This started last week. It is a Covid fee, you will be charged more if it is not in corrugated cardboard. Everyone has had a a problem with one of the shipping companies I would never use Fedex they left my $400.00 order of ammo from Buds at a empty house across the road. They are terrible out in rural areas.
The quote you saw online was accurate. The UPS Store, not to be confused with a UPS hub, can charge whatever they want. Unless the new "covid" fee was 40.00, the UPS hub would have charged you closer to that 36.00 price point.
I think I paid the most I ever have last week for shipping rifle and it was 42.00 through USPS, Fedex wanted 46.00. This was also a 52in/25lb shipment. My typical cost to ship a rifle is usually 23.00-35.00 depending on where its going. I have shipped a lot of rifles.
Print labels online, its cheaper. I have shipping accounts with all 3 and USPS has consistently been cheaper and very predictable with their service.
