Who do you trust more?

[cowboycopus]

Shipping with UPS, FEDX, USPS or other? Not just firearms.

I have heard stories about FEDX and UPS and have had problems with both.
The only problem I have had with USPS is with firearms. Because I am not a dealer my local post office wants me to jump through hoops and get papers filed. Others I have talked to in other cities don't seem to have this problem.
But my question is trusting them to get the item to where it is addressed to.
Ups has given me long delays in deliveries. I haven't used FEDX very much.

Any input?

 

[golferboy426]

I have an FFL and ship handguns often via usps.. Unless you have an FFL you cannot ship handguns postal Long guns should require nothing from you .In fact you don't even need to tell them it is a firearm. Fun fact insured it for over 500 bucks and signature is automatic so don't pay extra for it. Print your own labels and drop the long gun package off. Priority mai is quick always. Long guns I always use UPS and hand it to my driver on the route. If it's more than 1000 value there is a form he will have to sign . one copy for you and one for them both signed. Tell the driver it is a firearm. Never had a problem with either. This time of year you will likely see weather delays

 

[Bob Wright]

I will say this, one company, ExxonMobil, has advised me to no longer mail my payments via USPS. And while they have not actually said so, AT&T has hinted that I pay online. For some reason, those two companies have had problems receiving mailed payments. I recently had some important documents to mail to my daughter in Ohio. I chose to use UPS, and they did arrive and on time.

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

"Weather delays" with the USPS! That can mean the day was too nice for delivering mail!

Bob Wright

 

[Dan in MI]

I play with recurves and longbows. USPS has the best record for least damage.

That said, their new rate schedule is pricing shipping bows and arrows through the roof. They added length surcharges.

 

[contender]

I live in a small town, and know my post office folks quite well.

I use USPS to ship 99.9% of my stuff. Handguns,, they go to a FFL for shipment.

I rarely sell any firearms,, so that's a moot point. But I do buy & sell other stuff & use USPS w/o any headaches.

 

[KS25-06]

Living in rural SW Ks. our Fed Ex service sucks big time. Has for years. I think part of the trouble is they hire contract drivers. Years ago we lived in town. After moving to the country, I bought a Browning Superposed Pigeon Grade 20 gauge on GB. 3 weeks later I called the seller and he said the tracking number showed had been delivered 10 days ago. I called the people who had bought our house and he looked on his front porch behind a bench they sat on and there it was. No note on the front door or any notice of any kind. The driver completely ignored the new address. They completely ignored our request to delivery to the back door. Even left 4 packages on the roof of the dog house, which was on the back side of my gunshop. When I confronted the driver about it , he got smart with me and took a swing at me which resulted in him getting his ass whipped. UPS in our area has always had great people on their trucks, us them almost all the time. I always request UPS for shipment to me.

 

[Dave P.]

Depends what day you ask me, we receive stuff almost daily from both UPS and FedEx. Now it's not much of an endorsement but
for the last few years we've had less damage, lost shipments and more on time delivery from FedEx.
I believe a lot of your service comes down to the "local" hub that serves your area.
For us the postal service just plain sucks. I go to great lengths to be sure nothing we order gets shipped by them. Can't think of
a single item in the last few years they delivered anywhere near the time it was supposed to be. Weekly we get other peoples
mail in our box. I've done virtually every thing I can to receive and pay both my personal and business bills electronically so
the post office can't loose or eat them.

 

[woodsy]

The comments about the USPS and their late deliveries might explain why there is a federal statute which specifies that any deadline a company might stipulate is the "last acceptable day for their receipt" is automatically extended ten days by said statute. I guess it is a way to build-in weather and personnel "adjustments".

 

[bowzette]

The questions is like "who do you trust more the Chinese, the Russians, North Korea, or Iran?" A riddle without an answer!

 

[Randyzzz]

I just (yesterday) shipped one of my Blackhawks back to Ruger for warranty work. It has a canted front sight and some burrs on the cylinder window. Anyways…customer service sent me a label for FedEx. I asked if UPS was available, as they are much closer to my place. I was informed that Ruger was notified recently by UPS that they would no longer ship firearms. Period. I have shipped firearms via UPS before with no issues. Guess that option is gone.

 

[WendyZXZ]

USPS is who we trust more since at least they can find their own Post Office buildings(mostly) if need be. UPS can be quite good but still get that address invalid/not found and direct it to the PO building and Fedex is last. Fedex either lost, mis delivered or took off with a couple of thankfully nothing expensive or important packages. Both UPS and Fedex at times have did the claim that the address for the PO building is not found or unknown but at least UPS eventually made the deliveries they had.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have an FFL and have shipped and received rifles via USPS with no issues at all. I realize lately many people criticize the USPS and for the life of me I can't understand it.

My carrier waves as she drives by and will often hand carry my mail to me if I'm sitting on the front porch.

Fedex comes on time, USPS is always a day early, and UPS is a day late and the package is damaged.

UPS throws the stuff on the porch and if I don't see it I don't even know. Once they put a package in the garage under the boat (nice day and the garage door was open) and I didn't find it until Spring. Once they delivered it to an old lady down the street. The address label was correct and the numbers were not even close to her address.

 

[Kevin]

I sold something here on the forum recently. The address, according to the USPS, wasn’t valid. It didn’t exist. I used Google Maps and could see the guy’s house clear as day.

I double and triple checked the address, no typos, etc.

Went to UPS, didn’t have to wait in any line, they were friendly and helpful and yes, they knew the address was valid. And it wasn’t much more than USPS. Maybe like 3 or 4 dollars more is all.

I’ve said it before, but if only the USPS would privatize, we wouldn’t have to wait in long lines, and there would be at least a modicum of customer service, vs the zero customer service nowadays.

 

[Mobuck]

During the entire time I was a Postmaster, I had an FFL so I knew all(or most) of the pertinent information from both sides. I handled a lot of gun shipments since I had knowledge and the licensing to make it work. I even authored an employee 'cheat sheet' which was distributed within the Midwest for USPS counter staff to use when shipping firearms.
The agency I currently work for uses UPS exclusively going both ways and we get pretty good service. The weak link is the local 'franchise'(?) shipping points. Some of those folks don't really know what's going on and many lack the security I'd expect for firearms in transit. I shipped a rifle barrel UPS last year and the local shipping point wouldn't accept the package because the address contained the word 'gunsmith'. I went outside and changed the address to 'machine shop' and went back in. That was just fine. I mean really? Same box and everything-- just no reference anything 'gun-ish'. I think that was more of a person statement from the counter person than anything else.

 

[The Blackhawk Kid]

my Lab Cole....my Model 58 S&W.....wifey(?)

 

[tazbigdog]

I’ve used all three for shipping, non-firearms. USPS delays and damages, even with insurance. UPS is slow, but arrives safe and sound. Fedex is good for overseas, but don’t send glass.

 

[Fox Mike]

Never a problem shipping anything through the USPS. Never had any issues with UPS, though I have only used the a couple times. FEDUP has been on my s### list for many years. I wouldn't ship the remnants of my cat litter pan with them.