FFL truck what do you think

stillquietvoice said:

So what do you think?

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I think it's the 100th time someone has floated the idea.
Federal law/ATF regs still prohibit a licensee from conducting business from anyplace other than their licensed premises or a gun show/special event.
Further, regulations specifically prohibit conducting business from any wheeled or towed vehicle.

As far as reloading supplies.....seriously....how many miles will you drive to only find out you'll never match online pricing and selection.

1. Write a business plan.
2. Write a business plan from a competitors viewpoint.

I think the snap on truck takes too much of my money as it is

While it sounds cool. Most of the guys at my work that call themselves gun people shoot an average of 200 rounds per year. You have the I sight my gun in for deer season guys and the I mag dump 500 rounds once a year guys.
My supervisor and I are the only two people who burn multiple pounds of powder each year.
That's 2 people out of 50. Our other shops are similar with a handful of competitive shooters, but mostly not.
I would be more prone to start a store that's open from 5pm-10pm Friday evening and Saturday till noon. I know one guy who does that. He makes pretty good money as a side business.

Bfh_auto said:

I would be more prone to start a store that's open from 5pm-10pm Friday evening and Saturday till noon. I know one guy who does that. He makes pretty good money as a side business.

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Both my local indoor ranges close at 7:00 PM. Just enough time to go home, change, get guns ready, drive there, and shoot for a few minutes before they close. The standalone gun shops stay open until 6:00 PM at the latest. Having a range and shop with normal business hours would be amazing.

A shop in a truck makes no sense to me. The tool trucks visit shops that use the tools and buy them regularly. Who would the gun truck visit? Any regular credit card can be used to buy stuff online and doesn’t require cash today.

reddog81 said:

Both my local indoor ranges close at 7:00 PM. Just enough time to go home, change, get guns ready, drive there, and shoot for a few minutes before they close. The standalone gun shops stay open until 6:00 PM at the latest. Having a range and shop with normal business hours would be amazing.

A shop in a truck makes no sense to me. The tool trucks visit shops that use the tools and buy them regularly. Who would the gun truck visit? Any regular credit card can be used to buy stuff online and doesn’t require cash today.

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reddog81 said:

Both my local indoor ranges close at 7:00 PM. Just enough time to go home, change, get guns ready, drive there, and shoot for a few minutes before they close. The standalone gun shops stay open until 6:00 PM at the latest. Having a range and shop with normal business hours would be amazing.

A shop in a truck makes no sense to me. The tool trucks visit shops that use the tools and buy them regularly. Who would the gun truck visit? Any regular credit card can be used to buy stuff online and doesn’t require cash today.

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Closing at 6 makes it tough for those of us who work from 6-530.
That's where his store came in. He was always annoyed by stores that close before the working class gets off work. He doesn't party, so he sits in his store on weekends.

Bfh_auto said:

He doesn't party, so he sits in his store on weekends.

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And makes money by providing a service no one else has

Horrible idea. Besides the legal issues, the tool truck is a dying, expensive business model. Can't imagine it working any better for this.

I have always been a cash kind of guy. I do own snap on, mac, matco and cornwell tools but less expensive lifetime warranty tools as well, all paid for not financed.

Main problem I see is it’s not a livelihood business but a “fun money” business. If you could get the markup on things like storage devices though, could be a real money maker.

In today's world how does one secure a truck full of guns when the store is closed?

There are no dumb ideas. Many successful businesses were not the entrepreneur’s first idea.

^^^^^;^ That's easy a drive in gun vault. Just buy an old armored truck and you are set on security. Finding the customer willing to spend, that's the problem.

If you get a firearms store, go accessories heavy. Nobody ever profits selling guns, with the minimal markup.
Accessories ain't glorious, but they're where the money's at.

stillquietvoice said:

While I was at work the other day paying my Matco tool bill I had a thought. I wondered what it would be like to have a mobile gun and reloading supply business.

Think about it if such a business existed the possibilities Winchester, Remington, Ruger, Savage.... Rcbs, Dillon all purchasable with a truck credit account. Guns, powder, bullets that come to you no more time stuck in traffic, searching for a deal.

So what do you think?

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I hear they have such convenieces in East LA. Not sure this would be a good idea for many different reasons. Here's the first one: Security.

Bob Willman said:

In today's world how does one secure a truck full of guns when the store is closed?

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There is likely more dollars worth of inventory on a snap-on truck than most “mom & pop” gun stores.

As stated above....as per ATF illegal.

However, taking your truck loaded with machine tools to shooting events and fixing broken guns onsite has led to at least one very successfull business.....

Before going any further I would call a few insurance companies and ask them about insurance on such a venture. I am betting you won’t get a good response.

Where would you park your truck for sales?
Drive from range to range?

Just think you could have a custom vehicle "wrap" with "Get your Guns and ammo Here" Just honk and I will stop for roadside service!

Man , I would not want to be the driver operator of such a truck business.
Opening the door and letting strangers onboard? Not me.

Rule3 said:

Just think you could have a custom vehicle "wrap" with "Get your Guns and ammo Here" Just honk and I will stop for roadside service!

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Playing music, like an Ice Cream truck.

I could see if you had accessories , ammo and a computer screen to show your inventory / what was available to order. Customer pays (there's a waiting period in illinois) the gun is delivered when available to your home or work after its received or clears waiting period. Kind of like gun genie...with delivery. I just can't see having such a valuable and potentially dangerous liability driving around full of inventory.

Almost 40 years ago there was a guy who had a "gun van" that used to show up around my job sites. He had a pawn shop as his licensed premises and far as I know he did it until the job finished. I ran him off as I had an 01 FFL at the time and provided the same service with "financing" to boot. I did like the "mock up" giant .50 MG mounted on top of his van though. Great times of my youth. Joe