Shipping back to S&W, do you inform FedEx?

[Pistol Pedro]

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?

 

[mr2r6]

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

 

[much ado]

Fed Ex Shipping

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

 

[Pistol Pedro]

OK, I'll inform them. Thanks.

 

[murphydog]

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.

 

[Rastoff]

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.

 

[N4KVE]

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

 

[SMMAssociates]

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,

 

[7shooter]

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.

 

[ShinySix]

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.

 

[blujax01]

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

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?

 

[N4KVE]

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

 

[Pistol Pedro]

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.

 

[blujax01]

...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

Both are good questions.

 

[jonesy814]

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.

 

[Rick_A]

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.

 

[Pistol Pedro]

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

 

[OKFC05]

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

 

[Cal44]

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.

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.

 

[tonesurfer]

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".