US Postal Service refuses to ship firearm parts!

[ghettoshecky]

so how would I ship ammo then? Is it considered a flammable item? If so how do you ship ammo?

[8200rpm]

You did the right thing by calling the District BSN or BME. You must also be a business customer.

I actually called the 877 national customer service number. The service rep referred me to the "Mailing Requirements Office" which was actually the USPS Santa Ana District Business Center. I have no account with USPS and explain that I was simply a residential customer to the District BSN; they were still more than willing to help.

The guy at the Newport office (Riverside Ave) just wanted to make a "big deal" out of it. He was rude, condescending, and ill-informed, improperly trained, or just plain incompetent.

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You cannot ship ammunition via US Postal Service (USPS). You must use a common carrier... United Parcel Service (UPS) or Fedex... the ammunition must be packed in boxes with at least a 200 pound bursting strength and be marked on the outside "ORM-D".

You cannot use a "UPS STORE" to ship firearms. These are individually franchised businesses similar to Mail Boxes Etc. UPS policy strictly prohibits this. You must go to a UPS distribution hub to ship firearms via UPS.

I would never attempt to violate the policy of a private business or DOT regulations. I just don't like being treated like a criminal when I try to use the post office for a perfectly legal transaction.

[Sal]

whenver im questioned when shipping any type of firearm parts/airsoft/paintball gun stuff i just say that its "sporting goods" and i usually dont get questioned any further.

other than that the post office clerk was probably just anti gun and or a moron who hadnt properly read the rulebook.

[gunluvver]

so how would I ship ammo then? Is it considered a flammable item? If so how do you ship ammo?

Ammo is prohibited in the mail. UPS or Fedex.

[ViPER395]

Ammo is prohibited in the mail. UPS or Fedex.

And it must go GROUND.

I made a UPS shippers account online, and now if I ship something I wrap it up myself and email them and they send a truck. They don't ask what it is, and I don't put "FIREARM" or "GUN PARTS" on the box. Just insure it for what you can prove it's worth.

Screw those people at the counters. They don't need to see what I ship or ask questions about it.

[RobG]

I have shipped a rifle and shotgun through them. The first time I declared it a rifle and the clerks all gathered around to check out the rules. All but one was shocked to see they allowed it. None were jerks about it though.

[loneeagle308]

I just shipped a disassembled rifle . A few days ago I had the package wrapped in shipping tape. Went there after reviewing their website. Told the girl I am shipping a firearm. She says she needs to see my badge and supervisors paperwork. I tell her I am not a cop. The girl next to her says you have to be a dealer to ship out of state to a dealer. I told her she is wrong and I want to speak to her Sup. She says the post master will be in at 10 am and she gets her other supervisor. She looks at the box and says she thinks it is ok. I tell here I got 3 opinions and none are right. The other pipe up saying their boss told them they can't ship. Turns out I had the wrong tape for registered mail so she got my # and the post master calls me. Asks me all the right questions except wants to know if it has a firing pin in it. I said of course not! So I thought I had the right tape, masking tape. Go there and see the guy I talked to on the phone after another employee was not sure about shipping it. They then correct me on the right tape but have no idea where to buy it. Eventually I got it right and went to a different USPS and sent it without a question asked and no answers given for whats in the box.

[gloxter]

Clerk: "Anything hazardous? Flammable? Blah? Blah? Blah?

Me: "No Sir"

Clerk: "Bluegrass Armory?"

Me: "Yes Sir"

Clerk: "It's pretty heavy" (given it's size)

Me: "Yeah, I have to return the bolt 'cause the extractor broke"

Clerk: "That'll be $9.50 including the insurance"

Me: "Have a nice day"

Clerk: "You too"


I love country livin' !

[Technical Ted]

What's in the package?

Machine parts (As long as it's parts)

Technically it's the truth. No need for any shipper to know that the machine that it is a part of happens to propel a projectile with chemical combustion.

[Fate]

The guy at the Newport office (Riverside Ave) just wanted to make a "big deal" out of it. He was rude, condescending, and ill-informed, improperly trained, or just plain incompetent.

Lodge a formal complaint. One of my best friends is a postal carrier and the amount of grief "management" gives someone who's had a complaint lodged against them is massive. It can even include time off without pay or in a worst case scenario, dismissal.

[ask80]

had no problemos when i shipped 2 10 rnd bushmaster mags ... i asked for a package for it. and the guy was inspecting it closely. and i just said they were "2 CA legal 10 round empty magazines" and he as like" ok.cool" this was in buena park next to knotts

[FatKatMatt]

That's strange. I've had a long gun and long gun parts shipped via USPS with no problems, the clerk that was helping me started up a conversation about how he got an Enfield 1917 from the CMP while I was there though, so that might have been a factor. Just try and go to a different station or use a different clerk.

[GammaRei]

Yeah my faith in the USPS is fading. Last week I went to the post office to mail some stuff to Japan for my wife. I went in explained to the lady (SF USPS, Chinese lady, barely speaks english) that the packages were going to Japan. She stuck the correct paperwork on the box, the second package I didn't pay attention to (my fault) and she stuck domestic airfare on it and tossed it aside. I got back to work, and realized my mistake, ran back to the post office and asked them to recall the package (theres a form for it). The lady says something to another co worker in chinese who then comes up to me and says that there is nothing that I can do and I should leave. It was a birthday gift for my mother in law, and still has not arrived in Japan.

- Gamma

[ViPER395]

The lady says something to another co worker in chinese who then comes up to me and says that there is nothing that I can do and I should leave. It was a birthday gift for my mother in law, and still has not arrived in Japan.

I'm sure they were commenting on your lovely tie, and not calling you a stupid American... ya ya off topic

[guns_and_labs]

You cannot use a "UPS STORE" to ship firearms. These are individually franchised businesses similar to Mail Boxes Etc. UPS policy strictly prohibits this. You must go to a UPS distribution hub to ship firearms via UPS.

I don't believe that's true, unless it's very recent. As of when I last checked, the UPS rules say you have to use a hub for handguns. And you must declare it to be a firearm.

The policy on long guns is determined by the franchisee. UPS Store does not ship long guns, but there are several franchisees that do, including my local Box Guy. That said, he much prefers dealing with FedEx, as UPS nevers seems to honor its insurance on damaged long guns.