doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Post Office Refusing to Pay

I use USPS but not without problems. I had a clerk with 22yrs. on the job who would not let me mail two long guns from a small satellite post office so I went to main office and mailed them. I had a Postal employee drive to my house next morning, 8 miles, too tell me I couldn't mail these. I contacted post office clarify their policies and was directed to public relations. A number of phone calls back and forth, I was told absolutely no way, as a non FFL holder that I could mail a long gun. I got a total reversal when I emailed lady back and requested their rules stating so.

I would be looking for statements in writing

Last time I had to mail a long gun I took a copy of the regulation with me. After telling me that I could not mail the guns, then reading the regulations I had printed off their web site, then telling me again that "I was taking them out of contac", I think she meant context, big words, small brains.....the clerk told me I still could not mail the guns.

We went to the postmaster. Ten minute wait as he read the regulations and confirmed them by phone. Funny thing is that the clerk asked him when they changed them and he did not know. I mentioned 1968 with revisions several times since then. Went right over their heads. Thank God my package got there safely because a claim for damages, with these bright light bulbs, might have driven me nuts. Idiots like these makes me understand why some people go Postal.

Very Common experience with USPS, is ignorance. That would include The Postal Police, who once absolutely would not believe that long guns were mailable.

That is,until they were presented with the relevant regs, by MY postmaster. . You CAN mail y'r long guns. It's legal. And, a good gun rights lawyer can iron their pants in about five minutes. The loss is actionable.

I wouldn't use USPS to ship a gun if my life depended on it. However, every time I use them to ship items other than guns by Express Mail, they don't let me leave without telling me the date the delivery is guaranteed for. At least 70% of the time it never makes it there by the guarantee date, and they happily refund my money.

I do agree with Bill, I use USPS registered mail for shipping guns and recommend it. I've got a horror story, but I've got a horror story from UPS and Fed-Ex as well so......

When a postal employee signs for a registered package they are financially responsible for it. That's why registered mail gets through, they don't want to have to pay.

Destry

kilibru, did you send the gun by Registered mail? I'm curious to know what method of shipment you used.

I hope you get things straightened out.

I am really sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear how Kilibru makes out here. I'd hate to have to hire a lawyer everytime something goes wrong.

Until this thread, I thought the USPS was clean, but still never really warmed up to them. I've been using FedEx for the last 5 yrs or so and been damage free. UPS has damaged some things of mine.

Call or email your Congressman or Senator. The Postal so called Service does not want a Congressional hassle. Years ago they refused to pay for a rifle, broken at the wrist, mailed insured to me. After 3 weeks of BS and refusals to pay I wrote my Senator. Got my insurance check 1 week thereafter.

Best of luck,

Quailnut

i ship several hundred guns a year using the u.s. postal service. occasionally one gets damaged. occasionally a claim is denied. it is then time for your post master to put you in touch with your local consumer advocate. i have never had a claim denied again after the consumer advocate became involved. ed1

I won't use anything but the USPS. My story: I had barrels damaged in shipping once and filed a claim. All i had to do was show proof that my Parker 1 frame barrels was worth X amonut of money and the claim was payed. I have shipped numerous guns through USPS from a larger town and sometimes they ask that you fill out a form stating this is a firearm bla, bla, etc.. etc.. and have never been turned away. But mostly i'll ship from my small town office where the clerk knows you and never have i had any trouble shipping a gun. Yes they know it's a gun too! I like it that i can track and see when it was delivered. Plus if it's insured, you have all the bases covered. GO USPS!