Why do people charge so much to ship guns?

[David1958]

The first FFL dealer I used to transfer guns in for me charged $ 50.00. It was adjacent to the range I used, so it seemed worth it. It was until they forgot to mail off a license and never bothered to call me and let me know. We had to repeat the whole process. They never called when the gun arrived and when I went there to pick it up it was like pulling teeth to get waited on and fill out the paperwork. Even though I had been nothing but a gentleman in all my dealings with them and purchased all my ammo there ( up until that point).
I got the message......they did FFL transfers, but begrudgingly. But, this being America, I took my business elsewhere. Not because of the cost, but because I felt my business wasn't wanted. The next place I used for my transfers charged $ 40.00....a bargain to me. AND they were pleasant, efficient, professional and attitude free. ( I would have gladly paid $ 60.00 per transfer to support their business) Then a place opened up less than 2 miles from my house that only was charging $ 25.00 per transfer! I thought I had found heaven. They were a pawn shop as opposed to a gun dealer and two (2) transfers later, I went back ( gladly) to paying $ 40.00 a transfer and driving the 12 miles to do it. I'll spare you all the details.
Being a small businessman, I am all too aware of the costs of doing business and customer service. I will gladly support, and pay a premium for being treated like a valued customer. I won't make a big scene or raise my voice to " make my point"...I'll just quietly take my business elsewhere and tell 10 other people to do the same. That's the beauty of capitalism in America.
If you don't want to pay the price for whatever your reasons..go elsewhere.
It's really that simple.

 

[Derby FALs]

GREED! Anyone who charges over the normal 20.00 ask on most gunsites (GA, AA, GB) doesnt deserve or get my business. And at the 20.00 mark you are still making money, I have shipped enough to know. John

BS. It cost me nearly $50 to ship a pistol back to Colt for repair after all th insurance was tacked on. I didn't count my lost time or the drive 30 miles round trip to the shipper.

 

[HiTech78]

WOW, at first people were arguing about it being "fair" for FFL holders to sell postage and not guns. But now the tables have somehow turned???? I would like to thank Moutainpeak for making the point that if you get treated fair you will tell others. Not only that but if you get treated unfairly you will tell everyone.

 

[TrapdoorBilly]

Blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah.

You really don't have a clue pal.

 

[farscott]

As an individual, I have shipped more than a few guns. When I do so, I ship via FedEx Next Day, declare it as a firearm, pack it extremely well in a large box, and I insure for the value of the transaction.

Why Next Day? Because that is what FedEx requires in the documentation for a handgun, and I do not want there to be an issue when a gun finally goes astray with me trying to ship a handgun FedEx Ground. I do not care what the clerk will let me do; I want to do it right. It also minimizes shipping time, meaning less chance for a gun to get lost and the gun gets into the hands of its new owner faster.

Why a large box? To make my package less appealing to thieves, and, more importantly, to keep the gun safe while in transit. I use a sturdy box, closed cell foam, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts, and I package them myself with proper tape. The last gun that I shipped, a T/C Contender carbine, weighs less than six pounds; however, the package weighed seventeen pounds after packaging, including the original T/C box.

The cost? About $27.00.

When I use an FFL to ship or receive a gun, I fully expect to pay at least $25 for the privilege of using his or her license. If I am not charged (and often I am not since I do a fair amount of business with two dealers), I make sure to spend at least that much in the shop on the day I pick up my new gun or ship one. It is both common courtesy and a willingness to keep my local dealers in business.