Shipping Airguns

[JonnyReb]

  Just a quick story and then a notation.  I went to ship a couple AG's at my local UPS store and as soon as i made it to the counter, the lady ask me.. "WHAT ARE THOSE?" pointing to my two suspiciously shaped packages. Seems like everyone in line and behind the counter went silent, they did actually, until i said"PELLET GUNS".  Her eyes narrowed and she said "YOU CANT SHIP GUNS HERE!!" ,i waited for her to order me out but she just stared at me. I went on to explain that airguns were not firearms and were not legally classified as such. I went on to explain that her company policy allowed shipping airguns, as did Fedex, and that she should call headquarters to verify. She did as i ask, and i was relieved when she quickly but softly announced that i was correct and she was sorry. She said she had learned something and appreciated it. All turned out as it should, but i wanted to remind anyone who ships that USPS, does not allow AG's to be shipped and it's actually considered a crime. Sticking with fedex and ups is the only way to ship in the U'S that i'm aware of. Thanks,  J

[Rico14]

Thanks for the heads up, jonny. Whenever I ship an AG, I use FedEx. FedEx has a fragile classification, while UPS does not. I have FedEx put FRAGILE stickers on the box and I know it will be handled accordingly.

[Jay]

 I alway's look them straight in the eye's an say "Sporting Good's". Never been asked more than that?

[woogie_man]

Alot of places will do that.

Just have them boxed up and ready to go when you get there.  And if they ask ... just say fragile goods.  That is all they need to know.

I had the same thing happen to me when I walked in to UPS and tried to have them box up one of my expensive airsoft rifles.  The gal behind the counter jumped about 10 feet away. And everyone in the store freaked out.  Had to explain what it was, and after talking to the HQ they were still leary in shipping the package.  But figured if going to send out a $1K rifle.... darn thing going to be packed right.

[North Pack]

Never had a problem with UPS here, - but "almost" with FedEx. Thankfully a second employee over hearing the conversation stepped in and straightened things out.

[mr007s]

When I sent my Whisper to shadow the lady ask me several times what I had packaged. I told her the wife said it was household goods and I hadn't ask her exactly what it was. I was just delivering it to UPS.

[dk1677]

I remember we had this question before and somebody said that they said paper hole puncher

[454 Big Block Chevy]

i don't know about shipping guns... i always mail baseball bats...

[JonnyReb]

lol pretty good guys..   my problem is i can't lie.. at least not without looking at the floor and mumbling.. so i got the deer in the headlights look and if i hadnt said something at least slightly suspicious she wouldn't have believed me.  Then she would have opened the boxes soon as i left in case i was some sort of southern redneck looking middleeastern terrorist. She'd have seen GUNS!! and the cops would probably beat me to my house. At least thats what went through my mind right before i said ...um..bb guns

  I'm just glad to feel good about sending them off as i'm doing nothing wrong. The scarest i ever got(receiving) was the note in the mailbox telling me that my new 909 .45 cal Sam Yang was sitting at the post office waiting for me to pick it up. I almost had to wear a diaper in there. I knew i was going to prison      J

[ShadowShot]

Go with sporting goods. that's what I always use with success.

[Bentong]

I use  AIR TOOL for punching holes when asked.

[JonnyReb]

 I should start staring in the mirror and convincingly training myself to say " Those are my deceased uncles prosthetic legs"    
 Bet they wouldn't delve much deeper into that one...

[MichaelM]

I use  AIR TOOL for punching holes when asked.

Amen thats the one  I use all the time when asked

[Nathan]

I've always used UPS. I have received  rifles that a either a private seller or airgun business shipped to me via FedEx, but I have never tried to send any by FedEx. One time when shipping a rifle @ UPS, when I told the young man it was a pellet rifle, he went back around the corner and spoke with some. He then came back and proceeded with out missing a beat. One time when the lady at UPS looked kinda funny when I said "pellet rifle", I explained to her that it was going in for repairs, well sorta, it was getting tuned. I always tell them what's in the box (not air tools etc) because (I don't know if it would matter) what if you package is damaged (and the gun inside too) or lost and you go to make a claim. Again, I don't know.

Nathan

[a1Bogey]

The UPS store that I use always give the "third degree" to anything they think should not be shipped.   I have used " farm equipment", telescopes and fishing rods as answers to thier query.


Bogey

[daved]

  Just a quick story and then a notation.  I went to ship a couple AG's at my local UPS store and as soon as i made it to the counter, the lady ask me.. "WHAT ARE THOSE?" pointing to my two suspiciously shaped packages. Seems like everyone in line and behind the counter went silent, they did actually, until i said"PELLET GUNS".  Her eyes narrowed and she said "YOU CANT SHIP GUNS HERE!!" ,i waited for her to order me out but she just stared at me. I went on to explain that airguns were not firearms and were not legally classified as such. I went on to explain that her company policy allowed shipping airguns, as did Fedex, and that she should call headquarters to verify. She did as i ask, and i was relieved when she quickly but softly announced that i was correct and she was sorry. She said she had learned something and appreciated it. All turned out as it should, but i wanted to remind anyone who ships that USPS, does not allow AG's to be shipped and it's actually considered a crime. Sticking with fedex and ups is the only way to ship in the U'S that i'm aware of. Thanks,  J

Not to be a pill, but you're wrong, Johnny.  You CAN mail airguns, I do it all the time.  And it's usually a heck of a lot cheaper than UPS or FedEx.  What you CAN'T do is ship a gas gun, PCP, CO2, or HPA, with pressure in the gun, no exceptions.  Technically, that's a no-no even shipping UPS/FedEx, unless you inform them in advance, and then it has to go ground only, and you get to pay a HazMat fee. 

The PO only asks if it's liquid, flammable, or otherwise hazardous, I tell them only if you use it as a club.  I live in a small town and know everyone working at the PO, they know what I'm mailing, it's no problem.  I guess if I was in the city and got asked, I'd say sporting goods, simpler that way, and no one freaks at the word "gun".

Shipping is getting ridiculous, I was shipping an Air Force barrel back to a friend recently.  3 lb. package, UPS wanted $26 ground, $48 for 3 day Select!  USPS Priority Mail was $10 and change.  Granted, their tracking system is useless, and having to deal with a claim if something gets lost or damaged can be a real PITA.  Not that UPS/FedEx are a treat to deal with, and in truth, how often does stuff REALLY get lost in the mail?  I've had a couple of scares using Parcel Post, so I pay the extra for Priority, and I pay for insurance, since I'm the one taking the hit if it does get lost or damaged.  Another lesson learned the hard way :-).

Sorry this got so long winded, but I see that "can't mail airguns" all the time, so I feel compelled to correct that bit of misinformation.  Later.

Dave