Using FFL for transfer

Whenever I buy online I usually use whatever FFL the site has on file already (assuming you aren't the first and only person that has bought from them). Take Grabagun for instance, they already have a relationship with several FFLs in my area, so I just select them at checkout.

Otherwise if they don't have anything listed yeah, once you know what you want and from where I'd call up the FFL and ask them if they'd receive a transfer for you. They may have to send the website their FFL info.

Not all online vendors have a list of FFLs in your area.

Go to your favorite dealer and ask for a paper copy or emailed file of his FFL. Send a copy with your payment.

BigMacMI said:

Ok... this part, is what I was after in part. I didn't want to plunk down 3-$500 dollars and have everyone in town refuse me or something crazy happen. So it is reasonable to believe if they are listed on the site, they can (and usually will) receive a transfer from that site? I didn't know if each site just downloaded some huge list from the govt or something. (interestingly, i found out today my small side business got listed on a 'services' site that I knew nothing about... they downloaded the info from an online source)

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Usually they will only list FFLs they've previously dealt with and have their license on file. This again depends on the site, I mainly deal with Bud's and Grabagun they are both huge online retailers that work with a ton of FFLs around the country. If it's a smaller site, you may run into where either you or the FFL will have to send in the FFL info, that's only happened to me once and the FFL dealer said they would send it to the site I ordered from.

Why not start at the receiving end and simply have your local FFL order the gun for you. In most cases, by the time all is said and done you will have paid as much money and not been any better off, on the cost part. If you simply have your dealer order the gun, you may spend a little more, but you will have hopefully made a friend in the dealer, plus have a place to take problems.

If you do find a local dealer who will accept the shipment, he will make no money and will take no responsibility for any problems with the gun, will have no obligation to check it or return it if defective or assist you in any way with problems, except as a separate transaction..

Jim

People often don't realize that just because an online seller lists local FFLs on their site, that doesn't mean those local FFLs have any sort of relationship with the online seller.

I work at an LGS and it happens to us all the time. Someone will buy a gun online, see that we're listed on the site, and just select to have it transferred to us. But we have absolutely no relationship with that online seller other than that we've sent them our FFL before.

We always prefer to have the customer contact us first before having a gun transferred to us. This is for two reasons: First, so the customer isn't surprised by the charges; not only the transfer fee, but also the taxes. WA state law combined with local law requires us to collect 10% tax on the full value of the firearm including shipping if the gun is shipped to us from a dealer (but not if it's shipped from an individual). I've had a few customers refuse to pay the transfer fee and I've even had a few refuse to pay the taxes. But if they followed our policy of contacting us first before doing a transfer they'd know about all the fees beforehand and wouldn't feel blindsided.

Second, often they could buy the gun from us for the same price or cheaper than their out-the-door transfer cost; we can often price match the out-the-door price of an online transfer. I can't count how many times I've processed an online transfer for someone who waited an extra week or so and paid more overall than if they'd just walked into our store and bought from us.

A lot of times you can have your local FFL order a new, current production gun for you for less than buying on line with the shipping and transfer fees.

The first thing you should do is check with your local FFLs to find one that will process a transfer. Most will do transfers, but many will only accept a shipment from another FFL, not from a private party. And find out what the transfer fee is and additional costs. There can be significant cost differences from one FFL to another so don’t worry about any FFLs listed on the sellers site unless you want to take a chance on high transfer fees.

When you make the online purchase, take the sellers info (name, address, phone and fax numbers) to your FFL. He will almost always need to fax a copy of his license to the seller before the seller will ship. If you have to pay by money order, etc., your FFL will probably want the envelope to add his FFL copy and do the mailing. FFLs don’t seem to want to give individuals a copy of their license which is understandable. I personally will not buy from a seller who does not accept a credit card. Just extra protection in the deal goes south.

When the gun arrives at your FFL, you do whatever paper work, background check, etc. required by your state just as though you were buying from him.

Jim K said:

Why not start at the receiving end and simply have your local FFL order the gun for you. In most cases, by the time all is said and done you will have paid as much money and not been any better off, on the cost part. If you simply have your dealer order the gun, you may spend a little more, but you will have hopefully made a friend in the dealer, plus have a place to take problems.

If you do find a local dealer who will accept the shipment, he will make no money and will take no responsibility for any problems with the gun, will have no obligation to check it or return it if defective or assist you in any way with problems, except as a separate transaction..

Jim

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I agree with everything except "he will make no money". I've seen FFL's ask for $50-75 for transfer fees. I have a feeling at that rate they do better for the 5 minutes it takes to process the paperwork than they do on many in house gun sales.

Let me help you with the procedure I use.

First I do a search for the item, using the UPC code and 'for sale' after it. Just the number, no description.

This will usually pull up a number of listings. The first one I use is slick guns, now named gun.deals. They will have the exact gun I want listed in order from lowest price to highest from a large list of vendors.

I will sort through the first few to determine which is the best deal, considering shipping and if it is out of state purchase. Sometimes I also search the bigger online retailers if I don't see their name on the list.

Next I contact the seller to see if they have a FFL in their system in my area. Some have a feature on their website that lets you search your area for FFLs they have in their system and are good to go.

Concurrently I am using a FFL finder like ones of the below to find the best deal on a transfer.

http://www.gunbroker.com/c/user/dealernetwork/
http://grabagun.com/ffl-locator
http://fflgundealers.net/
etc.

If I get a match between the seller and a FFL in my area that is the lowest price within a few dollars I contact the FFL and make sure we can do the transfer. If so, I call the vendor and order the firearm.

If I don't get a match, I figure out which FFL I want to use and contact them. If they want to do the deal I let them know that I am going to contact the seller and get their fax number, purchase the item and call them back. After completing the purchase with the vendor I get the fax number the FFL needs to send his information to and call the FFL back to pass that information on. I will wait an hour or so and call the vendor back to make sure they got everything they need and that the transaction can proceed.

Since most all online vendors use an email system to notify their customers of shipping and tracking numbers I keep an eye on that so I know when it ships.

When it ships I call, or email the FFL and let them know it is coming and the expected delivery date. I usually call them the day of expected delivery also.

When the package shows as arrived at the FFL, I contact them and make arrangements to head over. If it is a shop, I may just drop in. If it is an individual who may have a full time job I schedule a time for that that fits both of our schedules.

I always bring cash for the transaction and have my Drivers License + License to Carry ready for them. My area, I can find a transaction pretty easily for $20.


My record for purchasing a gun out of state and having it in my possession is 23 hours from ordering.



Some other things, if you worried about the validity of your FFL, get a copy of their license, or their number. Many that I have used in the past have no issue faxing or emailing me a copy.

I then check it here:https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck/

I have also on occasion, with permission of the FFL, faxed a copy of the license to the vendor saving a bit of time and piece of mind for me that the vendor got it.

Good luck, once you get one under your belt it becomes pretty easy and simple.


BTW,

I have met some great people sitting at their dining room table filling out a 4473. It is no means a negative to me to drive to a small dealers home to do the transfer after they get off their day job.

I understand that in Texas it is my responsibility to fill out the proper paperwork later for the sales tax since I am not paying that 8.5% at that time. (a whole different discussion on that topic and who does and does not understand that little bit of hidden tax law)



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