FedEx Refusal
- Thread starter bg1111
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Harkrader
Member
It isn't S&W's fault. It's FedEx. They are tough to deal with when it comes to firearms, and UPS is worse.
gatchelguy
US Veteran
I like Ruger's method better. They said to have it boxed and ready. Next day UPS came to my house, labeled the box, gave me a receipt and was gone. Five days later I had a brand new gun from them.
44wheelman
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I have shipped a few long guns usps in ohio. Most time they are cool with it. One clerk had to fetch the postmaster. One clerk without missing a beat, told me she needed to see it was unloaded. She was within her rights to do so, but I swear that nag was grinning when she did so.
Rastoff
US Veteran
They don't. Unfortunately, you ran into something we see on the internet everyday; someone with only a little info.
The particular clerk you ran into doesn't know the regulations. He/she assumed everything they told you. It's a case of a small person exerting an authority they don't really have. This person looks for an opportunity to tell others "no" to give themselves the illusion they have power over others.
Next time you go, take a copy of the FedEx rules with you: Prohibited & Restricted Articles | FXF Rules Tariff - FedEx
It says the box can't say it's a firearm on the outside. There's nothing about it being a FedEx box. Neither does it mention the speed at which it must be shipped. That is only covered under the federal laws.
**A side note** I find it interesting that FedEx won't accept stamps as payment for shipping something.
They don't. Unfortunately, you ran into something we see on the internet everyday; someone with only a little info.
The particular clerk you ran into doesn't know the regulations. He/she assumed everything they told you. It's a case of a small person exerting an authority they don't really have. This person looks for an opportunity to tell others "no" to give themselves the illusion they have power over others.
Next time you go, take a copy of the FedEx rules with you: Prohibited & Restricted Articles | FXF Rules Tariff - FedEx
It says the box can't say it's a firearm on the outside. There's nothing about it being a FedEx box. Neither does it mention the speed at which it must be shipped. That is only covered under the federal laws.
**A side note** I find it interesting that FedEx won't accept stamps as payment for shipping something.
Very interesting!!
It wasn't just the clerk though. I asked for her supervisor and she came out with a sheet of rules she said she has to go by and it said it they could only ship 2 day if it was in a plain brown box and it couldn't have Fed Ex anywhere on it. In addition she said the only place they could send a handgun 2 day in a Fed Ex box was Springfield Armory in IL.
There should be a FedEx hotline they or I could call to get it resolved instead of harassing a customer that is following S&W's rules that are probably correct and agreed upon by FedEx.
Maybe at that location they just want to sell you a $6 box to punish you a bit for being a gun owner. FedEx had no gun signs all over the place. That seemed to work pretty well a few months ago, didn't it.
About 12 months ago, I had a handgun to ship to S&W. Fed-ex at Wilkes-Barre said they could not take it.
However, to make a long story short, S&W said that I could have Fed-ex pick it up at my house. S&W said they would send me the label and I should use a Fed-ex box. They also said that I must inform the driver that there is a handgun in the box. (Supposedly they get additional security by Fed-ex. ) I did and everything went smoothy from that point.
However, to make a long story short, S&W said that I could have Fed-ex pick it up at my house. S&W said they would send me the label and I should use a Fed-ex box. They also said that I must inform the driver that there is a handgun in the box. (Supposedly they get additional security by Fed-ex. ) I did and everything went smoothy from that point.
Rastoff
US Veteran
I wonder if that was some privately owned store? It flies in the face of everything they have posted on line.
Ask and ye shall receive:
1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339
It's unlikely that the package will receive any different treatment than any other package, but it might. Even so, the reason is due to federal law not just internal policy.
HCA
Member
I just shipped my M&P40 back last Thursday and followed the S&W instructions without a problem. Used the express box, slapped the emailed shipping label on it, wife dropped it off at the FedEx shipping center, declared that it contained a firearm (clerk didn't bat an eye), got the receipt and tracking number, and see it was delivered to S&W yesterday morning.
I guess it all depends on the local FedEx facility. At least ours, for this shipment, had their act together.
I guess it all depends on the local FedEx facility. At least ours, for this shipment, had their act together.
That is because "The UPS Store" is not allowed to ship firearms or ammunition, period. That regulation comes from UPS - not the store owner. Which is an independently owned franchise and not part of UPS. However, UPS wants you to think that the stores are part of the parent company. That is why you get no problems from the "hub" or terminal and reluctance from the store. BTW, if you don't declare contents and it's found to be a firearm or ammunition - you will never see them again, but what you will see is federal agents knocking on your door to ask you about your "shipment". UPS has no problem contacting the feds on stuff like this.
A former UPS Store owner
A former UPS Store owner
skip4309
Member
Shipped one back today....had prepaid S&W label...had to pack it myself in a box they provided at FedEx store (with packing cost me $6.44)...no problem...clerk said they cannot pack/box firearms...I'm good with that...
Smithpride
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I shipped fedex for a M&P 15 to S&W. They did mention that it had to be a fedex owned operation, not a contractor or franchise store. I did this and went to the main hub. 7 days later there still was no tracking information. I called and said they would 'look into it'. The next day I called and they still didn't know know where it was. I told them they had thirty minutes or I was calling the FBI in Tulsa for gun theft. They called me back and told me they had 'found it in the manager's office'. They told me there had been questions on the legality of the shipment, but all was worked out now. From that point on we had tracking info, the package arrived two days later and it came back fine. I'm guessing they thought I might forget or someone wanted a free gun? Funny, as soon as I mentioned authorities it got things rolling.
MJFlores
Member
The S&W shipping instructions tell you not to bring it to a Fedex ship location. You need to go get a "medium" fedex box from any ship center, package your firearm in it, tape the label they sent to you via e-mail to it, and call Fedex and have them come pick it up. I've recently done this (twice also) without issue.
skip4309
Member
Sent my BG380 back on friday with label provided by S&W...the FedEx clerk said they could not pack the item but provided me with a box and some packing material...she helped me tape it up...the packing material (bubble wrap) cost me about $6 bucks...I'm good with that...
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shlike
Member
I don't understand what all the fuss and perceived difficulty is about. Last week I had occasion to contact Kahr Arms about an issue I was having with my newly purchased CW45. They sent me a prepaid FedEx Express Overnight label (The e-mail with the label to print off came from FedEx directly on behalf of Kahr). The e-mail had the tracking number in it. I simply printed off the label, boxed up the gun, slapped the label on it, took it to the local FedEx Office store (the old Kinko's) and handed it to the girl behind the counter, no fuss-no muss. I tracked it that evening to confirm that it had been picked up from the FedEx Store, and again the next day to confirm that it had been received by Kahr. The clerks in the FedEx Store couldn't care less what was in the box, and I did not feel compelled to volunteer that information. I followed the instructions I received from Kahr and then FedEx in the e-mail with the label to the letter. Nowhere in those instruction did it say anything about declaring that the box contained a firearm.
Also, they don't care what kind of box you use as long as it is taped up securely. It doesn't need to be a FedEx box; it could be any kind of box you have laying around, like a box you got from Amazon, for example. All the relevant information that FedEx needs is contained on the label itself-the kind of box you use makes absolutely no difference to them.
The whole process could not have been easier. I can't help but think that some of the posters in this thread are inadvertently making things more difficult than they need to be, and creating perceived problems where none exist. Just my $.02, I could be wrong...
Also, they don't care what kind of box you use as long as it is taped up securely. It doesn't need to be a FedEx box; it could be any kind of box you have laying around, like a box you got from Amazon, for example. All the relevant information that FedEx needs is contained on the label itself-the kind of box you use makes absolutely no difference to them.
The whole process could not have been easier. I can't help but think that some of the posters in this thread are inadvertently making things more difficult than they need to be, and creating perceived problems where none exist. Just my $.02, I could be wrong...
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With all due respect to the above poster, some people actually followed the law by notifying the shipper that a gun was in the package, and the shipping clerk didn't know ship from shinola. When I sent a gun back to Ruger a few years ago, the clerk demanded that Ruger fax them a copy of their FFL before she would ship it. It's about individual clerks not knowing the law and/or their companies policy.
Saying that the people here, who are relaying their experiences, are to blame for the clerks knowledge is like blaming all gun owners for violence in Chicago!
Saying that the people here, who are relaying their experiences, are to blame for the clerks knowledge is like blaming all gun owners for violence in Chicago!
shlike
Member
Sorry. I meant no disrespect to anyone. I just meant to say that there appears to be a lot of mis-information/conflicting information out there regarding shipment of firearms. I just figured I was safe by following the instructions exactly as given to me by both Kahr and FedEx in the e-mail containing the prepaid return label. FedEx was acting as shipping agent for Kahr Arms, and nowhere in the instructions provided by FedEx did it say anything about the need to declare that the package contained a firearm. That's all I was trying to say.
Zelig
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I had big problems with UPS on a recalled rifle. UPS refused to schedule a pickup when they were told about the contents. I was advised to go to a UPS store who also refused it. They sent me to a UPS hub and who were great. They took the rifle for shipment. FYI, it was returned by my local UPS driver but just needed a signature.
labworm
US Veteran
I think the key word is "Hub" location for either Fed Ex or UPS.
Have shipped handguns via both at their Hub locations and encountered no problems at all.
Have shipped handguns via both at their Hub locations and encountered no problems at all.
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