Want to hear a joke?

[savetheclaypigeons]

I have never had to deal with an FFL transfer before. So I go to 'my' pawn shop. Tell him what I was wanting to do and he looks at me very suspiciously and worrisome. "Umm.... I know we have an FFL but we can't do a transfer. Go somewhere else." Could someone explain that to me?

I called a gun shop close by I checked out just the week before. Ludicrous prices. $270 for a typical Mosin Nagant. Ar-15 are a minimum of $100 over the sticker price, used Mini-14's starting at $600... you get the idea. From what I understand is they are the distributor for several firearms. They sell to the other gun shops in town and as a favor they mark up their prices so their competitors get business. Doesn't make sense but it's what I've heard.
No biggie for what I want to do though....right? On the phone they said they wanted $35 to do the transfer. From what I understand that's not the best, but certainly not the worst. Go in and get talking. Tell them I am doing a straight-up trade with someone a few states over. Give me a heck of a long list with things that needed to be researched, checked, verified etc. "Ok. That will be around $160-180 to do the transfer. " $35 was the minimum transfer fee.
"We take 10% of the gun's value plus we have to charge state tax". I told him once again what I was wanting done and he confirmed the price. I immediately left not sure if I wanted to laugh or cry. Called up a gun range 20 miles away, told them what I wanted, gave them the other gentleman's info and mine. "That's cool, we'll call you when it gets here. Have a good day." You can guess as to who has won my business.

 

[Standing Wolf]

"Umm.... I know we have an FFL but we can't do a transfer. Go somewhere else."

Some people have so many dollars, they don't want yours.

 

[McCall911]

"

We take 10% of the gun's value plus we have to charge state tax". I told him once again what I was wanting done and he confirmed the price. I immediately left not sure if I wanted to laugh or cry. Called up a gun range 20 miles away, told them what I wanted, gave them the other gentleman's info and mine. "That's cool, we'll call you when it gets here. Have a good day." You can guess as to who has won my business.

I'd be furious at shop #2 (the one after the dumba$$ at the pawn shop refused the free money to do a transfer.) Armed robbers have treated people better than that! 10 percent of the guns value, plus tax! The gun's value is none of their freaking business, if you've already paid for it.

I can sympathize with you. I've recently been through it with a newbie gunshop owner in my area, and another dumba$$ at a pawnshop who didn't want free money either. Simply amazing...

Hey, it's the customers who are supposed to cause the problems, not the gunshop people!

 

[savetheclaypigeons]

The pawn shop is a small place, I'm sure they could use a buck or 2. I've bought 8-12 guns over the past 2 years there. If they didn't need the money then maybe as a courtesy? I felt like he didn't know he could. I could have asked him if he had any automatic guns and would have gotten the same reaction.

Amen McCall. I might be able to justify the 6% sales tax, however no money was being exchanged. Oh well.

 

[McCall911]

Yeah, thanks to the Internet and places like GunBroker, Gunsamerica, Auction Arms, etc. it seems to me that you could run a part-time mom-and-pop business doing just transfers.

 

[trueblue1776]

A transfer should never involve sales tax, you have already bought it, you just need to transfer it. That shop owner is retarded.

 

[McCall911]

That shop owner is retarded.

I'm sure you've heard the expression, trueblue1776, but as we say here in 'Bama, I think he's just "crooked as a dog's hind leg."

 

[FIRE COP]

I buy internet..Impact Arms..no tax..no 3% surcharge for credit card..this past month free shipping...JUST do not allow backorders...My FFl guy has been doing this for ten years...My cost...20 dollars per...Florida...I think it is a great deal....

 

[CNYCacher]

My guy is great

He charges $25; no muss, no fuss.

I asked him one day if it bothers him to do transfers instead of selling his own stock. His reply was that he wishes he could just do transfers all day long. "$25 for a few minutes of work? The markup on a gun is lower than that."

 

[Geronimo45]

Sounds like a ripoff to me. The FFL I got (who's moved since, unfortunately) didn't run a gunshop per se. I think he made most of his money with transfers - just $20, no 'surcharges' or anything else.

 

[Cannonball888]

My guy is great
He charges $25; no muss, no fuss.

Same here

 

[fixyurgun]

I wouldn't consider an online sale (that I'm only transfering) ,as a sale. So no sales tax. Other states may have other rules but , $20 would get-r-dun in my shop. jim

 

[oneshooter]

Went to a local shop here in west Houston to ask about transfer fees. Was told, in no uncertain terms, that I should buy from HIM. I gave him a description of the rifle, a Turk Mauser, and the price $96 + 20 shipping, and asked if he dould match or beat it. He then told me that HE wouldn't carry "junk like that".
No more money from me,ever!

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

$20-$50 seems the norm for transfers. $160 is outrageous

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

$20-$50 seems the norm for transfers. $160 is outrageous

 

[TehK1w1]

Oneshooter, what shop in Houston told you that BS? Most places around here are pretty reasonable.

 

[ServiceSoon]

My local dealers use the FFL issue to their advantage as well.

What difference does it make if I buy a firearm from somebody in my state or somebody in another state...oh ya, interstate commerce so the federal gov gets involved.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Since El Tejon isn't here to tell you, I will say it:

The purpose of having an FFL (for many) isn't to sell guns or to make money -- it is to tell you "NO."

 

[Cliff47]

If I want something my local purveyor of fine firearms has in stock, chances are I will purchase from him.

Should I need a transfer done, I go to another shop about 12 miles away that charges an exorbitant $20 for the transfer (shop above charges $35). They even call you when the pistol/rifle arrives. When I pick things up, the fellow supplies me with a freshly signed copy of their FFL for the next order. Come to think of it, I may just start doing all my business with him.

The whole family are shooters, and have a very friendly puppy behind the counter that gets absolutely NO attention whatsoever.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Did you laugh hysterically? Call them back and ask again then say "wait, wait...say it again...hey Bill, listen to this...ok say it again......AHHHHHAHAHAHAAAA"

Maybe that's their way of competing with internet prices. Let them go out of business.

 

[2TransAms]

The shop I deal with charges me $40 for transfers. They just raised the price from $30. There's nobody cheaper within a decent driving distance. I've gotten some pretty good deals on guns there,but they've never budged on a transfer.

OP...does anyone actually pay those rates? Has Shop #2 ever actually done a transfer for anyone? Hate to say it,but if so those suckers deserved what they got.

 

[jerkface11]

Jeez i've never paid more than $10

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I love capitalism. Without outside intervention places like that Louisville gun shop go under eventually when people get better deals and service elsewhere. Maybe that guy will get lucky once he's out of the gun business and moves to Detroit to make SUV's for $8.25 an hour(less union dues).

I think that you should post your encounter with this gun shop in the "Rate Retail and Private Transactions" forum, STCPigeons.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I think the most I've paid was $15.
Had one place quote me $50 (on a 100 dollar milsurp pistol) and I wished them a good day and showed 'em my backside on that one.

 

[oneslowgun]

I deal with just ONE FFL. I'll even give out his name/shop. (Although he does not have a "Gunshop" per say, he just has an FFL so people can order whatever they want, without having to deal with some of the "Shops" around here.

Log Cabin Gun Shop
Plain City, OH
Mr. Renn

He actually charges NOTHING for a transfer. But he will accept "donations" if you would like to help him out.

Personally, just because he does this, I make sure to slip him a $20 each time. Just to help cover those who don't give anything at all.

He even orders rifles/pistols/shotguns at dealer cost, and STILL charges nothing but tax (if applicable).

People like this SHOULD be encouraged.