Has anyone ever used ship my gun service? I have a few I'm clearing out but the cost to ship them makes it not worth it. Thanks!

A whole bunch of threads on SMG: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...Type=1&search=Search

Thanks!!

I will summarize so you don't have to read that thread which went crossways quickly.

It is a wonky service. It saved me money. I am not positive that if I did it again it would work.

I went to their website and followed the directions. I had to call them because literally the next to last page before paying them has a sentence that says, and I quote, "this is the address the firearm will be shipped to" and it is YOUR address. I backed out and did it a couple times to make sure I wasn't doing something stupid. Nope. Called them, which took awhile to get a human, and he told me it was the number one thing they get called about because the "wording" is wrong. Um, yea, way wrong, completely wrong.

Second issue. You pull up their list of FFL's. They have green "preferred" FFL's and then the rest of the FFL's. The guy I was sending it to (FFL) was on the list but not a "preferred" guy. They knew he was an FFL though and all the pre filled information was 100% correct. So I select him and expect to get a mailing label. Nope. It takes a couple days for them to "review" the form. I don't get it. He is on your list as an FFL. I suspect and their verbiage implies that using the "preferred" guys is faster. I don't know what it takes for an FFL to get on the "preferred" list.

Last issue and this is the show stopper for me. I used their website to link to UPS for a Service Center which is where you have to do this. I go to a Service Center which is in the middle of an industrial area, it has loading docks, conveyor belts, big trucks, and a tiny customer center. Cool, I am clearly in the right place. The lady tells me that they don't accept guns. I am holding the printed letter from shipmyguns saying they do. The website says they do. Everything seems to indicate they do. Yet she says, no we don't. It was kind of insurmountable. Then she says, and again I quote, "well you didn't know so I will do it this time". I don't argue and the gun gets sent. I walked away wondering if I did this again would it work or would I have a $39.10 shipping label that they won't accept?

I have no definitive answer. Next time I am just paying more and using an FFL. It was a goofy fucking experience.

It depends on your area. If you're rural and in a conservative state, then I would use it if it ends up being cheaper than pirate ship.

One downside is that it only covers rifles up to certain dimensions. If your package exceeds the length and weight, then the fee maxes out and you pay the difference at UPS. I have never used it for rifles because I don't want an unknown fee added.

I now have a FedEx shipper's account and use them for firearms, but Pirate Ship is very good for non-FFL's.

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:

Next time I am just paying more and using an FFL.

My experience has been that I pay LESS when using an FFL. Reason: If you ship it yourself, you must use a common carrier like FedEx or United Parcel. These guys have internal regulations (not law, but company policy) that requires the shipper to use overnight service, which is expen$ive.

If you use an FFL, s/he can legally ship via Priority Mail, which is much more cost-effective. Additionally, the FFL will likely know what s/he is doing, and handle things efficiently and properly, as opposed to the person at the customer (no)service counter at UPS or FedEx.

When I ship, I box it up in a flat rate "if it fits, it ships" Priority Mail box, which I do NOT seal. I buy the priority mail postage online from PirateShip.com (saves a bit, vs. buying it from the USPS website), print the label, stick it on the box, and hand the whole thing over to Pawn Shop Guy (FFL), who inspects it, puts a copy of his FFL document in the box, logs it, seals it, and hands it to his mail carrier. WAY easier, and less co$tly than shipping via FedEx or United Parcel!

Plus, while I am there, I can browse Pawn Shop Guy's inventory of firearms and accessories to see if there's anything interesting, which is not an option at FedEx or United Parcel.

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:

Pirate Ship is very good for non-FFL's.

¡Si! PirateShip is my go-to for either USPS or United Parcel shipping. Saves money for the same exact service.

I even use it when shipping via an FFL. I pay the shipping fee online at PirateShip and print the label, and give it to the FFL along with the boxed firearm to ship.

Just to be clear, I do live in a very conservative area and shipmygun (I never heard of pirate ship) was cheap. Beretta Cougar in the original box cost $39.10 all in. I find that very reasonable. The experience itself, not so much.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
Just to be clear, I do live in a very conservative area and shipmygun (I never heard of pirate ship) was cheap. Beretta Cougar in the original box cost $39.10 all in. I find that very reasonable. The experience itself, not so much.

Since you had a prepaid label did the UPS Service Center ask you the contents of the package ? Or is there indication on the label that says "Shipmygun" ?

Well the label address was something like "Joes Guns and Ammo" so she asked. Which honestly I am not sure is UPS policy or maybe it is. Either way she initially said NO.

Thinking on it after the fact, I considered that I could have replaced the name of the Gun shop with the FFL's given name and it would be less obvious. Problem is that you pick the FFL off their list so it kind of auto populates the mailing label.

Can you trick the system? Maybe, but I am not really that guy.

The thing that still gets me the most is that in a 1 minute span of time she said we can't do this, then she said I will do it this one time. I hate that, would a different employee even blink? No idea.

I understand pedro, not the best situation.

ok Thank you members, my motto is buy high and sell low I swear.