I am not a licensed dealer. When I ship a modern handgun by UPS or FedEx, they tell me that it must go by their most expensive overnight express, which costs roughly $90, depending on weight and size. In each case I am shipping to an FFL, and I have a copy of the recipient's license to show the shipping clerk. When that FFL ships the same gun back to me, they are allowed to ship for about $35. Is there a valid reason why UPS and Fedex charge me the highest rate? Or are they simply ripping me off because they can?
Cost of shipping a handgun
- Thread starter cjwils
- Start date
BigD_in_FL
Moderator
A licensed dealer can ship it USPS for about $12;UPS and Fedex allow certain folks to use second day at a much lower cost than next day.
Many times it is cheaper to pay a FFL to ship it for you even with paying an added charge
Many times it is cheaper to pay a FFL to ship it for you even with paying an added charge
dogtown tom
New member
Dealers don't get a price break on FedEx or UPS simply because we're dealers........it's a price break for volume of items shipped.
I'm small time, I don't get any better rates for shipping FedEx Overnight or UPS Next Day than a nonlicensee would. If i shipped 200 packages a day i miight get a discount from them but I don't even ship 200 a month.
I DO HOWEVER, get to mail handguns via USPS..........and that runs significantly less than FedEx/UPS.
Any dealer shipping a handgun via USPS for $12..........isnt paying insurance or getting Signature on Delivery.
Both require faster levels of service because they don't want handguns in their possession for any longer than they can.
FrankenMauser
New member
There ya go. ^^^^
I had to ship a Super Blackhawk back to Ruger last year. My cost for shipping would have been over $130 ($137, I think), at the cheapest.
But, two calls to local FFLs later.... the revolver was on its way to Ruger for $18, with all of the available signature/insurance services. (The FFL took $3.)
Hunter Customs
New member
The reason for the above is because they had or have dishonest employees stealing handguns, so instead taking the time of screening their employees better we get to pay higher shipping rates.
dogtown tom, is right on with his info.
I run a one man custom shop, don't ship a large volume of guns and can assure anyone reading this I get no breaks on shipping cost.
Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
BigD_in_FL
Moderator
Correct, I was just talking about the postage itself, not the added extras - but that is still under $20, compared to $80 and up
The price breaks go to the S&Ws and others who ship out a large volume on a regular basis.
It has been a while since this thread was active, but I learned something new. With Fedex, if you ship a handgun in one of their boxes (which they provide at no cost), the shipping will be less than if you ship the same gun in a non-standard box. With their box they only charge for weight, but with a non-standard box, there is an added charge based on the dimensions of the box, plus weight.
thedudeabides
New member
Go to your friendly local gun store. If you're buddies with the staff, they can ship you for the low low price of the USPS rate--they'll also probably have a deal with UPS or FedEx for a big discount. Make sure you pay for maximum insurance.
I never ship guns myself, it's too expensive for a private party without an FFL to do so.
I never ship guns myself, it's too expensive for a private party without an FFL to do so.
aarondhgraham
New member
Use your local LGS,,,
The Evil Pawn Shop Guy will ship a handgun for me,,,
But he does have to log it into his "FFL Book",,,
Because by law he has taken possession,,,
So I pay his normal transfer fee.
I shipped a handgun to a gunsmith earlier this year,,,
We agreed on the price of $35.00 round trip.
Then when the smith sent the gun back to him,,,
He had to have me fill out the 4473,,,
Even though I owned the gun,,,
It's not him, it's the law.
But still it beats the heck out of $70.00 to $90.00 from Fed-Ex or UPS.
Aarond
.
The Evil Pawn Shop Guy will ship a handgun for me,,,
But he does have to log it into his "FFL Book",,,
Because by law he has taken possession,,,
So I pay his normal transfer fee.
I shipped a handgun to a gunsmith earlier this year,,,
We agreed on the price of $35.00 round trip.
Then when the smith sent the gun back to him,,,
He had to have me fill out the 4473,,,
Even though I owned the gun,,,
It's not him, it's the law.
But still it beats the heck out of $70.00 to $90.00 from Fed-Ex or UPS.
Aarond
.
dogtown tom
New member
No, it's not......it's him.
You left the firearm with your dealer for "gunsmithing"....whether he does the work himself or sends it to someone else...........no 4473 when you return to pick it up.
He records the aquisition from you in his bound book and notes "left for gunsmithing", then logs it out when he ships it to the factory/other gunsmith. When it returns he logs it back out to you as "No 4473 needed, gunsmithing return".
Nothing in ATF regs prohibits him from having you fill out another 4473, its just not required and completely unnecessary.
Red Dot Arms
Inactive
We lucked out. We just shipped a small derringer this morning. Insured and signature....$10.36. Okay, the gun was worth $120 from a sale.
22-rimfire
New member
Last handgun I shipped was via a local FFL dealer and the cost was $40. They shipped in a fixed rate USPS Priority Mail Box with insurance. Regardless of what is possible, I feel better having the dealer ship the firearm.