Strut10 Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Bought a N.I.B. vintage CVA Hawken flint gun off Gun Broker for my sister a few weeks back. It was mailed from Texas via insured USPS in the original shipping carton with a lot of extra packing added inside. The thing arrived with the buttplate and toe area of the stock absolutely anhialated. The shipper filed a claim on the insurance. The claim gets denied because the USPS says it was on a "prohibited item". Since when is a blackpowder gun shipped in original packaging from and to an adult living in a states with no prohibitions of such commerce "prohibited"?????????? The post office had no problem taking the money to ship and insure the gun (which was declared as the contents of the parcel). The insurance purchased was for the actual auction price of the gun......nothing for shipping fees. Now the shipper (who is active military and is leaving for duty within a day or so) has 60 days to write a letter of appeal. What a crock of ****!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 The usps insurance is almost a joke. I just shipped a package to Thailand insured for $500. Took it forever to get it through customs (ya gotta bribe them... seriously). Meanwhile I asked they PO about when the delivery deadline was for ins claims and was told they gave it 6 months for international shipments, 60 days for mailing in the US!!! It's all about wearing you down in the beaurocracy. Stick with it Don! My package did arrive thankfully, so I wont have to work my claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Thats a LOAD. My wife works for the USPS. She ships guns on a regular basis. She works in the same town as an incredible gun smith. The guy ships and has guns shipped to him from everywhere you can imagine. He literally has been shipping through them for probably 30 years. I would move up the chain of command.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Absolutely make the appeal. You're right they are wrong. It's illegal for them not to pay if they are wrong but if you don't appeal they can claim you agreed with their initial accessment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 I hate insurance companies. All of them. Always seems their first inclination is to say "OK, how do we get out of this..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Go for the jugular Don! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Well, the fact that this was damaged (along with the snitty attitude of most USPS customer facing employees) is why I don't use the USPS. Having said that, they are right on this one: http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/503.htm#wp1063624 See 4.2.3.b regarding the fact that nonmailable matter cannot be insured. Here's their listing of items that cannot be mailed: http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/sending-receiving.htm see hazardous and restricted items. I gotta go with them on the gun thing but they also shouldn't have damaged something packed that well. Again, why I don't use them. Having said that, if I were the postmaster I would just reimburse you and tell you not to ship a firearm again. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 I gotta disagree with you. It doesn't say firearms can't be mailed, but just in small quantities. Below that it shows the items that absolutely can't be mailed. Here it is, but I think you might want to push this a little harder. Some things cannot be mailed or can be mailed only in small quantities for safety and legal reasons. Some items have restrictions on how they can be mailed, including: Aerosol cans Firearms Flammable materials Liquids and powders Lottery Tickets Poisons Some items, however, are not permitted in the mail, including: Alcoholic beverages Ammunition Drug paraphernalia Fireworks and other explosives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Highest unskilled worker in the world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted August 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Having said that, they are right on this one: New No. They are not. From the DMM: 601 12.1.1 g "Antique firearm means any firearm (including those with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898, or any replica thereof" 601 12.2 "Antique firearms sent as curios or museum pieces may be accepted for mailing without regard to 12.1.3 through 12.1.6. " Guns of all descriptions are mailed & insured every day. We're just getting jacked around on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted August 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 Go for the jugular Don! I would if I were the one with the insurable interest. However, since the shipper is the one that buys the insurance and pays the postage, he's the one that has to fight the fight. Since it was me, though, that sent him the money to pay the postage/insurance I'm going to look into having the insurable interest tranferred over to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 No. They are not. From the DMM: 601 12.1.1 g "Antique firearm means any firearm (including those with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898, or any replica thereof" 601 12.2 "Antique firearms sent as curios or museum pieces may be accepted for mailing without regard to 12.1.3 through 12.1.6. " Guns of all descriptions are mailed & insured every day. We're just getting jacked around on this. I have no dog in the fight but was this particular gun manufactured before 1898? Or was it a curio or museum piece? Try to escalate the appeal, I certainly would. I did a little research and I found people who ship the black powder guns and those the vehemently swear it will get you in trouble that the USPS doesn't allow it unless the recipient is an FFL. I don't have a dog in this fight. I honestly think the answer you are going to get is that it depends on who you talk to. Again though, anything I cared about remotely, I wouldn't send it through the USPS. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 never tried using USPS to send or receive something like that. sorry to hear that Don. I hope it gets worked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 And I thought someone stealing my Hunter Safety Vest from UPS was bad.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted August 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 Again though, anything I cared about remotely, I wouldn't send it through the USPS. New Me either. Ever since they "rubber banded" a $500 rifle scope to my rural mailbox 2 feet from the road.................... But it wasn't my decision. I thought the gun was coming UPS. The guy just changed his mind and went to the P.O. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 I would if I were the one with the insurable interest. However, since the shipper is the one that buys the insurance and pays the postage, he's the one that has to fight the fight. Since it was me, though, that sent him the money to pay the postage/insurance I'm going to look into having the insurable interest tranferred over to me. My wife (a clerk at the PO) told me you can take care of the claim. She also said to make sure you have the packing to prove it was packaged well. If you no longer have the packing "FIND THE PACKING." She also suggested filing the claim online. She said it is processed in half the time and no-one will even look at it until its half over. They most likely wont do anything more than shrug and go on. If that doesnt work take it to the Post Master. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 That is a shame Don. Hope you can get some cooperation from the usps folks, have had a few issues with them here and prefer for things to be shipped to us by other companies when at all possible. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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