Ever had a dealer refuse to accept a transfer Buds?

it is probally because he is tired of losing sales to them. many ffls hate buds because there cost is often more or close to buds retail shipped price.

I don't remember the exact numbers, but the local FFL I was using raised his transfer fee to equal what he would normally sell the gun for.

I think the gun was a Beretta 92FS. Let's say Bud's was selling it for $350. Let's say the FFL normally sold it for $500. Instead of his normal $25 transfer fee, he said it (the transfer fee) would be $150. It was because he (the FFL dealer) also buys guns for resale from Buds.

I cancelled the deal. I also found another FFL dealer. Pity, too. I buy a lot of new guns from brick and mortar stores.

Yes LGS in Ocala. A customer got a bad gun from Bud's and wanted to return it. Bud's gave the Dealer all kinds of trouble. He no longer accepts shipments from Buds. I also had a hard time with them and won't deal with them any longer.

No.

My dealer loves transfers. 5 minutes of work for $30, whats not to like? Then again, my dealer will also transfer up to 5 guns at a time for the same flat $30 fee. I go to this gun shop.

Yeah, same for the FFL I use. A few minutes of work for $25, pretty nice for them. They're a small pawn shop that sells guns but they rarely have more than half a dozen pistols at any given time (and maybe 40 assorted long guns).

Yea I just recently experienced that. Seems the reason is Buds is nothing more than an agent. They take the order and the gun comes from elsewhere. Also they said they were receiving transfers without notification or any idea who the transfered firearm belonged too. Cost me an extra 63 bucks but they found a Rock Island 10mm for me.

No , but local dealer most times can match buds price or meet it when the ffl fee of 25 bucks is added.

We do a lot of transfers from Bud's.

Also they said they were receiving transfers without notification or any idea who the transfered firearm belonged too.

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1) The only way to get an inbound from Bud's now is to be on their list of preferred transfer dealers. The dealer has to ask to be added to the list and one of the stipulations is that you don't need prior notification.

2) Bud's very conveniently puts the invoice into a clear plastic envelope on the outside of the box. The invoice has always had the customer's name and phone number on it.

Many dealers don't care for transfers from Bud's, CTD, etc. because of customers who come into their B&M store, spend a few hours looking at or handling different firearms to see which one(s) they like, and then leave to place the order online.

That is bad form. I never order off the internet or other places an arm my FFL has on display. If he has it, and I want it but it is priced too high, I'll look elsewhere. I refuse to undercut my own FFL nor would I blame him for getting mad. Now, if he doesn't have what I want, then there's no foul, regardless of what price he could sell the item at.

Many dealers don't care for transfers from Bud's, CTD, etc. because of customers who come into their B&M store, spend a few hours looking at or handling different firearms to see which one(s) they like, and then leave to place the order online.

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Unlike other businesses that have been reduced to showrooms (i.e. Best Buy) There is still the chance to make money off of those shoppers with the transfer..

I would just love it if my LGS would special order guns for me, but they always seem to have a reluctance to do so. That's where almost ALL of my transfers come from. It's such a hassle buying guns and having them transfered. I'll also betcha that the 30 or so bucks that they make from a transfer is about on par with what they make when they sell a gun from their stock, and it's much less work and much less risk for the LGS. Furthermore, if there is a problem with the gun, they can tell you to pound sand. If an LGS ever gave me a hard time for sending my transfers to them, you can bet your boots I'll find somebody that wants my business. You should support your LGS, and sending them your transfers IS supporting them.

it is probally because he is tired of losing sales to them. many ffls hate buds because there cost is often more or close to buds retail shipped price.

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I've never met a dealer who didn't claim to make next to nothing on a new gun. A transfer makes even the cheap ones $10 for a few minutes of work.

I always give my local guy (VERY small shop) the first chance. I tell him what I am looking for and what I have found it for. He has beaten the price every time - and that includes the tax, transfer, shipping, etc. It might not be much, but he has a profit in there greater then the transfer fee, so both of us come out ahead.

I don't see how a LGS can keep the doors open on transfer fees alone.

They started the business to make an income, it takes selling retail to do that. Look at the hullaballoo the Club stores got into trying to sell cars - at remarkably reduced prices compared to the dealers. The dealers fed back to the makers sharp and quick they weren't getting stuck for warranty work when they didn't even get to sell the car. The makers shut down the Club access, end of game.

I've had the same difficulties in commercial hardware - some vendors claimed that the business I worked at was an authorized dealer, when in fact, they would sell direct to just about anybody who met the minimum order. One or two of those transactions were more than enough to realize their was no profit in being a middleman when the customer would start dealing direct after the first sale.

It's how gun sales are set up - by law. It's a distributorship arrangement, and frankly, if an online vendor can't ship direct - like the AR lower maker who shipped to my FFL - then the FFL has every right to make profit on the transfer. He is only making a few dollars on the lost profit he could have made had the item been on his shelf - I paid $49 for a lower the LGS wanted $130 for. A $45 FFL transfer was still a good deal.

If a LGS won't accept guns in from a major internet seller, it's called competition. Bud's isn't operating a brick and motar storefront within an hours drive of anybody, they discount their wares because they can't compete on anything but price. If the FFL's are freezing them out, it's fair play, just like the dealers freezing out the Club selling cars.

It's really the American consumer who bases every buying decision on the Low Price Guarantee who will eventually suffer. No service is a large part of the deal, and when you need a warranty exercised to fix a problem, can you get it? It comes out of the profits of the retailer and maker. The wholesaler who sits a few states away isn't going to lift a finger.

Jackal said:

My dealer loves transfers. 5 minutes of work for $30, whats not to like? Then again, my dealer will also transfer up to 5 guns at a time for the same flat $30 fee. I go to this gun shop.

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Same here....My dealer even goes on to say he likes the influx of guns into the area because he figures alot of them will come back in the door as trades.

No service is a large part of the deal, and when you need a warranty exercised to fix a problem, can you get it?

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Both very good points. Bear in mind that if there's a problem with the gun, the transfer dealer isn't going to fix it. The issue is between the buyer and the seller, not him, and the buyer and seller need to work out who is paying return shipping and the dealer's transfer fee if the gun has to go back.

I've dealt with them locally and through online purchases. The retail store has to many "looking over your shoulder" types browsing/loitering, I had a guy offer to buy something I was trading in right in front of a sales manager inspecting my pistol and he was asked to leave. My local brick and mortar wont accept transfers from them because he will honestly tell you he cannot compete with thier prices. I guess he does enough local business (owns 3 seperate storefronts) that refusing transfers doesnt hurt his bottom line enough to affect him.

I have purchased many guns from Buds. They have always been square with me. In my book, they are great folks. As far as a LGS refusing to do a Bud's transfer, yep I had one in Crossville, TN. Dave's Pawn. Prior to that "no Bud's xfer" I had purchase several guns from them. They didn't come right out and say it, but it was because Bud's charged sooo much less than them they couldn't stand the idea of someone getting a good deal like them and they only get $30. I have dealt with many other ffl's and they don't have a problem with transfers from Bud's. My $00.02

I would never conceder taking a firearm back to a dealer because of a problem. Contact the maker and let them deal with it direct.

I did have MY local dealer send there info for a AR lower but that's the first time for me. and they had done a couple firearm trades with other dealer to get what someone wants. They must do it some what regularly enough as they had a copy of there ffl ready to send next to the fax.

Never had this happen, and if it did, I would just try a different dealer. I've never purchased a firearm from a brick and mortar store. Online prices are just too good and a lot of shops don't carry firearms that I purchase.

There are four LGSs in my area. One will not do a transfer for any gun he has in stock. You want it, you buy it from him.

Having the experience of managing a LGS those owners that refuse to do transfers are cutting their own throat.

Generally speaking there is little profit in gun sales (at least prior to The Great Panic of 2013). The profit comes from sales of ammo and accessories such as replacement grips, gun cases, etc. The more often you can get a person to return to your store the greater the chances of a sale.