Buying a gun online & shipping to FFL

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jawman

jawman

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I really like the Sig P220 Two Tone (220R45TSS), but unfortunately Sig has discontinued it. None of the local shops in my area have any, and the only ones I can find that are still for sale are online gun stores that have them in back stock. I want to order online but shipping to my local gun store, they charge 10%. I found the Sig P220 Two Tone online for $807 with free shipping, and I'd hate to have to pay $80 just to have it shipped to my local gun store.

My local gun store also has the standard P220 (all black) for $799, and so I think it's a steal being able to find the two tone for only 8 bucks more, but that is before I factor in the cost of having it shipped to them who will then rape me 10% since I bought it online. I was trying to think of a way around this, and thought of maybe finding someone who has an FFL in my area that would transfer the firearm for a much smaller fee, but it's hard to find someone you can trust and who is also that nice to do such a thing. Have you guys ever done something like this with people you've met just through the forums? Is this safe to do or do you think they would just rip me off and keep the gun for themselves? Any advice on what I should do or could do in my situation?
 
Jawman,

I recently bought my handgun online from BudsGunShop.com, All I had to do was pay for it and if I wanted to add insurance, I could seeing as they had offered it. 2 days later I had my gun.

I don't think you will have much of a problem buying your gun online and getting it from your FLL. If they offer insurance, I would use it. Its on of those Just In Case things.

As far as a cheaper FFL, I have no idea what part of the US your in, So I can't help you with that unless you mention it here.

If there is anything else you wanna ask, Go ahead. I'll try to offer some insight from my own personal experience. Hopefully, Others will as well.

As far as ripping you off and keeping it for them self's.....well....This is why a reputation is worth having. It builds trust.
 
I've never paid less then $20 or more than $35 for a transfer. Gunbroker and Auction Arms list FFL transfer agents on their websites. You can search by state or by zip code. Get a list and make some phone calls. That's what I did.
 
You might also try going to Gun Broker, For Buyers Tab, and there is a search window you can put your zip code in. It will tell you who is close to you that will do a transfer and what they charge.

I buy just about everything on line now.

a. Look at the sellers feedback.
b. Ask questions before you buy.
 
In the northeast we pay anywhere from $20-$50 depending on the shop. 10% is just obscene! Find a new LGS
 
20-25 in DFW Texas

anything more than you should look for more options. Look at Budsgunshop or Gunbroker for a list of ffl dealers in your area.

again in DFW Texas 20-25 is about on par
 
My LGS does the same as the OP - he's killing his own business.
He wanted to charge me $50 to log in a trade.
Plus another $25 transfer fee.

But I know of someone else who has an FFL & he charges me $25 to transfer.
I have a deal pending with him now.
He shipped 2 guns to an online dealer in exchange for a 1911.
He's only charging me $25 plus actual cost to ship the guns.
 
I have a local dealer who charges me $20 for the first and $10 for each additional on the same 4473. That's fair.
 
Don't be afraid of buying online!

It's very simple and sometimes less work than purchasing at the store. Only downside is you don't get to handle the firearm before purchasing.

I prefer Budsgunshop and other fixed retail sites over Gunbroker, just because you can get it now and the prices are usually lower (from what I've seen). There are other good reputable dealers you can check with to see if they have what you're looking for in stock that aren't completely online (CDNN comes to mind, but they don't have the Sig P220 in for this catalog).

One suggestion for finding an FFL is using the various databases like the ones at Budsgunshop, Cheaper Than Dirt, and Auction Arms. Most FFLs will send a copy of their license to promote themselves. After you find one, call them up and ask them what they charge for handgun transfers. If the price sounds right to you, negotiate afterwards. If it's too high, just give them a polite thank you and goodbye and be on your way. I've never had to pay more than 25 for a transfer, but that may just be my locale and can possibly differ.
 
If your FFL charges you 80 dollars he is flat RIPPING YOU OFF. We charge 20 no matter what gun it is. Find a new one.
Click to expand...

Yes - that is way to high. My local guns shops charge $25.00. The one even cleaned the pistol I bought - my P64 Mak.

Buying online is a breeze. I am very impressed how easy it is....
 
Our shop charges $35 for transfers, and often involves holding guns for up to two weeks when the recipient doesn't bother to come pick up his "find", or gets put on delay by NICS. It's just a piece of inventory that is sitting around in the way that we can't sell, and taking up space in the store... and more than likely, we've already got a gun that's a better deal in the case.

A lot of online shoppers forget to add in the shipping and transfer fees, and end up maybe saving a dollar or two, but for the most part, our prices match up with the online purchasing option. It's just a pain in the butt to stumble over their transfers while trying to sell our merchandise... and a lot of the "readily available" guns aren't anywhere near the website shipping them... they're trying to find them just like the shops are... but once they've got your money, they ship WHEN they get one... so don't get all warm and fuzzy about finding some "hard to find gun" online and getting it ahead of everybody else. The gun companies are six months ahead of their production with their advertising, and a lot of those "instant purchases" take weeks to finish up.

We don't have a problem with somebody buying online, but it isn't the panacea that online shoppers make it out to be. They can end up buying junk and when it breaks, they're on the hook for repairs... and unfortunately, even new guns have problems. We take care of shipping those guns back to the factory, chasing down the repairs, and calling the customers when their repairs are received... but we aren't in business to take care of everybody else's problems... we're in business to sell guns and take care of customer problems with them.

We've had some experiences where the "shipper" robbed the extra magazines out of the transfer before shipping because they didn't list "comes with 2 magazines" in their advertisement... so the customer is on the hook for the cost of those right out of the box. We buy our guns through distributors who deal honestly with us and our customers, and its done both online and on the phone... but it's a false assumption that you're going to save a heap of money just because you're buying online. We had one guy who bought a Remington rifle online and paid $400 more than the price of one we had sitting on the shelf with the identical scope, rings, and accessories... plus he had to pay a $35 transfer fee to get it.

We have a lot of very astute customers, and for the most part, they follow Gunbroker, Guns America, and the other buy sites on the web, but they still come and buy most of their guns from us... like buying cars, they want the ability to "kick the tires" before buying.

WT
 
I bought recently two guns online from two different stores and they shipped to local FFL dealer I found also online with smaller fees than my local store (same $80) asking. I paid FFL dealer just $20 and got my guns with no problems.
 
Like someone already said x2, look on Gunbroker for a list of dealers in your area by zip code, it's under a tab for buyers.

I pay $20 transfer fee whether the pistol is a $275 Kel-Tec or $1,000 Kimber
 
The Lone Haranguer
It is nowhere near 10% of the cost of the gun just to ship it. As one FFL sending to another, they can use Priority Mail for ~$10.
Click to expand...

Shipping may be around $10 for a handgun, but you have to add insurance, and depending on the value of the gun, it can easily push it to $20 to $25 total.

With that said, the OP's LGS is charging that rate because they want him to buy from their store. It is a deterrent to those wanting to buy online and have the paperwork done through the store. They (LGS) are idiots because all it does is alienate the customer from buying accessories and ammo from them. If I owned a shop, I would transfer at $30 all day long, give the transferee a 10% discount on ammo/accessories with the paperwork, and stick with selling used guns.

Most kitchen table FFL's charge between $20 and $30 per transaction. Some will even offer discounts for transactions involving more than one firearm.
 
The lgs i use only charges 20 bucks on used guns and just 10 bucks more for an additional gun on the same ticket. But wants 50 for new, something about wanting you to shop with them for new guns not just use them for there ffl. Something the owner came up with, even the guys that run the shop think its a bad idea. But i have had no problems with them because all the guns they have ever transfered for me where used. Other gun shops in town just charge 20 bucks flat rate. If your ffl wants 80+ four one pistol its time to part ways.
 
I've never paid less then $20 or more than $35 for a transfer.
Click to expand...

Ditto. (Although I do know that my local Gander Mountain charges $75 per transfer.)

Shop around, you can do better than $80.
 
Just to add to the chorus - $80 is RIDICULOUS. The FFL I currently use charges $15 per transfer - I usually give a $20 bill anyways. Between the 3 different FFL's I've used over the years though I've never paid more than $25.
 
wristtwister has a good point about checking the prices at local gun stores. I can order a pistol from my local gun store, delivered the next day, if there's a problem he will take care of it and I don't feel guilty asking for advice. It is a few dollars more but worth it to me.
 
Okay. Thanks to everyone who responded. I am in the process of finding an FFL near me that charges a fair price. What costs, besides the actual gun and shipping costs, will I incur when I buy online? Transfer fee, background check, etc.? I want to know because I like to be aware of all costs that I will incur when buying online, as I want to see if it is worth my trouble or not. Thanks.
 
Typically, to the merchant themselves, you'll pay for the item + shipping (which may be included - Buds for example lists their guns with all shipping already included).

You'll then usually just pay a transfer fee to the FFL that receives it for you. I've never paid a separate fee for a background check in addition to the transfer fee, but I suppose SOMEONE might list it that way. If they do, look for another transfer agent.

Basically, for all my new guns I shop online at Buds. I tack on $15-20 for transfer to the prices listed there and that's it.
 
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