Is it just me (transfers)
- Thread starter clubsoda22
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RepublicanMan
member
We too are charged for the NICS check.......we charge $10 for the transfer / NICS on all of our sells and $40 for an internet transfer / NICS. Nobody around here has complained that I know of, and our AMMO and Gun prices more than make up for the charges........I can honestly say, without feeling guilty, that we have the lowest firearms prices and ammo prices (barring Wally World of course) in the area that I've seen. I always encourage our new customers to shop around first and then come back and get what they want. 
thumbody
Member
try this sight http://www.shotgunnews.com/fflguide/
I just checked for PA and several places quoted $5-25 for transfer
I just checked for PA and several places quoted $5-25 for transfer
Only did it once so far, $10 and they were glad to do it. Told them I was watching another auction and they said to just give 'em a call if I won.
I've never had an Instant check take over 5 minutes total, and I get delayed every time.
I've never had an Instant check take over 5 minutes total, and I get delayed every time.
Mulliga
Member
I found one semi-local guy who charges $20 for three rifles. Quite fair IMHO.
Gunshops hate it because they don't make as much money off of you.
Gunshops hate it because they don't make as much money off of you.
SapperLeader
Member
Ive dont two transfers at two different shops, and had totally different reactions. First, I transfered in a 9mm 1911 to one shop, and was hassled, insulted, forced to wait, and then when I turned around to talk to the owner, one of his emplpyess started fiddling and dryfiring my gun. They then charged me 40 dollars for the privellege. Then last month, I had a totalyl different reaction. Virginia Arms, in manassas, charged me 20 dollars per transfer, for two milsurps I had transfered in. They were polite and courteous, offered me some gloves so i could inspect the cosmoline rifles, and we had some actual conversations, not insults about why didnt I buy a "real gun". Therefore, Virginia Arms has won some business from me on accessories and ammo, and when Im ready to buy one, I will buy a kahr pm 9mm from them, even if it costs me a little bit more, just as a thankyou for thier attituted as a gun shop.
clubsoda22
member
If a gun shop has the gun i want and has it for a resonable price, i'm not gonna go ordering online to save $20. I'd rather pay the 20 and have it today.
I don't like the idea of charging for nics. It just seems petty if someone just dished out hundreds of dollars for a new gun.
I don't like the idea of charging for nics. It just seems petty if someone just dished out hundreds of dollars for a new gun.
Lennyjoe
Member
I use two guys here for FFL transfers.
One works at Raytheon and will meet you anywhere to do the transfer. $20 is the cost. Rincon Concepts.
Other one is AJC but he is up near the Mt Lemmon highway and he charges $15 for the transfer at his house.
Both guys are very professional.
I even asked the Marksman how much they wanted and they quoted me at $50 bucks and I laughed at them. Last time they did one for me it was $25 back in 2001.
One works at Raytheon and will meet you anywhere to do the transfer. $20 is the cost. Rincon Concepts.
Other one is AJC but he is up near the Mt Lemmon highway and he charges $15 for the transfer at his house.
Both guys are very professional.
I even asked the Marksman how much they wanted and they quoted me at $50 bucks and I laughed at them. Last time they did one for me it was $25 back in 2001.
Eskimo Jim
Member
THe going rate around here is $25. Some shops charge $30 or more. I've rarely done transfers like that though. I think that I have done two out of state transfers for a revolver and a pistol.
I believe that $25 for at most, a half hour worth of paperwork is plenty.
If you're going to need the service on a regular basis, could you negotiate something with the owner? If he stings you for $50 each time, you'll go someplace else. If he could drop the price to $25 you'd gaurantee him three transfers or something.
Is there an FFL holder here that can educate me on the transfer process? I sure looked easy to me twice and it didn't take much time. Is $25 or less a fair cost for some of your time without tying up any of your capital?
-Jim
I believe that $25 for at most, a half hour worth of paperwork is plenty.
If you're going to need the service on a regular basis, could you negotiate something with the owner? If he stings you for $50 each time, you'll go someplace else. If he could drop the price to $25 you'd gaurantee him three transfers or something.
Is there an FFL holder here that can educate me on the transfer process? I sure looked easy to me twice and it didn't take much time. Is $25 or less a fair cost for some of your time without tying up any of your capital?
-Jim
Highland Ranger
Member
Depends on where you live.
Here in NJ, Davidson's prices are competitive and for some of the S&W PC gun's, they are actually cheap.
Bought a S&W PC light hunter thru Davidson's after I called every shop in the area. Most said they couldn't get it (every one asked me if I had a purchase permit so that may give you a clue as to the idiots they deal with), the one or two that said they could get it quoted me S&W list price or more.
Bottom line is they want to sell what is in their case, transfers and special orders don't interest them especially in a gun unfreindly state like NJ.
I think I have finally found one guy, not anywhere near me but he knows his guns, his prices aren't an affront to my intelligence and if I develop a relationship with him over time I expect he will help with transfers.
Bought a Lew Horton S&W thru him and he was a pleasure to deal with.
Here in NJ, Davidson's prices are competitive and for some of the S&W PC gun's, they are actually cheap.
Bought a S&W PC light hunter thru Davidson's after I called every shop in the area. Most said they couldn't get it (every one asked me if I had a purchase permit so that may give you a clue as to the idiots they deal with), the one or two that said they could get it quoted me S&W list price or more.
Bottom line is they want to sell what is in their case, transfers and special orders don't interest them especially in a gun unfreindly state like NJ.
I think I have finally found one guy, not anywhere near me but he knows his guns, his prices aren't an affront to my intelligence and if I develop a relationship with him over time I expect he will help with transfers.
Bought a Lew Horton S&W thru him and he was a pleasure to deal with.
RepublicanMan
member
Club it's called overhead. The shop has to pay the employee that is making the call, the shop has to pay for the employees insurance that is making the call, the shop has to pay the phone bill for the phone that the employee is using to make the call. The shop has to pay the employee that takes the information down, files the 4473, makes the appropriate notations in the log book. The shop has to pay the electric bill. The shop has to pay either rent or property taxes on the building. I'm sorry you don't feel as though a shop should be paid for the time it spends on servicing its customers. I don't see it as being petty and I don't have a problem with paying for services rendered provided it's done in a professional and courteous manner.
Eskimo Jim
Member
RepublicanMan,
You're right about overhead etc.
what's a fair price for this service, transferring a firearm and doing the paperwork? The work doesn't appear to take that much time.
I generally look for at a gun shop:
1)service, do they know what they are selling and willing to answer my questions regardless of how mundane they might be to an 'expert'. Are the courteous, friendly and knowledgable.
2) do they sell what I want
3) do they treat my wife well. If they treat her like an idiot or suggest 'how about a nice little 22 for you that doesn't kick at all", I walk out
4) convenient hours/location
5) will they do a little extra service for me like handle transfers or special orders.
If they do that for a reasonable price then I go back. THere is a difference between reasonable and lowest price.
-Jim
You're right about overhead etc.
what's a fair price for this service, transferring a firearm and doing the paperwork? The work doesn't appear to take that much time.
I generally look for at a gun shop:
1)service, do they know what they are selling and willing to answer my questions regardless of how mundane they might be to an 'expert'. Are the courteous, friendly and knowledgable.
2) do they sell what I want
3) do they treat my wife well. If they treat her like an idiot or suggest 'how about a nice little 22 for you that doesn't kick at all", I walk out
4) convenient hours/location
5) will they do a little extra service for me like handle transfers or special orders.
If they do that for a reasonable price then I go back. THere is a difference between reasonable and lowest price.
-Jim
True the overhead must be paid, but the same overhead is paid even when time is spent just showing a customer a firearm even though they declared they are not buying. There's no reason for some of the prices that some shops charge. It is a income and it don't tie up inventory making it a potential lost. The time spent with a customer wanting a transfer is a guaranteed income, not a potential sale. Service is a big part of any sucessful business.
I'm sure it costs a bike shop money to pump up kid's tires "for free".
Consider shop A and shop B. Both shops have to buy an air compressor and hire a mechanic. Shop A tries to recover this cost from the customer by charging $1 for a tire full of air. Shop B gives their air away for free.
Which shop gets more traffic? Which shop sells more bikes, tubes, and other accessories?
Gun shops asking a high price for their guns in stock, a high price for a transfer, and doing it with a surly "we don't like to do transfers because you aren't buying what we care to stock" will get what they deserve, as their potential customers will likely find a competitor who offers a better deal.
Every specialty retailer deals with these kinds of issues. Competition from big box retail, category killer stores, mail order and the Internet (mail order on steroids). Little gun shops actually have it pretty good, due to GCA'68 mail ordering guns is a pain in the butt compared to most other products. I'm not required to get a bike shop involved when I mail order a new bike. The gun store can at least collect a few bucks for doing the transfer, then do some "suggestive salesmanship" when I'm in the store to sign the forms. "Would you like some ammo with that? Would you be needing a holster to put that in? How about a sling or a scope?"
Consider shop A and shop B. Both shops have to buy an air compressor and hire a mechanic. Shop A tries to recover this cost from the customer by charging $1 for a tire full of air. Shop B gives their air away for free.
Which shop gets more traffic? Which shop sells more bikes, tubes, and other accessories?
Gun shops asking a high price for their guns in stock, a high price for a transfer, and doing it with a surly "we don't like to do transfers because you aren't buying what we care to stock" will get what they deserve, as their potential customers will likely find a competitor who offers a better deal.
Every specialty retailer deals with these kinds of issues. Competition from big box retail, category killer stores, mail order and the Internet (mail order on steroids). Little gun shops actually have it pretty good, due to GCA'68 mail ordering guns is a pain in the butt compared to most other products. I'm not required to get a bike shop involved when I mail order a new bike. The gun store can at least collect a few bucks for doing the transfer, then do some "suggestive salesmanship" when I'm in the store to sign the forms. "Would you like some ammo with that? Would you be needing a holster to put that in? How about a sling or a scope?"
Zundfolge
Member
That was my experience when I lived in Kansas.
Here in Colorado, however, they use NICS for CCW apps too. Thats why my FFL says you have to wait on hold for up to an hour because NICS is overloaded here.
It really must depend on where you live.
dwkennedy, you make a good point, but I've noticed over the years that a LARGE percentage of gun shop owners are NOT businessmen ... they are hobbyists who have found a way for their hobby to pay for itself (although many fail).
On many issues, gun shop owners tend to be their own worst enemy
RepublicanMan
member
For every customer that comes into a gun shop and actually makes a purchase there are 10 to 15 that come in and require 15 - 30 minutes worth of time (assuming you're in a quality shop that will spend time just showing guns and answering questions) and don't buy a thing. That lost time has to be made up somewhere........there's not a thing wrong with charging a reasonable fee for a transfer OR an Instant Check and all the complaining in the world isn't going to make that fact any different.
I think that's the question here. What is a reasonable fee? Do you as the shop owner get to decide what is a reasonable fee? Nope. Sorry. Keep thinking that way and you won't be in business long.
I'm not slamming you or flaming you personally but I believe this is a problem many small business men have. I've seen it stated many times before. I'm afraid that customers complaining is going to make that fact different. When customers complain they are dissatisfied and when customers are dissatisfied they look for alternatives. Places that will satisfy them. ie, they take their money and business elsewhere.
You do not get to decide what is a reasonable fee. Your customers do. Only the government can decide what a reasonable fee for services is and make it stick because they have the power to use force to make you pay their fees.
Look at how many people here have stated that they took their business elsewhere when they felt they were being overcharged.
ken w.
Member
handguns in new york
This is a response to a post from a dealer in N.Y.I wasn't refering to our royal pain in the a$$ handgun laws.Thats a whole diffrent thing.Yeah,we in New York have to send NEW guns to have them fired and the empty shell casings sent to Albany to be put on file.We luck out that it's only 12 miles away,but the shop owner or whoever's name is on the FFL has to take it over there(3 hours).This doesn't apply to used guns and we try to stock a lot of used guns.We charge $20.00 per transaction,not per gun.You buy 5 guns or 1 gun $20.00 for transfer.I still feel thats reasonable.
This is a response to a post from a dealer in N.Y.I wasn't refering to our royal pain in the a$$ handgun laws.Thats a whole diffrent thing.Yeah,we in New York have to send NEW guns to have them fired and the empty shell casings sent to Albany to be put on file.We luck out that it's only 12 miles away,but the shop owner or whoever's name is on the FFL has to take it over there(3 hours).This doesn't apply to used guns and we try to stock a lot of used guns.We charge $20.00 per transaction,not per gun.You buy 5 guns or 1 gun $20.00 for transfer.I still feel thats reasonable.
LiquidTension
Member
The guy I use for transfers used to charge $25 but he recently raised it to $35. When I asked him about it, he told me that after checking his records, he found that he did nearly 500 transfers the preceeding year - that extra $10 will make him nearly $5k more this year. He has no problem doing transfers, but he's a gunsmith and doesn't do retail sales. The way he sees it is the way I think most shops should look at it - a few minutes of paperwork = $25-$35. And since he usually doesn't have to order the gun himself, he really doesn't have any time invested in it other than logging it in.
Other shops either want waaaaay too much money (10%
) or just flat out refuse. I can understand them not ordering something that they would normally sell for a much higher profit, but they're still making money off of the deal and not doing much work for it. And don't try to tell me how much work it is to transfer a gun for someone - I used to work at a sporting goods shop so I know exactly how much paperwork is involved. I have to say that I'd be happy making $25/transfer for the amount of time involved.
Other shops either want waaaaay too much money (10%
) or just flat out refuse. I can understand them not ordering something that they would normally sell for a much higher profit, but they're still making money off of the deal and not doing much work for it. And don't try to tell me how much work it is to transfer a gun for someone - I used to work at a sporting goods shop so I know exactly how much paperwork is involved. I have to say that I'd be happy making $25/transfer for the amount of time involved.RepublicanMan
member
A Reasonable fee is the same as a good deal.....if the shop wants $20 and you are willing to pay $20 then it's reasonable.
As I said, the shop I work part time at charges $10 for a Nics / transfer on a firearm purchased through us and $25 for internet transfers etc....
Considering that we make nothing on the sale of the firearm yet have to handle the 4473 and logbook paperwork not to mention get drug into any investigation should the firearm not be on the up and up (not an issue when purchased from online retailers of course) I don't, nor do most people I know, consider that to be unreasonable. The shop owner almost always gives repeat customers discounts on these prices after he gets to know them. Given that (and I swear this is true) our firearms prices are the lowest I've seen in this area as is our ammunition prices.....I'd say it's very reasonable to charge what we charge. Just an example....Wolf 7.62 X 39 sells for $1.99 a box of 20 at our place........$2.29 to $3.79 everywhere else I've seen it.
As I said, the shop I work part time at charges $10 for a Nics / transfer on a firearm purchased through us and $25 for internet transfers etc....
Considering that we make nothing on the sale of the firearm yet have to handle the 4473 and logbook paperwork not to mention get drug into any investigation should the firearm not be on the up and up (not an issue when purchased from online retailers of course) I don't, nor do most people I know, consider that to be unreasonable. The shop owner almost always gives repeat customers discounts on these prices after he gets to know them. Given that (and I swear this is true) our firearms prices are the lowest I've seen in this area as is our ammunition prices.....I'd say it's very reasonable to charge what we charge. Just an example....Wolf 7.62 X 39 sells for $1.99 a box of 20 at our place........$2.29 to $3.79 everywhere else I've seen it.
only1asterisk
member
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clubsoda22,
Don't take this wrong, but could your personality be a basis for a surcharge? Many of your post are fairly caustic. If you threw that attitude around around my shop I'd charge you the "VIP" rate.
I don't shop at overpriced shops that don't do tranfers and I don't shoot at ranges that force you to buy their ammo.
David
Don't take this wrong, but could your personality be a basis for a surcharge? Many of your post are fairly caustic. If you threw that attitude around around my shop I'd charge you the "VIP" rate.
I don't shop at overpriced shops that don't do tranfers and I don't shoot at ranges that force you to buy their ammo.
David
JohnBT
Member
The closest shop is the indoor range and they charged me $25. They display and sell a few guns.
The next closest, not counting Dick's and Galyan's, is 12 miles or so and they charged $40 the last time I asked. They are a monster-sized store with 3 computerized registers on just the gun counter, 6 or 8 friendly knowledgeable salesguys working(or more depending on the day and the season) and usually have people standing in line to see guns or give them money. I can understand why they'd rather have the employees showing and selling guns 7 days a week morning noon and night than being tied up doing endless $25 transfers. They must pay the employees fairly well because some of them have been working there about as long as I've been buying from them - 32 years.
John
The next closest, not counting Dick's and Galyan's, is 12 miles or so and they charged $40 the last time I asked. They are a monster-sized store with 3 computerized registers on just the gun counter, 6 or 8 friendly knowledgeable salesguys working(or more depending on the day and the season) and usually have people standing in line to see guns or give them money. I can understand why they'd rather have the employees showing and selling guns 7 days a week morning noon and night than being tied up doing endless $25 transfers. They must pay the employees fairly well because some of them have been working there about as long as I've been buying from them - 32 years.
John
only1asterisk
member
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John,
I can see a place like Greentops not wanting to do transfers! It's hard enough just to push your way to the counter most days. They have lots of money tied up in inventory and would like to sell you something from stock. Has Mitch at Southern Police Equipment/Southern Gun World stopped doing transfers? He sells a few guns too, but he only makes $25-50 off the average new gun. It is worth most shops time to do a transfer for a customer. They are making the same money as if sold a gun without having anything invested but a little time.
I can see a person wanting a transfer having to wait until customers buying inventory are helped, but I can't understand anyone not talking advantage of this business.
David
I can see a place like Greentops not wanting to do transfers! It's hard enough just to push your way to the counter most days. They have lots of money tied up in inventory and would like to sell you something from stock. Has Mitch at Southern Police Equipment/Southern Gun World stopped doing transfers? He sells a few guns too, but he only makes $25-50 off the average new gun. It is worth most shops time to do a transfer for a customer. They are making the same money as if sold a gun without having anything invested but a little time.
I can see a person wanting a transfer having to wait until customers buying inventory are helped, but I can't understand anyone not talking advantage of this business.
David
clubsoda22
member
It may supprise you, but disprite my pension for sarcastic humor, i'm actually a nice guy in real life. Only time i've ever got an attitude with a gun shop employee was after being kicked off a shooting range for a rather BS reason that i've definately posted about before.
Only time i ever get an attitude is when something irritates me. the reason you may think it is prevalent is probably due to this online communities constant liberal bashing. Occasionally, excessively stupid mall ninja/gunshop commando remarks also get the dry wit, and those lacking sences of humor, or at least don't understand my sence of humor often interpret my remarks as harsh.
I think after tomorrows PA shoot there will be plent of people who can attest to my good nature.
joab
Member
The NICS fee as I understand it does not go towards the shops profit or overhead, but to the state to help maintain the NICS sysytem as required by law. I may be wrong but that is what was explained to me by a long term non-Rambo-smarter-than-you-type shop employee in a casual conversation outside of his work enviroment. He usually tells me when he thinks his shop is full of BS and actually makes fun of me for shopping there.
And by the way I kinda get Club's smartass humor.
Reminds me of me. Now I really hate him.
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