Any FFLs here do NOT do transfers?

[ozarkhillbilly]

The key is to find a good store and then be a good customer. I use one store for the vast majority of my stuff, the owner is a good guy and so is his staff. He is not always the cheapest but usually pretty close, some stuff I pay a little more for and others I pay a little less for.

The other day I bought a XD-M 9mm from him, I paid about $40 more then I could have gotten it down the street for but that’s ok, because last year I did 4 transfers with the guy and he did not charge me for a one of them. He says good customers don't pay for transfers. Last summer He called me and said I just sold a Doctor a Walther P99, for his wife, she does not want it, never shot it. He wants to return it, so do you want it for $500. I know Bass Pro carries them for $775.

So once again find a good store and then be a good customer.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

Geesh surprised at all the negative feedback here over this. I don't know much about FFL but I do know NCIC very well and understand the hassle with it. If something that you make very little profit on is taking up time, then yeah you drop it. There is no use in making 30 dollars in an hour when that hour could be used to perform something that might net you a 100. Sounds like we have some people who might want to consider getting their own FFL if they're so harsh about how you choose to use yours.

 

[gun&knifecountry]

From a Dealers perspective.

We do transfers here we are a shop located directly across from Ft, Campbell in Ky just above Clarksville Tn. We are also a class 3 shop and do those transfers as well. We charge 15 bucks for a transfer plus 5 bucks for each additional gun a for example 2 guns = $20 3 guns= $25. We are probably going up five bucks this year. We have figured it takes approx. 30 minutes average to do a transfer. So yes it is fair money if our figures are right that means we make $30 dollars an hour average but remember unless we did 80 transfers a week it would not mean a $30 an hour job not to mention the expenses. Does the boss at your job charge rent, utillities, etc on your work station? Sorry just a small rant there. We do them because it is part of the business and we know we can't get you every gun you want and we also sell guns on the internet so it would be hypocritical of us to not do transfers. But , I will tell you this that I like seeing the gun coming it to be a nice old Winchester not in production versus a brand new Glock. That seems to be the biggest contention for the dealers that don't do transfers. We also try for add on sales such as ammo and holsters. In this day of the internet it is going to be part of the business. I thought I would list some things that we do on the transfers that make things a little easier for everybody. And give a couple of rant's as well.

1. ATF says we have 7 days before we have to log a gun in the A&D if it is not placed out for sale. So we do not open the box till the customer arrives unless it is there on the seventh day ( we date the box). This way the customer can open the box so he can see the condition of the packing and there is no question we have played or messed with his gun and it was that way when it got here. We then log gun in customer fills out 4473 we call it in and if approved log it out. One nice easy one step.

2. We send a cover letter with the faxed/e-mailed or mailed ffl. It gives the customers name and phone number and ask the tranfering dealer/person to place customers name and phone number on the outside of the box. We also ask that an ffl or drivers lic or gov't ID be included. This allows us to call the customer easily. We'll get back to that in the rants section.

3. We dont give receipts for rebates or warranty purposes that is the seller's obligation not our's sorry, but it takes more time and gives the bookkeeper fit's so we don't do it.

4. Sorry but we do our best to take customers in turn regardless if your just here to pick up a transfer but we will hand you a 4473 to complete will waiting if you say your just in to pick up a transfer and want to jump ahead of a couple of "just looking" customers ( had that happen yesterday).



OK some rants now and what I believe are the reasons a lot of dealers do not do transfers.

1. No matter how clearly we spell it out in the cover letter half the people don't give the supplied info and that causes problems. If you are the buyer please make sure the seller sends it goes a long way in making a easy transfer. Remember in almost every case you are the only one communicating with the seller.

2. " Is my gun there yet?" We have no control on when and how the seller ships it. We only accept it we don't tell the UPS driver to bring it back in a few days. Give it some time to get there, sadly not everybody gets it out the when they say they will. Of course if the tracking number says it was delivered call us.

3. When the guy next to you at the counter ask's what you got. Please don't loudly proclaim "My new Glock 17 you can get them cheaper at cheap internet guns . com and you don't have to pay sales tax". That could get you banned from future transfers.

4. Sales tax THIS SECTION APPLIES TO MY STATE OF KENTUCKY ONLY TO MY KNOWLEDGE BUT I AM SURE IT APPLIES TO OTHERS AS WELL so please take this as attended. The commonwealth of Ky requires sales tax on all goods purchased in the state. If you purchase a K-TEl record for 19.95 and it is shipped in to Ky you are required to report that sale on your Ky Income Tax return and give them a $1.20 for the privalege of that purchase. The same goes for guns. It is your responsibility not mine to pay those taxes. I do understand not all those taxes are reported and I am not implying anything by it. In the past when Ky Revenue officials have audited gun shops they have asked about transfers and have gone back and made the individual pay the tax. The case I know about involved a Remington 11-87 purchased the customer asked for a receipt so he could get a rebate. The revenue cabinet auditor saw this and went back and made the customer pay sales tax. This was a good friend of mine but was prior to our shop. I think with all the revenue shortfalls all the state's will be looking at all mail order sales more closely not just guns in particular. I am not judging or complaing about this just a statement please don't imply someting here that is not.

5. Class 3 transfers cost more and always take more time. It is just a fact of life. Those that are involved know this and accept it.

6. Please don't ask or try to transfer in 2 dozen Lorcins. It has happened and we won't be a party to straw or dealing with out a lic. issues.

7. If the receipt from the seller was made out to you it will go to you. Sorry but your buddy can't swing by and get it.

Sorry for the long winded speech just saw where someone said that dealers were not replying so I thought I would speak up and do a little ranting I guess as well. Nothing meant by it one way or the other. And yes, we still do transfers.

Steve Tays
Gun and Knife Country
Oak Grove Ky 42262

 

[DCortez]

If you do not like the way a man runs his business, don't run him down, run yourself to the next guy that does business the way you like it.

Nothing worse than a person that thinks the customer is always right. Well, that and a business owner's daughter, LOL.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I read that little story....guess what?? What do you think running a public business is all about?? Dealing with customers!!! If they don't like customers, I'm sure a lonely 9 to 5 job in some dark office space somewhere would be more suitable.

You're one of those. I have to deal with your type on occasion. It's the kind of business we don't want. The kind that pi$$ and moan about the service, no matter what. The kind that call the owner of the company and gripe if something took 20 minutes longer than expected, or are mad because the total bill was more than the big red letters in the advertisement, even though the additional fees are listed in that very ad.

Burger king's motto is "have it your way". Don't expect every business to be so shameless and accomodating, bowing down at your feet and begging you for your patronage.

 

[Hoppy590]

If you do not like the way a man runs his business, don't run him down, run yourself to the next guy that does business the way you like it.

Nothing worse than a person that thinks the customer is always right. Well, that and a business owner's daughter, LOL.

voting with your wallet is fine. but it wont help unless you tell the local store what they are doing wrong, and how to correct it. if they dont know WHY you stopped going there, they cant work to fix it. if the problem is legitimate and others stop buying from that shop too, a shop owner may be left with no customers, no source of income, and no idea WHY.

politely express your displeasure. if they cant take a little constructive criticism, they probibly wont stay in business long.

 

[Bubba613]

4. Sales tax THIS SECTION APPLIES TO MY STATE OF KENTUCKY ONLY TO MY KNOWLEDGE BUT I AM SURE IT APPLIES TO OTHERS AS WELL so please take this as attended.

Great post from a guy over the line from you.
This tees me off more than anything else. TN has a high sales tax (9.25%). I could be very competitive with out of state dealers if we were playing on a level field. But add in the tax which I must collect and it doesn't look so good anymore.
This state also has a use tax, meant to offset the disadvantage. It would be easy for the state to get dealers to collect this on the front end. But they don't. I sent a letter to the state dept of revenue on this topic. Their response is that they are looking into ways to enforce this and have received "mounting complaints from gun dealers." I'll bet.
I don't mind competing head to head. With a low overhead I will be the lower bidder most of the time. But I do mind some out of state dealer getting the sale just because the customer thinks he can screw the state out of its sales tax.
I wouldn't be surprised to see dealers cutting back on doing transfers. I spoke to one guy who told me he was doing like 50 a month. THat's a lot of time. My feeling is I didnt get into this business to be a shipping clerk. I'd rather be selling guns.

 

[sernv99]

" You're one of those. I have to deal with your type on occasion. It's the kind of business we don't want. The kind that pi$$ and moan about the service, no matter what. The kind that call the owner of the company and gripe if something took 20 minutes longer than expected, or are mad because the total bill was more than the big red letters in the advertisement, even though the additional fees are listed in that very ad.

Burger king's motto is "have it your way". Don't expect every business to be so shameless and accomodating, bowing down at your feet and begging you for your patronage."


You work in a business where there is interaction with paying customers, so suck it up or find another job.

Obviously if you don't have the customer service skills, beyond saying "Hello, how may I help you?", and can effectively sell something, you shouldn't be running a business that caters to the public to begin with!!!!

 

[Lone_Gunman]

TN has a high sales tax (9.25%). I could be very competitive with out of state dealers if we were playing on a level field. But add in the tax which I must collect and it doesn't look so good anymore.

I am curious, have you ever purchased anything off the internet from an out of state business, like maybe say Amazon?

Did you pay your state sales tax on that?

 

[Bubba613]

Of course I have. Have you?