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Shipping cost?

bigdaddy75069bigdaddy75069 Member Posts: 161 ✭✭✭
edited January 2012 in General Discussion
I just won an auction for 1 box of 41 mag ammo on gb auction.The shipping was described as "actual cost"Seller just emailed me the cost is $20.Seems a little high to me when i recently bought the same thing from further away for $10 shipping.Opinions please.

Comments

  • bigdaddy75069bigdaddy75069 Member Posts: 161 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As a fairly new buyer why is it so expensive to ship handguns? I have been looking at several i would like to bid on but the shipping cost as usually $30.00-$35.00.In some cases more than that.Why is it ? Am i missing something or are ther sellers just trying to add more profit on the sales?
  • jwb267jwb267 Member Posts: 19,664 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    you answered your own ? with your last sentence
    i just went through 30 some pages of handguns here and noted priority shippig ranged from $15.00- $50.00[:(]
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    You could do a search and find this topic discussed on at least a dozen threads.

    If the seller is not a FFL dealer, and has to use UPS or FedEx to ship a handgun, those entities require the gun to be sent "next day" to reduce its time in the system, and reduce the chances for their own employees to steal it. Next day service is expensive.

    I use USPS Priority Mail to ship handguns, because I can, and because it is cheaper. Now, if my handgun is a big ticket item, I will guesstimate my shipping cost upward, because I will ship it fully insured.
  • bigdaddy75069bigdaddy75069 Member Posts: 161 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As I said fairly new to buying.Why cant everyone just take them to post office and mail them priority to save shipping cost?
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    Postal regulations. Again, do a search, and you will find this topic discussed over and over again.
  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,044 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "Why cant everyone just take them to post office and mail them priority to save shipping cost?"..................BECAUSE ONLY FFL'S CAN 'MAIL' A HANDGUN, NO FFL=UPS OR FEDEX NEXT DAY AIR=$$$$
  • countryfarmercountryfarmer Member Posts: 4,552
    edited November -1
    A reg person CAN NOT mail a handgun USPS, only FFLs can.
    IF you are Joe Blow and want to mail me a handgun you HAVE to use UPS or FEDEX next day services and they are expensive.
    Another way to do it is take it to a dealer and pay them to mail it to me USPS, they will charge to do it but it may be cheaper that way.
  • Spider7115Spider7115 Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bigdaddy75069
    As I said fairly new to buying.Why cant everyone just take them to post office and mail them priority to save shipping cost?

    Because Federal prison is a dark and scary place.
  • bigdaddy75069bigdaddy75069 Member Posts: 161 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ok now I understand.I didnt know the average person couldnt mail a handgun.
  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    You could do a search and find this topic discussed on at least a dozen threads.

    If the seller is not a FFL dealer, and has to use UPS or FedEx to ship a handgun, those entities require the gun to be sent "next day" to reduce its time in the system, and reduce the chances for their own employees to steal it. Next day service is expensive.

    I use USPS Priority Mail to ship handguns, because I can, and because it is cheaper. Now, if my handgun is a big ticket item, I will guesstimate my shipping cost upward, because I will ship it fully insured.
    A lot of the uninformed new buyers are not aware of what you just said Nunn. I am not an FFL and from time to time I will sell one of my handguns so I can purchase another one. The last time I did so, I had to pay north of $65 to ship a handgun via UPS Next Day Air. That hurts as I placed a $40 price tag because that is what I paid 2 years before.

    jwb267 - You should do your home work before making uninformed allegations.
  • jwb267jwb267 Member Posts: 19,664 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Boomerang
    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    You could do a search and find this topic discussed on at least a dozen threads.

    If the seller is not a FFL dealer, and has to use UPS or FedEx to ship a handgun, those entities require the gun to be sent "next day" to reduce its time in the system, and reduce the chances for their own employees to steal it. Next day service is expensive.

    I use USPS Priority Mail to ship handguns, because I can, and because it is cheaper. Now, if my handgun is a big ticket item, I will guesstimate my shipping cost upward, because I will ship it fully insured.
    A lot of the uninformed new buyers are not aware of what you just said Nunn. I am not an FFL and from time to time I will sell one of my handguns so I can purchase another one. The last time I did so, I had to pay north of $65 to ship a handgun via UPS Next Day Air. That hurts as I placed a $40 price tag because that is what I paid 2 years before.

    jwb267 - You should do your home work before making uninformed allegations.

    what's your point?
    some, not all do increase shipping to gain a profit!
    go through the hand gun pages and note the difference in usps priority mail prices
  • txlawdogtxlawdog Member Posts: 10,039 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shipping a handgun is crazy high! While I would be chicken to do it, i know people ship less than what fed ex and ups's rules are all the time.

    My only fear is that if I dont ship it proper, then they would not cover it if there was a insurance claim.
  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    jwb - Sorry my life does evolve around what it costs to ship a handgun by everyone on this site. I do agree that if it is a FFL, then it should only be around $15 to ship a handgun. Actually that is what it should be to ship any handgun by anyone. Sadly a jerk like Schummer in the early 90's did this to all of us, and no one spoke up.
  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This will tell you everything you need to know about mailing handguns:

    11.1.2 Handguns

    Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person (referred to as handguns) are nonmailable unless mailed between the parties listed in 11.1.3 and 11.1.5 after the filing of an affidavit or statement required by 11.1.4 and 11.1.6.

    11.1.3 Authorized Persons

    Subject to 11.1.4, handguns may be mailed by a licensed manufacturer of firearms, a licensed dealer of firearms, or an authorized agent of the federal government or the government of a state, territory, or district, only when addressed to a person in one of the following categories for use in the person's official duties:

    a. Officers of the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Organized Reserve Corps.

    b. Officers of the National Guard or militia of a state, territory, or district.

    c. Officers of the United States or of a state, territory, or district, whose official duty is to serve warrants of arrest or commitment.

    d. USPS employees authorized by the Chief Postal Inspector.

    e. Officers and employees of enforcement agencies of the United States.

    f. Watchmen engaged in guarding the property of the United States, a state, territory, or district.

    g. Purchasing agent or other designated member of agencies employing officers and employees included in 11.1.3c. through 11.1.3e.

    11.1.4 Affidavit of Addressee

    Any person proposing to mail a handgun under 11.1.3 must file with the postmaster, at the time of mailing, an affidavit signed by the addressee setting forth that the addressee is qualified to receive the firearm under a particular category of 11.1.3a. through 11.1.3g, and that the firearm is intended for the addressee's official use. The affidavit must also bear a certificate stating that the firearm is for the official duty use of the addressee, signed by one of the following, as appropriate:

    a. For officers of Armed Forces, by the commanding officer.

    b. For officers and employees of enforcement agencies, by the head of the agency employing the addressee to perform the official duty with which the firearm is to be used.

    c. For watchmen, by the chief clerk of the department, bureau, or independent branch of the government of the United States, the state, the territory, or the district by which the watchman is employed.

    d. For the purchasing agent or other designated member of enforcement agencies, by the head of such agency, that the firearm is to be used by an officer or employee included in 11.1.3c. through 11.1.3e, Authorized Persons.

    11.1.5 Manufacturers and Dealers

    Handguns may also be mailed between licensed manufacturers of firearms and licensed dealers of firearms in customary trade shipments, or for repairing or replacing parts.

    11.1.6 Certificate of Manufacturers and Dealers

    A licensed manufacturer or dealer need not file the affidavit under 11.1.4, but must file with the postmaster a statement on Form 1508 signed by the mailer that he or she is a licensed manufacturer or dealer of firearms, that the parcels containing handguns (or major component parts thereof) are customary trade shipments or contain such articles for repairing or replacing parts, and that to the best of his or her knowledge or belief the addressees are licensed manufacturers or dealers of firearms
  • jamesjojamesjo Member Posts: 2,242 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Having a cousin that is an FFL, has been a blessing!
    No extra charges for shipping or transfers!
    He has probably bought at least one handgun for me by not charging anymore than priority mail costs!
    And to think I paid fees to a local shop for years, not knowing he had an FFL!
  • goldeneagle76goldeneagle76 Member Posts: 4,359
    edited November -1
    Whenever I sell a handgun online I get asked the shipping question alot. I am not an FFL so I have to either charge UPS Next Day Air prices which can reach over $80 to some states or I have to take it to an FFL near me and those guys charge me $65!!! I get accused of driving up the price but I cannot help it. I have lost money by quoting too low on shipping before. Now I weigh everything and plug the info into the UPS website and get a figure. If it is more than $65 I take it to the FFL.
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