UPS CLOSING CUSTOMER SERVICE WALK IN

[Toyman]

I was issued a UPS RMA to send a gun to manufacture for repair. I was instructed to take to UPS main hub for drop off. I went to Las Vegas UPS main hub and customer service now closed. I flagged down a driver and tried to get him to take the RMA. He asked if it contained a firearm and I advised it did. He looked at the RMA and said he could not accept it because RMA for fire arms require ADULT SIGNATURE REQUIRED in note field.
Driver advised UPS will now require the issuer of RMA send it to UPS with a pickup order, no more drop off.
I checked UPS web page to try to arrange pickup, I would have to set up an account and pay for pickup.
I did a no no, I went to a UPS store front. The 18 year old with multiple piercings and tri colored hair did not ask what was in the box, scanned the label and gave me a receipt.
I advised customer service at manufacturer of the change at UPS and they advised they had not been advised of the change by UPS.
The gun was delivered to the manufacturer.

 

[Onomea]

UPS has been reducing the number of their "Customer Service Centers." A UPS Customer Service Center is staff to deal with retail customers at UPS hubs. Some UPS hubs have Customer Service Centers and some do not. My understanding is that while the number of UPS hubs is not being reduced, the number of hubs with Customer Service Centers is.

So, my guess is that while you may have to travel further to find a UPS hub with a Customer Service Center, there are still UPS hubs with Customer Service Centers that will accept guns with prepaid labels from gun manufacturers, etc., brought in by retail customers.

Above is based on my ShipMyGun experiences this year.

EDIT: See posts below. UPS Stores now accept firearms.

 

[Shark Bait]

They closed both the hub and customer service locations in Albuquerque. They said the UPS stores can now accept firearms.

 

[Onomea]

Reading through the regs, it looks like since UPS Stores can now accept firearms, which is new, shipping firearms with UPS has actually become easier: https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...egulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms.page

 

[Toyman]

Reading through the regs, it looks like since UPS Stores can now accept firearms, which is new, shipping firearms with UPS has actually become easier: https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...egulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms.page

VERY INTERESTING !

 

[Onomea]

Here's from the UPS link above:

 

[tomhenry]

Reading through the regs, it looks like since UPS Stores can now accept firearms, which is new, shipping firearms with UPS has actually become easier: https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...egulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms.page

It still requires next day delivery which is expensive. The last gun I shipped (before they abolished private party shipping of handguns) cost ~$165. IIRC, that included insurance. My FFL ships for $30.

 

[Onomea]

Tom, that FFL price is great! ShipMyGun, which uses the prepaid UPS label approach, costs about $40, insured. Before I began using ShipMyGun, I paid about $100 to ship through FFLs here.

 

[LVSteve]

Here's from the UPS link above:

Aren't the UPS stores privately owned, so they could still turn you down, unless their UPS contract requires them to accept firearms.

 

[tomhenry]

Aren't the UPS stores privately owned, so they could still turn you down, unless their UPS contract requires them to accept firearms.

Yeah, if you're going to use a ups store, you'd better call ahead.

 

[Onomea]

Aren't the UPS stores privately owned, so they could still turn you down, unless their UPS contract requires them to accept firearms.

I just read through the UPS regulations at the link I posted above. Nothing in there says you are required to tell someone at the UPS Store what is in the box.

Earlier this year, in the three times I have sold guns and shipped via ShipMyGun and UPS, when handing over the box at a UPS hub/Customer Service Center, I was asked once what was in the box. For shipping other stuff I occasionally go to the UPS Store in my neighborhood. I don't recall ever being asked what was in the box...

Keep in mind, though, that you need a prepaid label, on your package, provided by someone who has a contractual relationship with UPS allowing them to ship firearms. You can't (legally) just wrap up a gun, provide your own label, and ship it

 

[Yendor357]

I don’t think it’s technically illegal.^ I think it’s against company policy. If I’m wrong, someone set the record straight. Things change so much and so often, it’s hard to keep up.

 

[Muley Gil]

I just read through the UPS regulations at the link I posted above. Nothing in there says you are required to tell someone at the UPS Store what is in the box.

Earlier this year, in the three times I have sold guns and shipped via ShipMyGun and UPS, when handing over the box at a UPS hub/Customer Service Center, I was asked once what was in the box. For shipping other stuff I occasionally go to the UPS Store in my neighborhood. I don't recall ever being asked what was in the box...

Keep in mind, though, that you need a prepaid label, on your package, provided by someone who has a contractual relationship with UPS allowing them to ship firearms. You can't (legally) just wrap up a gun, provide your own label, and ship it

That's a new policy, isn't it?

I thought that as long as you were shipping to an FFL, you, as a private person, could ship via UPS.

 

[LVSteve]

I don’t think it’s technically illegal.^ I think it’s against company policy. If I’m wrong, someone set the record straight. Things change so much and so often, it’s hard to keep up.

Yes, the UPS/Fedex cabal changed their policies and will no longer accept firearms for shipping by non-FFLs. So, while the ATF rules rules say Joe Schmo on the street can lawfully ship using a common carrier, those common carriers are in no way obliged to provide such a service.

 

[LVSteve]

That's a new policy, isn't it?

I thought that as long as you were shipping to an FFL, you, as a private person, could ship via UPS.

By law, yes. As per company policy, no.

 

[Onomea]

By law, yes. As per company policy, no.

That's a very interesting distinction... I looked at the ATF site, the regs, and saw where they say one must declare, to the carrier, that one is shipping a firearm. I am speculating, that if a firearms manufacturer, or ShipMyGuns, or similar, has a contract with a carrier, to ship firearms, that, in itself, is the notification, and the individual shipping the gun does not need to say, "This is a gun."

I shipped a gun back to a manufacturer recently. Prepaid label, etc. Manufacturer's website said, "Tell carrier it is a gun." Manufacturer's rep on the phone said, "You have no obligation to tell Joe at the carrier that it is a firearm, but do what you want..."

I put the prepaid label on, handed over the package, was not asked any questions, and was done.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Every time I shipped a firearm at the FedEx Center (not FedEx Office), the same counter woman asked, "Is it unloaded?", and then, "Is the safety on?".

She apparently hates guns and their owners. The last time I said to her, "No, the safety is broken that is why I"m shipping it back". She had a cow.

Now I just drop off at FedEx Office. Self-serve.

 

[usmcsgt]

And of course ShipMyGun does not ship to or from Hawaii.

 

[Onomea]

Yeah, Hawaii is often a problem for shipping all kinds of stuff. When I used to spend a lot of time there, I cultivated a relationship with a local FFL and he'd ship guns for me at his USPS rate.

I asked ShipMyGuns about the UPS policy change. They replied, "Our UPS rep has advised that Yes, they can now be taken to UPS stores for drop off or you can call and schedule a pick up." As far as I can tell from UPS's website, pick ups are free. (Need that prepaid label though.)

 

[Yendor357]

Well, from now on, my guns will identify as a remote control hole puncher, thus a tool.
“What’s in the box?” “A tool”.

That’s a whole lot less of a stretch than dudes “competing “ in women’s sports.