22-rimfire
Member
Hopefully they stick around otherwise it will be hard to find a place to transfer an internet purchased firearm. I'll gladly pay more to support a local business and be able to handle/inspect before purchase, but I agree I draw the line at excessively overpaying.
To date, I have not purchased a new gun from any online source which is shipped to a local FFL for transfer to me. I have purchased collector pieces that way long before there was an internet. I will pay more at a local gun shop. But if they abuse that privilege, I'll never go back. That happened during the shortage after Sandy Hook. I purchased a number of guns at a particular gun shop. Sandy Hook event happened and the gun shortage quickly took shape. I went to that local shop and they had everything priced above suggested retail. I haven't gone back to even look and they generally had a large inventory of handguns.
I know that it was a sellers market at that time. But the pricing bothered me being a fairly regular visitor, and gun customer a couple times a year. I do understand. I now visit two gun shops. One is about an hour's drive and they have a substantial inventory. The other is local and they often have older guns for sale. They'll willing to discuss the price if I am buying.
A gun has to be really special for me to pay suggested retail. Years ago, it was common for guns to sell for suggested retail. That is just the way it was.