Anyone ever have a firearm lost in the mail (USPS)

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Diznastyx80

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Ran into an odd situation this weekend. Went to the FFL to pick up a gunbroker purchase since I showed a delivery confirmation 4 days earlier to the FFL's PO Box. When I got there they told me it wasnt there and basically thats all they could do. According to USPS and the gunstore employees the FFL is so close that they have a "mailcaller" service so basically the gunstore employee walks 40 yards to the post office daily and picks up packages. I have to wait until Tuesday for the local usps office to call me since they assigned a case number but isnt this something the seller and FFL be trying to sort out?
 
ffl has nothing to do with it. seller has already done everything required of them.
it's your gun that's lost.
 
frakncylons said:
The seller has gone into the agreement with the shipping service to get package from A to B. If it didn't make it to B, the seller should be responsible for fighting it.
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Thats essentially what the usps helpline told me since I dont have the shipping receipts, etc. I only have a tracking number that was provided by the seller. When I asked about reporting it as lost or stolen (hypothetically if its not resolved) it went back to the original seller filing the paperwork since they have all the info. Hoping its just a fluke.
 
DrScaryGuy said:
ffl has nothing to do with it. seller has already done everything required of them.
it's your gun that's lost.
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I disagree, respectfully, to an extent. This "mailcaller" service means postal employees hold the larger packages that dont fit in the ffl's PO box. The usps helpline asked why the store employees didnt walk over with the tracking number and have the postal workers double check since legally i cannot check and see what is in someone elses mailbox.
 
frakncylons said:
I'd like to add to my statement. IF the package made it to B (the FFL po box), the seller and USPS are done. They did their job.
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Yeah, seems like its between the local post office and the ffl...whatever agreement they have worked out. Like i said Im hoping its a fluke. I was more caught off guard by how the FFL handled it. Even a customer commented because he saw my delivery confirmation when i showed the one employee. I ended up calling and emailing the owner to try to get someone to go verify it wasnt misplaced but it was too late in the day and tomorrow is a holiday. Just wondered if this ever happened to someone else and any suggestions on what steps to take.
 
Diznastyx80 said:
Yeah, seems like its between the local post office and the ffl...whatever agreement they have worked out. Like i said Im hoping its a fluke. I was more caught off guard by how the FFL handled it. Even a customer commented because he saw my delivery confirmation when i showed the one employee. I ended up calling and emailing the owner to try to get someone to go verify it wasnt misplaced but it was too late in the day and tomorrow is a holiday. Just wondered if this ever happened to someone else and any suggestions on what steps to take.
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I'd mark this particular FFL off of my list. My guns all get delivered to a place of business, during business hours. I wouldn't want the extra step of "doesn't fit in PO box, so call next door and see if someone can come over and pick it up." Best of luck to you though, let us know how things turn out.
 
I’ve been in a similar situation as the FFL who never received the gun. I fought for my customer as hard as I could to track down the package. Cost me about 10 hours of time, most of which was waiting at the Post Office or on hold with them. Gun was never found. It had obviously been stolen by someone at USPS. Long story, but there was no doubt.

Bottom line it that if the receiving FFL never got the package, he is really out of the loop and can do only so much. It is on the shipper and USPS to find it, file a claim, etc. In my case, the shipping FFL washed his hands of it and wouldn’t even file the appropriate form for a gun lost/stolen in transit, as required by ATF. I filed the form for my customer so at least the serial number would be in the system if it gets found down the road. ATF said ordinarily they wouldn’t accept it from me, but given the circumstances, they did. Supposedly the sending FFL was going to get in trouble for his lack of action.

As a side note, it is crap like this that makes me mad when people refer to transfer fees as “free money.” This fiasco cost me more than the total amount I’ve ever received in transfer fees.
 
BudE said:
You might tell the FFL that you're contacting F Troop. That might spur him to do more. Was the firearm insured?
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Yes, looks like the seller insured it. This is the first time i used this FFL and they always seem like really good guys. Just seemed lost on what to do in the moment.
 
cubrock said:
I’ve been in a similar situation as the FFL who never received the gun. I fought for my customer as hard as I could to track down the package. Cost me about 10 hours of time, most of which was waiting at the Post Office or on hold with them. Gun was never found. It had obviously been stolen by someone at USPS. Long story, but there was no doubt.

Bottom line it that if the receiving FFL never got the package, he is really out of the loop and can do only so much. It is on the shipper and USPS to find it, file a claim, etc. In my case, the shipping FFL washed his hands of it and wouldn’t even file the appropriate form for a gun lost/stolen in transit, as required by ATF. I filed the form for my customer so at least the serial number would be in the system if it gets found down the road. ATF said ordinarily they wouldn’t accept it from me, but given the circumstances, they did. Supposedly the sending FFL was going to get in trouble for his lack of action.

As a side note, it is crap like this that makes me mad when people refer to transfer fees as “free money.” This fiasco cost me more than the total amount I’ve ever received in transfer fees.
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Thanks for the feedback...i was wondering at what time so you file the atf form and since ive never taken posession who fills it out.
 
Diznastyx80 said:
Well, no progress. Postmaster says it was picked up from the PO Box and FFL says otherwise. Looks like we are going the insurance claim route. Already talked to the seller. He is going to issue me a refund, file the insure claim and process the atf form.
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Damn, sorry to hear it went this way. I don't understand how this stuff happens with a gun.

Was it maliciously stolen you think? or did some idiot from gun store drop a box on the way back from post office and lost a gun as casually as a "50% off your first landscaping service" post card?
 
Diznastyx80 said:
Well, no progress. Postmaster says it was picked up from the PO Box and FFL says otherwise. Looks like we are going the insurance claim route. Already talked to the seller. He is going to issue me a refund, file the insure claim and process the atf form.
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Sounds like a good seller.
 
If it were I, I'd get the serial number and contact all the FFLs around me other than the one you were dealing with and ask them to be on the lookout for it. One other thing, if it was insured someone had to sign for it. Who signed for it and who was the PO guy that signed it out. This would really, really piss me off. I hate a thief! I was aboard ship one time and some sailor stole a Marine's M1. They did a search and found it and the guy that stole. I got to talking with an old Chief about it and he told me that in the days past (prior to 1961) if they caught a thief aboard a Naval vessel he was very likely to disappear over the side about 0-dark-30.
 
The FFL checked repeatedly and when the USPS called there were some inconsistencies about how they handle large packages. I guess the USPS case worker is going to continue to investigate but we all know chances are slim that would produce anything. I have been checking armslist and the forums just in case.
 
BudE said:
If it were I, I'd get the serial number and contact all the FFLs around me other than the one you were dealing with and ask them to be on the lookout for it. One other thing, if it was insured someone had to sign for it. Who signed for it and who was the PO guy that signed it out. This would really, really piss me off. I hate a thief! I was aboard ship one time and some sailor stole a Marine's M1. They did a search and found it and the guy that stole. I got to talking with an old Chief about it and he told me that in the days past (prior to 1961) if they caught a thief aboard a Naval vessel he was very likely to disappear over the side about 0-dark-30.
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That is not true. I just had one delivered thru the mail and the seller insured it. I passed the mail truck about a mile from my house and got home and found it sitting in the carport. No one was home to sign for it but they left it anyway.
 
Schattenreiter said:
That is not true. I just had one delivered thru the mail and the seller insured it. I passed the mail truck about a mile from my house and got home and found it sitting in the carport. No one was home to sign for it but they left it anyway.
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Depends upon the amount whether you have to sign or not
 
Yeah the USPS helpline said it wasnt tagged for a signature. I talked to the store and I really believe the post office put the "oversized package tag" into the wrong PO Box and someone walked home with the wrong package. Sounds to me like the USPS's system failed. The store owner has done all he can and I appreciate his effort. We are going to keep an eye out to see if one pops up for sale. Its a remington 581 22lr with a simmons scope. They are around but not too common. I do have the serial number as well.
 
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Welp its official. Got my refund from the seller and when I called USPS (because I hadnt heard back from them...i was always the one calling) they informed me they were already instructed to issue the insurance claim. Unreal. Appreciate all the input. If a remington 581 ever comes up for sale with the serial number 1027169 just let me know.
 
Diznastyx80 said:
Welp its official. Got my refund from the seller and when I called USPS (because I hadnt heard back from them...i was always the one calling) they informed me they were already instructed to issue the insurance claim. Unreal. Appreciate all the input. If a remington 581 ever comes up for sale with the serial number 1027169 just let me know.
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With customer care like that, you should name the seller.
 
Diznastyx80 said:
Welp its official. Got my refund from the seller and when I called USPS (because I hadnt heard back from them...i was always the one calling) they informed me they were already instructed to issue the insurance claim. Unreal. Appreciate all the input. If a remington 581 ever comes up for sale with the serial number 1027169 just let me know.
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If they were instructed to issue the claim that quickly, they have a thief in the house and they know it.
 
About a year ago, I bought a small handgun online. I had it sent to my FFL who I'd done business with for several years. When I saw, by the tracking, that it was delivered I went in the next day to pick it up. Well, my FFL said he never received my shipment. I showed him the tracking showing it was delivered at 9:30am the day before. Nope, no delivery. He opens at 10am and his delivery driver has an agreement to stop after 10am because he gets a lot of guns in the mail.

So my FFL checks with the PO and finds that a sub delivered the mail the day before and cannot recall if there was a package delivered or not. So my FFL looks at hisoutdoor camera recording at the time it shows delivered but the mailbox is not visible in the camera view but is just a few feet out of view. Well, he sees the delivery truck pulling away at the time of the scan but cannot verify if the package was put in the box. However, a few minutes later he sees someone walking by out front (no sidewalks) going in the opposite direction. He said the guy looked homeless or destitute but didn't recognize him. He figures the guy checked the mailbox on the way by grabbed the box, like a porch pirate. However that is out of view so who knows?

Bottom line? The sending FFL said he was covered because the package was scanned as delivered. The post office denied responsibility since it was scanned delivered. My FFL said he never got it but he would do follow up paperwork to see what he could do. He suddenly closed a week later which I could see coming as he struggled for months. Did my FFL steal it? I didn't think so but desperate people do desperate things. Did the sub mail carrier scan it and then steal it? Possibly. if my FFL did truly file a compalint at the PO then they may be looking at the sub for further incidents. The sender did not specify signature required but stated I didn't ask for it or pay for it. Is it required for a handgun shipment? All I know is I am out the $300 (could have been a lot worse) and I've accepted that I will never recover it.
 
larryh1108 said:
About a year ago, I bought a small handgun online. I had it sent to my FFL who I'd done business with for several years. When I saw, by the tracking, that it was delivered I went in the next day to pick it up. Well, my FFL said he never received my shipment. I showed him the tracking showing it was delivered at 9:30am the day before. Nope, no delivery. He opens at 10am and his delivery driver has an agreement to stop after 10am because he gets a lot of guns in the mail.

So my FFL checks with the PO and finds that a sub delivered the mail the day before and cannot recall if there was a package delivered or not. So my FFL looks at hisoutdoor camera recording at the time it shows delivered but the mailbox is not visible in the camera view but is just a few feet out of view. Well, he sees the delivery truck pulling away at the time of the scan but cannot verify if the package was put in the box. However, a few minutes later he sees someone walking by out front (no sidewalks) going in the opposite direction. He said the guy looked homeless or destitute but didn't recognize him. He figures the guy checked the mailbox on the way by grabbed the box, like a porch pirate. However that is out of view so who knows?

Bottom line? The sending FFL said he was covered because the package was scanned as delivered. The post office denied responsibility since it was scanned delivered. My FFL said he never got it but he would do follow up paperwork to see what he could do. He suddenly closed a week later which I could see coming as he struggled for months. Did my FFL steal it? I didn't think so but desperate people do desperate things. Did the sub mail carrier scan it and then steal it? Possibly. if my FFL did truly file a compalint at the PO then they may be looking at the sub for further incidents. The sender did not specify signature required but stated I didn't ask for it or pay for it. Is it required for a handgun shipment? All I know is I am out the $300 (could have been a lot worse) and I've accepted that I will never recover it.
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A signature is required by ATF for gun shipments by FFLs. It is buried in their regs, but it is there.
 
I thought so and my FFL thought so but he disappeared before there was a conclusion and the sending FFL and the PO both said it shows delivered.
It is/was a mess for sure. It was never "registered" to me since I never took possession. That is my only saving grace.
 
I have the worst luck with the USPS....another one is lost in there system however they wont use the word "missing". I asked the shipping FFL not to use the USPS and they swore theyve never had an issue....now they call me once a day apologizing saying they cant get any info but they are trying to figure out what is going on.
 
I've shipped dozens of firearms over the years with USPS and never had one go off track but then they were always shipped to an actual address and not a P.O. box. I also insure them to the value of the firearm.

My main problem with USPS is arguing with the counter clerk that shipping a firearm is legal. The Fuquay Varina P.O. is the absolute worst. I've even shown them the regs. That post office there is a bad place anyway, the clerks are constantly complaining to each other about how horrible the place is. I don't go there anymore.
 
Diznastyx80 said:
I have the worst luck with the USPS....another one is lost in there system however they wont use the word "missing". I asked the shipping FFL not to use the USPS and they swore theyve never had an issue....now they call me once a day apologizing saying they cant get any info but they are trying to figure out what is going on.
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Are you still using the original FFL that has the mail caller service?
 
Different FFL. To be clear this one went to a distribution center, showed as arrived at the center then departed from the center, at some point it reverted back to "in transit" and the departed from center scan disappeared from the tracking info. A customer service rep said she has been hearing about tracking info switching back and forth alot lately. Their CS reps are really nice but its weird because they cant get in contact with the distribution centers. They can only help open cases or claims. The postmaster from the original shipping location cant even get through to the distribution center.
 
Well after all my complaining I got a flurry of tracking updates over a 24hr period and the rifle arrived. Ive heard others have been waiting over 4 weeks for firearms to get to their destinations.
 
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