handgun shipping questions

[kidneystones]

apologies to the moderators, i could not find any more appropriate place to post this question.

i have shipped firearms that i have sold through the forum via fed ex. it has usually run about $25-40 depending upon weight and box size. i shipped out a pistol today and was shocked by how much they wanted to charge me, $112!

has anyone else noticed or experienced a sudden increase in shipping costs?

[Chubbs103]

I just shipped a handgun via Fedex a week and a half ago for $64 including insurance. That has been pretty typical from what I have seen the last few years.

Chubbs

[murphydog]

Per company rules, both FedEx and UPS mandate the fastest (and most expensive) shipping methods for handguns, Priority Overnight and Next Day Air respectively. If you paid less than outrageous rates before, the staff didn't charge for 1 day shipping or weren't aware of their own rules. Size/weight may play a role here also.

Note there is no legal reason they can't ship by 2-day or ground; when UPS changed their rules to Next Day Air for handguns, their stated reason was there was too much theft by their own personnel when shipped any other way (?!)

[kidneystones]

thanks for the information fellas, i feel a little better now. as i was driving home, i thought that the clerk just got the better of me. i wonder if this also applies if the guns ships from the manufacturer? that would explain why the darn things keep getting more expensive.

[BaldEagle1313]

Originally Posted by murphydog

Note there is no legal reason they can't ship by 2-day or ground; when UPS changed their rules to Next Day Air for handguns, their stated reason was there was too much theft by their own personnel when shipped any other way (?!)

If that's really the reason then they need to change their hiring practices. What a bunch of guano - saying "we can't trust our employees, so we'll just charge you double."

[jaywlambert]

UPS Next Day Air Saver is the way to go... I don't think I have ever paid more than $50-60 when shipping a handgun.

You can also use USPS Priority Mail, etc as long as you have your FFL send it. Even with his fee it should be much less than the $112 you spent.

[dlbx2]

My FFL charges $25 to run it through his books, I do the packaging, then I pay what the post office charges for Priority Mail, Insured, and Delivery Confirmation, usually at least another $25, depending on the value of the item shipped. So for simplicity, $50 flat rate.
DLB

[murphydog]

Correct, an FFL holder can use USPS Priority Mail, about $16 for an average size handgun.

FedEx/UPS also charge by distance, longer=more expensive.

[murphydog]

Originally Posted by BaldEagle1313

If that's really the reason then they need to change their hiring practices. What a bunch of guano - saying "we can't trust our employees, so we'll just charge you double."

That was (roughly) 10 years ago, so the horse already left the barn on that decision .

[S&W5906]

Originally Posted by kidneystones

thanks for the information fellas, i feel a little better now. as i was driving home, i thought that the clerk just got the better of me. i wonder if this also applies if the guns ships from the manufacturer? that would explain why the darn things keep getting more expensive.

Ours come second day air from the distributors. Which means they have been known to be shipped on a Wednesday and delivered Thursday morning.