CriscoBamBamBam
Member
Pelase share experience about buying a firearm online. Hassle from FFL? Gun as described? etc.
Anyone delt with thegunsource.com ??
Anyone delt with thegunsource.com ??
Should I buy online?
- Thread starter CriscoBamBamBam
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Spiff_P239
Member
I've bought 7 guns from 2 dealers I've come across during my browsing of the many forums I'm a member of. I've never had a problem with it and I've saved quite a bit of money by doing so. Here's info on the 2 that I've bought from:
Steve Pitchford of SCP Firearms in Florida (www.scpfirearms.com)
e-mail: [email protected]
Donna and WT Flanagan of DB Flanagans Guns in Mississippi
e-mail: [email protected]
If you're buying an out of state pistol, you do not have to pay sales tax so that right there will most likely negate the cost of the FFL transfer. You can take a look on http://www.auctionarms.com to find FFLs that are local for you. Mine only charges me $15/gun. Hope this helps.
Steve Pitchford of SCP Firearms in Florida (www.scpfirearms.com)
e-mail: [email protected]
Donna and WT Flanagan of DB Flanagans Guns in Mississippi
e-mail: [email protected]
If you're buying an out of state pistol, you do not have to pay sales tax so that right there will most likely negate the cost of the FFL transfer. You can take a look on http://www.auctionarms.com to find FFLs that are local for you. Mine only charges me $15/gun. Hope this helps.
p85
Member
online gun purchase
I have only purchased one handgun online and it was a good experience. I purchased a pistol from Buds Gun Shop and had it sent to a local pawn shop here in NC to transfer to me. I contacted Buds and paid for the pistol online. They shipped the pistol to the pawn shop I selected after receiving the FFL paperwork, took 3 days. I went to the pawn shop and picked it up.
Why did I do this???? Purely money. The pistol I wanted wasn't in stock in any of the local stores but could be ordered. I comparison shopped and found the pistol online for $160.00 less than anyone here would get one for me. I paid no sales tax. Shipping and insurance was $29.00 and the pawnshop charged me $20.00 to do the transfer. Net net, I saved $111.00
The downside, is not seeing the actual pistol I purchased until it arrived in NC. But Buds policy was that if it didn't meet my expectations, I would get a full refund. First look sealed the deal.
I have only purchased one handgun online and it was a good experience. I purchased a pistol from Buds Gun Shop and had it sent to a local pawn shop here in NC to transfer to me. I contacted Buds and paid for the pistol online. They shipped the pistol to the pawn shop I selected after receiving the FFL paperwork, took 3 days. I went to the pawn shop and picked it up.
Why did I do this???? Purely money. The pistol I wanted wasn't in stock in any of the local stores but could be ordered. I comparison shopped and found the pistol online for $160.00 less than anyone here would get one for me. I paid no sales tax. Shipping and insurance was $29.00 and the pawnshop charged me $20.00 to do the transfer. Net net, I saved $111.00
The downside, is not seeing the actual pistol I purchased until it arrived in NC. But Buds policy was that if it didn't meet my expectations, I would get a full refund. First look sealed the deal.
bestseller92
Member
I've bought two guns on Gunbroker.com and had good experiences.
Always make sure the seller has very good feedback ratings.
Pay always with postal money orders.
Always make sure the seller has very good feedback ratings.
Pay always with postal money orders.
wnycollector
Member
I have bought 3 pistols via gunbroker. All transactions have been professional and quick. I would suggest that you lurk for a while before you bid/buy!
All my local shops that I've been to so far want $45 for transfers, which I thought was pretty steep, but then I see some people have to pay 10% of MSRP which is insane.
At any rate, I bought my Sig from Mooney's Firearms online. I did this because one local shop tried to sell my fiance (she was buying it for me as a gift) a CPO sig for $800 out the door. So instead of that, I talked with Mooney's and got the 226R Navy brand new for a bit cheaper. Walked into the range, told them I wanted to transfer, asked the fee, and that was it, they handed me paper work and walked me through the details of the transfer process. The gun showed up a few days later and they ran the paper work as soon as they had the firearm (which was before I could come in again) so I was able to pick it up the first chance I had. Great experience, and they were very friendly. Probably why I buy through them now, unlike the other local shop they understand that people are stupid and you shouldn't try to take them for whatever you can the first chance you get. (Sorry for the mini rant, but it bothers me when local guys complain that they internet screws them, when really they just try and screw everybody they see and thus run customers off).
cliff notes: Transfering is great as long as you have a nice local place to transfer to.
At any rate, I bought my Sig from Mooney's Firearms online. I did this because one local shop tried to sell my fiance (she was buying it for me as a gift) a CPO sig for $800 out the door. So instead of that, I talked with Mooney's and got the 226R Navy brand new for a bit cheaper. Walked into the range, told them I wanted to transfer, asked the fee, and that was it, they handed me paper work and walked me through the details of the transfer process. The gun showed up a few days later and they ran the paper work as soon as they had the firearm (which was before I could come in again) so I was able to pick it up the first chance I had. Great experience, and they were very friendly. Probably why I buy through them now, unlike the other local shop they understand that people are stupid and you shouldn't try to take them for whatever you can the first chance you get. (Sorry for the mini rant, but it bothers me when local guys complain that they internet screws them, when really they just try and screw everybody they see and thus run customers off).
cliff notes: Transfering is great as long as you have a nice local place to transfer to.
I've bought quite a few guns online and am glad I did because I'd never have seen them in the local gunshop. But the cost of shipping a handgun plus the transfer fee charged by my FFL adds a good $75 to the price and usually prevents these transactions from saving me any money. Also, about a third of the guns I bought online did not measure up to my expectations based on the photos and descriptions.
i bought a few guns online from gunbroker
i was not really satisfied with the 2 used ones i got and resold them at a slight loss
i bought 1 gun that was advertised as new and was a display model with a few scratches and the seller would not give me a full refund so i left negitive feedback and kept it
i bought 2 new guns that i was complety satisfied with,1 from buds gunshop and 1 from east county guns.if i buy online again it will only be from them
i was not really satisfied with the 2 used ones i got and resold them at a slight loss
i bought 1 gun that was advertised as new and was a display model with a few scratches and the seller would not give me a full refund so i left negitive feedback and kept it
i bought 2 new guns that i was complety satisfied with,1 from buds gunshop and 1 from east county guns.if i buy online again it will only be from them
jmtgsx
Member
CAVEAT EMPTOR 
It depends on what you're looking for. NIB I would try to use a local stocking dealer. Most of my dealings online have been guns with some degree of custom work. I have had nothing but positive experiences with buying and selling online.(Looking for some wood to knock on!) I mostly peruse the message board classifieds for deals, but watch Gunbroker and Guns America for pricing reference. I also communicate with the seller to try and reduce shipping(FedExGround) and have a local dealer who only charges $20.00 per transfer. Good luck!
It depends on what you're looking for. NIB I would try to use a local stocking dealer. Most of my dealings online have been guns with some degree of custom work. I have had nothing but positive experiences with buying and selling online.(Looking for some wood to knock on!) I mostly peruse the message board classifieds for deals, but watch Gunbroker and Guns America for pricing reference. I also communicate with the seller to try and reduce shipping(FedExGround) and have a local dealer who only charges $20.00 per transfer. Good luck!
wnycollector
Member
+1 on the finding local ffl transfer dealer who is reliable and cheap! I found my guy via the gunbroker zip code search. He is great to deal with and only charges $20!
I've bought a gun from Gunbroker, NIB from a gunshop, perfect condition as stated. Budsguns was an ok experience, took over a week to get it. Personal dealings have also gone great, gun always in better condition then stated. I have two FFLs I use locally, one charges 5$, and the other is free, transfers are a non issue
don95sml
Member
I've bought half a dozen or so firearms online, and have been very satisfied overall. I have a local dealer who only charges $20 for a transfer fee, so that helps a lot. AuctionArms is my first choice because they require a 3-day inspection period following a successful bid. I have also bought several on GunBroker, but only when the seller offers a similar 3-day inspection guarantee. GunsAmerica is another possibility, but this usually involves correspondence with the seller to pin down the exact terms of sale. All sellers, I believe, tend to overstate the condition of the firearm they're selling, so I usually do not consider bidding unless the condition is stated as at least 98% or "like new".
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