Southern California Gun Dealer Fees

[AJAX22]

I've been trying to get a pair of cz52 pistols, I finally found a pair at a good price and come to find out that dealer to dealer fees in southern California are unbelievable.

one shop (Martin B Retting Inc) charges 80$ PER firearm (long gun or pistol) PLUS tax (7.25%), PLUS dros fees (25.00)

another charges 100$ PER firearm PLUS tax, PLUS dros fees. (I hung up on that so fast I can't remember which shop it was)

private party transfer is 10$ plus dros fees, so what is the extra 70 or 90 bucks for? signing for a package?

does anyone know a FFL in southern California who isn't a price gouger? I would like to think that gun people would look out for their own. I can understand making a fair buck and not wanting to cut into their own sales.

but with fees like that I don't feel much like buying anything they've got, not my holsters for the guns, not my cases, not my ammo, not my cleaning supplies, and lets face it guys the guns that we buy represent a relitivly small percentage of the amount that we spend on our hobby. especially if we are avid shooters who only buy guns that we plan on shooting ALOT.

anyone know anyone? anyone an FFL that can do it? I'm willing to go 100 miles in any direction.

what are the cheapest guys you know?

 

[joe4702]

Try this list:
http://www.gunbroker.com/User/DealerNetwork.asp

I see Bill Morell is still listed there.
I used him 2 or 3 times about 4 years ago.
Great guy - former Marine, I think.

William T. Morell
Morell's Outfitters
524 Grant Street, STE A & B
Oceanside, CA 92054

 

[AJAX22]

Thanks for the help, I have a list of names, and a mission.

It looks like I may be able to get this done for 25$ per gun including the dros fees (if the add can be believed).. Quite a bit of savings... now I have to make a ton of phone calls all over the state tomorrow.

I'll post the three cheapest guys when I get done.

This whole 100 bucks in fees needs to get nipped in the bud.

 

[Mike_in_OC]

Yeah, I asked a local gun shop if they do private party transfers. He said yes but if it is from out of state they charge 100.00 on top of the Dros fees. Said its to prevent people from finding deals on the internet and having them shipped in from out of state, cutting out the shop on the deals.

 

[mrmeval]

Post that store here, he needs to go out of business.

 

[rustymaggot]

prices to get stuff shipped to shops up here in central cali is just as bad. i havent checked with everyone yet but so far the norm is around 80 bucks per gun to reg em, not counting shipping cost.

 

[dmckean44]

In San Diego I've had similar problems. I found a couple pawn shops that will do it for $45 +DROS but that's still not a deal.

 

[50 Shooter]

I have a friend in Westminster who's an FFL, PM me and I'll get you his email addy. 100% stand up guy, no BS.

 

[Psssniper]

hmmm........ I have a friend in Westminster too
I drive 40 miles each cause way I like him so much

 

[joe4702]

University Pawn in San Diego use to do it for $15 + DROS.
Now I see they have tripled it to $45 + DROS

If Bill Morell is still doing it for $25+DROS, that's probably the
best deal in the San Diego area. He did several out of state
transfers for me on guns I had bought on gunbroker.
He also didn't try to charge sales tax like some dealers do.

Good luck.

 

[Stainless Chili]

I used several before finding a $42.50 [for all paperwork] FFL.

Before that, it was $60 at Sportsmen's Den [Oakhurst], and $75 ar Stones [Merced].

Try networking with these guys:


http://calguns.net/calgunforum/index.php

 

[AJAX22]

Yeah, I asked a local gun shop if they do private party transfers. He said yes but if it is from out of state they charge 100.00 on top of the Dros fees. Said its to prevent people from finding deals on the internet and having them shipped in from out of state, cutting out the shop on the deals.

Sounds like exactly what the guys at Martin B Retting (over in culver city) said to me

 

[AJAX22]

I talked to Ade down in OC at ades gunshop. he quoted me 45 per gun if they come in seperate boxes, 60 if they come in one box, plus 25 apice dros.

I can't get away from the 25$ apice on dros fees, thats a state of california thing.

there has to be guys who just do ffl work out of their houses to support the 2A.

Its just paperwork, I'll keep looking, any sugestions that you guys have is appriciated.

 

[dmckean44]

You might be better of getting you C&R and waiting.

 

[choochboost]

Orange Pawn shop is the cheapest I could find in OC. Cheaper than Ade, more convenient than Ade (better hours), and is right up the street. They charge $60 total for everything. There's a place in Riverside that charges $45 for everything but I can't remember the name.

 

[AJAX22]

I've though of getting my C&R, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. I need to learn more about it first.

 

[wallysparx]

best bet is finding FFLs whos main source of income isn't selling guns. i get it done at insight in artesia for $45 flat. but make it worth their while by renting a lane and buying a few targets at the same time.

 

[STAGE 2]

I've never understood this. These guys are biting the hands that feed them. The gun situation is bad enough in Cali, I can't understand why these guys are willing to contribute to the problem. Its one thing to make a buck for your trouble, but charging anything over 30 for a transfer is just wrong.

 

[choochboost]

I'm sure they're doing it to discourage their "customers" from buying cheaper over the internet.

 

[AJAX22]

the simple fact is that if they want to charge that much, then I'm not their customer.

Retting Inc, was the place I bought my SKS, paid cash, bought ammo for it and ammo for three other guns while I was at it, along with some magazines for my mini 14 and AR.

I can't understand why they would milk the fees and loose all the other profit.

 

[choochboost]

the simple fact is that if they want to charge that much, then I'm not their customer.

Which is why my FFL is a pawn shop and not a gun shop.

 

[Edmond]

its to prevent people from finding deals on the internet and having them shipped in from out of state, cutting out the shop on the deals.

That sure is short term thinking. Do those guys actually believe that when it comes time to buy ammo, targets and their other supplies, the people who they turn away with outrageous transfer fee's will actually patronize their store? It's like saving a penny to lose a dollar.

 

[gezzer]

It's CA, what do you expect Your lucky you have dealers let alone ones who will do transfers. Sorry don't like it get an FFL and try and stay in bussines.

 

[deadin]

when it comes time to buy ammo, targets and their other supplies

Where you going to go? Wally-World? and then complain that that don't know jack about guns or ammo?
Face it, they got you by the short hairs.

 

[dmckean44]

Where you going to go? Wally-World? and then complain that that don't know jack about guns or ammo?
Face it, they got you by the short hairs

I buy mine from the range or online for less common calibers. I refuse to give the dealers around here a dime of my ammo/accessory money. The only reason I still visit them is to look for deal on used/surplus guns.