Good Distributor for new FFL

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coolluke01

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I'm looking for a few names of good distributors for my new ffl. I live in Northern MN.
Bill Hicks is one I have heard of, but it seems like they have bigger fish to fry and I'm not sure I'll get the attention I'll need.

I'm interested in the base location and shipping costs. Customer service and product availability. I'll be looking to deal in NFA guns but I have a feeling I'll be working with manufactures directly for those.

Thanks for the help.
 
You will need at least a few distributors to cover most of the big manufacturers. Give as much business as you can to one distributor to build a relationship. Many distributors have a minimum first order, usually 10 guns or $5,000. Product availability is usually the same at all the distributors who handle the same products. As far as ordering high demand guns, it's not going to happen unless you are doing a lot of business with one sales rep, and they decide to allocate them to you.
 
When possible or if possible this worked for me years ago. I found a major distributor about an hour drive from my shop. I gave them plenty of business and in return had an open line of credit account with them. Once a week I would drive down and pick up. Not only saved S&H cost but HAZMAT on all of my reloading supplies for the shop. Just something I suggest doing when possible.

Ron
 
I used to use Hicks when I had a FFL in NV years ago; along with Graf and Sons, Brownells, Nationwide, Outdoor Sports, Jerry's, J&G Sales, RSR and a host of others. I was strictly small-time so I submitted paperwork and payment together (pre-internet days)
 
Davidsons does some good marketing. I'm not sure how they rate as a distributor but they have great exposure.
 
a better place to ask this might be:

fflsonly.com

discussion board for ffls only

first question ... "brick and mortar retail' or home based. 50% or better of the dists won't talk to you if you are home based.
 
As dmurdach noted, I know some of my local FFLs use Zanders and like their service.

If nothing else, contact the manufacturers of interest to you and see who they might recommend.
 
Good Luck!

I hope that you have better luck than I have had. When you are new or small you will not get much attention or service from any of them. I have had two sales reps call me in the last 6 or 7 months and I have been in the business for 5 years. Most of the items that I need are either out of stock or allocated. The only time a Rep calls is after all of their other (read larger) customers have been served. Sorry for the rant, but it gets aggregating sometimes.

To answer your question though, you might try: RSR Group, Davidson's, L.M. Burney, Chattanooga Shooting Supplies, Lipsey's and Ron Shirk. I have done business with all of them. Some of the distributors require a store front before they will sell to you.
 
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