UPS Strikes again.

[Blackfork]

I had a 1500.00 pistol stolen during shipment a couple weeks ago. The investigation says that it was stolen BY someone at UPS at the Louisville hub.

Before I left for matches this weekend I ordered five boxes of Sierra 230 Tournamentmasters and three boxes of 185 Tournamentmasters from Midway. When I got in they had been delivered- to my house, not my business. The cardboard box had taken a beating and was broken open leaking shredded styrofoam pellets and bullets. Two boxes of bullets were missing and all the others broken open and spilled inside. I don't know what you would have to do to break open those green plastic Sierra 100 count boxes, but they did it well enough to get all of them.

Called Midway and they are starting on sorting it out. In my opinion as a customer this is ridiculous performance for any shipping company.

 

[Breakdaddy]

Well, your story is worse than mine, but I ordered a Surefire E2E Executive not long ago and UPS claims to have delivered it to my door but I did not receive it nor did it seem to get misdelivered to my neighbors when I asked them.

 

[CountGlockula]

That's very unfortunate. How were you compensated by UPS?

 

[0007]

I guess I must be lucky. My BB truck driver carries my crates of ammo into my garage.

 

[P5 Guy]

It took us about a year to sort out a 'miss directed' package. A DVD player my wife got from an awards program was sent to a house down the street. UPS said that it was signed for and when we tried to get another DVD player delivered the company that sent the replacement wanted us to pay for it because UPS insisted the it was delivered and signed for, but the signature wasn't even close to our names.

 

[Flyboy]

Yet another reason to insist on FedEx shipping instead of UPS.

(As a friend of mine--an Airbus captain for UPS--is fond of remarking, "you can't spell stupid without U-P-S.)

 

[Thefabulousfink]

If UPS doesn't act quick to make this right, just remind them that the ATF takes a dim view companies that allows guns to fall into the hands of criminals. The gun will have to be reported as stolen anyway, but if UPS tries to stonewall you, just explain to the ATF how UPS is refusing to fix a situation that allows for the theft of firearms.

 

[kd7nqb]

oddly enough I think we SHOULD use the ATF to fix junk like this. And BTW putting Orange stickers saying "firearm" AKA "Steal me stickers" is not the answer.

I would say the more it can be handled like a regular old brown box the better. This way my pistol shipment looks like your textbook shipment.

 

[Aries-]

could always ship things usps. they seem to work well. i know up here in canada. UPS will not ship ANY firearm. they refuse. so our postal service says "stuff it in a brown box, pack it well. tape it up and put no markings on it" (like a box of porn) and they will ship it for you. they dont care where in canada its shipped. mind you. they have been known to leave parsels on peoples doorsteps. (heard about a guy in manitoba or somewhere that came home from work to find a box on his doorstep, took it inside and it was a pair of 1911's he had ordered)

 

[glockman19]

I have never had any problem with delivery of ammo or other shooting supplies from UPS, USPS, or Fed Ex. I knoe all of th edrivers and they are each here at least once a week dropping off packages clarly marked OREM D. I guess it pays to get them good gifts at Christmas. My UPS driver actuall calls me, on my cell phone, to let me know when he'll be by. Tomorrow he should be calling and dropping off from Midwayusa and Wednesday from ammoman and Midway again on friday TSG. next week Midway again and Natchezss.

Ask your driver what he drinks and get it for him for the holidays it pays.

 

[heypete]

UPS has done some knuckleheaded things to my parcels:
1. Delivered $600 of computer components to the next door neighbor (different house entirely) because I wasn't home to sign for it. Whatever happened to the whole "leaving a 'sorry we missed you' doorknob hanger" thing and having me pick up the parcel at the hub, or have them reattempt delivery?
2. Left "signature required" packages at the door without signatures.
3. Left parcels at the door of my apartment (I've since moved since #1), in public view, in the rain, without any door hanger...when the apartment management is supposed to sign for parcels for residents when they're not at home (which I specifically consented to in order to avoid this issue).

FedEx has done some dumb things too, mostly similar to UPS.

Once when I was at a gun shop near San Francisco, the UPS driver walked in with a box from Remington to the dealer -- it was supposed to be a rifle back from factory repairs. The driver commented on how light it was, and the dealer inspected the box -- one end had been opened, the rifle removed, and the hole re-taped. The dealer asked the UPS guy to stay around for a few minutes, filled out the proper forms, called the police, called the ATF, and the sorting hub was shut down by the ATF within about 30 minutes, and remained shut down for about two hours while they searched everything (with the consent of the UPS management). They found the rifle in some sorter guy's locker, which wouldn't have done much good, as they're evidently searched and metal-detected upon entry and exist to the facility. That ended badly for the employee.

I've had good experiences with UPS with ammo deliveries and other shipments from Midway and other vendors. My positive experiences far outweigh the negatives, and letters of complaint to UPS after each negative incident seem to receive due attention.

 

[Loucks]

They found the rifle in some sorter guy's locker, which wouldn't have done much good, as they're evidently searched and metal-detected upon entry and exist to the facility. That ended badly for the employee.

I don't know how they search their employees at the hub in question, but I've been in to the Indianapolis hub a few times to pick up packages (one of the joys of living in an "unrecognized location"). Either the security guard hadn't been trained in the proper way to conduct a search with a hand-held metal detector, or he just didn't care. I don't think an employee could've easily evaded detection of the rifle, but a pistol would've been no problem for someone familiar with the process.

I'm certain, of course, that UPS doesn't employ any security guards who would be willing to look the other way for a few bucks...

 

[Sindawe]

FedEx has done some dumb things too, mostly similar to UPS.

Too true. The "sorry we missed you, can we leave the package next time?" door hanger that FedEx uses acts as the signature for all future signature required delivery's if you sign it, but last time I saw one such was not stated anywhere on the door hanger. This can be problematic if one is expecting valuable packages or live organisms that need to be attended to immediately apon delivery.

Anymore, anything valuable but not living gets shipped to my workplace instead of my home.

 

[DogBonz]

+1 On That

Yet another reason to insist on FedEx shipping instead of UP

I always use FedEx. It is more expensive, but they have never lost or damaged anything on me.

 

[Gator]

could always ship things usps

Only long guns can be shipped USPS.

Its really a crap shoot. I tend to use FedEx for handguns, but they make the same mistakes as UPS; I just hope not as often. I haven't had any trouble with long guns through USPS.

 

[heypete]

Only long guns can be shipped USPS.

Not entirely true. FFLs can ship handguns through the US Mail.

Considering that FedEx and UPS both require that handguns be sent priority overnight (usually in excess of $50 each way), I find that going to the local dealer with the recipient's address, having them log the gun through their bound book, and then paying a whopping $8.50 for priority mail is far cheaper and easier than UPS/FedEx, even if they charge a fee. Sure, it takes a minute or two for them to log the gun in, but it's less time than I'd spend driving to the UPS hub.

 

[Sniper4Life]

I have had no problems with ups, glockman19 you got it right on. Be nice to the guys who deliver and if there is a problem it gets solved alot faster.

 

[TEDDY]

UPS

I thought UPS made you ship air next day. for $25.how can they screw up like that.the idea for air was they hire thieves and cant control them.I had one package damaged rifle barrel went thru end of box it was a junker any way.but I have good luck with them. its not the drivers its the distribution centers. happens were ever there is a truck terminal.I was in teamster union.
:banghead:

 

[hotpig]

I get beat up and lost packages from both. It is just the nature of the beast and I do not worry about it.

 

[frostbiker]

Do like I do and have everything you order delivered to work. I see the FedEx, UPS and DHL guys on a daily basis and we get along well. They have no problem tracking stuff down and calling me if I ask. Being there at work when they deliver really helps. Boss kinda frowns on it, but I assure her that anything I order is not dangerous...just heavy (ammo).

For my firearms, I have them delivered to a friend with an FFL. He keeps odd hours and someone is always home to sign for the package. He'll call when it is delivered and fondle whatever I purchase for a couple of hours until I can get over there to pick it up.

I never have stuff delivered to the house. Too much traffic on my street and the front door is not that secure a place to drop stuff off. I don't know the neighbors that well to ask if they can receive a package for me. They don't know about my firearms passion anyway. If I'm not in a position to get a package at work, or my FFL friend can't, I deliver to my parents house, or dad's office.

 

[Jim Watson]

Mail is cheaper, although they do charge a lot for insurance.
My FFL will sign the appropriate form and let me walk it through the post office. I don't know but what I would not rather pay Fedex more than to deal with a hysterical postal clerk, ignorant and arrogant supervisor, and annoyed postmaster.

 

[Gator]

Not entirely true. FFLs can ship handguns through the US Mail.

Sure they can, but only dealers and manufacturers if you want to be specific; C&R FFLs do not count.

 

[Werewolf]

I have had no problems with ups, glockman19 you got it right on. Be nice to the guys who deliver and if there is a problem it gets solved alot faster.

Geeeez! What ever happened to people doing their jobs just because it is their job. Shouldn't have to kiss a UPS truckdriver's behind to get your stuff in one piece. OR tip him at the end of the year or any other thing. They ought'a just do their JOBS!

 

[Zach S]

FedEx would always leave my stuff at the wrong house. Even when putting "THE BLUE HOUSE" in the "address 2" line when filling out shipping information. BTW, the wrong house is yellow, at the time it was unoccupied. Pretty hard not to notice the wrong house number on the front porch, along with the empty living room or bedrooms (depending on wether it was left on the front or back porch) due to there being no curtains whatsoever. FedEx has made my deliveries to the correct address twice. One of those times I saw the truck, and ran outside to cath the driver as he went up the wrong driveway to the above mentioned empty yellow house.

Currently, my wages are being garnished because NC is saying I didnt pay any taxes in 2001. The feds got my tax return though. Both state and federal taxes were prepared and mailed at the same time, the USPS just lost my state return. I've mailed checks that never got to where they were going, had two debit cards lost on their way to me. I dont have any faith in them either.

The only problems I've had with UPS is due to the county. They changed the name of my road a while back. One time they couldnt find the new address when I used it, and one time they couldnt find the old address when I used it after they couldnt find the new one. Now I just use both. New adress in line one, old address in line two. Not a problem since.

Must be regional. Here, I prefer UPS. FedEx and USPS can (edit).

 

[ptmmatssc]

I've had good luck with UPS except for one instance of a box of ammo from AIM . The box looked like it made it to the 4th qtr of the superbowl . Almost all the boxes of ammo were broken open with loose ammo floating around . The box resembled a ball rather than a box , and had more 2" tape enclosing the box than I think fits on a roll .
Other than that , I've had many C&R guns etc delivered right to my door without a hitch , by UPS . FEDEX has been pretty good to for any deliveries to me or my gunsmith .