buying guns online vs. in a store

[Ridgeway]

Kinda curious as to how buying a gun online would work, as I've purchased all of mine in a shop...

Is it simply ordering online and telling the online dealer where to send it to, then picking it up @ the desired FFL? Do I need to first consult the/an FFL?
Just wondering, as online prices often seem to be a bit lower than in the shop(not that I mind paying a "little" bit for for better service etc), and some are hard to find in a shop(though I suppose they can order it...)...

 

[Ukraine Train]

The dealer that will handle the transfer for you has to mail a signed FFL to the seller. The gun is then shipped to your dealer who now does your background check, charges you $15 or $20 and then hands the gun over to you.

 

[P95Carry]

I've made quite a number of purchases on-line ....

First thing to do is check with your local (and I hope friendly) FFL .... and ask him/her if they would be prepared to help out with a transfer. If so, then when you have found your piece on-line ... get the details of the seller's FFL and ask your guy to mail his copy off to them.

Once the seller's FFL has that then all can proceed.

You may tho bear in mind the extra costs .. like, how much will your FFL charge for the transfer .. can be quite variable but allow, say, $20. Then you have the shipping coss to add on too.

On occasions you do not gain that much in the end. In my case, one or two pieces were ''must haves'' and I accepted the cost penalty.

Finally, of course .....''caveat emptor'' ..... buying sight-unseen does hold its risks .... I have been overall fortunate. Also, buying thru THR for instance, when a guy wants to sell .... is probably a good way to go ..... we have a pretty good, honest bunch here, with integrity,and that goes a long way. If anyone here sold and screwed with another member, I'd not doubt he would be ''cyber-crucified'' anyways!

 

[Redlg155]

Another few notes,

One "file Copy" is good for numerous transactions, so if you want to order from somewhere like Century or SOG you can order again at a later date without sending another copy of the FFL. There is also a good chance that your dealer may already have a file copy sent to the place you want to purchase the weapon.

I have found some reluctance in dealers wanting to send a file copy of the FFL when accepting weapons in private transactions. In those cases I try to get the seller to accept the FFL number of the dealer he is sending it to so that they can check the validity of the FFL via the ATF website. This will give you something for your records as well as letting you check to see if you are sending to to a valid FFL and business address.

I've saved a lot of money buying online. It makes no sense to me to pay $150 for a M38 Nagant when I can get one for $100 including shipping and FFL fees. Also, you don't pay sales tax on an internet order. So don't let your dealer try to sucker you with that one.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[dinosaur]

I`ve bought a few guns online, all used. Never a problem. You can usually buy or order a new one from a local dealer and you get to see it.

Buying online is good for those hard to get guns like a Smith 3" 13 or 65 to name one.

 

[gun-fucious]

Push not pull

The www.galleryofguns.com system is pretty seamless

you find the gun in inventory
search your area for a dealer with the best markup
register and make a secure CC downpayment online
they email you a fedex tracking number
and when the gun shows up at the dealer
you go, fill out the paperwork and pay the balance

 

[Standing Wolf]

Gallery of Guns wins my prize for ugliest web site of the month: too much visual garbage competing for attention at once. Gackh!

 

[striker3]

The one thing that I have to warn about is make sure you use a trust worthy dealer on your end. One time I ordered a ParaOrd online. Found out about a dealer through a friend of mine who gave said friend an awesome deal on an in-store purchase. Went and talked to him about a transfer. He quoted me as the transaction costing a certain % of the purchase price. This was an Ok amount, little higher than normal, but then again this was Hawaii so I had gotten used to paying higher than normal prices. But I never agreed on an actual $ amount. When the gun arrived, it turns out that he was basing his percentage off of what he would have paid for the pistol, since it was brand new. Not what I HAD paid for it, which was almost $250 less than market value. His explanation was that all these people buying guns over the internet were taking away from his business, so needed to get his normal cut per firearm transfered.

Lessons learned: Always get a set $ amount before deciding to go through with the transfer with that FFL.

On the other hand, this was the only time that I got burned in anyway through an online purchase, and I have been ordering firearms online since 1997. This burn wasn't even related to the product that I purchased, but was my own fault.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I've purchased a couple of guns "on-line"...

Everyone pretty much covered the rules. AND, you CAN get better prices sometimes on line. However, I try and support my local gunshops. (And believe me, I DO! Ask my wife.)
Anyway, for a few dollars more, I'll always buy from my local shops here in Louisville. One gunshop does the transfer thing for free. Yeah, I'll be happy to support my guys.
I also liked that post regarding buying something every time you go in to drool~I mean "look". Even if you just buy a box of ammunition (and we ALL could use another box of ammunition), when you walk out the door with a little sack they remember you and are actually happy to see you come through their door next time. I've got one shop about 5 minutes from my house that just up & offered me a 10% discount on anything I buy from their store. And, I didn't even ask for it--they JUST OFFERED it to me one fine day.

KR

 

[1badmagnum]

some gunshops are greedy,one local guy will not let me buy from cdnn,saying their a distrubitor and should be only selling to ffl holders,and that their business suffers because of these operations.
another local shop could not care less,they make their $20 on the transfer,and I buy a ton of accessories and their happy.
which shop would you support?

 

[Partisan Ranger]

From a price standpoint, I find buying online the only way to go. Both of my pistols I bought off gunbroker, and my price was much better than what I could get at my local stores or even at gunshows. Even factoring in the transfer fee and shipping, it was a significantly better deal.

Only downside of online is that it can be 10 days before you get your gun. 2-3 days for your FFL's document to get to the dealer, 2-3 days to ship the gun, 2-3 days to set up a time to get the gun from the FFL (usually this is their 2nd job). If you're itching to get that gun in your hand and go shooting right away, you'll be disappointed. But it IS cheaper, so I always buy online.

 

[Partisan Ranger]

Oh, BTW, check if the FFL you want to use charges sales tax. Some do, at least in Virginia. One FFL I used was hassled by the state police for not charging tax, thus he was going to charge me sales tax. But in the end he said screw it and gave it to me with no sales tax.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Gallery of Guns/Davidson's might be a tad tough to navigate... but they work. Picking up a new Ruger commemorative mk 4 today.