I don't get buying guns online.

[thirty-ought-six]

There are tons of places online that sell guns.

There are tons of local places that sell them as well.

I could see if you wanted some rare or collectible firearm, but again, they are local too, or usually within an hour drive.

Heck, my town of under 30k has over 5 firearm dealers, besides department stores.

When you buy online, you have to pay a FFL fee, usually $25, plus shipping, usually $30.

So your $55 in the hole already, besides the gun itself.

 

[PistolPete45]

Only ones I bought on line BP revolvers and an AMT automag II. am considering a CZ 455 as well . More of a this is what I want and I do not want to drive to several shops and look see what is there then drive back home Around here that could be a 1/2 day project .

 

[Mike J]

Depending on who you buy from online there are often deals for free shipping. If you are patient & watch you can often find guns significantly cheaper than the local gun stores. An unscrupulous person could even use buying online to dodge paying sales tax & often still come out ahead even after payihg shipping & transfer.

 

[Bezoar]

your only PARTLY right on buying guns online.

Alot of local dealers are small time mom and pop shows, that had to sign an agreement to only buy from on particular distributor chain to get guns from. Its really sucky when you go to one of those stores and say "id like a butter cup long slide in 38 super" and they dont sell anything from that company.



online stores have the benefit of

1. they can sell any brand, model that they want to

2. shipping can be an issue, but most reputable companies seem to 'include" the shipping fee inside their list price. Buds does.

3. Honesty is different with online companies. Some companies will let you pay a yearly fee to get "privileges" like prefered customer status that lets you get quicker order processing.

4. online companies do seem to treat everyone the same way.

pros and cons of local stores

1. cant always get what you want from them. A 30 dollar transfer fee from an online store is quite reasonable when the guy behind your local store counter says "ill have to charge you a 18 percent special order fee based on the msrp"
think about it, if you want that .357 mag j frame, the list is 800 dollars, and buds has it for 500, and the local dealer wants 800 dollars plus nearly 20% extra to order it for you....

2. Service. local gunstores arent always going togive good service. Its wonderful when the 'gun expert" doesnt even know that a company makes a 6 inch barrel 357 with adjsutable sights when hes reading the new company catalog.

 

[armedwalleye]

Depends. I saved $400 on a Colt 6920 on line over a local price, no local sales tax, shipped for $5.99, and a $30 transfer fee. I think I did good but you have to evaluate each deal.

 

[pjeski]

I've found guns online that I've never seen in a local gun shop. If I find something I've been looking for online and the price is ok, I'll buy it. That said, I strongly prefer to by from the LGS.

 

[Bobson]

Heck, my town of under 30k has over 5 firearm dealers, besides department stores.

When you buy online, you have to pay a FFL fee, usually $25, plus shipping, usually $30.

So your $55 in the hole already, besides the gun itself.

My town of about 20k has just one firearms dealer, and it's a gun range that, frankly, has pretty high prices on their small selection of firearms. As for being about $55 in the hole when buying online, you often make up MORE than that in savings on the price of the gun. For instance, there's a rifle I'm looking at. Buds sells it for $579 with free shipping. The closest shop to me that has it for sale is charging $650 plus tax, so about $715 total. Buds has free shipping on that rifle, and the shop has a $25 FFL fee.

So I'd save over $100 buying it online from Buds.

I've never bought a gun online. But if I did, I'd save a good amount of money.

 

[busdriver72]

I buy quite a few online. Recently I bought a 1911 on line. The shipping was free. The best price I could find locally was about $100 over the online price. Plus I would have had to pay 8.25% sales tax locally which would have been over $50. My FFL does transfers for $25. So...$100 + $50 = $150 extra had I bought locally. So, I ordered online and saved $150, less the $25 to my FFL, means I saved around $125.

 

[nettlle]

If you live in the country buying online sometimes is the best option.

 

[thirty-ought-six]

Ok, I see the point now. I'm sort of new to guns, so that does make sense.

I saw buds thrown around a lot, might have to check them out when I save up for a handgun.

 

[PistolPete45]

I also like to purchase local but If the price is right I will order on line > your local GS still gets a little for the Transfer paperwork ..

 

[GBExpat]

When you buy online, you have to pay a FFL fee, usually $25, plus shipping, usually $30.

So your $55 in the hole already, besides the gun itself.

Shipping & XferFee (costs me $15, btw) are simply things that you have to factor in while you are shopping for a firearm online, just like you have to factor in sales tax (and costs of driving around & your time) when you buy from a local merchant ... and, in some cases, online merchants offer cheap or free shipping.

When I decide that there is a specific, new firearm that I wish to purchase, I always ask my "01FFL Guy" for a price first. In most cases he is able to be competitive enough that I will buy from him.

 

[ohbythebay]

I always buy online

I would love to support my local gun shops if they were close in price...but I save anywhere from $75 to $150 a gun. Free shipping and my FFL is a flat $25.

Buds is good but so are GRABAGUN and Kentucky Gun Co ..I usually check all 3 for the best price...USUALLY it is Either grabagun of KGC but occasionally buds..all 3 are awesome

 

[Mike J]

I don't know what you're looking for but you might want to watch slickguns.com Every day deals are posted.There are other sites too. If you take your time, be patient & do your due diligence deals are out there.

 

[busdriver72]

This past I Friday I picked up the 1911 I ordered from my FFL. Having read other posts about how much other FFLs charge, and the fact that some FFLs refuse to do it at all, I made it a point to sincerely thank him. He said "Hey, it's $25 I didn't have a minute ago." I told him I still appreciated him doing it.
I think if you have an FFL that does it for a reasonable price you should be sure and voice your sincere appreciation to him.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I buy both ways. I prefer to handle a gun before buying, but if it is rare or old, with good photos, sometimes that's how you find the gun you want. There are also some really good deals to be had out there.

There are tons of local places that sell them as well.

Don't assume everyone has the same options you do.

 

[FROGO207]

I will support the local gun store when there is a small or even a bit bigger cost. I want them to be around and I appreciate the touchy feely that a local store can provide. BUT if the LGS charges high prices for new and used and acts like they are doing you a favor to answer a question, they do not need MY business. That said I have found many deals both on line and at the LGS. Buds is a low markup on line store. If they have what you want then their prices can't usually be beat. No one store will always have everything so have fun shopping.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Guns....

I've purchased approx four/04 handguns by online sources or out of state FFL holders. I used www.gunsamerica.com often(full member since 12/2004).
My good friend bought a NIB Ruger LCR .38spl +P with a Lasermax Centerfire red laser for $500.00 + a $25.00 FFL fee. He's happy with it.

I've found the online deals are good for lay-away or reduced prices(even with S/H, credit-debit card fees, tax).
A lot of shops and gun dealers in my metro area(daytime population approx 1,000,000) have guns & related items(cleaning products, holsters, ammunition) marked up or really high priced .
Id support a local shop if it was $50-100.00 over a online price but these FFL holders want $200/$300/400.00 more.
These gun shops do not want informed consumers or 2A savvy supporters. They want YUPPIES & first time buyers who can be buffaloed into buying high end guns or gear.

 

[Gun Master]

Online Gun Purchasing

I have bought several guns online in the past few years, most being C&R eligible, from reputable dealers, and got what was advertised. The local shops usually didn't have what I wanted, or were highly overpriced.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

You guys probably don't want to know this and at some point they will figure out how to collect it but the PURCHASER is legally liable for the sales tax on everything they purchase. The local merchant acts a an agent for the taxing authorities in the area but the purchaser is actually who is responsible for paying the sales taxes.

 

[Gun Master]

Online Taxes ?

I have never bought any online guns from a dealer within my state, ergo, no taxes.

 

[SDGlock23]

I've bought a few off places like GunBroker. Sometimes you can only find it online, I mean there are a few large places near me (Buds gun shop and Ky gun co.) but sometimes they don't even have what I want. Plus you can find really good deals too, much better than 99% of the mom and pop style gun shops that charge way too much.

Plus no tax either if it's out of state, and my local FFL charges me $10 for a transfer. So if the gun costs $20-35 to ship, at worst you usually break even (if you had to pay state tax) or you could end up saving a good chunk of cash, especially depending on the price of the gun.

 

[patmccoy]

Gunmaster said "I have never bought any online guns from a dealer within my state, ergo, no taxes."

Every state with a sales tax has a "use tax" as a component of the sales tax. If you purchase an item from another state, and don't pay the sales tax there, you are responsible for paying the "use tax" in your own state. Usually the state only goes after those buying large amounts, but with the drop in tax collections the states are looking at better ways to guarantee the use tax" is paid.

You have simply not paid the tax due, rather than not had a tax due.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

There are smoking deals online every day, you just have to have the timing to take advantage of them.

 

[newfalguy101]

your only PARTLY right on buying guns online.

Alot of local dealers are small time mom and pop shows, that had to sign an agreement to only buy from on particular distributor chain to get guns from.


Having had my 01FFL for ten years I have never seen this



online stores have the benefit of

1. they can sell any brand, model that they want to

Online stores get their guns largely the exact same place mom and pop shops do, so which is it, they have to sign exclusive deals or buy from anyone??

2. shipping can be an issue, but most reputable companies seem to 'include" the shipping fee inside their list price. Buds does.

Some do some don't, even true at Buds, not every gun has "free shipping"

3. Honesty is different with online companies. Some companies will let you pay a yearly fee to get "privileges" like prefered customer status that lets you get quicker order processing.

Not sure how this relates to "honesty" quite frankly, its a marketing technique to ensure future sales.

4. online companies do seem to treat everyone the same way.

true enough, but each company represents itself, and the way they treat their customers may or may not represent the way the next online seller treats customers

pros and cons of local stores

1. cant always get what you want from them. A 30 dollar transfer fee from an online store is quite reasonable when the guy behind your local store counter says "ill have to charge you a 18 percent special order fee based on the msrp"
think about it, if you want that .357 mag j frame, the list is 800 dollars, and buds has it for 500, and the local dealer wants 800 dollars plus nearly 20% extra to order it for you....

2. Service. local gunstores arent always going togive good service. Its wonderful when the 'gun expert" doesnt even know that a company makes a 6 inch barrel 357 with adjsutable sights when hes reading the new company catalog.

You would be amazed at the number of "special runs" that distributors/Large Chain stores ( think Cabela's ) order that are exclusive to them, meaning

(1) Those distributor runs are not typically cataloged, many do not even show up on the Company websites.

(2) the local guys may or may not know about them, it will depend on if they use that particular distributor.

See Bolded answers above