45Broomhandle
Member
Some folks who make money off our gun collecting hobby are helping to destroy it. Here's a good illustration that just happened to me yesterday.
Due to advanced age, poor health and general circumstnces I'm unable to travel to gun shows, so I rely heavily on the online gun auctions to assist me in my collecting endeavors. I understand and expect to pay for this convenient way of shopping. However....
Last week I was notified by an online bidding service of two gun auctions starting at 10am yesterday. I registered with both companies, one in OH and one in GA. I went to the catalog site and placed some bids on a few items. Then yesterday I attended both live auctions online.
I won a single gun at each auction. I was shocked when I received one auction company's invoice. My winning bid was $100 a great buy for this particular gun.
Here's what I was invoiced: $100.00 for gun; $32.50 Gun Handling charges; $15.00 Internet Buyer's Premium, and $8.05 State Sales Tax. This was a GA auction and I live in FL. (They even charged the 7% tax on the added charges above.)
TOTAL DUE $155.55.
My cost has now zoomed to more than 50%. Next, because it is a repeater version of a single shot which is on the C&R list, this one is not, so I had to use an FFL dealer to transfer it to. My cost for him signing a piece of paper is $30. The totatl cost of my gun is now at $185.55. Almost DOUBLE what I thought I was purchasing it for.
The FFL dealer relies on our business for his livlihood. The auction firms also earn their keep through folks like us. Yet these businessmen are willing to gouge us to make an even larger profit for themselves. I beleive this kind of treatment of their customers will eventually mean the end of our hobby.
Am I being unfair? Do you think their charges are realistic?
I've put in my two-cents worth. What's your opinion??? ---45Broomhandle
Yes, there is a place for all of God's creatures: right next to the potatoes and gravy.
Due to advanced age, poor health and general circumstnces I'm unable to travel to gun shows, so I rely heavily on the online gun auctions to assist me in my collecting endeavors. I understand and expect to pay for this convenient way of shopping. However....
Last week I was notified by an online bidding service of two gun auctions starting at 10am yesterday. I registered with both companies, one in OH and one in GA. I went to the catalog site and placed some bids on a few items. Then yesterday I attended both live auctions online.
I won a single gun at each auction. I was shocked when I received one auction company's invoice. My winning bid was $100 a great buy for this particular gun.
Here's what I was invoiced: $100.00 for gun; $32.50 Gun Handling charges; $15.00 Internet Buyer's Premium, and $8.05 State Sales Tax. This was a GA auction and I live in FL. (They even charged the 7% tax on the added charges above.)
TOTAL DUE $155.55.
My cost has now zoomed to more than 50%. Next, because it is a repeater version of a single shot which is on the C&R list, this one is not, so I had to use an FFL dealer to transfer it to. My cost for him signing a piece of paper is $30. The totatl cost of my gun is now at $185.55. Almost DOUBLE what I thought I was purchasing it for.
The FFL dealer relies on our business for his livlihood. The auction firms also earn their keep through folks like us. Yet these businessmen are willing to gouge us to make an even larger profit for themselves. I beleive this kind of treatment of their customers will eventually mean the end of our hobby.
Am I being unfair? Do you think their charges are realistic?
I've put in my two-cents worth. What's your opinion??? ---45Broomhandle
Yes, there is a place for all of God's creatures: right next to the potatoes and gravy.