Smart business or rip off? FFL question

[grimjaw]

I've been using a local range/gun shop for FFL transfers for a little over a year now. Up until recently I've only used them to receive firearms. The one time I tried to ship anything with them, the owner sat on the packages for over a week because he "couldn't find a box" even though his shop is a two minute drive to UPS. I stopped going in as much after that, but recently had occasion to receive a few more guns through them.

Today when I went by to pick up the paperwork to mail to an out of state FFL, the clerk at the counter told me that they would no longer be doing transfers for guns that they already sold (or could order). He explained that they made $25 on a transfer but $50+ on a gun.

Now, this is the place that sells plain Century Romy AKs for $400 before tax. I've bought at least four guns from him, plus ammo, and I have a membership for his shooting range ($130). I'm not sure what he's trying to accomplish, but I don't know what his challeneges are for running a business. Maybe somebody can shed light on that.

There's nothing he can't order new that Sportsman's Warehouse can't get me for a better price. I usually don't buy milsurp unless I can see it first or it's something that just doesn't come around often. But under his policy I have to take whatever Mosin Nagant he has on the shelf and it doesn't matter that the $1000 collector's item I found on Gunbroker for $100. I don't feel like arguing the point with anybody behind the counter, either.

Maybe the clerk just didn't explain the policy very well, but it sounded like a "we don't want your business because we don't make enough off of it" policy to me. I can't believe they're losing money on a $25 transfer that costs them fiften minutes of time to check in the gun, do the background check, and then ring me out. What kind of charges are involved for an FFL to call the Federales for a 4473?

jm

 

[Soybomb]

Find a local pawnshop that deals in firearms. I've found the staff is usually more than willing to make $25 off the transfer without trying to gouge you for their own in stock items.

 

[Gator]

My shop charges $50 for a transfer, but that is just for things they can't order themselves. If it is something they can order, they'll still do it, but it costs $100! So you don't have it so bad

 

[TIMC]

My local range charges $50 for a transfer, not because they want to gouge me on the prices they just don't want to do it. That is their perogative and I am not going to whine about how mean they are by not doing me a favor. I don't really mind because I have a local gunsmith that will transfer for $20.

I used to do a lot of transfers when I was in the business so I have seen how people are from the other side. You run into a lot of whiners that think it is your fault because they didn't get what they thought they were ordering and you should fix it for free. Then there is always the ones that say well I didn't see that scratch when I looked at the pictures so it must have happened here. When you have to deal with people like that you start to realize those $25 transfer sales which are a very minor part of your profit are not really worth it. That is why some decide to stop or raise their fee to steer people away from buying at other places. I also made more money ordering guns for people than doing transfers.

When you say you paid a $130 membership to use his range it sounds like you think you deserve more than use of the range for your money. I guess you need to get with the owner and clarify what your $130 pays for. I know my range membership pays for range use only.

Simple answer: If you don't like the service go someplace else.

 

[ezypikns]

I've never shipped anything FROM my local pawn shop.

But they'll do a transfer TO you, that is, receive and do paperwork on firearms from say, Bud's or AIM for ten dollars. That's a real good deal any way you look at it. They are Lewisville Pawn Shop on S. Mill Street in Lewisville, Tx, just north of Dallas.

 

[grimjaw]

When you say you paid a $130 membership to use his range it sounds like you think you deserve more than use of the range for your money.

If they expect continued business, I expect more than just higher prices for the same goods. These aren't friends of mine and there are other (less expensive) ranges and gun shops in the area. So why am I subsidizing this one? But you're right, I can take my money somewhere else if I want to. I was mainly floating the questions because I don't know the other side of the business and maybe I was missing something.

jm

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

I work part time at a local indoor range/gun shop. We charge members $10 , non member $30 for transfers. Our membership is $240/yr. We don't care where you get the gun from, or if we could have ordered it for you. If you want a gun sent, we send it as soon as we get the receiving FFL's license. No monkey business.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Maybe the clerk just didn't explain the policy very well, but it sounded like a "we don't want your business because we don't make enough off of it" policy to me.

Nope. You understand just fine. The dummies don't want your dollars.

Take your dollars where they'll be appreciated.

 

[browningguy]

My vote is neither smart or a rip-off, but just a business decision. I use FFL's occassionally to transfer modern guns and still I see it as a risk for them. They are spending time not just to hand it to you, but to receive it, log it in and out, NICS check. So all of that is somewhere around 20-30 minutes, even though we like to think it's a 10 minute job. So basically they are charging $50 hour, less than my plumber makes, or the electrician, and they aren't paying for a building, horrible insurance costs, and federal time or fines if they get the paperwork wrong.

Even though I can get transfers locally for $25 it really wouldn't be a surprise to me if dealers wanted $50. And why support the on-line dealers for things they sell, or can easily order.

It would be a long drawn out discussion about the whole business model thing, but it's a real issue for local shops.

 

[MrDig]

Truth be told after S&H trasnsfer fee and all the othe malarky, most of the time my local shops have what I want for a fair or lower price, and I would support them first. Two more than the others but a third for MilSurp rifles. If and only if it isn't something any of them have I order online.

 

[acdodd]

That wouldn't be Bear Arms in Kent by any chance would it?
I went in there 2 years ago. They were rude and just plain unfriendly.
They have a policy of no transfers if they can order the same gun.
Told me I could handle the guns when I produced the cash and paid for it.
Sense that time I have bought 9 new firearms and not one from them.
They are only 6 miles from my house but I will drive an hour to shop another gun store.
They can take their attitude and shove.
AC

 

[SSN Vet]

sounds like.....

it's still a free country for small business owners.

My suggestion is to go to Gunbroker.com, click on the "how do I buy" tab at the top and then click on the "find a transfer dealer" collored text. Then just type in your zip code. You could get lucky like I did and find someone doing it as a hobby-business out of their home.

I used to drive 40 min. into the boonies and pay $20. Used Gunbroker's find feature and now I drive 2 blocks out of my way going home from work and pay $10. The real hoot is that I've know this guy casually for 10 years....but didn't know he was into guns.

If there's no one in you area, you just found yourself a wonderful business opportunity.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

buisness decisions

are hard for folks outside to understand sometimes. folks forget that someone has to pay overhead. heres an example a buddy pays 2700 a month medical insurance on himself wife wifes son and a grandson they have under buisness policy

grim jaw? your post was a great example of how to ask about stuff like this no ranting and raving a legitimate question framed intelligently. i'm taking notes gonna have to try that style myself sometime!

 

[Axman]

You could get lucky like I did and find someone doing it as a hobby-business out of their home.

I thought there weren't any more "kitchen table' dealers.