Curio & Relic Frustrations

[Mr. Mosin]

Random venting of the frustrations of a C&R license holder…

*Finds the steal of a century of XYZ grail gun- turns out the seller doesn’t accept C&R licenses even though the item in question is explicitly listed as a C&R item*

*Sends multiple emails and scans to seller with various formats of the same license, only to be told two days later your purchased item didn’t ship that morning because the seller didn’t receive the license… which one of the several plainly phrased emails didn’t you receive ? Perhaps a phone call would be better- never mind, the listed telephone number is not in service.*

**Finally* receives item, only to find packaging looks like it was drug 40 miles down a logging road*

*Opens packaging, praying the seller actually packaged it correctly… no… unfortunately, they didn’t*

 

[grilledcheese]

As the old saying goes, "There are two types of people in this world. Avoid them both."

 

[Rockrivr1]

It's unfortunate but when I have that much trouble with a seller and my C&R, I automatically figure it's going to be a crapshow and tend to pass on the side of caution. It can hurt if it something especially rare, but I've been burned enough not to chase too hard when things go squirrelly. Sorry to hear about the package. Hoping there wasn't too much damage.

 

[rr2241tx]

Sorry you had to learn the same hard way most of us did. After a similar arm wrestle over an antique that arrived in a body bag because of inadequate packing my new rule is: if the seller doesn't care to know and follow the rules, I'm out. That includes FFL2FFL only, no C&R, sketchy payment requirements, won't insure, and poor communication among others. Nothing I can afford is that rare, there's others that aren't being sold by sociopaths.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I take my C&R on road trips with me, if I can do a FTF deal somewhere cool. Otherwise, if the seller says they will take a C&R I'll deal with them. Most times when I ask they make up their own rules/laws and I'm not interested in trying to educate them on the real laws. So, I just let them keep it. Not worth my time/frustration just so I can give them my $$.

 

[dogtown tom]

Terrible packaging isn't because you hold a C&R, it's because your seller is an uncaring idiot. There are a lot of people that think the Sunday newspaper ads are perfect packing material. It's been my experience that C&R guns, especially milsurp rifles, get the worst packing.

 

[tark]

Terrible packaging isn't because you hold a C&R, it's because your seller is an uncaring idiot. There are a lot of people that think the Sunday newspaper ads are perfect packing material. It's been my experience that C&R guns, especially milsurp rifles, get the worst packing.

Amen!!! However, there is one dealer that specializes almost exclusively in C&Rs that really knows how to properly package and ship a gun:

Simpson's Collector Guns, in Galesburg, Illinois. Don't believe me?

Ask Dave DeLarant...

 

[dogtown tom]

Amen!!! However, there is one dealer that specializes almost exclusively in C&Rs that really knows how to properly package and ship a gun:

Simpson's Collector Guns, in Galesburg, Illinois. Don't believe me?

Ask Dave DeLarant...

Every customer that inquires about importing a firearm I send to Simpson's.

 

[AlexanderA]

I concluded a long time ago that having a C&R FFL was not that much of an advantage. The exception to that is if you are buying a C&R machine gun across state lines. In that case it would save you time and money.

 

[mm93]

I contemplated switching to a C&R license after I gave up my FFL license a couple decades ago. But after contacting several dealers who had C&R guns for sale and getting many who didn't accept a C&R license I decided it would just be too frustrating to even have one.
As for shipping, it's getting tougher to get sellers to pack things well, and tougher to avoid damage from bad handling. I just got my restored parts back from my favorite restoration guy in Montana, and he knows how to pack valuable guns!

Wooden crate custom built:

Inside parts well protected:

My inspector approves of the packing too!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Terrible packaging isn't because you hold a C&R, it's because your seller is an uncaring idiot. There are a lot of people that think the Sunday newspaper ads are perfect packing material. It's been my experience that C&R guns, especially milsurp rifles, get the worst packing.

Foam spray is so cheap! and fast to package.

Wrap your part or gun in a ziplock or Yard Bag. Foam spray the bottom, put item in, spray foam the too!

 

[Terry G]

When I got my C&R license back in 2001, it was great except for my checkbook balance. I bought a lot of guns and I dealt with the major importers and never had a problem. Much later 2009 or so the quality of the guns went down and some companies started sending some pretty bad rifles and handguns. It was great while it lasted but the quality went down and the prices went up.

 

[dogtown tom]

I concluded a long time ago that having a C&R FFL was not that much of an advantage. The exception to that is if you are buying a C&R machine gun across state lines. In that case it would save you time and money.

I had a C&R for six years. It saved me transfer fees on four Colt Woodsmans, two Argentine 1909 carbines, two 1909 rifles, an Inglis Hi Power, and two Remington Model 51's.
I also got discounts at multiple retailers like Brownells, Southern Ohio Gun, J&G, AIM and others.

All for a whopping $10 per year. The amount of stuff I bought from Brownells paid for that measly $10.

 

[dogtown tom]

Foam spray is so cheap! and fast to package.

Wrap your part or gun in a ziplock or Yard Bag. Foam spray the bottom, put item in, spray foam the too!

Ive never used that and don't know anyyone that does. Got a link?
If you need packing material, visit any gun dealer. I toss two SUV loads of rifle boxes every month. Plenty of bubble wrap too.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Ive never used that and don't know anyyone that does. Got a link?
If you need packing material, visit any gun dealer. I toss two SUV loads of rifle boxes every month. Plenty of bubble wrap too.

here you go! lots of video on Spay Foam for packing

Brilliant Uses for Spray Foam

We all know spray foam is an insulation powerhouse, but here are some genius uses for this useful product that you may not have considered. #diy #familyhandy...

youtu.be

How to Easily Protect Fragile Items with On-Site Foam Packaging!

youtube.com

 

[dogtown tom]

here you go! lots of video on Spay Foam for packing

Brilliant Uses for Spray Foam

We all know spray foam is an insulation powerhouse, but here are some genius uses for this useful product that you may not have considered. #diy #familyhandy...

youtu.be

How to Easily Protect Fragile Items with On-Site Foam Packaging!

youtube.com

I know about the Good Stuff......but it ain't cheap. I thought you knew of a cheap spray foam, like $1-$2 a can stuff.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I know about the Good Stuff......but it ain't cheap. I thought you knew of a cheap spray foam, like $1-$2 a can stuff.

$52 for a case of 12 is not too bad

 

[Rockrivr1]

When I got my C&R license back in 2001, it was great except for my checkbook balance. I bought a lot of guns and I dealt with the major importers and never had a problem. Much later 2009 or so the quality of the guns went down and some companies started sending some pretty bad rifles and handguns. It was great while it lasted but the quality went down and the prices went up.

Those were the days you could go to a gun show and buy a full crate of Mosins for less then $500, a single Mosin for $75, a bandoleer of 8mm for a couple bucks and the show was packed full of C&R guns as far as the eye could see. I definitely miss those days!

 

[Capybara]

I take my C&R on road trips with me, if I can do a FTF deal somewhere cool. Otherwise, if the seller says they will take a C&R I'll deal with them. Most times when I ask they make up their own rules/laws and I'm not interested in trying to educate them on the real laws. So, I just let them keep it. Not worth my time/frustration just so I can give them my $$.

Can't tell you how many cool guns I have NOT been able to buy driving through Nevada and Arizona because the seller will often sell to an FFL03, many freak out when I whip out my California Drivers License. They don't want anything to do with a transaction that might be somehow ending up with them getting a call from the CADOJ idiots. One part of me finds it incredibly frustrating and annoying as I jumped through the hoops to get an FFL03 and I'd like to use it, but the other part of me doesn't blame them for not wanting anything to do with the pinheads with the CADOJ.

Many have sold to me, but a few who had the perfect gun I wanted to buy refused to sell to me because of the California thing.

 

[tark]

I concluded a long time ago that having a C&R FFL was not that much of an advantage.

If you buy C&R guns exclusively, I think it is an enormous advantage. Illinois has a waiting period on all guns. Not with my license! I go down to Simpson's, plunk down my money and walk out with the gun ten minutes later!

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Foam spray is so cheap! and fast to package.

Wrap your part or gun in a ziplock or Yard Bag. Foam spray the bottom, put item in, spray foam the too!

Really, really cool idea that I will give a try next time! Thanks!

 

[Neo-Luddite]

If you buy C&R guns exclusively, I think it is an enormous advantage. Illinois has a waiting period on all guns. Not with my license! I go down to Simpson's, plunk down my money and walk out with the gun ten minutes later!

Shhhh! Not so loud! C&Rs will be the next "loophole" that JB will need to close for our own good!

 

[rr2241tx]

I contemplated switching to a C&R license after I gave up my FFL license a couple decades ago. But after contacting several dealers who had C&R guns for sale and getting many who didn't accept a C&R license I decided it would just be too frustrating to even have one.
As for shipping, it's getting tougher to get sellers to pack things well, and tougher to avoid damage from bad handling. I just got my restored parts back from my favorite restoration guy in Montana, and he knows how to pack valuable guns!

Wooden crate custom built:

Inside parts well protected:

My inspector approves of the packing too!

That looks like Al Springer's boxes. He could ship a dozen fresh eggs and you're still going to cook sunny side up.

 

[mm93]

That looks like Al Springer's boxes. He could ship a dozen fresh eggs and you're still going to cook sunny side up.

Yes, Al's shipping crates are as nice as his restoration work!

 

[wayneinFL]

I know about the Good Stuff......but it ain't cheap. I thought you knew of a cheap spray foam, like $1-$2 a can stuff.

Uline sells Instapak. That's similar to what a lot of electronics manufacturers and electronics maintenance companies use to pack items. Cleaner than using spray foam.

I don't think it's cheap. But I've seen some companies box up a pistol in a $10 pistol case, and it's gotta be cheaper than that.

Then again if someone is shipping a $500 or $1000 gun, why cheap out on packing?

Instapak:

Sealed Air Instapak Quick® Room Temperature Foam Packaging

Uline Instapak Quick® Room Temperature is in stock: https://www.uline.com/BL_7708/Instapak-Quick-Room-Temperature?pricode=WA3825Complete Line of Cushioning, ...

youtu.be