Wanted to have some work done on my Beretta, so I called Cole Inc. After talking with them decided to ship it UPS. I get to the UPS facility today and they tell me to prove I have a FFL. I said I don't need one. I am sending my gun in for repair. She says she can't ship unless I have a FFL. She grabs some papers and wants to show me the rules. I grab my box and said I'll go to Fedex.

Thirty minutes later, I have my receipt with tracking number from Fedex and am told it will be delivered on Monday. Anyone know why Fedex will ship, but not UPS?

The various employees are not trained and are not able to interpret the regulations alone.
I had to go over the ammo shipping regulations with the local UPS guy before he would ship it.

The next time I went to a little UPS branch. I knew the woman working that counter from shipping other packages. She said nothing when I dropped off the box with the ORMD labels on it.

I heard a UPS guy tell a lady this exact same thing a few weeks ago. Woman was sending her gun back to Colt.

UPS will ship, but they need a copy of the FFL from the recipient, or so said this guy.

Simple answer: UPS seems to have the biggest concentration of morons for employees than any other employer in the U.S.

As from the US Post Office.

Short answer is they don't know what they are talking about.

Years ago I tried to ship and air pistol back to the factory for replacement under warranty. Now UPS delivered it to me the first time. But when I went back to ship is back they gave me the same BS. So I ask them to see a manager and the RULE BOOK. Now I was sixteen at the time and they did not like being corrected by a sixteen year old kid. But I'm sorry I new the rules and the law at the time. After a little reading holding up a very long line the manager took a deep breath and realized he was not only wrong but he learned something too. He though the same thing, FFL had to be shown to ship. not in this case. and Not in a lot of cases.

quote:

Originally posted by congomike:
Simple answer: UPS seems to have the biggest concentration of morons for employees than any other employer in the U.S.

Initially this appeared to be true, then I thought back to my phone conversation with an ATF guy this morning. UPS has second place nailed down but the US Government is head and shoulders above any other employers when it comes to "concentration of morons". Depressing.

Keep in mind that as an individual shipping a firearm should anything happen to your firearm you are SOL. Read there tarrif regulations, it only applies to FFL's shipping firearms.

Just... so ya know.

For UPS I strongly recommend a pickup. They do not ask what is in the box.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
I heard a UPS guy tell a lady this exact same thing a few weeks ago. Woman was sending her gun back to Colt.

UPS will ship, but they need a copy of the FFL from the recipient, or so said this guy.

Easy now......I've worked for UPS since Jan 1985...as a pkg car driver...I'm just about ready to give them back the keys to the brown truck too...as far as the customer counter people..some need much more training about shipping guns for sure...if you are returning your own weapon to the factory for repairs....you need NO FFL to ship the weapon...if it is a handgun...it is required to ship 2nd day air...it will be returned 2nd day air with 'Signature Required'...long guns can go ground which is the cheapest/slowest....I myself just shipped a long gun to a dealer in CO...I have his current FFL copy in my possesion...no problem....handguns I do believe need to go FFL to FFL....unless to the factory service center...hope this helps...sorry for the some of the BS you have to deal with just to ship a weapon on Brown......

quote:

Originally posted by armed_in_utah:

Easy now......I've worked for UPS since Jan 1985...

if it is a handgun...it is required to ship 2nd day air...

handguns I do believe need to go FFL to FFL....

Just like any firearm, a handgun may be shipped directly to an FFL from a private individual, but because it's a handgun, they have to go Next Day Air. They can go 2nd Day Air if shipped between FFL's.

quote:

.if you are returning your own weapon to the factory for repairs....you need NO FFL to ship the weapon

This is what I thought as well and told the lady as much with qualifications of course. The UPS guy was friendly, but wouldn't do anything unless he had Colt's FFL.

I was just shipping ammo and he accomplished that expeditiously.

armed in utah...thanks for your answer, but I have shipped two handguns in for repair. One went to S&W and the other one to Ruger. I had to fight with the counter girl both times in sending them (went in armed with their own regulations), but upon return, both were left in the bushes next to my front door, both with the "signature required" card still attached. I guess my driver was in a hurry that day. I know this may not be typical, but I really don't want to be the exception.

We have a big anti-gun office here in Columbus, Ohio. After my second run in with management there attempting to ship a long gun to a manufacturer, I no longer ship UPS and I no longer accept shipment via UPS. If more of us would vote with our wallet, perhaps the management would remove heads from where the sun don't shine and get back to servicing the customer.

Yes...customer counter employees need to be better educated on the gun shipping laws...maybe if management knew the revenue being lost they would pull their heads out and correct the issues...maybe I'll put a bug in the ear of the SLC brass....

You guys seem to forget that UPS and Fed Ex are private companies and they can make any rule they want that is more restrictive than law.

If UPS wants to say that firearms can only be shipped on Mondays they can do that.

The "UPS" and "UPS Store" are two different entities. COmpany policy for the "store" is NO GUNS, not even from a FFL dearler. I ship by calling UPS for a pickup, never had a problem.

quote:

he "UPS" and "UPS Store" are two different entities. COmpany policy for the "store" is NO GUNS, not even from a FFL dearler. I ship by calling UPS for a pickup, never had a problem.

Correct...no ammo either..

UPS firearms shipment regs are on their website, print em out and educate the counter people, be aware the USP stores and third party vendors can't accept firearms.

http://www.ups.com/content/us/...elines/firearms.html

Shipping Firearms


Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms
Use These UPS Services for Your Firearm Shipment
UPS accepts packages containing firearms (as defined by Title 18, Chapter 44, and Title 26, Chapter 53 of the United States Code) for transportation from and between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors (as defined in Title 18, Chapter 44 of the United States Code), law enforcement agencies of the United States (or of any department or agency of the United States), law enforcement agencies of any state or department agency (or political subdivision of any state), from and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law, and when such shipment complies with all federal, state and local laws applicable to the shipper, recipient, and package.
Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921,will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air Services, specifically, UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, and UPS Next Day Air Saver®. (Note: UPS Express CriticalSM Service is not available for firearms).
UPS accepts firearm parts for shipment, provided the part is not a "firearm" as defined under federal law; the contents of the package cannot be assembled to form a firearm; and the package otherwise complies with federal, state, and local law. (Note: Receivers or frames of a firearm, firearm mufflers and silencers are considered "firearms" and are accepted for transportation only if shipped in accordance with UPS's requirements for shipping firearms.)
UPS does not accept automatic weapons, including machine guns, for shipment.
Firearms (including handguns) and firearm parts are not accepted for shipment internationally.
UPS ReturnsSM Services are not available for packages containing firearms.




Follow These Packing Requirements
Packages containing handguns must be separated from other packages tendered to UPS for delivery.
All firearms are to be shipped in new corrugated packaging which meets the UPS Single Wall Box Strength Guidelines. Medium and large UPS boxes may be used for smaller shipments being shipped via UPS Express service.
All firearms are to be packaged in accordance with UPS Packaging Guideline Specifications.
Ammunition must be shipped separately from packages that contain firearms (including handguns).
Ammunition will be transported only when packaged and labeled in compliance with 49 C.F.R. § 172 regarding hazardous materials shipments, and must be shipped in accordance with the UPS Guide for Shipping Ground and Air Hazardous Materials.




About Documentation and Labeling
The shipper must use Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required service for each package containing a firearm, including a handgun, and affix a UPS label requesting an adult signature upon delivery.
The labeling and outer box markings on all firearms shipments should not identify the contents as containing a firearm. Labeling, including the shipper's and consignee's abbreviated names on the shipping label or air shipping document, must be non-descriptive.




Getting Your Firearm Shipment to UPS
Firearms (including handguns) may be shipped only through a UPS Scheduled Pickup Account (specifically, Daily Pickup, Daily On-Route Pickup, UPS Smart Pickup®, and Day-Specific Pickup), or through a UPS Customer Center (counters at UPS operational facilities). Note: Firearms (including handguns) are not accepted for shipment via, UPS Drop Boxes, UPS On-Call PickupSM, or at locations of The UPS Store® or any third party retailer.
When you are shipping a package that contains a handgun, you must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk.
See the terms and conditions in the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service for information regarding firearm shipments.