all, much of this gun stuff we're all involved in here depends for its continuance largely upon shippers. I have bought only one gun from an area dealer; none of the others I wanted were available locally. What will happen if shippers cease to accommodate us?

Andy
 
I traded with a dealer out of state, I had all paper work to ship it. I had to take it to the main UPS location in STL. The clerk went bonkers, I spoke with the highest manager on duty. He obviously did not want to take it and kept making excuses but no motion to take it. Finally he just said no. Lucky for me my daughter informed me later that day that she was going to visit friends close to that town. I called the dealer to let him know the old Savage 300 would be in on sat he was happy. I guess performing a reverse heimlich is no longer advisable.
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
I find myself in the uncomfortable position of agreeing totally with monkey man :eek:
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I learned this trick when I was a delivery boy for a local pharmacy in college. They only need to know the basics of your package. Details are between you and the recipient lol.
 
I've had some real run ins with UPS over the years. Had a sweet early Hwy Patrolman stolen and they gave me a big run around over the Insurance I'd purchased...finally giving me the retail cost of the gun...weeks later.

Have had "Signature Required" boxes simply left on a front step...or better yet...the M-66 that was left on a NEIGHBORS porch by mistake.

I've done pretty well with my Local USPS Office by far!

FN in MT
 
UPS in this city have the same rep as puppy kicking child molesters. These masterminds once claimed I refused delivery of a camera that they sent back to New York. Pretty neat trick given at the time they stated I was 13 miles away giving a presentation to a room full of VERY unimpeachable witnesses.
 
In my area, the drivers have a standing policy that if they SEE a dog on the property to where a package is to be delivered, they don't have to stop. Period. It can be a puppy, or an elderly dog barely able to move. If you check on-line status of the shipment, it will say 'No delivery - no one available for signature'. This is for packages NOT requiring a signature!
I've made 4 seperate complaints. It was a waste of air.
 
Always used FedEx for shipping firearms. UPS had a bad rep for stolen guns internally in this area. Sent two to S&W for repairs with no problem from the area depot. This was in north Jersey before I relocated.
The problem both times was that they came back and were left on my front porch in plain view from the street! There they were sitting there when I got home. Called S&W both times to make them aware that "adult signature required" means just that and they should make FedEx aware of the situation. I don't mind going to the depot to pick it up instead of left on the porch of a suburban home with kids walking home from school 50 feet away.
 
SWID said:
I'm glad I don't have to ship guns with those clowns.
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A friend once received a notice from UPS that they were unable to locate his address, and that he would have to go to the depot to pick up the shipment. The odd thing is that his address is on the same street where the UPS depot is located.
 
A friend once received a notice from UPS that they were unable to locate his address, and that he would have to go to the depot to pick up the shipment. The odd thing is that his address is on the same street where the UPS depot is located.
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GOOD LORD!!! LOL
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
Keep in mind that most all The UPS Stores are franchise, not company operated. They operate more like a shipping agent. Some rules are different for The UPS Store franchise compared to a UPS center, especially concerning firearms. As well, franchise operators can decide they aren't going to ship certain things simply because they don't want the liability (real or perceived). It's their business, not UPS'.

No reason to raise an unnecessary red flag with a counter clerk.... much less call them idiots.
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Uh, excuse me, what red flag did I raise? I was trying to ship a scale.

None of that franchise stuff excuses such a thing as customer service. I'm not kidding when I say she acted like I was waving a snake (gun?) in her face. As soon as I told her what it was she went off the chart. I took the scale out of the box and turned upside down to show her nothing was in it. She never shut her big mouth long enough to listen to me say anything, she did not call the "hub" or whatever to ask about it, she just kept shoving a paragraph, titled "Firearms and Ammunition" in my face. If these "stores" can't handle things then why does the center not open a tad earlier than 15:00?

I repeat, Idiots, and whether you approve or not is immaterial to me.

My UPS driver leaves stuff on my porch all the time, but I live in a very rural area. I have guns shipped to and from a friend with an FFL so that has never been an issue.
 
SWID said:
Uh, excuse me, what red flag did I raise? I was trying to ship a scale.

None of that franchise stuff excuses such a thing as customer service. I'm not kidding when I say she acted like I was waving a snake (gun?) in her face. As soon as I told her what it was she went off the chart. I took the scale out of the box and turned upside down to show her nothing was in it. She never shut her big mouth long enough to listen to me say anything, she did not call the "hub" or whatever to ask about it, she just kept shoving a paragraph, titled "Firearms and Ammunition" in my face. If these "stores" can't handle things then why does the center not open a tad earlier than 15:00?

I repeat, Idiots, and whether you approve or not is immaterial to me.
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Q: "Uh, excuse me, what red flag did I raise?"

A: "As soon as I told her what it was she went off the chart."


Q: "If these "stores" can't handle things then why does the center not open a tad earlier than 15:00?"

A: Most all The UPS Stores are not UPS facilities. UPS Hubs and Customer Centers open at their own schedules based on their own operations. They did so well before The UPS Store Franchise came along (Mail Boxes Etc Franchise purchase).

More to the point, UPS makes their money shipping business to business and business to consumer. Consumer shipping is inefficient and a hassle... too many non-genius problem types to deal with.... packing problems.... arguing with counter clerks... on and on. That's why they developed a Franchise network to deal with a large part of it so they don't have to while still maintaining and expanding retail presence. UPS has deep pockets, if they thought they could make money accepting retail packages from folks they would have company operated stores everywhere instead of Franchisees. USPS is a good alternative, they lose $billions on the retail side. ;)

Since you already had your item boxed up, why bother with a The UPS Store anyway? They charge a hefty premium over the shipping rate.
 
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Back when I was a class III dealer, UPS once left three full auto Uzis on my porch. They had adult sig required tags. No one was home at the time.

Mike D.
 
I had to ship a 1911 custom slide and barrel to a gunsmith, insured for $2000, if lost it was start all over.

I asked what I should tell them about contents,
He said: "say machined parts and if they ask if it's hazardous, tell them, only if dropped on your foot."

This line has worked well for me.
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
Q: "Uh, excuse me, what red flag did I raise?"

A: "As soon as I told her what it was she went off the chart."


Q: "If these "stores" can't handle things then why does the center not open a tad earlier than 15:00?"

A: Most all The UPS Stores are not UPS facilities. UPS Hubs and Customer Centers open at their own schedules based on their own operations. They did so well before The UPS Store Franchise came along (Mail Boxes Etc Franchise purchase).

More to the point, UPS makes their money shipping business to business and business to consumer. Consumer shipping is inefficient and a hassle... too many non-genius problem types to deal with.... packing problems.... arguing with counter clerks... on and on. That's why they developed a Franchise network to deal with a large part of it so they don't have to while still maintaining and expanding retail presence. UPS has deep pockets, if they thought they could make money accepting retail packages from folks they would have company operated stores everywhere instead of Franchisees. USPS is a good alternative, they lose $billions on the retail side. ;)

Since you already had your item boxed up, why bother with a The UPS Store anyway? They charge a hefty premium over the shipping rate.
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Oh, I see, I was supposed to LIE! How stupid of me.

Look, the store had UPS written on it, if they don't want the public bothering them then tell them to take all those ads off of TV. I'm not inclined to go online and do research on a company before I spend ten bucks. The man at RCBS said "Ship it UPS" and I was just trying to go along. I was mailing a scale, not gunpowder.

I know that companies hire people and you get all kinds. But if your going to deal with the public you should have a few people skills. She made no effort at all to help me. She was rude and obnoxious, not to mention wrong, and there was just no need.

You can defend her (and UPS) all you want, but so far I have not heard anything that justified her conduct, or any reason to refuse my shipment.
 
Dude ... chill.
You dont have to lie, you just have to know not to show your hand when your playing poker.
I am certain that had I said "Bullets" when shipping my products to customers, my customers would have been irate since they'd have NEVER gotten there.
I am also certain that some that I have delt with in the past would have had no problem had I said exactly what was in the 40+ pound box ... but most would have blown a gasket and spouted non applicable regulations while denying service if I didn't say Ingots or precision formed metal hardware.
If you think they need to grow the hell up ... your probably right. If you think you dont need to adapt to the fact they havnt been raised right, you will do nothing more than frustrate yourself into an early grave
 
SWID said:
Oh, I see, I was supposed to LIE! How stupid of me.
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I don't know what else to say so I'll end it here. If you want to ship something at The UPS Store don't mention gun powder or firearms. Otherwise, you'll be the only smart one in the store walking out with the same package you walked in with...
 
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