An Unusual Mail/Package Carrier Rant

[CQB27]

I recently discovered a defect in the receiver of my Springfield M1A, I'm not the original owner by the way. I contacted Springfield Armory and they immediately sent me RMA to ship the rifle to them. I initally thought, "I should have waited until after the holidays to do this, with all parcel carriers being swamped this time of year." I boxed it up and dropped it off at a FedEx Ground collection point, my local Kroger grocery store, last Friday. This morning I got this email......

"This email is to inform you that we have received items in your RMA #535xxx. If your RMA contained multiple cartons, you may receive this email multiple times.

Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing of your return.

For any necessary return shipments, we will email tracking information as the item(s) ship.

Thank you for choosing Springfield!

Sincerely,

Springfield Warranty Repair"

3 working days from dropoff in Georgia to arrival Illinois during the busiest time of the year for those who carry our mail/packages.

I have a lot of sympathy for our brothers and sisters in the mail/package and firearm business. We share a common burden. We can do a million things right, but occasionally we get a thing or two wrong (we are only human after all). All most people take the time to do is bash us for the one thing, acting as if the million things don't exsist, well not today. Here's my RANT....Great Job Springfield Armory and FedEx Ground! I know I am one of the million you have provided good service to and I appreciate it! RANT over.

 

[Sistema1927]

Glad that worked out for you, but just a cautionary note for next time. Since it had a firearm, FedEx (and UPS as well) require that you drop it off at only specified locations. What you did was not illegal, but under their terms, if it had been lost or damaged they would not have honored any insurance.

For example, when I sent a shotgun off for warranty service, FedEx required me to use their local depot. Even their FedEx offices would not accept a firearm.

 

[CQB27]

Glad that worked out for you, but just a cautionary note for next time. Since it had a firearm, FedEx (and UPS as well) require that you drop it off at only specified locations. What you did was not illegal, but under their terms, if it had been lost or damaged they would not have honored any insurance.

For example, when I sent a shotgun off for warranty service, FedEx required me to use their local depot. Even their FedEx offices would not accept a firearm.

I appreciate the concern but I did exactly as instructed by Springfield Armory and FedEx in the RMA emails. In fact the actual RMA email I got from FedEx that had a printable pdf of the label attached listed the authorized locations near me to drop off the package.... including Kroger. FedEx knew I was shipping a firearm and their only requirement was that I drop it off at their listed locations where the label could be scanned and not some remote drop box.

I saved the email from Springfield Armory stating I didn't need to insure the rifle as they guarantee it against any damage or loss up to and including full retail value. I saved the email from FedEx stating they were contacting me on behalf of Springfield Armory with a RMA with detailed instructions on how to ship my rifle. I have zero worries.

 

[ColbyBruce]

My mail carrier is a great guy. They all have worked like dogs during this pandemic. I got him a token of appreciation.

 

[PPS1980]

Just FYI, I believe US Law says that they must delivery firearms within 2 days in order to minimize theft and "lost in shipping" issues. Glad it got there in good shape. Good luck with the repair.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I have had no problems with UPS or FedEx . When it comes to the USPS , that's where the problems start . We get along great with our mail carrier . We've given him 3-4 $50 gift cards while this has been going on . It's not their fault , it's the higher ups . He had 30 years with them and when things got bad they brought him back . He has nothing good to say about the management .

 

[Fishinfool]

I seldom use UPS or Fed Ex to ship long guns, so I may be wrong, but don't they offer the option of scheduling a long gun pick up, at your door, by a delivery driver?

Larry

 

[pittpa]

Glad that worked out for you, but just a cautionary note for next time. Since it had a firearm, FedEx (and UPS as well) require that you drop it off at only specified locations. What you did was not illegal, but under their terms, if it had been lost or damaged they would not have honored any insurance.

For example, when I sent a shotgun off for warranty service, FedEx required me to use their local depot. Even their FedEx offices would not accept a firearm.

FWIW I've attached the instructions from S&W for using Fedex due to a recent recall (hope you can read it). Springfield goes the extra mile by giving locations. I had to look them up myself and then call to find out that Walgreens' authorized ship centers don't take firearms, unlike Kroger. The local Fedex Office and Ship Center did accept it, even though they had to keep it overnight.
EDIT to get pic upright.

 

[vmtcmt]

Not sure about FedEx, but UPS requires it to be dropped off at one of their "hub" locations. That is the only way they will guarantee their security. Everybody that works at or out of a hub is a bonded and fingerprinted UPS employee.

UPS Stores are not authorized to ship firearms, as they are not owned or operated by UPS. They are franchises.

 

[hsguy]

Perhaps I am the exception but I have had absolutely no problems with the USPS, FedEx or UPS this year. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket?

 

[Jessie]

Just FYI, I believe US Law says that they must delivery firearms within 2 days in order to minimize theft and "lost in shipping" issues. Glad it got there in good shape. Good luck with the repair.

I think that's for handguns and the USPS, but I could be wrong

 

[Marine Corps Air]

I also have a Springfield Armory M1A. From my days of service in the U S Marine Corps and Vietnam, I was always issued an M-14, the Department of Defense equivalent at that time.

Additionally, I have always received outstanding, professional service from Springfield Armory, especially the Customer Service department.

I sure hope that your experience will be on par with mine, if not better!

Bill

 

[Sistema1927]

FWIW I've attached the instructions from S&W for using Fedex due to a recent recall (hope you can read it). Springfield goes the extra mile by giving locations. I had to look them up myself and then call to find out that Walgreens' authorized ship centers don't take firearms, unlike Kroger. The local Fedex Office and Ship Center did accept it, even though they had to keep it overnight.
EDIT to get pic upright.

Glad that you didn't get a run around. When I shipped that shotgun, at the FedEx shipping Center (not one of the storefront locations like Kinkos), and told them that it was a firearm, they almost had a conniption fit. I even asked to see a manager, and they told me that the only location that would accept it was their depot across town. This place wasn't even equipped to service walk-in customers, and I had to wait at a guard shack while an employee came up in an electric cart. He was then peeved that I wanted a shipping receipt, since he had to truck the box across the lot and come back with my receipt.

At every turn I was told that this was the only way that FedEx would honor any insurance on a firearm. I had a return label from the firearm manufacturer, the included FedEx insurance. Maybe your situation was different since SA was self-insuring.

 

[CQB27]

I seldom use UPS or Fed Ex to ship long guns, so I may be wrong, but don't they offer the option of scheduling a long gun pick up, at your door, by a delivery driver?

Larry

That was one of the options, but I would have had to take a day off from work to wait on the driver.

 

[pittpa]

My Shield EZ was delivered today. To the wrong building and left on the table in the mailroom there. I stayed home and at 3 PM noticed an e-mail indicating that it was delivered to my residence at noon and signed for by T. Tony, not the name of any resident in the directory for either building. I called the gatehouse and it was not there. It was not in my mailroom, but my USPS carrier said she saw a Fedex box in the other building. I walked over to the other building and found it sitting on the table in the mailroom. The buildings have different street address numbers.
It would seem that the driver went to the other mailroom and had some random person sign for it and left it on the table there.
All's well that ends well, I guess. Had it not been there, I had a couple phone calls I was going to be making. To Fedex and the LEO.
Next time I might just let the LGS send it out and receive it for me.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I had an issue, twice, with a Ruger revolver. I called them, they told me to box it up and UPS would pick it up at my house and would already have the label for it. Both times they returned it in about 8-10 days round trip. I, or someone 21 years old would have to sign for it. This was last summer before Christmas shipping season. I was told I could've taken it to a UPS facility, but my old printer was dead so they did it that way. USPS won't ship guns for you, but FedEx will.

 

[ColbyBruce]

"USPS won't ship guns for you, but FedEx will."

Incorrect. The USPS will ship long guns for individuals as the law allows. Some FFL holders and Feds can ship handguns by USPS. A Form 1508 has to be turned in with the item.

 

[CQB27]

Just an update to the thread. On January 15, exactly four weeks to the day I sent my rifle to Springfield, I received it back via FedEx Ground.

I rep from Springfield called me January 5th to advise me they were replacing the receiver with a new one and couldn't get my GI barrel to headspace and as a result would be installing a new barrel and sending my GI barrel back. I asked about the possibility of getting an 18 inch scout barrel installed. The rep said he would check on that, but he wasn't sure it could be done without charging me for the new parts (muzzle brake, scout rail, new handguard with scout rail cutout). I told him I didn't care about the muzzle break/rail/handguard. He said he would check with the tech doing the work and let me know.

Well, here it is....new receiver and scout barrel. It actually came with the scout muzzle brake installed but I replaced it with the original flash hider to give it that old school "Bush Rifle" look.

So parts and all that work plus shipping both ways at zero cost to me. All in all I have to say that Springfield Armory has excellent warranty and customer service and FedEx did the shipping to and from in an efficient and excellent way.

 

[billwill]

My mail carrier is a great guy. They all have worked like dogs during this pandemic. I got him a token of appreciation.

How could you forget all the things the forum has done for you??? Do you need our addresses?

Nice gift for your MP, bet your mail is never late.

 

[Golddollar]

My Shield EZ was delivered today.

I had to send back my Shield EZ9 under the recall. FedEx was the designated shipper. FedEX could not have been easier to work with. Per the instructions from S&W, I declared that I had a firearm in the box and the only question I got was "Do you accept the responsibility for packing the box?" There was no hesitation at the office I went to in shipping my gun back to S&W.

Smith & Wesson was really great at keeping me informed every step of the way as to what was going on and establishing a chain of custody for my gun.