Tampa FFL Dealer - Avoid!

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Rustynuts

Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Messages
729
I won't name names, but it is a pawn shop on Busch Blvd. This guy was totally abusive AND ignorant of the rules! I popped a "conditional" on my first gun purchase and it took months to clear things up. Due to that I got an FBI, UPIN number.

I started filling out the form, like I have 3 or 4 times with other FFL's, and start putting my UPIN in Section 6, just like the form says. The guy starts going off on me, almost yelling, "that's not supposed to go there!, Are you an alien immigrant! Those are the only ones that use section six!." I pointed out to him the instructions that clearly state people with voluntary file UPIN's enter it into Section 6. He goes off again "are YOU an FFL! I've done thousands of these!, blah blah blah." I told him he obviously shouldn't be an FFL if he doesn't know the rules and took my business elsewhere. Needs some customer service training, but then again, it was a pawn shop!

Anyone know of a place to complain about idiot FFL dealers?
 
I popped a "conditional" on my first gun purchase and it took months to clear things up. Due to that I got an FBI, UPIN number.
Click to expand...

What the hell is a "conditional"??? Did it hurt?

:)
 
My personal experience.

Stay away from pawn shops and go to a gun shop.

I had one incident where I did a handgun transfer to a "recommended" pawn shop, and the owner knew NOTHING about recieving handguns out of state. Huge mess.

Gun stayed in the pawn shop for more than a month because the owner left messages to the Dept. of Justice. I called the Dept. of Justice and got a hold of a live person in less than 5 minutes.

Thankfully, I have an FFL dealer/friend who took the gun out of the pawn shop owner's hands.

I'm NEVER going to deal with a pawn shop.
 
That dealer is a moron. I have used a UPIN with over a dozen gun transfers from various dealers with no problems. BTW, the friendliest and smartest FFL dealer I know owns a pawnshop, so they're not all uneducated jerks.
 
Yep, learned my lesson trying to save $10 or $15. Going to my trusty dealer tomorrow at lunch, so no time lost really. This was for a transfer from out of state, and I really didn't feel like leaving my info with this shop. Luckily he never got a hold of the form, it went with me out the door. Headed out so fast I almost forgot to drop the pen!

In case you weren't totally joking! A Conditional is where FDLE does your check and it doesn't immediately come back clean. Could be similar name, old parking tickets, whatever. They then are supposed to clear or deny the deal within 72 hours. At that point the dealer "can" if they want, release the gun to you on now what's termed a "conditional approval, or CA". They continue to investigate at their leisure (what happened to me) to fully clear the deal and give an approval number. If you have the gun and it then gets denied, you get a nice visit from all sorts of LE to confiscate it! My dealer as policy, does not release until FULL approval, so that's why I had to wait 5-6 weeks. Got my UPIN and now it takes only an extra minute or two during the instant call check.
 
Yes. A non-immigrant alien.

4473s are a mess. It doesn't surprise me that there are plenty of dealers out there who don't really know what everything on them is for, or what procedures must be followed.
 
Whats a fbi UPIN I have done many a 4473 and filled out many an old style from the other side of the counter and never saw it.

As far as aliens go- I really don't see a loss if they can't get a gun or have to jump through more hoops and be offended- after all I hate pressing 1 for english :) let em go back to where they come from if they don't like it ;)
 
Several reasons. Most forums don't like personal attacks. Even though this was a business, it's small mom/pop shop (I think I was dealing with the son), so essentially it would be personal. Second, Tampa is pretty small, so most could guess which pawn shop this is. Not too many gun pawns on Busch blvd. Third, anyone NOT from Tampa doesn't give a rat's @$$. And there's always the PM system if you REALLY have to know.

I've dealt with University before, they are professional. I work close to Shoot Straight, so that's where I normally go. Both are a little pricey on transfers though. $45 I think, incl "the call"

As to a UPIN, I'm surprised someone filling out these transfer forms hasn't run into one. It's a voluntary file of info you register with the FBI (NICS) and they give you a Unique Personal Identification Number (hence UPIN) once they check you out thoroughly. This prevents problems during the instant checks, in case you have a similar name to someone, parking tickets unpaid, whatever. Just clears up your background so there's no mistake or delay in purchasing. My first gun in Florida took like 5-weeks to clear, cause they had to check something through the idiots in Illinois. Now the FDLE runs my UPIN through NICS and presto, new baby gun in 5-minutes!
 
As to a UPIN, I'm surprised someone filling out these transfer forms hasn't run into one. It's a voluntary file of info you register with the FBI (NICS) and they give you a Unique Personal Identification Number (hence UPIN) once they check you out thoroughly. This prevents problems during the instant checks, in case you have a similar name to someone, parking tickets unpaid, whatever. Just clears up your background so there's no mistake or delay in purchasing. My first gun in Florida took like 5-weeks to clear, cause they had to check something through the idiots in Illinois. Now the FDLE runs my UPIN through NICS and presto, new baby gun in 5-minutes!
Click to expand...

I had not been on the other side of the counter sice the new crap started.I do know the alphabet folks are idiots when it comes to paperwork etc so I can not fault anyone not wanting to deal with something they don't know about. I also don't fault them for not wantin to deal with it. The alphabet folks have NO SENSE OF HUMOR when it comes to those forms. If you haven't been on the wrong side of thier search/inspection you really should be treated with your response to a man not wanting to deal with them. His problem is not with you but with them. Ifin ya started tellin me how to run my business I am sure the response would have been slightly different... I may have informed you to leave and not come back. There is quite a bit on the forms that aren't commonly used and caution and fear are real when dealin with that stuff.

A better tact might be for you to bring the info and explain before you start the transaction. You are the one with a relatively uncommon need.

Professional and courteous service IS a two way streeet ya know.

I hope ya got yer new tool.
 
Even though this was a business, it's small mom/pop shop (I think I was dealing with the son), so essentially it would be personal.
Click to expand...

No, a personal attack would say something like "His wife is ugly and children are stupid." What you offered was a reasonable critique of bad BUSINESS practices. I hope you post the name of the place - the best feature of an online community like this is the sharing of information. We all benefit from the openness of information exchange.

It just seems really silly to have a post with "FFL Avoid!" and then don't name the FFL to avoid. Don't forget the posts here will be archived and accessed for a long time and the info you add could help another member.

All that info about the UPIN was new to me, and I was interested to learn it.

Scott
 
Guys... there are no non-alien immigrants unless for some strange twisted reason you as a US born citizen go to your nearest consulate, renounce your US citizenship then immediately re-apply for US citizenship... I just don't see that happening...


I'm a LPR (Green Card Holder) BTW... that makes me "Alien"...

I've been a non-immigrant alien, now I'm "adjusted" to immigrant alien aka LPR with green card... Oh boy what fun I've had with that...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Turnaround time for VAF UPIN
Replies
1
Views
1K
boltonguy
B
C
  • Locked
FFL dealer?
Replies
4
Views
766
Shweboner
S
L
  • Locked
Question for an FFL
Replies
20
Views
1K
Luggo
L
L
  • Locked
Perspective on gun dealers and FFL transfer fees
2 3
Replies
63
Views
3K
Jorg Nysgerrig
J
J
  • Locked
Is it time to stop supporting FFL scammers?
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
Mad Man
M
Back
Top