Shipping firearms via USPS

[Justabirdwatcher]

Sent a rifle today, was at my local post office and they were clueless. I pulled up Section 432 from above and walked the clerk through it. He still had questions so he disappeared into the back. The line starts to get bigger, both clerks are missing and some folks start to mumble. The next person in line makes a statement that I'm shipping a firearm. Then the questions start.

You can do that?
Yes, so long as I ship to an FFL, and have signature delivery.
What's and FFL?
It a license for dealers from the federal government.
Okay.

....then it got weird from a guy in line.

What type of gun?
A rifle
What is it?
A rifle
Yeah but what kind?
Lever action
Why aren't you telling me more?
Because I don't have to
(the lady from before) It's none of your business.
Me: if it was a box of sex toys would you want to know make and model and preference of lube?
Everyone then tried to muffle their laughter.

by then the agent came back and said I needed to go to the side door to talk with a supervisor which led nowhere, so I picked up and went to a separate office where I shipped it no problem.

I was entertained until the sex toys part. Then I just burst out laughing.

 

[kodiakisland]

All shipping companies are a pain to deal with and a crapshot as to whether you ever see the gun again. The only issues I've had are the gun being lost for a period of time until I file paperwork and all of a sudden it gets found.

I have two revolvers about to be shipped back USPS from Bowen. I can't imagine the nightmare it will be getting reimbursed if they get "lost".

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

All shipping companies are a pain to deal with and a crapshot as to whether you ever see the gun again. The only issues I've had are the gun being lost for a period of time until I file paperwork and all of a sudden it gets found.

I have two revolvers about to be shipped back USPS from Bowen. I can't imagine the nightmare it will be getting reimbursed if they get "lost".

How are you shipping revolvers USPS?

 

[kodiakisland]

How are you shipping revolvers USPS?

Anyone with an FFL can mail handguns. My neighbor has his FFL and ships and receives for me.

 

[Redmt]

I have been told that UPS and FedEx will not accept a firearms shipment from an individual. Only USPS will. But perhaps that was incorrect.

The franchise stores seem to make up their own rules depending on the high school dropout that is working at the time.

 

[windridge]

The USPS employees aren't allowed to ask the exact contents, just the "liuid, flammable, ect" question.

 

[antelopedundee]

Who else here knows that it is perfectly legal to mail a long gun through USPS to a FFL? Time and time again, I run into FFL's and even USPS employees who have no idea this is legal. Just today, I tried to mail a long gun, legally, through USPS to an FFL in another state. The long-time postal employee asked (for the first time) if I was mailing a gun. I answered "yes" and you would have thought I had dynamite in that package by the way he started to step back and raise his hands. He said "we can't do that, you have to use an FFL." I told him yes you can, it's perfectly legal and if you'll allow me to open the box I will show you the paperwork I printed off from the USPS website that says exactly that. Of course, he didn't want me to even open the box, but he did at least say he would look up the policy this evening and I could come back tomorrow to talk with him.

How many of you have run into this?

432.3 Rifles and Shotguns​

1. Rifles and shotguns may be mailed by a non-FFL owner domestically to a FFL dealer, manufacturer, or importer in any state. These items must be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.

If you're a frequent shipper print and laminate the requisite info and take it with you or ask to speak to the PM or a superior. I've read on other forums/fora that theft is a problem when using the USPS. You'd best be able to prove value. If it stays in one of their black holes for over x number of days then you are required to report that to the ATF. If you print a label thru PirateShip you will be SOL in the event of a loss.

 

[antelopedundee]

UPS is also an option to ship, not a UPS Store, but the actual UPS transfer station. I've used both for out of state sales.

If you use shipmygun you can ship through UPS without needing a FFL yourself. And my local UPS store will accept firearms as it's the only game in town now. The local UPS terminal is permanently closed and they direct you to the UPS store.

 

[antelopedundee]

The franchise stores seem to make up their own rules depending on the high school dropout that is working at the time.

When you use shipmygun through UPS SMG gives you a letter to take with you and the cell number of a UPS person to call if they give you grief. SMG has a contract with UPS. Technically you can't ship a firearm via UPS without a FFL so it is important that you tell the agent at a UPS terminal or store that ShipMyGun is the shipper and not you, even tho your name is on the label as shipper. SMG sends you an email with the letter and a label for you to print out. SMG has a weight limit of 15 pounds. SMG adds a fee approx equal to what it would cost at UPS without them, but OTOH the USPS whacks you $18 for a nonstandard length package so there's that.

Just went through this shipping a rifle in a case in a box. Was over weight, but the lady at the UPS store just scanned it in and gave me a receipt. The buyer got it today.

 

[antelopedundee]

The last time I shipped thru a dealer he whacked me $35 just to take it to FEDEX.