I will never ship UPS

[white eagle]

again
I had to send out a stock set for a Encore rifle
at the counter the guy wants to know whats in the package
which I think is weird but tell him it is a rifle stock set
Rite away nope we can't ship that
it was quite apparent this clown had no idea what a stock of a
rifle was and I had to explain it to him
said I have to go to HQ to ship
needless to say I am not impressed with the people that work at UPS
or ups for that matter :oops:

[JBinMN]

Should have said , " a chunk of wood/plastic". Sometimes it is better to just make things simple for simple minds.
;)

Take it in tomorrow and hopefully ya won't have such a dolt at the counter.
;)

G'Luck!

BTW, USPS seems to be OK for me around here. They usually have more intelligent workers & a lot of them are veterans.
;)

[40-82 hiker]

I've shipped a few rifles via UPS, and never had a problem, luckily. However, I sent an '86 Winchester out for some "fix it" work once, and upon its return I was told I did not need to sign for it. Huh? So, I did not sighn. A few days later I got a very panicky phone call from some UPS guy who was VERY upset. Did I receive the rifle? It was returned to me insured for $3,500, and this guy said it looked like it was lost in their system. Well, I really wanted to string him along, but he was rather distraught so I told him immediately I had received it, but did not sign for it against my protestation of not having to do so. The next day our UPS guy showed up at the door to apologize, at which I told him it was not necessary to do so as I was not bothered at all with the situation. He then asked me to sign. :grin: Anyway, that is the only time I've seen a glitch in their system. I HAD the rifle, and that is all I cared about at that point.

However, the OP has a very valid point to his post. I'm not sure how anyone can become familiar with the entire body of knowledge needed to accept shipment on behalf of the UPS, or any shipper these days. The companies need to do a better job of training. On the other hand, if an employee is told if they knowingly accept "X" for shipment, they will be fired, I can understand ignorance getting in the way of things. A peron's job can be a fine line between eating and hunger. Our son was working at an ABC store, and was told he would be fired if he sold to anyone underage. Yep, he got stung by the state (a "sting"), so he got fired. Guilty of a misdemeanor as well. As our son stated after the fact, it was not worth the stress for that job after all was said and done, since it was his job to even monitor ids as fake or not. It was HIS job at stake. So, while there is no excuse from USP for such as the OP described, IMHO, I can understand what happened. I agree with the JBinMn: tell only the minimum. A chunk of wood in that case would have sufficed.

[guntechholsters]

Yeah, prob an antigun idiot

[Soundguy]

hmm.. never had a problem with a firearm at the ups terminal. just needed a ffl.. that's all. I do know that most UPS drop off points / kiosks won't take firearms though.

[white eagle]

he asked what was in the package I told him parts
then he asked what kind of parts so I told him
it seems as though this anti gun dimensia is taking everything over

[crowbuster]

You are correct white eagle. Please dont get me started. I have had the same encounters. They walk among us.

[CastingFool]

I had a post office guy tell me I couldn't ship 25 lbs of lead in a sfrb. Had to look it up. They don't know their regs either.

[Plate plinker]

Lack of proper training nation wide. Also we have a excess of dolts.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

It took three tries to get a bolt action shot gun to Texas VIA UPS. They kept sending it back to me. When it finally got to the intended, his UPS driver said he had never seen the box.

[Baja_Traveler]

Sent a box full of 45-70 brass to a member here a few years ago - counter person asked what was in the box - I said "A bunch of Brass tubing"....

[Kraschenbirn]

I try to avoid shipping via UPS like I'd avoid the rear end of a manure spreader. Been that way was since the RETAIL MANAGER (that was the title on his ID badge) at our local UPS hub told me I couldn't ship a barreled action back to the manufacturer (warranty issue) without an FFL, even though the manufacturer had provided a prepaid UPS label...and this was six or seven years ago, before they became totally 'gun shy'.

Bill

[Tom W.]

I sent a rifle to a gunsmith via USPS to New Hampshire. I had printed out the regs before I left the house, chapter and verse, and sure enough, the man said that I couldn't send it. I was very polite, as I had done my studying, and asked the guy to please get his reg book out and turn to page such and so. He did , and was very surprised. The rifle went off as planned, with a whole lot of insurance o it.

As for UPS, my local driver and I trade handguns all of the time...

[dave524]

Never have anything shipped to Canada from the U.S. via the brown truck, they usually want some exorbitant brokerage fees, it is an extortion racket I suspect, while if it is mailed through the postal service the mail service here drops it at your door no charge.

[MT Gianni]

The standard answer is machined parts and write on the box "Rattle OK" if it's bullets or brass.

[winelover]

Just be vague. I went to the local UPS Store, to send a high end rifle scope back to the manufacturer for warranty work. Counter person asked what I wanted to insure it for and then asked what it was. So I told her...........big mistake. We can't take rifle parts, was her reply. "You have to take it to a gun shop and have them ship it". Lesson learned. Now, if they ask, I just reply electronics.

Winelover

[Petrol & Powder]

Yeah, prob an antigun idiot

Or perhaps just a plain old Idiot :-o

When dealing with gun parts, I'll use UPS or USPS and keep the information limited.

One time I was shipping a shotgun back to the importer for repairs and the UPS vendor was located in a small hardware store. The guy said I couldn't ship a gun. I explained the law to him and was polite about it. He wasn't an idiot and we made it work. It really depends a lot on who you end up talking to. Some people can be educated and some people have to put their hand on the hot stove to learn.

When shipping firearms I've had good experience with FedEx. I go directly to the local distribution center. Never had a problem and they don't even blink an eye. Just a guess on my part but it seems that FedEx may have little better training for their counter people.

[white eagle]

I almost always use Fedex but the person who I was shipping to has an account with UPS

[D Crockett]

UPS I had a buffalo roast shipped from KY. to me here in Florida the box clearly marked perishable so the driver put it behind my lawn mower and I find it 3 days later took it to UPS and got my money back have not used UPS since and one other thing that was going to be our Christmas dinner D Crockett

[reloader28]

Whatever you do, dont use Fed ex. Those idiots hand their packages over to the post office and let them deliver it. Even if you pay extra for fast shipping, it dont matter. It gets there when it gets there and then they'll hang it on your mail box. [smilie=b:

[DocSavage]

Never had a problem with UPS and only once with FEDEX.
Had to ship a rifle back for repairs was asked why I shipping the rifle and being the wise guy I answered "Cause it's to big for a carrier pigeon" the guy behind me broke out laughing counter person was not amused.

[35isit]

I have worked at business' that ship packages UPS all the time. We have our own UPS number and they stop by and pickup here. Just like the UPS store. As long as it is not illegal or hazardous material. I box it up. Make a label and pay my boss for the shipping. The driver picks up the package and never asks what's in it. Again nothing ships that will get anyone in trouble. We all probably know someone at a business like that. Get them to send the package. They can insure it. Ship it ground, next day air or whatever. They can give you the tracking number off the label and you can follow it.

[Elkins45]

If you stop using a company because they have one idiot employee then I'm afraid you will soon run out of companies to use.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I've heard about problems with "UPS Stores".
I am lucky to have a UPS regional Hub in my small town, never had any major problems with them. Although one time, when shipping 5 bricks of 22lr ammo, I was asked how many rounds? Since I never had any problems, I was honest and said 2500 rds ...that got the clerk WIDE EYED ! and he called his manager...his manager tells him, as long as it's contained in it's original factory packaging, then NO Problem.

[Soundguy]

No hub here, but do have a terminal, and that works ok.

[salpal48]

. When ever I ship a rifle . I alway Write on the box Telescope . Even If they ask

[Hardcast416taylor]

We have a very good UPS man that places the boxes inside my garage on a bench or knocks on the house door, as he did today with my Insulin, to make sure we get the package. I`ve found out over the years that there can be both types of apples in a barrel.Robert

[Handloader109]

Mainly your issue is the UPS "stores" these are like Fedex drivers. i.e., they are Contract carriers. And can have their own 'rules' that are above or below, depending on your pov.
I have a UPS terminal closer to me than anything else, but Fedex isn't bad on gun deliveries. At least they didn't just drop one off at the back door when I wasn't at home.

[Soundguy]

I've had FedEx twice loose a firearm temporarily. One was internal, and found after I called to get a supervisor name at the terminal it was lost at to put down on the ATF form for lost/stolen firearms.

That worked when they delivered a rifle I was waiting for to some other address.

UPS, I've had no real issues with.

USPS has lost firearms money orders for a few weeks, plus a book once. Once dropped of an adult SIG rifle out by my gate at the road... I was lucky that it was still there when I got off work.

[rdwarrior]

I stopped using UPS when I went to a UPS store to ship some archery equipment. The box I used was marked with some graphic regarding firearms. I was asked what was in the box, I told him archery equipment. I was told I could not ship in that box as UPS does not condone shipping of firearms or firearm insignias on boxes. I said that is funny, I have received all kinds of firearm related equipment including ammo via UPS. And UPS was used by a gun manufacturer to ship a rifle to my local FFL. Never went back to that store for anything and refuse to use UPS due to their bias.

[Soundguy]

UPS xrop off points are basically contract holders and *** people. Not UPS employees.

[mjwcaster]

Both fedex and ups will ship firearms and ammo, but they have to go through a company hub, per company policy.
I think a driver can pick up the package also, so I just schedule a pickup if possible.

So the local UPS/fedex store (not company owned) is not supposed to accept them for shipment.
This causes many issues for the uninformed.

So don't blame the person behind the counter for following company policy.
Our only choice is to play by their rules or take a road trip and hand deliver.

And handguns are supposed to be overnighted, per company policy.
That gets expensive quick, it can be cheaper to have an FFL send it ground, even with the ffl's fee.
Another reason to hook up with a friendly ffl.

It is a pain. Both ups and FedEx hubs are only 15 miles from my house, but have horrible hours, so dropping things off with them is a pain.

Now if the corporate location doesn't know their own rules, that is a different story.
And I have heard of that happening.

Sent from my Z958 using Tapatalk

[white eagle]

not blaming anyone for company policy
everyone needs to make money and have a job
even if you have to kiss a little a to keep it
its the dumb bunnies they hire who in gods green earth
does not know what a rifle stock is

[mjwcaster]

I agree with you white eagle. And the dummies are every where.

I find the best policy is to say as little to them as possible. Basically try not to confuse them.

Stock- furniture
Brass cases- metal samples/parts.
Legal to ship firearm parts/reloading tools- tools
Scopes- optics/telescopes.

I don't lie, but just tell them something that won't attract attention, but is still relevant for shipping insurance purposes.

I don't like arguing much any more and find I get more frustration than satisfaction in educating fools, since they won't learn any way.

Life is too short.


Sent from my Z958 using Tapatalk

[dkf]

UPS stores are franchises, service can vary greatly with them. If I have to ship something UPS I make the label and pay with my account on the UPS site and drop it off at a UPS store or other UPS drop off.

[Rick N Bama]

Stock- furniture

Stock also could be described as a "Wood Carving".

[umwminer]

If you tried to ship at a commercial non UPS owned Office Depot type of service , they all have a idiotic policy to not accept any type of gun parts for UPS shipment . Must use a actual UPS owned shipping point ,at least that is how it was recently explained to me .

I was very sorry to see that because in my experience , living in extremely rural parts of Montana & Alaska I have had UPS drivers literally chain up to deliver a parclel to me on snowpacked ,drifted , icy roads .
On the other hand , on many occasions I have had FedEx phone me and inquire about the next time I would travel to town so as I could go to their FedEx HQ to pick up a parcel that was PAID TO BE DELIVERED TO MY DOOR . The caller would inform me , after I demanded that the parcel be delivered to my door AS PAID , that they “couldn’t make any money delivering to rural addresses “.
I have had FedEx leave firearms , some of which have had a barrel or some other part sticking out of the package LAYING ON THE HWY , underneath my mailbox , a long way from my residence without even the courtesy of a phone call .

In my part of the world , the very best , most secure way to ship firearms is by USPS .
If you know that you will not be home or available to sign for a parcel , a simple phone call to have them hold your mail for you .

Next best is UPS & they ain’t too lazy to get out of the van to open and close gates , run thru mud , suffocating dust or drifted snow to get to you .
FedEx is just plain sorry .

[jonp]

he asked what was in the package I told him parts
then he asked what kind of parts so I told him
it seems as though this anti gun dimensia is taking everything over

I got a small package from China a little bit ago, a cheap $3 watch, and the lady behind the counter turned it over and over and said "China, I wonder whats in here".
"Somethings that none of your g.d. business" says I and took the package out of her hands. People are strange sometimes.

[hiram]

There were times the package I shipped needed a customs form. I would list either 'machine parts' or 'hobby supplies' depending on size and weight.

[DCM]

I had the same issue with at a UPS Store once.
I promptly went to the post office across the street and shipped it without any issues.
The stores have different policies than the hubs, but this employee is clueless. It is just a "wood carving" not a firearm.
You can ship loaded ammo if properly labeled from a UPS hub but not one of the "stores". Fed-up here won't let me do that at all.
On the rare occasion I ship a firearm I ship it as machine parts with double the MSRP value insurance.