Guns broken in shipping

[Altitude sickness]

That had to be a shock when opening. With no external damage. At least it’s not a heavy recoiling rifle. And can be repaired.

 

[wyosteve]

These scenarios just confirm my personal decision to only do a face to face on a gun deal unless it's a generic gun that I won't cry over if it's lost/damaged.

 

[Fixfire]

This thread is seriously getting me sick in the stomach. The Griffin & Howe example from @One Day... is particularly disturbing.
As a collector of Western and Wildlife Art, I’ve been lucky thus far on shipments.

 

[Firebird]

Had the exact Same thing with ups and a custom stocked rifle. UPS paid a $500 claim was all. There was also no damage to the box!
Then ups shipped a composite stocked rifle also from Texas and it showed up without a box. Just a tag in the trigger guard with shipping info to the ffl. I went in to check on the shipment and there was my rifle with no packaging at all! That seller was excellent and had pictures of the box when he left it with his ffl. The rifle was not damaged and worked fine.
I’m sorry for your loss. A letter from a lawyer is sometimes enough to move the process along

 

[flying sailor]

As an FFL holder there are two criteria that I hold too. One is that the bolt is removed and padded and secured in the hard case that I ship in, if it is left in the rifle there are two things that are key. Number one is - is the rifle really un loaded? Number two is critical- if there is pressure on the outside of the shipping container the bolt will act as leverage and a broken stock may result. I always insist on bolt removal when arms are being shipped to me, and when they are shipped out. Did have a bolt flop around in the case and punched right thru the objective lens on a Kahles that was attached to a rifle shipped to me. Seller made good and Kahles factory did a free rebuild. Only minor grief for a moment or so. Had a claim with FEDEX and it went nowhere, very disturbing. Another thought on when to ship_ always ship at the beginning of the week, so your item is always moving and someone has custody. Had a friend that shipped late week and some items sat in storage so a few things,(bolts) went missing for a shipment of rifles. Most dis- tasteful.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

FedEx is pure garbage just my opinion. I know many complain about the USPS but I have never had issues with them when shipping rifles. UPS has been good also but as it seems now as someone without an ffl they won't ship a rifle for me anyway leaving just the USPS as an option. Used Registered Mail once as well. Thats always an option for high end items that need accountability during transit.

 

[Huvius]

I only use USPS Registered Mail.
R.M. is tracked and documented at every stage of the shipment and extra insurance isn"t all that costly.
You must use the brown paper tape (the water activated adhesive type) on all seams of the box.

Both FedEx and UPS have broken or generally abused shipments of mine and now the local UPS Stores refuse to ship firearms of any kind, even muzzle loaders, so the decision to ditch UPS was made that much easier.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

I only use USPS Registered Mail.
R.M. is tracked and documented at every stage of the shipment and extra insurance isn"t all that costly.
You must use the brown paper tape (the water activated adhesive type) on all seams of the box.

Both FedEx and UPS have broken or generally abused shipments of mine and now the local UPS Stores refuse to ship firearms of any kind, even muzzle loaders, so the decision to ditch UPS was made that much easier.

Exactly and I was told if I remember correctly that only certain postal employees are allowed to handle the Registered Mail and the packages travel and are locked in cages and a ledger is kept that has to be signed along the way of its travels for accountability by the postal workers.

 

[HuntingGold]

I also had a custom rifle busted in half by FedEx. They gave me a piddly little check and told me to take them to court if I want more. After consulting with an attorney, I learned I'd pay as much in attorney fees as I'd win and decided to let it go. The shipping agent filed a claim with his insurance company and got me a little more, which helped ease the pain.

 

[PARA45]

This is criminal, and it’s insane that they can get away with it. Ugh!!!

 

[AimSmall]

I have a guy that fixes such issues, but can't give you his name until he finishes my current project!

 

[deewayne2003]

@Green Chile

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the exact same break happened to a buddy of mines Super America .270wsm; Kimber wanted $1,500 for a new stock and he ultimately put a Boyd’s laminate stock on it.

If you get a Kimber replacement stock, make sure you’re quoted the same quality of wood.

Point being… I would start with getting a quote in writing from Kimber for a replacement stock and sending that as your minimum cost.

After all if they want to drag it out then go whole hog on the replacement value, as in …..

Cost to replace stock, installation by qualified gun smith and depreciation loss to the gun for being restocked.

UPS was such a pain that it ended up costing them $875 to replace the stock on a 700ADL I had shipped to me in college.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Exactly and I was told if I remember correctly that only certain postal employees are allowed to handle the Registered Mail and the packages travel and are locked in cages and a ledger is kept that has to be signed along the way of its travels for accountability by the postal workers.

This is correct. It’s also the only way (aside from private 3rd party insurance) to ship/insure something valued at over $5k. The package ships in a secure cage area of their trucks and gets signed in and out each time.

I’ve shipped a couple double rifles this way and had one shipment that took a couple tours around the country before delivering. Every time it crossed into California (through the same location) it either came back to Texas or diverted to somewhere else in the country instead of going onto Reno. Once USPS was notified of the issue, I got an actual call every morning and evening updating me on where the rifle was and its next destination/stop. All 3 times it got kicked back and rerouted were the same hub and on the 4th try there were zero issues. I should’ve asked if it was the same antigen or bunny hugger dealing with it.

 

[Rare Breed]

I had a similar mishap some years ago Green Chile In my case, on a Vancouver, Canada to Phoenix. AZ flight, with a fully bespoke Griffin & Howe rifle .340 Wby on a ZKK 602 action with all the bells and whistle (claw mounts, express sights on quarter rib, etc. etc.).

For what it is worth, the airline laughed at it, what with the Warsaw Convention and subsequent Montreal Convention that limit their liability for international flights to a couple hundred dollars per kilo.

The Warsaw Convention / Montreal Convention do not apply here, because, unless I am confused, this was not an international shipment. But even though Fed Ex is liable, their obvious defense will likely be to claim that the stock was broken before shipping, because the box was not damaged.

FYI, a friend suggested that I submit a claim to my home umbrella insurance (Farmers in those days). I would never have thought of it. To my amazement, they asked for a quote. I had Griffin & Howe submit one, and Farmers paid. And it was not cheap either...

View attachment 654991

View attachment 654992
In this event, there was obviously an external mechanical force (forklift truck?) at play.....................

More relevant to your issue, I also saw with my own eyes a stock break in the most unexpected circumstances. Actually, I am the one who broke it. It was a Sauer 90 Luxus rifle. A sharp wrap on the barrel to dislodge a twig fallen into the barrel during a hunt obviously transmitted to the stock exactly the wrong vibration amplitude at the wrong frequency, and it snapped at the wrist just like yours. I was speechless...

There is credibility to this. To this day, European countries forbid marching troops to cross bridges in parade steps. This is because in the 1900's a bridge designed to carry heavy lorries collapsed to the light weight but perfectly synchronized vibration amplitude and frequency of a regiment marching across the bridge . True story !!!

Sorry about this my friend

I don’t trust any shipper or airline. I have Eastern Insurance who pays no matter how it was damaged or lost. I know they recently got bought but no change to my policy. I have $75,000 in coverage for $450 per year

 

[PARA45]

@Rare Breed, is this insurance for firearms, on top of your homeowner’s insurance? Please elaborate.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Has anyone ever collected on a separate insurance policy. For damage while shipping to or from

 

[Rare Breed]

FedEx is pure garbage just my opinion. I know many complain about the USPS but I have never had issues with them when shipping rifles. UPS has been good also but as it seems now as someone without an ffl they won't ship a rifle for me anyway leaving just the USPS as an option. Used Registered Mail once as well. Thats always an option for high end items that need accountability during transit.

I only use USPS for rifles. never any hassle or problems

 

[Rare Breed]

@Rare Breed, is this insurance for firearms, on top of your homeowner’s insurance? Please elaborate.

No. I have a separate firearms policy with them. It has nothing to do with my home insurance. I just don’t trust anyone else. I have some nice coin in my rifles so I want to be at peace pretty much no matter how they are covered

 

[Altitude sickness]

I’ve heard of Eastern which is now Gallagher insurance. Denied a claim from fire at a gunsmith’s location. They said it fell under the gunsmith’s insurance.

The exclusions are all you really need to read on any policy. Not what is covered.

​

 

[One Day...]

Has anyone ever collected on a separate insurance policy. For damage while shipping to or from

Yes, as explained in my first post, my home umbrella covered mine. It was Farmers.