Drop shipping illegal* weapons - Texas and elsewhere

J

jeverettk

Joined
Feb 19, 2011
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83
I'm having trouble finding anything on this question:

Is it legal to drop ship illegal* or similarly restricted weapons in such a way that they are left on the purchasers' doorstep? My primary interest is specific to Texas, but I'm also curious how it works in other states.

I just bought some knives on Amazon and here in Texas they are definitely illegal weapons (*legal to own and keep at home but not legal for carry and DEFINITELY NOT legal to furnish to minors): bowie knives designed for knife throwing. I've purchased them twice now and both times, UPS just dropped them on the porch and walked away.

There was no option available for me to require that delivery be only to a responsible adult, and I'm not even sure there is such an option, but it just doesn't seem like a good idea to drop it on the porch and go.

I mean I have great kids, and I made sure my wife is aware when my knives were coming, but that's not a perfect system by any stretch. I personally hate policies that unreasonably burden people's rights under the mantra, "BUT THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!" but some things are just plain good sense.

I'm also curious to hear from any makers and dealers out there: Do you feel it would be an undue burden to require that a package containing illegal/restricted weapons be marked as only deliverable to a responsible adult? Are you aware of such an option? Does anyone do this as a regular practice?

Thanks for taking an interest. Any and all feedback welcome.

Jason Kerr
 
The purpose of laws like this is to prevent deliberate sale to minors, not burden the seller with undue hardship to ensure the knife never falls into the hands of minors. The most any carrier can do is specify a signature requirement for purposes of receipt. Only adults are allowed to sign for packages and some options do require ID be shown, not so much to prove age as prove identity of the recipient. But it's up to the seller shipping it to specify this.

A bowie knife is no more deadly and dangerous to a child's safety than any large kitchen knife.
 
Glistam, thanks fir the feedback.

I think we're close to the same page on this. I'm fully in favor of individuals taking responsibility for what happens with anything they buy or possess. My main concern is this actually being practicable.

It sounds like you're aware of this being an actual shipping option. I agree, I think the signature is the most a seller can really be expected to do, and I think it should be enough. As an adult once I sign for it, then the burden is on me. The carrier likewise should have the burden of following package instructions and not handing a box requiring adult signature over to a 10 yr old or dropping it on the porch. All that should be expected of the seller is knowing what should be marked as requiring a sign and being sure to do so. Does that sound about right?

Wht bugged me with my Amazon order was that I didn't even get the option to ask for this very simple service, which I would hope would be required. I agree on the kitchen knives, too, and keep them out of reach of the little kids and teach the big kids how to properly use them and make sure to supervise.

Is this just an option, or is it a legal requirement?
 
Just an option. Technically most of the time the carrier has no idea what's inside the box. Privacy of mail is a big deal, especially with USPS. So they would have no idea what is going on and could not in any practical sense be held responsible, with the exception of ignoring a signature requirement out of laziness and leaving it unattended on the door step.

I would posit that if children are intercepting packages and opening them on their own, this might raise some bigger questions about adequate parental supervision (which is legally required depending on the age). Especially when you consider said kid would have to obtain another sharp object in order to open said package.

It would probably be in Amazon's best interest to offer this option though.
 
Interesting converstaion...I suspect that the company that requires a signature will get less sales. I know that I would find it difficult to be home to sign for something, and going to the PO on my day off is not fun either. Thee are mostlikely more packages returned to the seller too when the time elapes for the person to pick it up....
 
glistam said:
I would posit that if children are intercepting packages and opening them on their own, this might raise some bigger questions about adequate parental supervision
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Spoken like someone who doesn't know how it works (or has repressed the memories perhaps?). "Adequate parental supervision" of post-toddlers never means ongoing, nonstop direct supervision. In fact, when such conditions exist, it suggests the parents are experiencing or will soon experience a complete and total meltdown.

Instead "adequate parental supervision" really means the kind of safety structure, preparedness, and training of both parents and children that allows for reasonable periods of indirect supervision. This also includes hunting down information like this.

glistam said:
Especially when you consider said kid would have to obtain another sharp object in order to open said package.
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Nah, take it from someone who has forgotten to carry a knife in his jammies often enough at Christmas that little fingers are more than adequate for packing tape given the proper motivation. The trick is that although the tape does not tear easily, the paper surface of the cardboard does. By the time I get down the hall and back with a knife, the package is always open.

I mainly wanted a different perspective so that I could gauge the tone for a note to Amazon in the "Packaging Feedback" about how I'd like to see this done in the future. Basically, I went with one that says, "I see this as my responsibility, and as such I want to have the option for a signature requirement at delivery. Thanks for the opportunity to give packaging feedback as this is a pretty big deal to me."

Hey thanks again for the reply.
 
tom19176 said:
I suspect that the company that requires a signature will get less sales. I know that I would find it difficult to be home to sign for something, and going to the PO on my day off is not fun either. Thee are mostlikely more packages returned to the seller too when the time elapes for the person to pick it up....
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Tom, that's the other thing I'm curious about: have any sellers faced (or imposed on themselves) such a requirement, and was there really a noticeable impact on sales? It seems like one of those things that's a toss up. It really could be that it does have an impact, or it could be that most people paying $XX for a knife wouldn't notice, care or might even actually like the idea that someone has to sign for it. I don't know.
 
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Amazon doesn't ship all the stuff you order. Sometimes orders are completed by a third party. In fact, you could resell those knives on Amazon, but you'd have to ship them.

I haven't used it, but I'd think that there would be an option for signature on delivery for an actual Amazon order. If it came from a supplier, you might have to call them about your order.

Honestly, if it's in a taped up box, I don't see a problem. If your kids are old enough to be unsupervised to where they could go outside and get the box, they should have the knowledge to not play with knives or open a box not meant for them. Beyond that it's a privacy concern.

As far as legal: Firearms can be dropped off in the same way. If you bought a firearm, you have to have the right license (C&R or FFL) to have it shipped as transfers of those type require it by federal law. If you sent a gun to a gunsmith for repair, they can mail it back to you no signature required.

I'm fairly certain that sending a knife and leaving it on your doorstep is perfectly legal. There are plenty of other things that kids can get into as dangerous or more so.
 
tom19176 said:
Interesting conversation...I suspect that the company that requires a signature will get less sales. I know that I would find it difficult to be home to sign for something, and going to the PO on my day off is not fun either. There are most likely more packages returned to the seller too when the time elapses for the person to pick it up....
Click to expand...

I would really like sellers to give the buyer the option to make that call one way or the other. My pet peeve with ordering is that it seems sellers are all over the map with signature requirements and never bother telling you if they use it or not when you place the order. I'm almost never home when the delivery person shows up and I've bought plenty of things that are totally safe to leave (my doorstep has very low risk of theft too), and then I find one of those darn pink notes in my mailbox (or stuck to my door) and have to either drive to the UPS distro center at 8:30pm or wait until the weekend to go to the Post Office. It would make things a lot easier for all of us if we could tick a box.
 
I would happily add "adult signature required" to anything I ship (it costs something like $3 from USPS as I recall, that's not a problem), and I would also happily ship it to wherever you like - say, your workplace - so you'll be confident of actually being there when it arrives.

Having things shipped to an empty house is going to result in problems sooner or later - no matter who you buy it from or who ships it.

On the other hand, if the item is illegal to own in your state (minor or not), not much I can do about that.

Keep in mind, I'm an individual and the knives I ship get my personal attention... that's not going to be the case with Amazon or most online retailers. Yet another reason to support us little guys :)
 
Just a small point. I think you are misusing the term "Drop-Shipping"

Drop shipping does not refer to the shipper "dropping" the shipment at your doorstep. It refers to the practice of a merchant not holding any inventory at all and fulfilling orders by having a third party ship the product directly to the consumer. For example: a seller offers iPhone cases for sale on eBay or amazon. They have no actual stock of any product. When they get an order, they contact a third party distributor in China that ships the case to the purchaser, and pocket the difference in price between what they charged the consumer and what the distributor charged them to send the product.
 
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