Years ago, I stopped at a Walmart to buy a 10/22. For one of those, Walmart is likely going to have the best price.
I fill out the 4473 and hand it back. Then the clerk hands me another one for me to fill out. That isn't right. I tell him that I only have to fill out one, he tells me this one is for the home office so the ATF can just go there. I tell him well use your xerox machine. He said I had to fill it out or no gun.
Oh I was pissed. I walked away and then returned and demanded the first 4473 since it wasn't a completed sale. Yup, he gave it to me, no he shouldn't have.
Anyway, I went over to MC Sports and bought one for a few dollars less.
A few weeks ago, I bought a Marlin rimfire for my nephew as his 11th year old birthday present. I used the guy that has been doing my transfers. He has a small building on his land to have a separate address so the clinton kitchen table dealer crap doesn't apply to him. He started his serial numbers on the 4473 from 1, I'm his best customer now, I can tell from the serial numbers on the form ratcheting up.
I emailed him in the beginning that I was wanting to buy that rifle as a gift for my nephew. He understood the rules. A gift is not a straw purchase. He knew that, he didn't even have to ask the ATF.
He will never move as many guns as the local walmart but he understands the law.
In Michigan, a rifled pellet pistol is considered a firearm. He did the transfer for my IZH-46M. On that one he called atf to see if he had to run it across his books. The atf said no.
Even small timers are professional. Walmart is a huge company, a target of many in government and legal practice that have an agenda. They sell at a price point, their people while often good workers are in retail. I don't want to offend anyone but I doubt the sporting section is staffed by serious gun nuts. Just another person that is working a bit above minimum wage in the service sector.
Clutch