Easing the pain shipping airguns...

[shambozzie]

Purchased an airgun recently and talking with seller he said he always ship double boxed. Well all cardboard/ boxed are not created equally. From past experience things get thrown around during shipping. Not comfortable with the double box I shipped this hard case to seller for shipping. Sure enough package arrived (FedEx) big hole in cardboard box. Had this been all cardboard I hate to think what could have happened . Lot of insurance for a small price.

 

[ripping.r]

Thats a good idea. I wish they would treat our stuff with more respect. we pay good money for there service.

 

[cmatera]

I have a damage claim with UPS right now. Packaged just like the picture. UPS dropped the box on the small side barrel down. Put a hole in the case, but on one corner. The case was zip tied shut, egg crate foam top and bottom, insured for $1,400 fragile stickers all over. A hard case in a cardboard box is still no guarantee, and even though you PAY for insurance, does not mean the shipping company will pay you in the event something happens. UPS is focusing on the burst strength of the outer box, still does not want to pay, keeps requesting pictures of every imaginable angle of the box, and refuses to go to the delivery address to take the pictures THEY want. They try not to even answer the phone and if they do, you get some who barely speaks English, Been on the phone for hours over the course of a week. They just keep transferring you from person to person until you give up. As a daily UPS pickup for 22 years, this is what I learned. No matter how well you package an item, they can find a way to destroy it. When they do, you will find out that the insurance you paid for is worthless, unless they totally lose the package.

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[scubajeeper]

I had a friend of mine tell me he had an issue with USPS. They would not pay, even though he had bought adequate insurance, unless he could come up with an original invoice proving the value of the item shipped.

 

[cmatera]

Like someone is going to keep the original invoice for everything they buy, and if you buy it used from a private party then what? I did send UPS a copy of the Paypal payment, told them what the brand and model was and told them they could go to Utah Airguns, SPAW, or any other FX dealer and check what they sell for.

 

[shambozzie]

I have a damage claim with UPS right now. Packaged just like the picture. UPS dropped the box on the small side barrel down. Put a hole in the case, but on one corner. The case was zip tied shut, egg crate foam top and bottom, insured for $1,400 fragile stickers all over. A hard case in a cardboard box is still no guarantee, and even though you PAY for insurance, does not mean the shipping company will pay you in the event something happens. UPS is focusing on the burst strength of the outer box, still does not want to pay, keeps requesting pictures of every imaginable angle of the box, and refuses to go to the delivery address to take the pictures THEY want. They try not to even answer the phone and if they do, you get some who barely speaks English, Been on the phone for hours over the course of a week. They just keep transferring you from person to person until you give up. As a daily UPS pickup for 22 years, this is what I learned. No matter how well you package an item, they can find a way to destroy it. When they do, you will find out that the insurance you paid for is worthless, unless they totally lose the package.

Man, that sucks. Hope it work out for you.

 

[huntr]

I received an item in a box that was falling apart from mishandling... and a not so great job of packing. I started to open the box in the presence of the delivery person to see if there was any damage and he was on the phone with his supervisor in an instant. You open it, you own it. No recourse after that. That was FedEx, but I'm guessing they are all the same. So, if it's damaged, refuse to accept it. Not sure how that would go if you weren't present the they delivered it. Probably not well.

 

[cmatera]

For expensive items I receive, I plan on doing an unboxing video, although I don't know if even that will help.

 

[RickFoster]

I received one rifle with a broken trigger and another with a bent front sight. Both were pretty well packed. Seems like they really abuse these boxes sometimes.

 

[218bee]

15 years ago I bought an M1 Garand, Collector Grade from the CMP. FedEx guy actually handed me the box with the front 6" of the rifle sticking through the heavy duty Cardboard/eggcrate boxes they used. Luckily the rifle was flawless, but what the heck? They're now using better plastic hard cases, but as we see, nothings a guarantee.

 

[ctshooter]

Here's a question for you guys - what shipping method are you using? Are you picking UPS and then shipping ground? If so, they maybe upper the shipping level would help. Go for an air based delivery versus truck based - I do 2nd day most times on very expensive airgun purchases because I feel the packages get slightly better treatment. I could be completely wrong but it's worked so far. 

 

[heavy-impact]

If you want to ship anything important take it to a UPS Store. Let them package and ship it and the store owner will write you a check if the package gets damaged. I shipped a MIG welder from SC to CA this way and it got destroyed. The UPS Store owner wrote me a check for more than I paid for the machine. UPS Stores are not owned by UPS or so I've been told. I guess they deal with the UPS claim themselves. https://www.theupsstore.com/guarantee

I've never tried to ship an airgun at a UPS Store so your mileage may vary.

 

[cmatera]

Here's a question for you guys - what shipping method are you using? Are you picking UPS and then shipping ground? If so, they maybe upper the shipping level would help. Go for an air based delivery versus truck based - I do 2nd day most times on very expensive airgun purchases because I feel the packages get slightly better treatment. I could be completely wrong but it's worked so far.

Air shipping of an airgun with air in the tank is a no-go. I don't want to drain the tank of every gun I ship. Air based delivery is EXTREMELY expensive for items as heavy as a cased air rifle (I'm talking hundreds of dollars), especially to a residential address. Any package over $1,000 is considered High Value, must be marked in red. It's supposed to get UPS's best handling and must be signed for every step of the way internally by UPS employees. All that, and a bunch of FRAGILE stickers made no difference.

 

[ctshooter]

Here's a question for you guys - what shipping method are you using? Are you picking UPS and then shipping ground? If so, they maybe upper the shipping level would help. Go for an air based delivery versus truck based - I do 2nd day most times on very expensive airgun purchases because I feel the packages get slightly better treatment. I could be completely wrong but it's worked so far.

Air shipping of an airgun with air in the tank is a no-go. I don't want to drain the tank of every gun I ship. Air based delivery is EXTREMELY expensive for items as heavy as a cased air rifle (I'm talking hundreds of dollars), especially to a residential address. Any package over $1,000 is considered High Value, must be marked in red. It's supposed to get UPS's best handling and must be signed for every step of the way internally by UPS employees. All that, and a bunch of FRAGILE stickers made no difference.

Your situation sucks - I get that. But the "rules" don't seem to stop AoA.

 

[heavy-impact]

Never stopped me or Aoa - and they don't drain the tank. Are ya'll bunch of do gooders?

Your situation sucks - I get that. But the "rules" don't seem to stop AoA.

When one of my sons was in Afghanistan I regularly sent snacks for his USMC platoon via USPS. I never put much detail on the declaration, just snacks. I found out later that I could've been prosecuted for the cases of Slim Jims I sent which contain pork because pork is illegal in Afghanistan. No ones asked specifically so I didn't mention it. Everything was delivered every time.

 

[cmatera]

When something happens, that's when the little stuff will come into play. I don't get stuff from AoA via air shipment. Have you ever gotten a gun from Krale with air in it?

 

[ctshooter]

Never stopped me or Aoa - and they don't drain the tank. Are ya'll bunch of do gooders?

Your situation sucks - I get that. But the "rules" don't seem to stop AoA.

When one of my sons was in Afghanistan I regularly sent snacks for his USMC platoon via USPS. I never put much detail on the declaration, just snacks. I found out later that I could've been prosecuted for the cases of Slim Jims I sent which contain pork because pork is illegal in Afghanistan. No ones asked specifically so I didn't mention it. Everything was delivered every time.

Watch out - you may have a warrant out for you by the Taliban.

 

[heavy-impact]

Never stopped me or Aoa - and they don't drain the tank. Are ya'll bunch of do gooders?

Your situation sucks - I get that. But the "rules" don't seem to stop AoA.

When one of my sons was in Afghanistan I regularly sent snacks for his USMC platoon via USPS. I never put much detail on the declaration, just snacks. I found out later that I could've been prosecuted for the cases of Slim Jims I sent which contain pork because pork is illegal in Afghanistan. No ones asked specifically so I didn't mention it. Everything was delivered every time.

Watch out - you may have a warrant out for you by the Taliban.

The guy at the post office said I could be prosecuted in the USA for not declaring it. Mr Tali would stick out like a sore thumb in my neck of the woods and his success would be doubtful. He'd likely stay here forever though.

 

[JimNM]

For high dollar purchases, computers, compressor, fragile stuff etc... I have UPS/FedEx hold the box for me at their service counter.

Yes, it sucks that I have to drive a few miles to them.

Yes, I get my stuff at 10:30a.m. rather than at 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Yes, I lose some hours of sleep (I work night and am usually dead asleep by 0900) and I lose more sleep because I have my new toy to play with...but I sleep better knowing that I now have the product safe and sound and I had the security camera footage at the UPS/FedEx service counter to back up my damage claims.

Shoot'em good!

 

[AirShot]

Like someone is going to keep the original invoice for everything they buy, and if you buy it used from a private party then what? I did send UPS a copy of the Paypal payment, told them what the brand and model was and told them they could go to Utah Airguns, SPAW, or any other FX dealer and check what they sell for.

Been thru that a couple times when I was in business. I always took a picture and included an invoice for repair and what type of rifle. When they ask for proof of purchase I would give them an appraisel from a catalog such as Beeman or AA. Picture, model etc same as my picture as it was laying in the shipping box and same as the reciever could show what he recieved. If your description, and aporasial matches what was shipped they will pay. Dont be afraid to take them to court, I did, ugly but got paid plus attorney costs in the settlement. If you have a legitiment claim they will pay if you can prove what you shipped, if your willing to takevthe time and pursue it.....