Best carrier to ship firearms

[antelopedundee]

BE VERY CAREFUL shipping with USPS right now, as they appear to be having a lot more problems during the COVID crisis. I purchased a gun from a gold member here, and the USPS completely lost it for about two months, told us it was just gone, and then it showed up out of the blue about 2 months after it was shipped. It was a super stressful experience, and the tracking simply sucked. IF you ship USPS, make sure you purchase the insurance for the full amount, otherwise the "tracking" you thought you paid for is absolutely worthless. They will tell you it went to facility X along the way a month ago, but they have no idea what happened to your missing gun after that. UPS and FedEx at least have decent tracking.

And be ready to justify the value of what you're sending in case you have to file a claim.

 

[dsinfour]

I use ups for all shipping, The post office is so slow I think they still use horses or they think they are working if they are breathing and Fedex is against unions and work for sup lower wages. You know how it goes they all have their plus and minus... Later

 

[BenPerfected]

If you have access to a FedEx Store, they offer shipping by FedEx, UPS & USPS. You will have your choice and you will be able to pick the carrier that gives you the best value.
Ben

 

[ronsatspokane]

BE VERY CAREFUL shipping with USPS right now, as they appear to be having a lot more problems during the COVID crisis. I purchased a gun from a gold member here, and the USPS completely lost it for about two months, told us it was just gone, and then it showed up out of the blue about 2 months after it was shipped. It was a super stressful experience, and the tracking simply sucked. IF you ship USPS, make sure you purchase the insurance for the full amount, otherwise the "tracking" you thought you paid for is absolutely worthless. They will tell you it went to facility X along the way a month ago, but they have no idea what happened to your missing gun after that. UPS and FedEx at least have decent tracking.

You would think that UPS has good tracking. A friend purchased a CZ Shadow II off gun broker. Seller shipped via UPS, UPS tried to deliver it the day the FFL was closed. Gun went back to the UPS center for re-delivery. At that point the gun disappeared. A month later the gun was still not found. The seller eventually refunded the money but then he was stuck getting it back from UPS. Not sure if the gun was ever found or if the seller got his money back.

Shortly before that I bought a nice 6BRA off of this site. It came with two spare barrels with low round counts. The rifle was inside one of those hard plastic cases clamped very well by the foam and that was inside a cardboard box. The barrels were in the standard barrel shipping tubes taped together and well taped at the ends. Gun went to my FFL, barrels came to me. UPS driver delivered the barrels and said, be careful, one end is open. Sure enough it was. I looked at it, threads dinged enough to need repair. Went to open the other tube and it was empty. They finally found the barrel under a conveyor belt at the local UPS facility. The gun was opened at the FFL. It had been dropped. The nice xring stock had the imprints of the interior of the hard case on the base of the butt and the fore stock, dented with chips out of the finish. They had to have dropped that thing from a great height. UPS investigated and even sent out an investigator to look at it. Have not heard a word in either case.

UPS is at the very bottom of my list.

But then I was at the same FFL just a couple of days ago. A guy was in to pick up two rifles, one for his son and one for him. Both shipped Fedex and both factory boxes were trashed and looked like they'd been hit hard by something. His kids gun had the barrel hanging out of the box with scratches. I didn't stick around to see them open the other box. It looked worse than the box his kids gun was in.

The volume of damage I've heard about, personally seen and personally experienced lately makes me wonder if there is not a deeper problem than just companies that no longer give a shit about their business.

 

[Catfur]

Usps for long guns

I wouldn't trust USPS to land on the ground when they trip.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thats ok. I have good luck with em. Percentage-wise i bet theyre the best available

 

[sandwarrior]

So a 10 pound rifle in a hard case inside of the box the hard case came in and insured for $2K will cost about how much?

That cost me $90 to ship clear across the country. They are shipping it back the same way and even with a business acount it's almost that much. FedEx and UPS were more.

 

[Siko12]

They all got their issues but i use UPS, i love their costumer care. We never know how serious they care their customers till something goes wrong and they move fast to correct what ever issues they is.

 

[pirate ammo]

I use UPS,got an account and my drivers cell number so I don't have to pay a pick up charge.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I shipped my last one from my ffl in North Florida to a place in Texas. Insured for $1100.00, ffl packaged it, UPS delivered. Total cost $100.00. Buyer paid shipping and insurance. It arrived in a short time, perfect condition. I have shipped thru USPS often with no issues also.

 

[Deleted outa08]

I don`t trust any shipper right now. Have had deliveries or attempts from all mentioned and stories for each. All since April or May. Now Amazon waiting for prime order I placed on Friday. I don`t know what`s up,but they all suck recently. I`m done, if I can`t ftf I won`t buy or sell. Jeff

 

[Joe Maisto]

Thats ok. I have good luck with em. Percentage-wise i bet theyre the best available

I agree as well. I 've shipped my products to Europe and have not had a problem.

 

[sundance]

only place for UPS shipping i can use in my town is the UPS Store.. their shipping rates are twice what the UPS rates are as you figure it on the UPS site..

The ups stores in town here won't touch a firearm. You have to go to the main ups shipping warehouse to ship a gun and they are open 3 hours a day. I don't think I have shipped 10 firearms in my life and have been very lucky with the carriers I have used -no damage. Once I used Fed Ex and the gal at the counter said they don't ship guns ! I asked for the supervisor and he looked up the address on the rifle case I was shipping to and he said to ship it. Last time I went there.

 

[Kurz]

I don`t trust any shipper right now. Have had deliveries or attempts from all mentioned and stories for each. All since April or May. Now Amazon waiting for prime order I placed on Friday. I don`t know what`s up,but they all suck recently. I`m done, if I can`t ftf I won`t buy or sell. Jeff

That's an easy answer.

Covid-19 is what's up and so is the volume of packages being shipped by virtually every supplier of all goods worldwide. Look at the notices being posted at the top of all suppliers websites stating that all shipping is delayed, some by as much as 20-30 days. Our systems are overwhelmed by the shear numbers of packages.

The numbers available from UPS and FEDEX are mostly from 2019:

UPS daily package volume = 21.9 million (worldwide)
FEDEX daily package volume 5.99 million (US only)

I make no excuses for any delivery service. But we as shippers need to be more mindful of the proper packaging required to make sure our products get to the proper receiver safely. This is no time to be scrimping on packaging.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Look like we could use another shipping business.

 

[338 dude]

only place for UPS shipping i can use in my town is the UPS Store.. their shipping rates are twice what the UPS rates are as you figure it on the UPS site..

UPS store in my area will not touch or ship anything to do with a firearm they are privately owned individual stores I must go 2 town away to a customer service hub to ship anything firearms related

 

[ronsatspokane]

Another UPS story. I had a package that arrived in town last Thursday. Out for delivery Friday. Never arrived, delivery rescheduled. Out for delivery again today. Never arrived. Status still shows out for delivery. It's almost 9:30 pm. Pretty sure it will not be delivered. Been in town 5 days. I live 5 miles from the UPS warehouse facility. WTF???

 

[hoz53]

That's an easy answer.

Covid-19 is what's up and so is the volume of packages being shipped by virtually every supplier of all goods worldwide. Look at the notices being posted at the top of all suppliers websites stating that all shipping is delayed, some by as much as 20-30 days. Our systems are overwhelmed by the shear numbers of packages.

The numbers available from UPS and FEDEX are mostly from 2019:

UPS daily package volume = 21.9 million (worldwide)
FEDEX daily package volume 5.99 million (US only)

I make no excuses for any delivery service. But we as shippers need to be more mindful of the proper packaging required to make sure our products get to the proper receiver safely. This is no time to be scrimping on packaging.

Looking at those pics it’s amazing anything gets anywhere. Overall I have had good luck with all the shippers. Have not had to file one claim. Did have a spotter get lost for a few weeks but it got there. Just shipped a handgun back to the manufacturer for repair today via FedEx— We’ll see what happens with that. Have shipped some small things via USPS lately and they got there sooner that the estimated arrival date.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The rifle I shipped ups got to it's destination pronto.

 

[piute]

only place for UPS shipping i can use in my town is the UPS Store.. their shipping rates are twice what the UPS rates are as you figure it on the UPS site..

I like UPS, but the private stores are just independents using UPS and make their own policies. Local UPS store here will not ship firearms or even parts. The young lady working there said it was the law that they could not ship anything firearm related! Never had a problem before, I will not give them my business anymore. In today's world it seems like rolling the dice with USPS.
I like "sarcastically" how one should have to buy insurance to make sure they provide the service we paid them for???
Sorry, my 2cnt's!