Shipping a Muzzleloader UPS

[Cherokee]

I just went through a fifteen minute argument with the UPS clerk and the people on the phone he called to ask about shipping a muzzleloader!
I have done this I dont know how many times with no problems. The guy at the counter doesnt even know their policy!
Does anyone out there have something I can print to smack him in the face with?
I already shipped it with another carrier. I just want to print their own damn rules so he will know the next time I see him.
Sorry for the vent! I knew when he said I need to make a call on this first. I just knew.
I went into a whole argument about how can I order one through a catalog and receive it by UPS with no papaer work. He started saying the catalog companies ar esending them ilegally. I told him that total manure!
It came down to the girl saying is it an antique I said its muzzleloader all new ones fall in the same class as the antique no federal paper work, then he goes cant ship it. She didnt know what she was reading(girl on phone). He then says maybe its UPS's policy. I go you dont have a clue what your own policy is.

Thanks

 

[Slash]

We ship UPS and Fedex all the time. The wording to use is: pre-1895 antique reproduction muzzleloader. Gun or rifle scares them. Their rules read as written above. Some will even ask if it is fireable. Of course, it isn't (no powder or ball in box) :rotf:
Most of UPS' employees don't have a clue, but it is in the regulations. BATF only classifies them as firearms for tax purposes. IT IS NOT A GUN.
Hope this helps,
Slash

 

Why do people even bother asking about thier policies? Just ship the thing and be done with it.

I ship USPS all the time. When they as if it's dangerous, breakable, perishable, etc. I just say "no". People tend to give too much info and create problems for themselves and then complain about it. :v

 

[Bountyhunter]

Break it down into the barrel and stock and package it in a short box. Make your return address as (Jones) Machine Shop. Mark the box as Lathe Chuck. Aint none of the hired helps business as to what is in the box.

The less you tell them the better. If you tell them it is a gun, then they want you to pay premium overnight delivery, when in reality in many parts of the US, it still takes 2-3 days for them to get it there. Guaranteed Overnight doesnt exist in a lot of the rural areas.

 

[walruskid1]

you tell them its a rifle and they'll probably destroy it. ups/brown are barbarians. just my personal experience.

 

[Rebel]

That is one of the reasons i try to ship all of mine through the P.O.

 

[Slash]

The bad part about not telling what it really in the package comes if there is damage. They won't honor a claim with false information. We occasionally ship postal service, but a claim can take up to a year to be resolved. Trust me if you ship many, there is bound to be damage eventually.
We have found that Fedex is much easier to deal with on this. You can go to either site and print their regulations.
Slash

 

[Slowpoke]

I sold a barrel a few weeks ago on e-bay. I went to the post office to ship it. Handed the lady the package and she ask me what was inside. Not thinking I told her a barrel... she looked me square in the eyes and said "You mean like a pickle barrel"? :shake:

All I could do not to crack up.....

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

I have given up on UPS. I tried to ship a muzzleloader recently, and had the same problem as you did. Besides, they shaft you on shipping any type of firearm, and most clerks don't know their own rules, as you pointed out. I now use USPS exclusively, and tell them if they ask that it's an antique reproduction muzzloader. never had a problem.
It's really none of their business, though, so just tell them merchandise if they ask what's in the boxx.

 

[Cherokee]

Like said before you have a problem with insurance claim if you dont put down whats in the box. put muzzleloader. Bam all the bells and whistles went off. He made two phone calls and had his manager there.
I know all the tricks shipping parts seperate, not putting what it is. But dammit this is a commen thing. When she asked is it an antique. They wanted a yes or no answer.
I shipped it U.S. Mail and it took about 30 seconds.

 

[cj5luke]

UPS not knowing its own policies is a common problem. Your average counter worker doesn't know squat and a UPS store will not touch a gun, they're a seperate entity under their own rules. If you want the specifics I recently went through this and contacted a friend at Track of the Wolf, they send lots of guns so I figured they'd know. This is part of the letter they sent me...

Shipment of "antique" and replica antique muzzle loading guns are exempt from regulation.

Your UPS agent can instantly document this, on-line:

Ask him to visit the official ATF web site: http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/gca.htm which displays The Gun Control Act of 1968, Public Law 90-618.

Scroll down to § 921 Definitions, and notice (3):
The term "firearm" . . . Such term does not include an antique firearm.

Scroll further down to (16):

The term "antique firearm" means --

(A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; and

(B) any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (A) if such replica --

(i) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or
(ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.


If not yet satisfied that antique and replica arms are exempt from regulation, ask your UPS agent to visit[url] www.ups.com[/url], select United States, and select the link to Tariff (second from last link at the bottom of that page.

The UPS Tariff is the set of rules governing UPS transactions. Scroll to section 425 where the UPS Tariff declares "as defined in the United States Gun Control Act of 1968 . . .". Federal Law exempts antique and replica arms.

Thus, antique and replica antique arms are exempt from Federal regulations, and UPS acknowledges that the 1968 Gun Control Act governs their actions within the USA.

 

[fatboy]

My ? did you go to a UPS location ? If you went to one of the office supply store's or anyone of the other sattlite staions UPS use's you may as well forget it they wont take it and ship it Been there, Manager and I got into a heated argument and I left feeling it wasnt worth the grief and BP riseing. I was told to take it to a real UPS facility next time, but I havnt had the need yet . USPS works better most of the time and closer. Next time you could try telling them its a pkg of steel and wood machined parts that should cover it >

 

Two years ago I had a LOT of trouble to send a muzzleloader back to the seller for replacement/repair by UPS. I made so much stunk that the owner of the frenchise had to come in to solve the problem. Mind you, I'm in Southern Nevada, where no one gets a heart attack when they hear the word "gun" (only the refugees from the Peoples Republic of Kalifornica do).

Since then, ALL of the employees recognize me, are much more educated on ALL of the "dangerous" items, and I like to do business with them because the owner is very nice and admitted that he didn't know the laws.

 

[gmww]

I mailed off an H&A pistol underhammer to FW a month or two ago. My cousin by marriage works at UPS. As long as its taken apart, he didn't care. He's the fella they send to trade shows on how to pack things up and stuff.

 

[AZ-Robert]

I've shipped MLs via UPS with no problem at all. Tried doing it via a "UPS Store" and was told it was against their policy. Short version: similar name, same logo and colors, but used under license and NOT really UPS... just a store front / middleman.

Have had no trouble with the "real" UPS or the US Postal Service.

 

[bob1961]

Handed the lady the package and she ask me what was inside. Not thinking I told her a barrel...

ya should have told her it was a metal rod with a hole in it :rotf: ..............bob

 

[GKChesterton]

I ship real (under that law that is :thumbsup: ) firearms through UPS often and there's never even a bat of the eye over the fact that its a rifle. This is through the actual UPS plant though. I was told never to go to the UPS stores, and haven't yet tried.

As far as protecting yourself with shipping insurance the UPS store is also seperate as far as claims and can be much more of a hassel-as its often up to the store owner.

Luckly I have a UPS site near my house--for those who don't looks like USPS may be better choice unless your local ups store is extra friendly.

 

[faw3]

I dont know what it is with some people about shipping things, GMWW had to do ths ,others that, I won't buy from 2 place's because they have to ship it to a ffl holder, and store I use said "That's just BLANK stupid, a NRA site Im supprised ,they know better!" Im like Dale Brown at this ,if ya aint doing nothing wrong why give them (any body) a reason to know what your doing, I'd never order black powder by any means it goes right on a Govt list who ,address, ect, but I (I found out because of a missprent that got sent in to them) do use both postal and UPS and never have a problem, but was told by UPS that other states have laws that they have to follow , so maybe thats why the hassle, heck at both the PO and UPS "store" they cant wait to see what I got, and UPS over protects my stuff when packing, I do have have one Bitc... and it's how long and how oftn they lose something if it's 3 days! 3 weeks more like it, 1/3 of the time. Start out (if you must) telling them "It's one of those old Davy Crockett rifles" and they cant be more helpful. This has been how its been for me. Fred :hatsoff:

 

[musketman]

Handed the lady the package and she ask me what was inside. Not thinking I told her a barrel...

ya should have told her it was a metal rod with a hole in it :rotf: ..............bob

A barrel is "bar stock" for machine shops... :winking:

 

[musketman]

Handed the lady the package and she ask me what was inside. Not thinking I told her a barrel... she looked me square in the eyes and said "You mean like a pickle barrel"? :shake:

Slowpoke, you loading patched gherkins again... :rotf: