What I learned about handgun shipping rates

[Mike1951]

Earlier this year, I posted about some vendors that were quoting reasonable rates for shipping handguns, but I never got an answer about what was going on.

Empire Arms and Southern Ohio Guns were the first, to be followed by others.

On the last two pistols I bought from SOG, shipping charges were $17.80 each.

Empire Arms is as follows:
HANDGUN SHIPPING:
FIRST HANDGUN:
$25.00 via UPS SECOND DAY AIR

ADD $3.00 for RESIDENCE (as opposed to business) addresses
ADD $8.00 to the above for destinations West of the Mississippi (except Texas)

ADDITIONAL HANDGUNS:
$8.00 for second, $5.00 for each additional handgun in the same parcel.

The last CZ-82 I bought from Aim Surplus, admittedly a promotion and an aberration, I was only charged $0.01 for shipping.

A previous CZ-82, bought from a smaller dealer in OH, was going to cost me in excess of $50 for shipping. After some conversation, he hand carried the pistol to Aim and they charged $23 to ship it to me on his behalf.

Anyway, to the answer. UPS and apparently FEDEX also, allow dealers to sign an agreement that they will ship 50 handguns each week. This agreement allows them to ship using 2nd Day Air and in some cases greater discounts. No one seems to audit the number shipped, so if the dealer is willing to bend the truth, someone shipping fewer might qualify. The only restriction I have learned is that shipments are only accepted Mon through Weds. This is to make sure they are delivered before the weekend, supposedly when most of the in transit thefts were occurring.

The rules aren't applied evenly and the playing field isn't always level.

[jlangton]

Interesting information.
JL

[PBratton]

Dealers also have the option of shipping with the USPS. It's much cheaper, and if you can stand the wait, the 2-3 day service works well.