Is it at all cheaper to buy online?

[azhunter122]

Just curious what all of your experience's have been with buying and selling online particularly with Buds Gun Shop.

Thanks

 

[Cannonball888]

I don't know about Bud's, but I have never found a local gun shop that can match an online price on a NIB gun.

 

[SamG.]

I like to support the local guy, but if he can't compete with the internet then I'm going to buy from the internet.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

It is not for ammo unless you buy a bunch the shipping eats any savings up.

 

[jmr40]

I have never found anything online cheaper than from my local dealer. By the time I pay shipping and transfer fees it is always cheaper to buy locally.

If I found something online that my local dealers cannot get and if I wanted it enough to pay the premium I guess it may be worth it.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The shipping and transfer fees may eat up or surpass your savings. On the other hand, you may save sales tax. Research these and crunch the numbers before buying.

 

[Shooter57]

All good advise.

 

[DaveBeal]

My experience is that Bud's generally has some of the best prices you'll find, and shipping is included, although I think they add 3% for credit cards. If you can find a local dealer who'll do the transfer cheap, Bud's is rarely a bad choice.

Right now, unfortunately, their weekend online-only sale has their website completely swamped.

 

[steveracer]

I've bought from Bud's before. Really great prices, and they used to have more guns in stock, NIB, than anyone out there. I haven't bought from them since I discovered the joy of used guns, but I bought four 870 Police Magnums from them a couple years ago for $1600 even.
Steve

 

[Winston_Smith]

The only rifle I have purchased online was from buds. They are good people to deal with. The few dollars saved ordering online are not worth the hassle to me, so I buy locally now (except for CMP since they ship directly). Same deal with powder and primers.

Accessories are a different story.

 

[loneviking]

I can't see it usually being cheaper. Take the cheap price of the gun; add 20 to 35 dollars for shipping; add 25 to 50 dollars for the FFL transfer; add 25 for the Brady check; and you may have to add sales tax. Still think it's cheaper? Usually, it's almost $100 in fees tacked on by the time I have the gun in hand.

 

[toivo]

It is not for ammo unless you buy a bunch the shipping eats any savings up.

I guess it depends on what you mean by "a bunch." A thousand rounds of 9x18 from AIM costs me $210 with shipping. No tax. That's .21 per round. A box of 50 rounds from Gander is $19.50 with tax, with no discount for buying in bulk. That's .39 per round, or almost double AIM's price.

You're right that buying a box at a time online makes no sense. But how many boxes are you going to buy in a year or two? A thousand rounds is 20 boxes: not that many, really.

Firearms are a different story. When you factor in shipping and FFL transfer, it sometimes comes close. What I look for online are the real deals, like the $450 Sako Quads from Whittaker's, or hard-to-find guns like the Biathlon Basic, which I've still never seen in any of the gunshops near me.

 

[basicblur]

If it's stuff he normally carries (or can get without jumping through hoops), our local shop usually matches/beats prices I've found online.
He may have trouble with certain brands (like HK), but AFA Glock, Springfield, Ruger, Taurus, Smith & Wesson, and a few more of the usual suspects, he's hard to beat.

'Course, we're blessed with a good local shop!

 

[lvcat2004]

I have bought several firearms from Buds and have been happy with every transaction.

Can't beat the price, cheap shipping, not having to pay tax, and $16 FFL transfer fee a local guy does for me.

Go to gunbroker.com and find an FFL that will transfer for you cheap, then it's worth it. I found as cheap as $16 and some clowns that wanted to charge 10% of the value of the firearm.

 

[Sunray]

Bud's is an another parts source. He does have stocks for some odd stuff.

 

[Furncliff]

If it's new, I buy locally. Well the store is 30 miles away, but that's local here. The store doesn't deal in used, which I prefer, those guns I buy at the on line auctions. Being in the boonies is a two edged sword.

 

[azhunter122]

What the heck is CMP?

 

[freakshow10mm]

Civilian Marksmanship Program

http://www.odcmp.com/

 

[OcelotZ3]

It depends. You can find deals online that even given shipping & transfer fees, are still cheaper than the dealer (sometimes substantially). Other times, they are too close to really worry.

I support the local guy when I can. But when he has a used SW22A for $350, and Buds sells a brand new one with shipping for $252, that is just too much mark-up for me.

 

[Dragk913]

Yes. Shop around.
The only time I have found it's not a better deal, or not worth it is when it comes to shipping.
Heavy stuff (and cheaperthandirt.com) can run the bill up a fast with shipping.

 

[rogertc1]

I find ammo cheaper on like but one has to buy in bulk.
As for guns I have found Buds cheaper as I do not have to pay tax and only a $10. transfer fee to my dealer. The gun stores in my area do not have guns i would want and certainly not the ammo,

 

[loop]

It depends on what you are going to get and where you live.

Here in NW Arizona it is very hard to find what you want so no matter what the price, if you want it you buy it online. (My latest order came in today's mail.)

But, I picked up a 100-round box of WWB .45 ACP, 230-grain ammo in town today for $34. Beats the Net all to heck. I also picked up a Para Warthog for under $600 (including tax) last week.

But, a decent 1911 mag will cost me at least $25 here. I bought a 10-pack of Colt factory 10-rounders last week for $110 online.

I guess you have to shop around to get the best buy, if you can afford the time.

 

[walker944]

add 20 to 35 dollars for shipping; add 25 to 50 dollars for the FFL transfer; add 25 for the Brady check; and you may have to add sales tax.

Wow...you're getting charged and FFL fee + a Brady check fee. I've never heard of that! I pay my FFL a $15 fee and that' it. Nothing more. I can't believe a brady fee $25 for a 2-3 minute phone call and notation on the form. WOW....Just WOW!!!

 

[Walkalong]

I try to buy from local guys when I can. I will pay a little more to do so. Many thing I cannot find local, and buy from where I can find them.

There are guns I could wait 20 years for here and never see. On the other hand, I can get a local shop owner to order something for me as long as it is still made, and they are usually close on price.

One FFL here will charges $20 for a transfer on used stuff, but threatens $35 on new. He figures I could get new stuff from him. I don't mind, although I have not done it either.

When I bought my 9MM AR last year I tried for two weeks to get him to find one. He couldn't, so I bought one from AR15Sales online. He got all fussy and implemented the "$35 on new stuff next time" deal. I tried, that's all I can do.

 

[freakshow10mm]

I charge $20 no matter if it's new or used. No NICS fee because I don't get charged to call in. If they have a CPL issued after 11/22/05 I don't have to call it in.