FFL fees and other taxes question

Find another FFL to work with.

Not sure about the taxes but the rest of it says that FFL does not want to do transfers. Respect that and find somewhere else.

(You are supposed to pay sales tax on the gun just like any other mail order purchase but as far as the FFL collecting it, don't know. They do not in this state.)

The tax thing may be a Washington St law so I'm uncertain about that bit. I have bought guns from out of state businesses and haven't been charged with tax. But I'm in Ohio.
IMO the FFL fee is a tad high wouldn't deter me from using them if I wanted to support the lgs.
But the part about where they charge an extra 10% of the gun as a fee then I'd go elsewhere and not look back. Especially since their FFL fee is high to begin with.

Your state requires a "Use Tax" so Im guessing that's normal for residence of WA.


http://dor.wa.gov/content/getaformorpublication/publicationbysubject/taxtopics/firearmtransfers.aspx

Quite simple. Let the FFL know that you are not happy with that policy and that policy will kill future purchases and drive off business.

50 bucks for a transfer? Not so bad. There really IS a cost to having a storefront, employees, insurance, storage (that paperwork has to stay for 20 years at the location).

Considering they have maybe 15-20 minutes of time spent on you and no financial risk, they should be kissing your feet for the $50 you gave them.

I understand them charging you the tax, you'd have to pay it sooner or later anyway. The $50 transfer is steep but may still be worth it. The 10% premium on guns that they have in stock is telling you that they don't want to do transfers for anyone buying online.

As others have said, find another FFL. My guy charges $20 and is always a pleasure to deal with. I guess I'm fortunate.

Find another FFL.

$50 is too high (I pay NOTHING, ave around here is about $20), and the 10% fee tells me that they don't want your business unless you are willing to spend way more than internet pricing.

tarosean said:

Your state requires a "Use Tax" so Im guessing that's normal for residence of WA.


http://dor.wa.gov/content/getaformorpublication/publicationbysubject/taxtopics/firearmtransfers.aspx

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Every state that has a sales tax also has an equivalent use tax, including Texas.

^^^ What my comptroller dont know, wont kill her....

Find another FFL; you shouldn't be punished for finding a good deal or not paying a ridiculous mark-up.

They also informed me that if you buy a gun from elsewhere and THEY have that in stock, they charge 10% of the cost of the gun as a fee ! They never told me and they are not charging me THIS TIME but said that is a common practice...anyone hear of that because I never have.

Thoughts ?

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Its a common practice, but FAR from being standard. If you look just a little bit it won't be difficult to find one that does not do that, and will probably have a lower fee too.
Try a pawnshop I find that they tend to have the best transfer policies.

Considering they have maybe 15-20 minutes of time spent on you

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The time spent on a transfer should be just a little longer than that spent on a regular sale. They have to log the gun in AND out of their book. Everything else should be the same. (NICS check, ringing up the sale, etc.)

Having said that, I wouldn't suggest using Cabela's for a transfer (if they even do them.) I bought a used C&R pistol (I have a FFL03. More about that later) from them last month and it took nearly an hour and a half for them to complete the paperwork. No problems with the sale, just their overly cautious processing of the paper. The 4473 I filled out on their computer was first checked on-line (box by box) by the clerk. He then printed it out and checked it (box by box) again. Then he called over another clerk and had him check it (box by box). After they both deemed it correct a supervisor came over with an overlay and checked that all the boxes were filled in.
About the C&R... I gave them a copy of my license, but it took the "Gun Library" guy 15 or 20 minutes to determine that the gun was truly a C&R. (Sauer & Sohn M1913 .25 Auto. They stopped making them in 1929) Then he tried to call the ATF number to confirm my license (FFL03's aren't on EZ-Check). He couldn't get through as this was during the big snow storms back east. They said they couldn't honor my license and I would have to fill out a 4473 and do the NICS check. As I already had a good amount of time invested and was 100 miles from home, I went with it and that's when the paper dance started. One last thing, just before I paid I told them that I needed a copy of their license. Even if they wouldn't honor my license, I would and needed to enter them into my book. Talk about a deer in the headlights look from the clerk.
It took another round of two clerks, a supervisor and a manager before they decided they could give me a copy. I don't think I will buy another gun there unless is a smoking deal (Which doesn't happen that often at Cabela's..)

Get a new FFL, I pay $15 or so depending and I've never heard of any FFL dealer charging a 10% fee.

The time spent on a transfer should be just a little longer than that spent on a regular sale. They have to log the gun in AND out of their book. Everything else should be the same. (NICS check, ringing up the sale, etc.)

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Maybe for you and me who know exactly what we want when entering a store.

But many customers want to handle a few guns, have questions, make demands..."can you check and see if you have a glock with a safety in the back"....An employee may have 20-30 minutes invested before they start the NICS check.

Then, depending on the gun, the store may only see $75-100 profit from the sale.

Regardless of the minutiae, the store should be happy that the guy is giving them $50 and not try and jip him out of more.

My LGS charges $20 for the first gun and then $10 for any additional guns transferred during the same visit.

It's amazing how many people will have a gun shipped to a complete stranger and have no idea of his policies, prices or business hours.

Not a week goes by that a gun arrives for someone I've never heard of with no contact info.:banghead:

The 10% fee is out of line, IMO.
The Wa state sales tax is real. The Democrats here had their cake and ate it too on that one....more taxes AND a new way of specifically hassling gun owners.

We had an FFL here who was charging $50 for the transfer and $50 for a "background check" on guns ordered in. He did really well for a few years but instead of repeat customers all he got was a reputation as a swindler and a crook. He closed doors after three years.

I would find another FFL for sure, and I have for shenanigans like that.
My current FFL has had no complaints about the $800 in business through transfers alone that I've done there the last few years....not to mention all the extras I buy there because I want to support them....cases of ammo, exploding targets, cleaning products, and a few guns.....I have purchased guns from my FFL when I came in just to do a transfer because I wanted it and it was a good price.

The FFL's who turn down transfers or "punish" people with extra fees for doing so are not very savvy.
Transfers are just another way to get warm bodies in the store, and unlike advertising, they MAKE you money instead of costing it. Any salesman that will watch a transfer gun go out the door without making sales on accessories is not worth their salt.
Every gun transferred is a huge opportunity to sell accessories.

They have informed me that they also charge the WA tax since that was not charged by grabagun. Standard ?

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WA started making ALL retailers collect tax on internet sales, not just gun dealers

Not a week goes by that a gun arrives for someone I've never heard of with no contact info

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And that takes more than 5 minutes - the folks whining about the fee should get their own FFL and do it if it is just SO easy

Hey, if doing some paperwork is too hard, they could always try landscaping. I hear the money is pretty good and flexible hours.

WA started making ALL retailers collect tax on internet sales, not just gun dealers

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Not all yet, only if they have a brick and mortar store or offices in the state.

Also, remember, any handgun that goes through an FFL not only do they collect the tax but your handgun is now registered in state. Name address serial #