At what point would you not buy locally?

Status
Not open for further replies.

levsmith

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
153
Hey guys, just a quick question. I'm curious how many of you buy locally no matter the price and if not, at what point do you order it from somewhere else?

Where I live, there is only 1 true gun store, so there is not much competition. I went to look at a pistol and the price tag was 440 but he said they could do 400+taxes. I checked on gunbroker and the first one I found was 320, so total would be 360 including shipping and transfer. To buy locally would be about 430. I like to support local businesses but for that much of a difference it sure is tempting to go somewhere else
 
Last edited:
I figure I'm going to be supporting a local business anyway when I pay for the transfer. I take the best price I can find, no matter who has it.
 
I save money where I can. I have to eat, too. I figure the dealer is still making bucks by doing the transfer.
 
I personally don't like to order large dollar purchases. I prefer to have a face and a physical location I can go to if something is wrong. There are several decent gun stores near me though so I have a few options in that regard.
The added PIA of going through a FFL to receive an item keeps me from buying firearms this way.
All of that being said, I guess it depends on the dollar amount. $70 is a chunk of change for sure. I say give the store a chance to come down a little and see what they can do.
 
I prefer to do business locally but if the price differential is pretty large will order online. Also when the local dealer doesn't have or can't get what I'm looking for I'll go online.
 
I believe in supporting the businesses in my community. The only times when I buy outside is when it is either not available or the price is exhorbitant. Local businesses are frequently asked for financial support for local events and are expected to pony up so the least a citizen can fo is support businesses who support the community.
 
ColtPythonElite said:
I figure the dealer is still making bucks by doing the transfer

Oh, funny you mention that. I forgot to say, when I ordered my 9mm I called them to ask about doing the transfer and they wont transfer anything that they currently have in stock. I dont know who came up with that genius idea. First they loose money on the sale, and then they loose an easy 20 bucks for a transfer. No wonder they have to charge so much. They must think they are the only one in town that can do transfers as well. So after hearing that, I politely told them where to go, called the pawn shop and they gladly did it.
 
so total would be 345 including shipping and transfer. To buy locally would be about 415.

Don't forget to add the Use Tax to an out of state purchase. In most (all?) states, its the same rate as the sales tax rate. That would put the price of the two much closer together...
 
I wonder if there is that much mark up anyways. some of the ffl's/LGS around here charge from 25-75 a transfer, I'm guessing they dont make much more if I just buy it from them straight up. New stuff anyways. I dont know how things work really but I'm guessing BUDSGUNSHOP.com sells such a volume they can sell at the very minimum, much like walmart. The local shops I think make the most on used items they pick up at auctions or estate sales.
 
Would the transfer be through the same LGS that has one for 385?

I would like to generalize your question. Do you tend to buy American-made products? Do you support large, national chains at the expense of locally owned shops? Big-box stores versus mom-and-pop shops? Internet retailers? Do you shop at non-union stores when there are alternatives with union employees?

Going local just costs more whether it's guns or a new toothbrush. Not everyone has those extra bucks lying around. I try not to make judgments on buying habits of others.

My choice is to support local businesses as much as I am able. I've never purchased a firearm except for in-person at a local brick and mortar store. Some of my favorite gun stores have shooting ranges, and I want them to stay in business.

I bargain down to what I consider a fair price and then I buy. If I can't get a good price, I'll find another store. I want my local stores to stay open, but I also want to pay a fair price.

The only case where I would purchase via the internet would be for something I could not get locally. I might buy at a gun show but so far I've just picked up accessories and stuff.

Cheers,

Aaron
 
aaronu said:
Would the transfer be through the same LGS that has one for 385?

No it wouldn't, I explained to coltpythonelite if you want to read that. The transfer would be through a local pawn shop. If the LGS would do the transfer I would go through them. Just seems they know they are the only shop in town and are taking advantage of it
 
"Careful what you're wishing for, cause when you gain, you just might lose."
Joan Osburn - Spiderweb - 1995

In the 60's and 70's we had two gunsmiths, two gun shops, a hardware store Winchester, Colt, & Browning dealer, an Otasco that sold stacks of mil-sups in wood whiskey barrels, and a pawn shop that was mostly another used gun shop.

Then K-Mart came, and then Wal-Mart came, and then Cabala's built a super-store 30 miles away.

Today?
We have no K-Mart, Walmart stopped selling guns, the gunsmiths & gun shops went broke, and the pawn shop raised it's prices beyond reality because of all the collage students here who are using daddy's credit card.

I say, support your local gun-shop if you can talk them into being halfway reasonable.
There is no possible way they can afford to compete dollar for dollar with the big box chains, or the state & local sales-tax free Internet.

But, once they are gone, they are gone forever.
And that is a terrible loss!

rc
 
"I dont know who came up with that genius idea."

Somebody smart enough to already have a business and to not need to worry about losing that so-called easy $20. I don't even know him and I'm certain he knows more about it than you think he does.
 
There are two guns currently on my short list. The Marlin 1895 SBL and a S&W 637-2

One local shop happens to have both in stock. Yet he wants $935 for the SBL and $620 for the 637-2:eek: total of $1555 + tax

Buds has the S&W for $374 currently and the SBL for $849 so almost $250 dollars different. Total of $1223 + tax

At the last gun show I found one dealer who has the 637 for $349 and the SBL for $725 dang not having the cash right there and then. If the price is the same next month and he has them at the gun show. They will both come home with me. Total of $1074 + tax

I like to shop local but I won't get screwed in doing so. Thats almost $500 diffrence in the exact same two guns from three sources
 
I'm with rcmodel. In the long run we lose when we chase out options.

I try very hard to stay with my local guys. I don't count pennies. My problem is I most always stay with the local guys until their prices really become offensive. And oftentimes, they do. Then I leave and I don't come back. Case in point. I wanted a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisely in 44mag. Local gun shop wants $695. Even Gander Mountain prices it at $640. What am I to do? Is $55 bucks worth going to my LGS?
 
When BudsGunShop.com has a SW M/P15-22 for $479 and my local gun shop says they can do $525, sure I'll do it.

But when they say their "best possible price" on an FN SCAR 16 is $2895 and HKSpecialist has it for $2225, they can go shove it
 
JohnBT said:
Somebody smart enough to already have a business and to not need to worry about losing that so-called easy $20. I don't even know him and I'm certain he knows more about it than you think he does.

Oh I'm sure he does, but here was the deal. I had already bought the gun. Either he did the transfer or I would go somewhere else. He could either spend 10 minutes and make 20 bucks or stand there twiddling his thumbs while I give my money to the pawn shop. If I was a business person, I think it would be quite clear that some money is better than none
 
It's not a hard and fast rule, but to buy locally, I'm generally willing to spend 10% more than the best price elsewhere, especially if it means I can walk in, pay, and walk out with it.

What is this "use tax" thing I keep reading every time bud's comes up in a thread?
 
Somebody smart enough to already have a business and to not need to worry about losing that so-called easy $20. I don't even know him and I'm certain he knows more about it than you think he does.

Yup not making $20 makes more business sense than making it.
 
I've never bought a gun locally. I would describe my local gun dealers as ignorant and surly, but I don't want to dwell on their most positive attributes...

I have a good relationship with a nearby part-time gunsmith and FFL holder. I find the guns I want online, and he facilitates the transfer. It works out well for both of us.

It would be nice to have a friendly and knowledgeable local gun shop, but my experience leads me to believe that such places are rare as honest politicians.

-C
 
Chris Rhines said:
I would describe my local gun dealers as ignorant and surly

We must have the same dealers! Really though, that really does sound like the dealer here and maybe that is why I have a bad attitude against him.
 
I buy from one of four mom-n-pop LGSs 95% of the time, mostly used. I like to inspect the specimen I'm buying, even new. Guns are like guitars. They each have their own personality, even among the same model and vintage. A hands-on check-out has a lot of benefits, IMO.

The rapport established ends up yielding benefits too, like getting a call when something they know you'd probably like comes through the door, or being able to take it home for an in-use test before committing, etc...
 
I always try and give the local guys first crack at my business. Often times they either do not have what I want or the prices are ridiculous. I would definately have fewer guns if it weren't for online purchases.
 
Wow, the animosity for a dealer who chooses - for whatever reason - to either not do the transfer or charge what a customer considers too high a price is staggering.

Running an FFL is not so easy as a multi-minute per transfer operation. The myriad possible headaches before, during and up to years after the transfer are unbelievable to folk who haven't dealt with them.

All - and by that I mean 100% of major issues I've had in the past are from "simple" unsolicited transfers. Well, subtract a quarter of 1% for the transfers to Native Americans with their allowed freaky addresses.

Some of the reasons dealers are likely to pass or charge high amounts:

Getting caught in the middle of the customer and supplier in the case of a lack of performance on the part of the supplier.

Getting caught in the middle of the customer and supplier in the case of a lack of performance on the part of the product.

Failure to follow through on the transfer on the part of the customer - for instance the customer does not qualify for transfer at the time of pick-up.

A change in circumstances between the ordering and time of pick-up.

I had one fella that I KNEW not to transfer for - but finally got worn down by his sob stories - take 364 days to follow through on his part then have the audacity to threaten me with the BBB for not dropping everything the very day he finally decided to follow through. He got it the next day - but not fast enough for him. I let no one in the shop do transfers on firearms other than ours and I was at the range the day the guy finally showed.

I've had the compliance checks take 14 business days due to foggy training on the part of agents and changing circumstances and varying forms over the periods checked.

Anyhow - I can ramble on but note this - it is not just a few minutes outa the shops time to service transfers for a mere "reasonable" transfer fee.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top