Question about shipping firearms/insurance

gearheadbill · 01-11-2010, 05:20 PM

I am getting ready to ship my pistol off to Simpson's in Illinois for appraisal etc.. I am wondering about shipping and in particular about insurance on the shipment.

Those who have seen my thread/s on my Luger know that it may well be a very valuable gun. If it were lost/stolen/run over by an 18 wheeler I would be out seriously if I don't have insurance...BUT...will the idea of having, say, $10,000.00 in insurance on the shipment put up a red flag to someone inside UPS/FedEx/USPS? I am thinking particularly of a would-be thief, but any other red flag as well. $10K may well be quite a bit over the actual value and it certainly is a lot for such a small package.

Any experiences or advice?? If it can be done, I could call my regular insurance agent and bind some type of coverage for the period it's out of my hands, but I don't know if that's even an option.

Norme · 01-11-2010, 05:52 PM

If you send your gun by Registered Mail, you can purchase insurance up to $20,000.00 at very reasonable rates from the Post Office. Registered packages can not be sealed with plastic tape as rubber ink stamps are applied to all seams. You need to seal your package with old fashioned brown paper tape. Regards

lew1 · 01-11-2010, 06:14 PM

One needs an 01 license to ship thru USPS.

See Post office form 1508 which is required to be submitted when shipping the pistol..

Edward Tinker · 01-11-2010, 06:33 PM

You first need Simpson's FFL and then you can ship to them. I would ship overnight via FedEx or UPS and arrange it so it arrives Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Don't ship on a Friday or a holiday weekend.

Usually I do not worry about insurance, for the reasons stated above and rumours of how they don't like to pay out for large amounts; although I have had other folks tell me they have been paid.

Shipping overnight allows you to track it on line and gives it little chance of being left behind; as NDA (next day air) is handeled seperately.

Cost will be around $50-$60 without insurance.
Ed

alvin · 01-11-2010, 07:48 PM

It's an awkward situation because USPS does not ship handguns without 01 FFL (unless it's a pre-1899 antique). FedEx Next Day Air should work. I know the feeling of shipping expansive guns without insurance..... buying issurance is buying peace in mind, but may come with hassle at service acception, so usually I skipped that (and crossed my fingers, felt bad for that night). Ironically, I bought insurance a few times for the guns that I returned.

A common mistake shipping acceptance lady making is forgetting checking the "signature required" box in computer, even if you checked it on paper. Make sure it appears on your receipt. Otherwise, item worth thousands could be dumped at a front door without confirmation.

Frank · 01-12-2010, 08:34 AM

There is a sticky in the Discussion Section written by Ron Smith, on Shipping Firearms via USPS. It's an interesting read!!!

01-11-2010, 05:20 PM	#1
gearheadbill User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Question about shipping firearms/insurance I am getting ready to ship my pistol off to Simpson's in Illinois for appraisal etc.. I am wondering about shipping and in particular about insurance on the shipment. Those who have seen my thread/s on my Luger know that it may well be a very valuable gun. If it were lost/stolen/run over by an 18 wheeler I would be out seriously if I don't have insurance...BUT...will the idea of having, say, $10,000.00 in insurance on the shipment put up a red flag to someone inside UPS/FedEx/USPS? I am thinking particularly of a would-be thief, but any other red flag as well. $10K may well be quite a bit over the actual value and it certainly is a lot for such a small package. Any experiences or advice?? If it can be done, I could call my regular insurance agent and bind some type of coverage for the period it's out of my hands, but I don't know if that's even an option.

01-11-2010, 05:52 PM	#2
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Shipping insurance If you send your gun by Registered Mail, you can purchase insurance up to $20,000.00 at very reasonable rates from the Post Office. Registered packages can not be sealed with plastic tape as rubber ink stamps are applied to all seams. You need to seal your package with old fashioned brown paper tape. Regards

01-11-2010, 06:14 PM	#3
lew1 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,108 Thanks: 82 Thanked 204 Times in 112 Posts	One needs an 01 license to ship thru USPS. See Post office form 1508 which is required to be submitted when shipping the pistol.. __________________ charlie

01-11-2010, 06:33 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,962 Thanks: 2,063 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	You first need Simpson's FFL and then you can ship to them. I would ship overnight via FedEx or UPS and arrange it so it arrives Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Don't ship on a Friday or a holiday weekend. Usually I do not worry about insurance, for the reasons stated above and rumours of how they don't like to pay out for large amounts; although I have had other folks tell me they have been paid. Shipping overnight allows you to track it on line and gives it little chance of being left behind; as NDA (next day air) is handeled seperately. Cost will be around $50-$60 without insurance. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-11-2010, 07:48 PM	#5
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	It's an awkward situation because USPS does not ship handguns without 01 FFL (unless it's a pre-1899 antique). FedEx Next Day Air should work. I know the feeling of shipping expansive guns without insurance..... buying issurance is buying peace in mind, but may come with hassle at service acception, so usually I skipped that (and crossed my fingers, felt bad for that night). Ironically, I bought insurance a few times for the guns that I returned. A common mistake shipping acceptance lady making is forgetting checking the "signature required" box in computer, even if you checked it on paper. Make sure it appears on your receipt. Otherwise, item worth thousands could be dumped at a front door without confirmation.

01-12-2010, 08:34 AM	#6
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 164 Times in 87 Posts	There is a sticky in the Discussion Section written by Ron Smith, on Shipping Firearms via USPS. It's an interesting read!!!