chaosshooter00 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I looked in other threads, but couldn't find anything close to this, so here we go. I have been involved in shooting since before I could go to school and when I entered adulthood I started trading guns and ammo wherever I could. Then the internet came and now I can trade and sell stuff anywhere I want. I have spent thousands of dollars shipping guns all over the United States at 30.00-50.00 here and there through local dealers. This year I get my FFL thinking how nice it would be to be self sustained and deal when and where I want. So I make a sale and go to both of the big shippers and they want to charge me 100.00+ plus to ship a handgun, needless to say I shipped it through a local dealer for 30.00. Can anyone explain to me why it's cheaper to send a gun through my local dealer than it is for me to ship it with an FFL? Am I missing the secret handshake or something? I keep ranting and deleting trying to figure out the best way to word this, so give me a hand and clue me in. Any help is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.roberts Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 If you've got an FFL, you should be able to send it through the USPS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul-the new guy Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I am pretty sure you can't ship a handgun through USPS at all, Long guns are ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 If you've got an FFL, you should be able to send it through the USPS. Yeah, I thought that also, but my local USPS says otherwise. Their on line rules aren't real clear on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.roberts Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Here is USPS's Domestic Mail Manual. http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#1198527 Take a look at 12.1.2 through 12.1.6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Here is USPS's Domestic Mail Manual. http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#1198527 Take a look at 12.1.2 through 12.1.6 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avezorak Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 If you have an FFL you can absolutely ship a handgun or long gun through USPS. Without an FFL you can ship a handgun 2 day or quicker through UPS or FedEx, but usually not through their retail storefronts. Best way there is to drop it at the hub or hand to a driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Some FFL's have an account and get discounts with UPS/FEDex, and some ship ground or two-day, which doesnt appear to be allowed per UPS regs, but maybe they have a special handshake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I looked in other threads, but couldn't find anything close to this, so here we go. I have been involved in shooting since before I could go to school and when I entered adulthood I started trading guns and ammo wherever I could. Then the internet came and now I can trade and sell stuff anywhere I want. I have spent thousands of dollars shipping guns all over the United States at 30.00-50.00 here and there through local dealers. This year I get my FFL thinking how nice it would be to be self sustained and deal when and where I want. So I make a sale and go to both of the big shippers and they want to charge me 100.00+ plus to ship a handgun, needless to say I shipped it through a local dealer for 30.00. Can anyone explain to me why it's cheaper to send a gun through my local dealer than it is for me to ship it with an FFL? Am I missing the secret handshake or something? I keep ranting and deleting trying to figure out the best way to word this, so give me a hand and clue me in. Any help is appreciated. Anybody with an FFL can legally ship using US postal service. Very cheap, extremely unreliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Some FFL's have an account and get discounts with UPS/FEDex, and some ship ground or two-day, which doesnt appear to be allowed per UPS regs, but maybe they have a special handshake.Problem is: since FedEx and UPS company rules expressly forbid shipping a handgun any way other than the very expensive options (they told me I would have to overnight it), you risk losing everything if one of them "handshakes" a deal for you to ship it ground. If the gun is lost or stolen, you can not collect on the value of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 If you've got an FFL, you should be able to send it through the USPS. Handguns can be legally shipped via USPSA, but there must be an FFL on both ends of the transaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Some FFL's have an account and get discounts with UPS/FEDex, and some ship ground or two-day, which doesnt appear to be allowed per UPS regs, but maybe they have a special handshake.Problem is: since FedEx and UPS company rules expressly forbid shipping a handgun any way other than the very expensive options (they told me I would have to overnight it), you risk losing everything if one of them "handshakes" a deal for you to ship it ground. If the gun is lost or stolen, you can not collect on the value of it. I have shipped handguns through three different gun shops locally for the last twenty years and the most expensive was 50.00. I can't get a quote for less than 100.00 from the big two shippers. I wouldn't think that every local gun shop would ship guns illegally but, you never know. I have been to gun shops where they charge you paperwork fees and shipping fees, but not locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I don't get the $100 thing. I don't have an FFL and I take my gun to UPS and it's around $60 to two day air a pistol. I had a dealer mail a pistol for me once postal service. He mailed it for me for $20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toothandnail Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) It's a SECRET way we FFL's make money Charge customers $20.00 to ship Pay UPS $100.00 OH MAN! I've done gave away the secret Edited January 22, 2014 by toothandnail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 It's a SECRET way we FFL's make money Charge customers $20.00 to ship Pay UPS $100.00 OH MAN! I've done gave away the secret Keep that up and you're out of the secret handshake club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 I don't get the $100 thing. I don't have an FFL and I take my gun to UPS and it's around $60 to two day air a pistol. I had a dealer mail a pistol for me once postal service. He mailed it for me for $20. That kills me, I went to the post office after I read their rules and thought they were going to call the National Guard to get me out of there. Seriously, security and the whole nine yards. Just out of curiosity, do you tell them it's a pistol? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperman Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I don't get the $100 thing. I don't have an FFL and I take my gun to UPS and it's around $60 to two day air a pistol. If you are following the UPS requirements, two day isn't an option. I'm sure it happens all of the time, but I would hate to file a claim if it weren't shipped next day. Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921, will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air Services Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I don't get the $100 thing. I don't have an FFL and I take my gun to UPS and it's around $60 to two day air a pistol. If you are following the UPS requirements, two day isn't an option. I'm sure it happens all of the time, but I would hate to file a claim if it weren't shipped next day. Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921, will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air Services i guess it's next day then. I just give it to the clerk and they ring it up accordingly. Still not $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullauto_Shooter Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Two words - "machined parts". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Some FFL's have an account and get discounts with UPS/FEDex, and some ship ground or two-day, which doesnt appear to be allowed per UPS regs, but maybe they have a special handshake.Problem is: since FedEx and UPS company rules expressly forbid shipping a handgun any way other than the very expensive options (they told me I would have to overnight it), you risk losing everything if one of them "handshakes" a deal for you to ship it ground. If the gun is lost or stolen, you can not collect on the value of it.I have shipped handguns through three different gun shops locally for the last twenty years and the most expensive was 50.00. I can't get a quote for less than 100.00 from the big two shippers. I wouldn't think that every local gun shop would ship guns illegally but, you never know. I have been to gun shops where they charge you paperwork fees and shipping fees, but not locally.The gun shops are using USPS. I use them too because even though they charge a handling fee, it's still cheaper than either UPS or FedEx who require overnight service be used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Two words - "machined parts".Next two words: CLAIM DENIED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) Some FFL's have an account and get discounts with UPS/FEDex, and some ship ground or two-day, which doesnt appear to be allowed per UPS regs, but maybe they have a special handshake.Problem is: since FedEx and UPS company rules expressly forbid shipping a handgun any way other than the very expensive options (they told me I would have to overnight it), you risk losing everything if one of them "handshakes" a deal for you to ship it ground. If the gun is lost or stolen, you can not collect on the value of it.I have shipped handguns through three different gun shops locally for the last twenty years and the most expensive was 50.00. I can't get a quote for less than 100.00 from the big two shippers. I wouldn't think that every local gun shop would ship guns illegally but, you never know. I have been to gun shops where they charge you paperwork fees and shipping fees, but not locally.The gun shops are using USPS. I use them too because even though they charge a handling fee, it's still cheaper than either UPS or FedEx who require overnight service be used. You actually use the Post Office? I haven't had any luck with my local. Do you take it to them or have it picked up, they had a nut when I started asking about how to ship a handgun. The gun shop definitely use UPS. Odd... Edited January 22, 2014 by chaosshooter00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 We spend enough with our shipper to get pretty good account deals, but if you aren't doing a large enough volume to get a shipper to bid on your business, you will not be able to get good shipping rates outside of USPS. I will not use USPS for guns. Our account rep calls the big boys (ie. Springfield, S&W, Glock, ect) shipping rates "golf course" rates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaosshooter00 Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 We spend enough with our shipper to get pretty good account deals, but if you aren't doing a large enough volume to get a shipper to bid on your business, you will not be able to get good shipping rates outside of USPS. I will not use USPS for guns. Our account rep calls the big boys (ie. Springfield, S&W, Glock, ect) shipping rates "golf course" rates. I was actually on the phone with UPS when I read this and was wishing he could see it. The new pricing is between 65.00 and 80.00 and it has to go overnight...PERIOD. According to UPS associate, there is no way anyone is sending handguns out UPS ground. What say ye? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retarmyaviator Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 We spend enough with our shipper to get pretty good account deals, but if you aren't doing a large enough volume to get a shipper to bid on your business, you will not be able to get good shipping rates outside of USPS. I will not use USPS for guns. Our account rep calls the big boys (ie. Springfield, S&W, Glock, ect) shipping rates "golf course" rates. I was actually on the phone with UPS when I read this and was wishing he could see it. The new pricing is between 65.00 and 80.00 and it has to go overnight...PERIOD. According to UPS associate, there is no way anyone is sending handguns out UPS ground. What say ye? UPS instituted this rule in 1999 because they could not control their employee thefts of firearms principally out of their Alexandria, VA facilities which at the time serviced InterArms. As a dealer we usually ship handguns registered US Mail and have yet to have had a problem doing so. Even when it comes to machine guns we ship registered priority mail which is also the method most often used in diamond shipments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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