So I shipped a gun back to the factory today

[Wayne02]

First time I've shipped a gun back to the factory, or shipped a gun period now that I think about it. Springfield pistol going back to the factory for repair. Springfield sent me a prepaid fedex label and I put the pistol in the original Blue plastic Springfield case per Springfield's instructions, and made my way down to Fedex.

The gal said no problem and proceeded to scan in the label. She then asked if the latches on the case could pop open and should she put some tape on them. I (assuming all along that the blue case would eventually end up in a regular shipping box) said ok on taping the latches. She puts some tape on the latches, puts the bill in a plastic thingy and wraps it through the handle of the blue case, puts the case on the conveyor, and tells me to have a good day.

This didn't seem right to me so I purchased some packing material and put the blue case in a Fed Ex shipping box.

Do people usually ship handguns in just the factory case like that? Seems like it would be a giant steal me flag.

 

[Wayne02]

First time I've shipped a gun back to the factory, or shipped a gun period now that I think about it. Springfield pistol going back to the factory for repair. Springfield sent me a prepaid fedex label and I put the pistol in the original Blue plastic Springfield case per Springfield's instructions, and made my way down to Fedex.

The gal said no problem and proceeded to scan in the label. She then asked if the latches on the case could pop open and should she put some tape on them. I (assuming all along that the blue case would eventually end up in a regular shipping box) said ok on taping the latches. She puts some tape on the latches, puts the bill in a plastic thingy and wraps it through the handle of the blue case, puts the case on the conveyor, and tells me to have a good day.

This didn't seem right to me so I purchased some packing material and put the blue case in a Fed Ex shipping box.

Do people usually ship handguns in just the factory case like that? Seems like it would be a giant steal me flag.

 

[Goshen606]

I'd have put it in a box, but that's just me. It will probably make it to SA just fine. Maybe.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Absolutely put the plastic case inside another shipping type cardboard box before shipping. Never send a gun out in just the pistol case. All the gun info is on that case, and even if it wasn't, anyone who handles the case would know that there was a handgun in it.

You made the right call by putting the plastic gun box in another shipping box.

WG840

 

[Goshen606]

Sorry, I guess I overlooked where you put it in a FedEx box. Good call.

 

[NFrameFred]

In my experience, very few FedWrecks employeees, United Parcel Stompers clerks, or United States Postal Simpletons know their own regs about shipping firearms. I've had them make things up on the spur of the moment or tell me I'm wrong when I quote their own regs to them.

As far as Big Brother is concerned, when shipping a firearm, if it's tied to your name you had better be the one to make sure the "I's" are dotted and the "T's" are crossed - you can't depend on them to do it and you're the one who will be dropped in the trick bag if something goes awry. The Federales have NO sense of humor when it comes to such things and to them "forgiveness" is only found between "error" and "guilt" in the dictionary.

 

[Guest]

Not up to UPS or FedEx personal to tell you how you want your package shipped. I gather she didn't give you any hassle about re-packing the case so maybe you've learned something. The USPS does have particular requirements and most of our local clerks are very up on the requirements and simply won't accept a box if it isn't packaged properly.

Might be a good lesson for others here as well. Shipping anything in a "Obvious" pistol case and not inside another outer cardboard container probably isn't the smartest thing to do.

When shipping a rifle it can be a bit of a tougher call unless you know enough to take the gun apart enough to make it look like "something" other than a rifle. The other option is to put it into an excessively larger container but this likely isn't exactly cost effective because of the current 'surcharges' for oversized packages even if they don't weigh enough to justify the fees.

I recently received a rifle and the fees certainly weren't enough to cover the cost of shipping and proper Insurance but then if the package hadn't made it to my door then the shipper would have been on the hook for the replacement - simple; at least for me.

 

[Wayne02]

Originally posted by KKG:
I gather she didn't give you any hassle about re-packing the case so maybe you've learned something.

Nope, she did not care if the blue case was put in a shipping box or not. I was fully expecting her to do so, but when she put the air bill right on the gun case I figured it was time to find a box.

 

[m657]

RE:

when she put the air bill right on the gun case I figured it was time to find a box.

...were ya just testing her?

 

[oldRoger]

Back in the day I sent a M36 back for light primer strikes, It went in the mail, in the original matching blue box, with a label stuck on it, and S&W sent it back to me the same way.
Those days are lost and gone forever as the song says.Dreadful sorry!

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Wayne02: Nope, she did not care if the blue case was put in a shipping box or not...

I don't know which FedEx Depot you visited but the one I used to use for shipping guns, before I got my FFL again, was actually pretty gun savvy. She might have suggested you put it in a box but then she might have been told to "Mind your own business!!!" a few too many times! Some folks simply can't take a constructive suggestion and many of them end up paying for their own stupid attitude which is good! What goes around comes around.

 

[raveneap]

I would never ship a gun in a factory gun case/box. Thieves can spot it in a minute. You did the proper thing packing it in a box. Also, think you'll find Springfield's customer service excellent.

 

[don95sml]

Last month I shipped my Marlin 39A back to the factory for repair. Following USPS rules, the addressee was shown only as MFC, and there was no indication anywhere on the paper-wrapped and taped package that it contained a firearm. When I took it to the local post office to ship via priority mail, the guy asked "is that a gun?" Have to admit that because of the size and weight, it was an easy guess. However, the shipment was received by the factory with no problem.