Another UPS Story

D

DEN.D

Guest
Well Guys Here is my UPS Story I decided to have Jim Borden
Build me a 30 X47 HBR Rifle I did some Trading with fellow from California
and Recieved a LH Edge HBR Stock and a Kreiger 1-17 Hunter Taper Barrel
Shipped FED EX to me Friday I brought the Stock and Barrel to the UPS
Store where they packed up and Shipped it to Jim .. Tuesday evening JIm
Calls me and says Package has Arrived but Box is ripped on The end and
My BARREL IS MISSING Jim also tells me that this is the third Barrel that
has come up missing in the Last 6 Months UPS Store Manager makes a Claim
and assures me they will cover the lost Barrel since I insured Package and
they Packed It .. But he doesnt Understand It take Months to get a New
Barrel So if anyone has a Kreiger, RockCreek, or Bartlien 1-17 Hunter Barrel that they can Part with I am in the Market My Action will be done in Early April and I should hopefully have a settlement From UPS IN 8 TO 10 DAYS I HOPEPlease Email me DDLDAMIB@AOL.COM I will send a Money Order and you can ship Barrel to Jim Borden
Thanks in Advance Dennis Diego
 
The good people at Brux barrels should be able to get you one in a couple of weeks if so desired.
 
Back to UPS

It took me 8 months to get a settlement from UPS. I had made three personal visits with the terminal manager and sent a letter to the CEO. The settlement was only after I called to get the locations of the UPS employees I was having the Sheriff serve subpoenas for them to appear in court.

FedEX was almost identical. The insurance you buy is not insurance according to our Insurance Commissioner and "they have no jurisdiction over claims resolution".

At least with the Postal Service you have the Postal Inspectors and the ATFE looking for lost firearms.
Rustystud
 
Last barrel I received (a week ago) had the end opened and the barrel sitting inside. Didn't appear to be any damage. Was a sporter barrel.

Alex
 
Why would someone steal the barrel and not the whole package?
 
What do you think happens when a heavy compact steel ram rod is left loose to ramrod back and forth inside of a box? (answer: it often exits the box)

My advice to anyone who ships a barrel is to cut two wooden ends the same size as the box ends, and drill a hole halfway through the wood to fit the barrel muzzle and breech ends tight. If the barrel is blued, then you simply rap an old rag around the barrel ends first.

As for rifles, I NEVER ship them in anything other then a plastic gun case. If I am selling a rifle, I will mention in the ad that the cost of a new $17 plastic gun case is part of the deal. The first time you get a $1,200 AR15 rifle arrive to the transfer dealer with the barrel and front sight sticking out of the box, you will never allow it again.
 
Ship a barrel inside 1 1/2" PVC

My favorite way to ship a barrel, is to buy a piece of 1 1/2" PVC pipe (sch 20 or 40) glue one end cap in place, and wrap the barrel with bubble wrap or foam, insert the barrel into the PVC tube then push on the 2nd end cap...then using filament straping tape put 2-4 strips across the end cap from the tube then a couple of wraps around the tube just below the end cap overlaying the crossing strips...a very solid and re-usable package...
 
ew
Several years ago I sent two barrels(1-LV, 1 Hunter)UPS and I used 1 1/2" sch 40 PVC. I glued a cap on one end and the other I put a screw on cap and sealed with strapping tape as you did.
They made it to the company O.K. but on the return trip UPS busted the 1 1/2" sch 40 PVC about 4" from the capped end. The strapping held the broken tube together and the barrel arrived O.K. .
I would have bet $100.00 the PVC would have made the trip unscaved. Now I make sure to buy insurance and package the item well enough that it could be dragged behind the truck to its destination by UPS and still arrive O.K. :)

Hal
 
I am not sure what has happened within UPS but I have had terrible luck in recent years. 20 years ago I thought they were outstanding. I have had better luck with the USPS than UPS or FedEx. It took me 8+ months to get satisfaction on a broken stock. The packages I have seen must receive some sever abuse to end up the way they are. Almost intentional. It's unfortunate. Peter.
 
I roughly remember - -

UPS bing responsable for HAZMAT charges; am I all wet here? I, for that reason, do not do any business with them if I can avoid it. I ALWAYS ask for USPS.

I maintain that either a product is safe to ship or it isn't. If the same truck and handeling system still brings you the same box it use to before HAZMAT,what has changed except for UPS upping their profits? :confused:
 
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UPS Overnight Shipping

I ship with UPS using the overnight option and tack the cost of shipping and insurance on the bill to the customer. Ever since UPS said that they would only ship handguns overnight because they were loosing too many with the other options I started shipping all firearms related components and complete rifles this way too. Haven’t lost any or had any damaged yet, knock wood. If you call UPS or talk to the Divers they will tell you the tracking for overnight shipping is much better and because it is in the system for a shorter time it has less exposure.

Nic.
 
Niccolo said:
I ship with UPS using the overnight option and tack the cost of shipping and insurance on the bill to the customer. Ever since UPS said that they would only ship handguns overnight because they were loosing too many with the other options I started shipping all firearms related components and complete rifles this way too. Haven’t lost any or had any damaged yet, knock wood. If you call UPS or talk to the Divers they will tell you the tracking for overnight shipping is much better and because it is in the system for a shorter time it has less exposure.

Nic.
Click to expand...

if a company can ship a product safely over night ( for a big profit), why cannot the same company, the same emplyees, do the same safe job in two or three days.
poor management/profit, not performance drive...plain and simple.

i like none of the current shipping options, simply go with the least pain.

mike in co
 
It goes through a different system when its shipped by air.

When the driver that picked up the package arrives back to the building he normally takes all his "air packages" to the air dock personally. Then they take a short straight ride where they are loaded into air containers that will go directly into the belly of an airplane. After all the other packages are loaded into the truck in the destination city, the "air packages" are the last to go on the truck and are the first to be delivered.

In contrast, normal ground packages go in on the truck where they are unloaded at the same time as all the other trucks, trailers, ect. Then they are sorted by guys that are going as fast as they can just to keep up with the pace of the unloaders, then thousands of packages ride on several miles of conveyors going all different directions all at the same time. If one package jams in a turn, or wedges against another package, It means lots of packages are smashed together, piled up, crushed, and often shattered, before the belt can be shut down and the jam broken. Often times when this takes place, the contents from lots of those boxes is spilled all over and the boxes are all detroyed and nobody knows what contents goes in what box. Those are called "overgoods" and are taken to a seperate area where more people try to figure out what goes where. Your barrel is probably an overgood sitting in a trailer somewhere. I dont know what they do with all the stuff they collect over time that has been broken or unidentified other than it gets shipped out to somewhere.

Then the packages get loaded into trailers (if your lucky yours isnt on the bottom). The package in the trailer makes it way to the destination hub where it is unloaded yet again and sent through the process all over again until it finaly gets on the delivery truck.

Then the driver starts his day with a truck load of screwed up packages knowing that he is going to be the one to hear it from the customer and all he can do is say he's sorry.

Thats why "air packages" look alot better at the end of the trip.

Its really the fast pace of the system itself and other packages that tears up packages more than anything.
 
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As I remember When UPS made their change to overnight shipping only on handguns they had caught a delivery driver stealing the guns. In my area the same driver picks up and delivers both over night and ground shipments. What did they gain except money out of my pocket into theirs?
 
Im sure it happens that a driver will get caught stealing, but it is very rare. "Normally" before a driver becomes a driver he has spent upwards of 10 years and often more inside the building loading, unloading, sorting, ect. After spending that much time working hard with somewhat low pay, most guys wont throw all that time away by stealing something.

However, when a package goes through the regular system it is being handled mostly by kids right out of high school, and it gets handled by alot more people for alot longer period of time if it goes ground. Air packages dont have time to be screwed with because they are moving to quick with very little down time.
I can definately see a difference in the quality of people that are being hired today compared to 20 even 10 years ago. 20 years ago they were hiring at a starting rate of $8 with benifits per hour, which was good money back then. Today they start at 8.50 per hour which is terrible for the work that has to be done. In contrast, alot of the drivers are making over 100k per year with seven weeks vacation and better benifits. UPS knows that the odds are ALOT higher that something will get stolen or broken by the kids inside the building faster than the drivers that have alot of time invested and alot more to lose.

If an employee gets caught stealing or damaging a package on purpose he is terminated and walked out the gate. If it was stealing, the police are waiting for him when he is escorted out. They do press charges.

So I wont try to say that no drivers steal, but I will say its far less common.

Im not trying to defend UPS either, just trying to shed some light on how the process inside works so people dont think its like that movie where the driver is kicking the package down the street. :)
 
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Like others have posted, I only use overnight air to ship firearms or parts via FedEX or UPS. The extra cost is worth more than headaches, financial impact and lost time tracking it down.

I also use a gun case inside the case's shipping carton. Tape the case closed. I use a Sharpie, and write my name, address & phone number on a new SS barrel or place a label under clear packaging tape, and tag all other parts similarly. Mark every label "Return shipping guaranteed." Every level of packaging is stamped with my name and address rubber stamp or has a label taped to it. Barrels are shipped in their original container re-taped after inspection. If you use PVC, I recommend Schedule 80 - the gray pipe (not conduit) - instead of white Schedule 40 it's more than twice as strong.

Never lost a package yet, but sit on pins and needles until the tracking system marks it delivered.

The online tracking system works. One morning, I sat at my computer and wondered where the computer parts I ordered were. So, I clicked on the email tracking number and when the page came up, it said "Delivered" so I checked, and sure enough the package was sitting on the front porch. Now that's modern life at it's best. :)
 
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UPS...not too good

Yes...I too have had problems with UPS as of lately....they lost a scope that was shipped to me from Leupold. Working on a claim now...hope it all turns out ok.
 
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