My M&P9 full size is going back to S&W due to failure to feed issues. The email accompanying my shipping label says FedEx requires I tell the person who takes my package that it contains a firearm. Obviously I'm not keen on that. What have you folks done when returning to S&W? Do you declare the contents to FedEx?

Yes you're suppose to let them know it's a firearm

You know, S&W provides the insurance on a gun being shipped to them so don`t think twice.

OK, I'll inform them. Thanks.

The shipping label should not have any reference to a firearm, and you should not ship it back in the original box or anything that IDs it as a gun. You, the accepting office and the factory should be the only ones to know.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

FedEx policy states that you must inform the driver or whomever you hand the package to at FedEx.

However, I've used this service a few times and the driver that comes to my house says he doesn't care. So, telling him does nothing. Of course, it's in your best interest to play by their rules in case something goes wrong.

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Freedom isn't free.

I always ship from work. I leave the parcel in a pile with the other outgoing parcels. By the time I go back to the shipping area to check on the package, they are all gone. Funny, I never get to tell the driver, as I never see him. He just walks in, takes all the parcels, & signs for them. GARY

Pedro:

I think it's a Federal law, but it may just be a carrier requirement. What scares me is that the insurance may be voided if the carrier wasn't notified....

In the case of the M&P's, in many cases you can ship back, for example, the sear block (sear, springs, pins, ejector, etc.), and ship that any old way 'cause it's not considered a firearm unless the serialized portion is in the box.

If S&W suggested that you notify the carrier, you probably should. They're used to it by now....

Regards,

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Stu.

When I sent my revolver back to S& W for the fourth time the man at the Fed Ex didn't ask me but he recognized the address and asked what was wrong with my handgun. He was quite knowledgeable about firearms. Nice Guy.

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I like Ike.

In my experience, FedEx is one of the few non-gun businesses where the employees don't bat an eye when I've told them the package contains a gun. I'm sure they get more of those than you think.

Just an idle question:

In the event your firearm is lost or accidentally shipped out of the country, or for any reason your gun doesn't make it to the destination; you find yourself declaring after the fact that you were shipping a gun.

Do you worry at all that FedEx will refuse to pursue the return of the gun? Or if it is a Federal Law, that they may actually turn you in?

Not at all. Like I said, I work at a large place, & my work station is far from the shipping area. I can't wait for the driver to show up to tell him. There is no box to check on the shipping form that asks if a gun is being shipped. If the package is lost, I would report it to the locals & file for insurance, but in 30 years, nothing has been lost. I address the package like "Mike's Store" instead of "Mike's Gun Store". And I don't pay for overnight shipping either. This is what I do. Am I breaking a law? I don't know, but I don't plan on taking the mandatory health plan either. Will I be breaking a law there? GARY

You all make a compelling case. I'll inform the driver when he picks it up. My reservations step from telling a complete stranger that I own guns while he is standing on my doorstep.

Unfortunately having them pickup at work is not an option as I would be committing a felony by taking it to work. The instructions also clearly state no shipping from a FedEx drop box or FedEx Kinkos store. That leaves me with home pickup or drop off at a FedEx World Service Center whatever that is. I do have a regular FedEx shipping center close by. I guess I could take it there.

Both are good questions.

When someone other than you paid for the shipping label, They are considered the shipper, not you. If the gun is lost any insurance payment will go to the shipper, and then it would be up to them to reimburse you, the gun owner. In this case S&W paid for the shipping and insurance, and it is S&W's shipper ID number built into the tracking number, so they should be the ones to say whats supposed to be in the package. At least that is how it works with UPS, and I'm sure FedEx is the same. I was a UPS supervisor for 15 years, and dealt with this issue many times.

As it's the written policy I always let them know. They always act surprised and say they'd rather not know.

I've shipped both FedEx and UPS.

I dropped it off at my local FedEx and informed them. Thanks everyone.

It's not just company policy, it's the law.

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478
Firearms - Frequently Asked Questions - Unlicensed Persons | ATF

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Science plus Art

From the gun owner's point of view, S&W insures the gun.

Most likely they don't actually pay insurance but are self insured.

S&W gets a good price on replacement guns.

I tell them its a firearm.

And I have dropped them off at the "Shipping Store" near my house which is a drop point for UPS, Fedex, DHL, etc. All they have ever asked me is if I was using a pre-paid label from the manufacture. I say "yep" and they say, "have a nice day".

I shipped a magpul shotgun buttstock via FedEx and when the lady found out it was firearm related, she looked at me like I was downloading childporn. She almost didn't take the box from me. I had to lie and tell her it was for a pellet gun. Holy ****, lady. Shut your face hole and do your job.

Ouch....

I think we were dancing around two maypoles at once here....

When we're dealing with a "will call", such as S&W uses, then the rules are somewhat different.

For an individual, the quoted Federal Law (or Regulation) is accurate, and FedEx OR UPS insist on "Next Day Air" type service (called by different names, probably). You must notify the carrier that it's a firearm, too. If you manage to get 'em to take a box of "machine parts" and ship it by one of their standard rates, you're likely cooked if there's some kind of inspection, or a loss - insurance or otherwise.

So you pay $80-ish and notify....

(You can't ship a handgun via USPS at all, although I think an FFL can.)

Now, if you're using a "will call", S&W or whoever is the shipper, and while the carrier is supposed to be notified, their rules (or at least their deal) with the carrier kick in, and notification is about all we're responsible for. If the driver accepts the package with S&W's name on it, then the notification is kinda moot, and should there be a problem with the shipment, you should be OK anyway.

Had a loony one about 2006.... The rules may have changed a bit since then. I printed up the necessary FedEx waybills and popped over to Kinko's with the package (handgun). The countergal at Kinko's refused to accept the package, even though FedEx's web site said that they would accept it. She must have had a similar issue at one time or other, 'cause she had a copy of a map page for me showing where the Terminal was, way the heck across town.

After politely telling her that I'd be cancelling my FedEx account, I headed out. Couldn't decide whether to go home and print up UPS paperwork (and cancel the FedEx bill), or just drive over to the Terminal. I decided that it was a nice day, and I could stop in at a Client's site while I was over there.

The supervisor at the Terminal agreed with me (and accepted the package) and apologized. I sent a nasty letter to FedEx, and got a polite response, too.

FWIW, I believe FedEx won't take those packages at what used to be Kinko's anymore. (It's not called that anymore.) And UPS' "UPS Store" locations won't, either. I believe that the local UPS Terminal (which will accept firearms) is a CPZ, though. The FedEx terminals might be by now, too. ("CPZ" - "Criminal Protection Zone" - no carry....)

I've given up - my pet local gun pusher now handles firearms transfers for me on the rare occasion that I need one. About $40 if I smile nicely.... I've never had a Will Call, though.

Regards,

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Stu.

Right, I have shipped firearms, and garnered headaches therein. Here's some things I've learned.

1.FEDEX will ship pistols,and parts with serial numbers to verified FFL holders, but only if they are declared and shipped via overnight express for a high cost.
2. UPS will ship all firearms from their central locations only. Strip mall UPS stores generally won't ship firearms including airguns.
3. USPS won't ship handguns (federal felony, so don't try), but will ship long guns.

Crazy mixed up *****, no?

If you want to ship a long gun, use USPS. Much cheaper.
If you have a UPS main center nearby, try to ship your handgun there, since it is much cheaper than FEDEX overnight.
FEDEX overnight average charge is $50.00-$75.00 depending on origin and destination.

If you have a repair or recall, bend every effort to get a prepaid FEDEX label from the manufacturer/repair site.

Good luck,

Norm