Transfers insult to FFLs?

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my local shop charges $100, a guy came in last week who wanted to get some used rifle from an online auction for $600 IIRC and the guy explained that he needed to make money, it's his buisness, and if you don't like it get your own ffl. (every shop in the area charges about that) Then he asked what rifle, said I've got two of those let me go get them from the back. Sold the guy one NIB (old inventory) for about $450. THe guy was more than happy, he saved money anyway and the local shop made money. He'll get me anything I want C&R, used, whatever, I'd rather give him my buisness than the big-box stores.

His policy for C&R guns is that of it breaks or doesn't work right bring it in and he'll work something out (often fix it or replace it for as little as possible, often free)
 
FFL's enjoy a legal status that forces their business to remain locked into the 20th century.

Few other retailers have Federal law that forces me to buy from them, and makes me a felon if I buy their product from the Internet instead.

Now I happen to like some local gun shops and owners. And yeah, the BATFE is a PITA to FFL's.

But don't give me this "insulted" crap. Every other business is going "on-line" if it makes sense. Only Federal law prohibits the gun business from doing the same.

Don't have your cake, eat it, and then tell me you're insulted.
 
Mixed Bag

Locally we have
One who won't do it at all,
one who will do it for $25 if it's not something they normally carry, $50 otherwise,
and one who will do it for $25 no matter what.​

Haven't checked my local pawn shop, though.
 
Man I love Texas. My guy charges me $10 per transfer and if I ship one he mails it under his FFL so it can go USPS priority instead of overnight, saving me a ton of postage. $10 coming in and $0 going out is what it costs me, therefore just the sales tax of 7.25% or 7.75% (whatever it is) usually makes it worthwhile for me to but from out of state.
 
My local FFl that gets almost all of my biz charges $10 to do a transfer.

I have bought several thousand $ in guns from him in the past 3 yrs, either from stock or ordered. Both new and used.

I've also ordered a milsurp or two that he transfered for me. The transfer fee vs. his modest markup would have been just about a tossup for him, and he doesn't care. I found a really good deal on a used IPSC gun on Gunbroker, and he was happy that I'd gotten a great deal.

Since I live in a town that's within 10 miles of 2 different state lines, he has an agreement with several other FFL's to honor a $10 transfer fee between their stores.

The practicality of small town living at it's finest!
 
But don't give me this "insulted" crap. Every other business is going "on-line" if it makes sense. Only Federal law prohibits the gun business from doing the same.
Click to expand...
Where you been? The gun business has been online for some time now (in fact I would go so far as to say sites like Gunbroker have revolutionized the industry, stabilized prices and saved the bacon of many a Ma 'n Pa gun shop.

Any gun shop owner who's not smart enough to get his inventory on GB or Davidson's or some other online venue is a dinosaur that deserves the extinction he's got coming.


I also keep hearning from dealers that they don't make much money off the guns themselves ... their profits come from ammo, cleaning supplies, sundries and brick-a-brack ... so some FFL getting his panty in a twist because you aren't buying the gun from him is shooting himself in the foot when you leave and find some FFL that's happy to do transfers (and then sell you ammo, and such).


The real problem is that like other small specialty retail shops, gun shops are more often than not run by hobbyists, not businessmen.
 
The closest gun shop to me charges $50, and seem to be reluctant to handle transfers. They're on the Gunbroker's list. Another on the list, a pawnshop, was happy to do it for $10. In fact, the pawnshop made everything so simple and pleasant that I bought my last revolver from them - the owner ordered it new from the manufacturer and gave me a great price.
 
I get most of my guns online because obviously the inventory is larger and more diverse than any one dealer can stock. My FFL charges $25 but I've bought 40+ guns from him in the past 6 years. I know that the bulk of his business is doing transfers and special orders. His inventory is small. He's been in business 25 years and I've seen others come and go. He must be doing something right. He has found me stuff I couldn't find myself and I know he spends a lot on long distance calls to do it. I don't begrudge him a nickle of that $25.

This is the same FFL who did a 1 year tour in Iraq last year at age 55 with the National Guard. He'll always have my business.
 
Just find a FFL gunsmith to do the transfer. That's what I do, he doesn't sell guns, he doesn't care.

I felt guilty about the $20 fee though, thought it was too low for 1 hour of work (he's slow). I told him next one I'm paying $30 heh.
 
My local FFL does transfers for $15. They have very good prices on new guns and will happily order anything they don't already have in stock.

However, and this is a big however, if I buy something used, even if it is a current model, they are happy to do the transfer and never give me a hard time or a guilt trip.

They are always friendly, polite and professional. They treat me as a friend and a valued customer. I enjoy going there, as it is always a pleasant experience.

I have a CHL so they only need to do the paperwork, no phone call. $15 for a leisurely ten minutes worth of work and visiting.

They have made some decent money off of me in the last three years because my Search For The Ultimate Carry Gun continues, and for a while there it seemed as if I was either buying or selling something every time I turn around.

They also ship anything I sell to the buyer's FFL for $15 plus actual USPS charges--ends up around $25, so they make $15 and I get cheap shipping, about 1/2 of what FedEx/UPS cost. When I had to send a pistol to the manufacturer for repair, same deal. Win/win.

My FFL? Sporting Arms in Lewisville, Texas.

www.sportingarms.com
 
i used to offer a $10 THR member rate for transfers until i recently changed my policy (contact me via PM if you want to know why). now i charge $20 unless you are a member of a different gun board then it is $10 if you are a member on that board.

nothing against most of the good THR members on here but a few bad apples had to spoil it all for me. :(
 
My local gun shop charges $10.00 plus the State of Oregon fee of $10.00 so it works out to $20.00 per xfer. We have no sales tax. This local dealer is quite happy to do this for me and I buy many guns from manufacturers direct. The local dealer gives me signed copies of his FFL to facilitate the deals.
 
Local dealers were like that to me too. $25, $35, even $50 a transfer.

Then I went to college, and it turns out there was a gunshop not five minutes off campus that charged $15 and cut me a break if I got three or more at a time or bought ammo.

He's an hour drive away, but I do all my business through him, since I collect old military stuff you can't get ordered in.
 
Speaking of which, who do you guys use in Orlando Florida?

Best price I found was $35 out of Sanford.

Failing that, I'll see if I can work a deal for a cheap transfer if I buy ammo at my place.
 
The dealer i use does them for $10. He knows i'll be buying reloading supplies for a new gun anyway. And it's $10 for a couple minutes of work. If your dealer doesn't see it that way maybe you should find another one.
 
My local dealer waives the fee if I buy another gun from him at the same time, usually $40. Which is probably going to lead to numerous two gun purchases. Develop a relationship with a dealer who understands you intend to support them by buying as much as you can there, but that you regularly deal in transfers as well.

What angers me is when dealers get an attitude about transferring something they can't even get themselves. OK, dealer A can't get a Springfield Gi 1911 anytime in the immediate future, but doesn't really want to handle a transfer from dealer B either :banghead:

Any THR members dealers in PA? If you offered <$20 transfers you'd have a new best friend.
 
Zundfolge

The other is in, (I kid you not) an Apple dealership ... so this guy sells Macintoshes and does FFL transfers (no gun inventory).
Click to expand...


Is that V Research @ Academy and Union??

C
 
last time i asked about having a gun shipped to a ffl and registered to me he quoted 100 bucks. dealers are getting to be asshats lately.
 
I just checked that dealer locator on gunbroker.com and came up with 2 or 3 within 15 miles that are $10 with a CHL. :D
I also found a good list of gun shops in the area that I haven't visited yet.
 
I should point out that even a transfer here in PRK results in a ten day wait so the dealer not only has to recieve your gun, but store it for at least 10 days. I can see that as a reason to charge more, but I agree that it's a great way to get new customers and keep old ones. My guy will also give deals for multiple guns bought at once. I got three and saved about $80.
 
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