UPS Store in Ridgeview Plaza - Hanover, MD

[9613]

I thought I'd pass along the experience I had at The UPS Store on Annapolis Road just north of Fort Meade.

I'm up in Maryland for work and stopped in there this morning to send off an EOTech sight that's been in my truck for about a week now (sending it back as part of the big EOTech refund fiasco, today was the first chance I had to send it off). Anyway, since it was getting insured I felt that I needed to disclose what it really was when asked: a holographic weapon sight. As y'all probably guessed, the little old lady behind the counter gasped and said that she didn't think they could ship that. I asked her what firearm components were allowed to be shipped and she said "just scopes, nothing else." I explained what the item was but she acted like she needed to verify with her manager. She walked away and came back saying he had to make a call to the main office. Two weeks ago, I shipped out a few declared lower receivers for SBR engraving from a UPS Store in Virginia. The horror!

While waiting, she shares with me a delightful story about how a guy shipped a gun in the mail piece-by-piece to someone who wasn't supposed to have it and how he went on to kill a bunch of people. I tried to hide my "that's nice dear" face while I just smiled and nodded along. After a few minutes, the manager came over and said he wasn't going to be able to ship it because it's gun related - not even scopes are being shipped from his store. I politely told him I'd take my business elsewhere and wished them a good day.

Long story short: Avoid this place if you're shipping firearm parts that you are going to be declaring due to insurance or whatever.

 

[JasonB]

Sounds like they don't deserve any business regardless of whether or not you are declaring for insurance.

 

[Boom Boom]

You should have said "optics" or "machine parts". I avoid The UPS Store entirely because of said nosiness and just pay the $9 to have UPS pick up packages at my front door.

 

[6pack]

Sounds like they don't deserve any business regardless of whether or not you are declaring for insurance.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Actual firearms ship from UPS depots, not storefronts.

Declaring Optical Device would have been sufficient.

 

[9613]

Guys, I originally said "it's an optic" but she questioned what that meant. After I said "the manufacturer calls it a 'holographic weapon sight'" I went on to clarify its really nothing more than aluminum and glass.

US Post Office was right down the road. I shipped it from there instead. My biggest dilemma is that I withheld business from an anti-gun establishment and instead gave money to the government. :/

 

[5.56blaster]

UPS store in Westminster wouldn't ship a stock. Ended up mailing it USPS, they couldn't care less about sending a stock.

 

[Boom Boom]

Yep. The nosiness is why I stay far away from those stores. Last time I went through the drill there was for a rifle scope. I never said "rifle", just "scope". They kept asking what do you mean. I said something you look through to magnify things, like a telescope. They still kept asking questions. I had enough and left. Never again. Paying extra to have UPS pick up stuff at my front door is worth it 10x over.

 

[ras_oscar]

If I understand correctly, the mall storefronts are actually franchised locations. I wanted to ship a case of 9mm to my brother in advance of a nvacation trip out. Went to the UPS storefront and was told I coldn't ship a hazmat from there. I went to the depot near work and it was no problem. I suspect the issue is the storefront people aren't fully trained in all the shipping regulations. I knew UPS shipped ammo because that's how I got it from the manufacturer.

 

[Boom Boom]

Correct. They are independent franchises, not part of UPS.

 

[Mack C-85]

The closest UPS facility to Fort Meade is on Sweitzer Lane off Rt. 198, just west of I-95 in West Laurel.

 

[traveller]

You did that to yourself.

 

[protegeV]

You did that to yourself.

pretty much. I would have just said it's a magnifying glass or tiny monocular

 

[moojersey]

Yeah I would have just told them spare parts, auto parts, or mechanical parts something like that. Honestly sounds like you told on yourself. Its none of their business to a certain extent.

 

[9613]

I'd like to say thanks to the Monday morning quarterbacks in this thread for all the advice they've provided.

While my intent was to bring to light the fact that a particular store was anti-gun and shouldn't be patronized, it's apparent that y'all would rather educate me on how I could have skirted around the issue - even though I tried to skirt around it and they kept asking for me to clarify until they heard what they wanted and denied me service because it was an icky gun part.

I'm not quite sure why so many of y'all went the direction you did with this thread, but then again I'm not from around here so maybe gun owners are just different in the north.

 

[protegeV]

I'd like to say thanks to the Monday morning quarterbacks in this thread for all the advice they've provided.

While my intent was to bring to light the fact that a particular store was anti-gun and shouldn't be patronized, it's apparent that y'all would rather educate me on how I could have skirted around the issue - even though I tried to skirt around it and they kept asking for me to clarify until they heard what they wanted and denied me service because it was an icky gun part.

I'm not quite sure why so many of y'all went the direction you did with this thread, but then again I'm not from around here so maybe gun owners are just different in the north.

We're acclimated to our surroundings. Try 10 other UPS stored in the Baltimore/DC metro area and use the same wording and you'll probably be turned away 8 or 9 times.

 

[9613]

We're acclimated to our surroundings. Try 10 other UPS stored in the Baltimore/DC metro area and use the same wording and you'll probably be turned away 8 or 9 times.

Does that mean you've given up on trying to make gun ownership appear to be the norm so that people are less scared and stop putting up 'no guns allowed' signs and whatever else nonsense that scared people do?

I started this thread in the Maryland 2A Issues section to discuss Maryland 2A issues, not for a lesson on what I should have said....after I said what y'all said I should have said.

 

[protegeV]

I choose my battles. The war is not going to be won or even remotely affected in a ups store...

 

[lee2]

i usually avoid any of the "stores" and go to one of the hub facilities.

 

[Boom Boom]

Does that mean you've given up on trying to make gun ownership appear to be the norm so that people are less scared and stop putting up 'no guns allowed' signs and whatever else nonsense that scared people do?

You'll be doing nothing but punching at air by confronting store owners in the Balt/DC corridor. If you want serious change, it starts by getting the right people elected in Annapolis. Complaining loud and often to the leftists already there is almost useless. Until the GA gets cleaned out, however unlikely it seems now, the crap you're encountering will remain the norm and then some.