Talk about bad luck (gun stolen in transit to gunsmith) - RECOVERED!

[71firebird400]

[UPDATE IN POST 32]

Several weeks ago I stumbled across a 4-screw K-22 (pre-17) at the local shop; it was priced right and I was in a hurry so I went ahead and purchased it without really putting it through the ringer as far as inspecting it. Cosmetically it was nearly perfect, so what could go wrong....right? Well it had a serious push-off issue so it had to go to the gunsmith.

I coordinated to send it out of state (no competent revolver smiths within driving distance) and swung by the same shop I purchased the gun from to see about shipping it off. They graciously offered to ship it for free, which I was not expecting nor requesting. Off it went to the gunsmith, who reassured me he would have it turned around in about a week's time. Two weeks go by and I hadn't heard from the smith so I went ahead and contacted him; that's when it became blatantly clear that something had gone wrong- he insisted he had not received the gun. I immediately called the shop who gave me the tracking number and sure enough it showed that the gun was delivered (by USPS) on September 28. I called the gunsmith back and he informed me that he was out of the shop the morning of the 28th and when he got back there were no signs of the gun. Now this, in my opinion, is where we went wrong- the gunshop shipped the gun with no requirement for a signature. Thus, it was left at the gunsmiths front door and presumably snatched up by a less than honest passerbyer.

This really puts me in a bind as nobody is truly at fault and I am out of a nice gun. I assumed the shop would exercise the necessary caution when shipping a firearm; call me naive but I had assumed that a signature was necessary when shipping a firearm (I now know that is not true). Hindsight is 20/20 but here I am with no gun and no recourse. I also learned that the gunshop did not bother insuring the package either as USPS has a policy of anything insured for more than $200 requires a signature. I feel that they ultimately made the mistake but then again they did everything by the book.

Any stories, thoughts, or suggestions to make me feel better? I really liked that little K-22 and will have a very tough time finding one as nice. The stocks numbered to the gun and the bluing was spectacular.

 

[Gunslinger808]

Gunshop's on the hook for the price.
They didn't insure, and didn't require signature, both are big negatives for folks that really should know better.

 

[71firebird400]

Gunshop's on the hook for the price.
They didn't insure, and didn't require signature, both are big negatives for folks that really should know better.

I feel like they are partially to blame, but they offered to ship it as a favor due to them selling me a shoddy gun to begin with. No good deed goes unpunished I suppose.

Mark

 

[quneur]

There is a shop in N. Seattle. It is quite a drive but still cheaper then sending it out.

There is someone on this forum who had a similar experience. I don't remember who but the circumstances sounds suspiciously similar. How much do you trust this gunsmith?

 

[71firebird400]

There is a shop in N. Seattle. It is quite a drive but still cheaper then sending it out.

There is someone on this forum who had a similar experience. I don't remember who but the circumstances sounds suspiciously similar. How much do you trust this gunsmith?

I'd love to know who is in Seattle (I am down there regularly for work), as I've been told by everyone I talk to that there are no good smiths in the state for revolvers. The gunsmith came with a stellar reputation (could not find a bad thing about him on the internet) but the thought did cross my mind. However he welcomed calling the local police and is an ex-LEO himself so I have quite a bit of confidences in him.

 

[peyton]

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger!! My FFL sent a USFA SAA revolver back to the factory, insured and signature required. USFA fixed my revolver and sent it back, un-insured and no signature required. I did not know this but I looked up the FEDEX info and found that they had left it on his front porch!! The FFL had gone somewhere but FEDEX put that $1,500 gun on the porch and did not care. I contacted USFA and gave them heck, why would you ship such a high price gun without taking precautions!!
My FFL got home, picked up the box and then checked his phone voicemails and then he called USFA and asked what the heck they were thinking as well!! The shiping lady told him "It is going to a business so we do not worry about it" He pointed out his home was "his business" location and recommended highly that they change there shipping procedures!!

 

[Sprefix]

I agree........and a little incompetence rant

Gunshop's on the hook for the price.
They didn't insure, and didn't require signature, both are big negatives for folks that really should know better.

I don't care if they are offering to ship for free. It still is your property and they take responsibility when you turn it over to them. No wonder they offered to do it free as it didn't take any effort on their part to send your gun to John Q. Unknown. I'd have to decide if I wanted to burn the bridge with this "professional gun shop" you used and have my lawyer give them a call about a like condition K22. It doesn't sound like you have anything to lose if this is the way they do business. That would not fly in Alaska and the word would get around real fast and they would be out of business. As Gunslinger808 said, they should know better!!! Just my .02 and best of luck to you.......................

 

[71firebird400]

Thanks for the comments guys, if nothing else it helps me deal with the frustration! I swung by the shop yesterday to inquire about what it takes to report a gun stolen and it was clear they were not going to make any sort of offer to make things right. I still need to talk to the gunsmith down in AZ as well as a person at the post office (both said they will call me back today to report what they find out) and once I am 100% certain that it's not (miraculously) still riding around in a mail truck I will go back to the shop that sent it and clearly explain the situation in it's entirety. Another option I have is to dispute the charges on my credit card; at which point it would become the shops responsibility to prove I have the gun in my possession or get the credit card company to buy off on some other story.

 

[H Richard]

I received a handgun via USPS from an FFL to my C&R that the mailman just put in my mailbox. Did not get a signature from me. Luckily I was home and got my mail quickly.

 

[71firebird400]

I received a handgun via USPS from an FFL to my C&R that the mailman just put in my mailbox. Did not get a signature from me. Luckily I was home and got my mail quickly.

It is quite astounding; I can only assume the reason USPS requires an FFL on both ends (for handguns) is to control the shipment of guns to keep them in the proper hands. Why they do not require a signature is beyond me as a firearm seems like the type of object you would NEVER ship without a signature. A 10-year old at the door could receive it, it could be left in a mailbox, or left on a front porch. It's easy to monday-morning quarterback this thing but I am curious as to why the USPS has gone to the trouble of specifying how a handgun must be shipped and left this important element out.

 

[doublesharp]

What is the worst that can happen if you dispute the cc charges? That sounds like the way to go to me. You'll burn the bridge with the gun shop but I'd be done with them already for their shipping incompetence.

 

[arjay]

If your lgs owners were smart business men,they would have refunded your money already and created some goodwill out of a brainfart situation.Any of us that are self employed know that it's far cheaper to keep an existing customer than to recruit a new one.

 

[Straightshooter2]

Any of us that are self employed know that it's far cheaper to keep an existing customer than to recruit a new one.

One thing I've always heard is that a person receiving good customer service will usually tell 3-4 people. A person receiving bad customer service will usually tell at least 10 people. And it's the same whether it's a self employed one person operation or a huge corporation.

CW

 

[Old cop]

You're wasting time here, report the gun stolen ASAP! Work through the blame game later but you'd better get on top of this situation before whoever has that gun does something illegal and you're on the hook. MOVE YOUR BUTT MAN!!

 

[Charles Graff]

The law on this kind of stuff is rather convoluted, but it really doesn't matter as nobody is going to court anyway. Folks will either take responsibility or they won't.

This kind of stuff reminds me of what my Grandfather told me many years ago.."Son, if you want somethig done right, do it yourself." I have see so many screw up and dropped balls over the years, that I take that counsel seriously. If something matters, I take nobody's word they will do it the right way.

 

[2152hq]

You're wasting time here, report the gun stolen ASAP! Work through the blame game later but you'd better get on top of this situation before whoever has that gun does something illegal and you're on the hook. MOVE YOUR BUTT MAN!!

Best advise right here ^^^^^


That handgun is out there somewhere and is a stolen gun.
No one has reported it ,,yet. That's the biggest thing to deal with right now.

A firearm stolen from an FFL is supposed to be reported to the BATF within 24hrs of the discovery of the theft.

The FFL(s) involved here don't seem to be the least bit bothered by the missing handgun.
Yes there may be some legal distance between them and you if something bad should occur w/the gun, but I wouldn't bet on it.

At least contact the local PD and log the attempt to report the handgun stolen/missing. Contact the shipping FFL to do the same.
Don't leave yourself wide open.
You do not want to be responsible for that handgun being used in a crime or accidental shooting.
You must at least attempt to make L/E aware of it being out there and document every attempt to do so..

FWIW,,
Here's the problem I went through as an FFL that had one stolen off the front steps of a C&R's residence I shipped to out of state.

The package I sent was insured and was tagged w/ a 'signiture required'.
The (UPS in this case) driver didn't bother to knock on the door,,just left it there and it was snatched up.

Now I have to by law report the rifle stolen to the BATF within 24hr.
For that I need the local PD CR# (report #)
No PD would take the stolen gun report at either end. It wasn't stolen here,,it wasn't stolen from the shipping hub,,it was 'delivered' there,,around and around we go.
The BATF took mercy on me and took the info anyway. The agent said they get that a lot. No PD want's the stolen firearm report on their stats.

UPS driver entered 'left on front steps' in their on line TraX system.
This after I paid for the signiture delivery, and UPS demands it on firearms.
UPS refused to pay insurance claim said it was delivered. Took two months to get $$ finally.

 

[forresth]

I though a handgun required that someone be there to accept it per standard shipping practices. They should have never left it without someone there to accept it.

 

[71firebird400]

I'll call it into the police department down there as soon as possible; for reference the serial number of this gun is K277658.

 

[labworm]

Interesting reading everyone's response in this thread.

What I wonder is "Who's On First"

 

[4011]

My ffl guy told me along time ago. If you buy a gun online and have it shipped to his address that I must tell the shipper to mark it as a must be signed for period.