A. Because the only major carrier of small packages stopped handling UN 0336 1.4g Consumer Fireworks in 19## and without a reasonable cost method of shipping them in small packages, most catalog sales died off. You can still order them but now the only way they can be shipped is by motor freight and that usually means the minimum weight is 75-100 lbs and is often more fireworks than many can or want to buy.
You can order from some outlets in smaller packages and they can be shipped by some air fright companies, but the air freight is usually as expensive as the motor fright minimum charge.
UPS was pressured to stop making deliveries from states such as California and New York who insisted UPS could be held accountable for making deliveries of fireworks that were not approved in those states or permitted by local ordinance. Since UPS could not open packages and inspect them for what was in them nor could they determine every municipalities ordinances regarding what was permitted and what was not or who did and did not have a local permit or was an adult, and because the fireworks business is small and only a tiny fraction of their overall business, they simply decided not to carry any!
Interestingly it was never an issue of the safety of the fireworks while being shipped, because non-consumer UN 0496 Articles Pyrotechnic 1.4g fireworks/pyrotechnics such as electric match, gerbs, lance and the like can and are shipped via UPS regularly. The only difference is one class is available for sale to and use by the general public, and the other class is only available for sale to and use by professionals!
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� July 1996, Charles P. Weeth TM, La Crosse, WI USA. All rights reserved worldwide.
Revised November 23, 1996