outrageous FFL transfer fees!
I just called my local gunshop where I have purchased several new guns, ammo, shooting supplies, etc and have also had several guns transferred to them to see what the current transfer fees were. Can you believe $90/gun! Then on top of that $10 more for the police fee. Then on top of that, they won't do ANYTHING until I some in, even for a repeat customer. So for $100/gun I am FED UP with them and will NEVER step foot in their shop again to buy anything.
So I called one of the Gunbroker listed FFLs - it is closer to my house anyway - and only $30 (+$10) plus he will start paperwork/send copy of FFL with just an email!
So I called one of the Gunbroker listed FFLs - it is closer to my house anyway - and only $30 (+$10) plus he will start paperwork/send copy of FFL with just an email!
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Capitalism is a blessing, wouldn't you say? 0 -
I'm not surprised, look for this to be a growing trend IMO. 0 -
Policies will vary from dealer to dealer. Some see transfers as taking away in-store sales and won't do them or charge an arm and a leg if they do.
I have found the best deals are with "kitchen table" FFLs who don't have a storefront and count on transfers for a major portion of their business and pawn shops that sell guns as they don't usually stock new guns or a lot of guns and are happy to make $20-$25 for a transfer.
You can sort of understand how a dealer might resent someone asking him to make $25 on a transfer rather than $100 on selling you the gun himself and I don't get angry with those dealers. They are just running a business. But it's a free market and you can shop around.0 -
Saxon has it nailed. I ran into a shop that wpi;d not do a tranfer on any gun they can get you, no matter if you found it $100 cheaper than they will sell it for. I didn't use them and they are no longer in business, so I guess a lot of others avoided them too. 0 -
My FFL guy does it for 20 bucks, the FDLE call in is 5.00 0 -
I don't understand this. I'm not an FFL holder but- if I were, of course I would rather sell the item myself- for a reasonable profit- but if my choice is make $20, $25 or NOTHING- well that's not much of a choice. 0 -
my guy does it for $20 whether I'm sending a gun out or having one shipped to him. 0 -
Get your own FFL. I only charge $20. I have more xfers than I want to deal with.
JM[8D]0 -
My gunshop only charges $15 but his prices on guns are very good so unless I can get a great deal somewhere else I just buy from him. His mark-up is only 5-8%. 0 -
I am just a kitchen table dealer and if you a member of GOA,NRA, or the JPFO all transfers are free. If your not a member of one of these organizations I charge $40.00 or you can sign up and leave me the check to one of these organizations and than get a free transfer. almost all become members for a free transfer. I not only do this with transfers I also do this with new guns, I will sell it for cost to members. Most of the money I make is on the accessories not the guns. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by SaxonPig
Policies will vary from dealer to dealer. Some see transfers as taking away in-store sales and won't do them or charge an arm and a leg if they do.
I have found the best deals are with "kitchen table" FFLs who don't have a storefront and count on transfers for a major portion of their business and pawn shops that sell guns as they don't usually stock new guns or a lot of guns and are happy to make $20-$25 for a transfer.
You can sort of understand how a dealer might resent someone asking him to make $25 on a transfer rather than $100 on selling you the gun himself and I don't get angry with those dealers. They are just running a business. But it's a free market and you can shop around.
I don't disagree with your logic. But I do think that a gunshop should work to keep existing good customers. If someone new comes off the street and just wants them to act as their agent for the 1 transfer, I understand charging enough (or more) to make it worth their while.
I have purchased 1000's of dollars worth of stuff from them. Probably most of their income comes from accessories and not the gun. So to get a good customer a (any) gun means more business down the road.
It is just poor management. I also found out that the FFL that I called that only charges $30 is also a gunsmith. So I will be using him for my gunsmithing needs as well now.0 -
They do have the right to price themselves out of the business.
Not the smartest customer service plan (IMO) but they have the right.
The internet IS cutting into their sales.
It is here to stay.
They can either keep fighting it, or learn to work with it, AND the customer.
Their choice.0 -
This guy is shooting himself in the foot. I gained more new customers back east by doing transfers than by any other means. Someone would call me up for a transfer, and then start buying their guns from me after that. I'd rather have a happy customer who spoke well of me, than to turn away business like that. We don't get as many transfers out here, but we still do them. $25 for the first transfer and $20 for any additional transfers after that. 0 -
I'm am a FFL dealer and this is what I do. To receive a firearm its $20 to $0, depending on how much business I do with that customer. Most of the time they ask what I could sell the same gun for. Sometimes I can save them money and sometimes I cant. But even with a Transfer I generally always sell them ammo, holsters, laser/lights or something with the transfer. To ship a firearm its $20.00 plus shipping cost. The $20 includes all paper work and faxing. Transfers are a great way to get customers into your shop and get their business. 0 -
A good friend of mine was a small part time dealer with an FFl. He started by doing just transfers. His business has been so good it has blossomed into a full time business with a new shop off the side of his house.
Trinity +++0 -
That is true Trinity. If you want to have a good successful business, then you must have good customer service. 0 -
well his 100 dollar fee just made him $0 in your case.
a $25 fee would have made him $25.
maybe he does enough $100 transfers to make up for all the $25 transfers he loses. doubtful but i suppose its possible.
pick hit it, he has the right to price him self right out of the game. accept the new generation or let it run you over but either way its here.0 -
Our local gun shop does the same crap, and they bad mouth Gun Broker when ever it comes up. I try not to buy anything there. I only go there to shoot anymore. They offer a great CCW class, but other than that they are jack asses. My pawn shop does transfers for me for $20. 0 -
My local shop, which has everything in the case marked at full retail price, charges $35 for a transfer. They do deal on the new guns but it depends on who you talk to. I've found their prices on used guns usually end up in line with what I can get them for on GB by the time I pay shipping and a tranfer fee. I found a kitchen table FFL who does the tranfers for $20 which I think is a fair price. He'll also sell anything new for $50 over his cost. I've checked with him on a few things and his price on new plus tax usually ends up within $20 of what I could get it for from Bud's or elsewhere. It's the tax that ends up making him higher. For that small of a difference I'd rather let the local guy make some money. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Classic095
My FFL guy does it for 20 bucks, the FDLE call in is 5.00
Yea my guy, Mark Kubes, does it for 25 plus the 5 dollar background check. Mark is an awesome guy. He also has really hard to find parts, he told me he sells more parts than guns. So Clasic, if you ever need a hard to find part, let me know and ill give him a call.
His gunshop website is Buymilsurp.com
(i know you dont like military guns, but he has all kinds of parts)0 -
I used to be a good repeat customer for one dealer. I was buying 4-5 brand new guns a year.
I started to branch into getting older models that weren't produced anymore or were very limited. I could find some of these on Gunbroker.
When I asked the dealer how much to transfer, he wanted $50 plus his percentage of the value of the gun. Can't remember his percentage but it was at least 5%. I tried to explain that these weren't guns he could sell me, but were rare and hard to come by and that I would still buy all my new guns through him.
Went to the another dealer, much further away. He did the transfer for $0, and has done many transfers for $0. Needless to say he now has all my business for new guns, accessories and fishing supplies as well.0 -
My local dealer only charged me $ 20 per transfer, very reasonable so he got all my other business as well. Recently he closed his shop for health reasons, and I was really bummed out. Then I found out that my cousin has an FFL, and is a garage dealer. He now does all my transfers free of charge!! Wish I would have known this about 20 pieces ago! 0 -
Beat me to death; Storefront. I charge 25.00 plus Gov. fee. A customer that never bought ammo or anything had two 2600.00 guns sent to me to transfer at different times. I did it for 25.00 both times.(trying of course to engender good will) The third time he ordered one from someone else, (another high dollar item) he charged the gun on his credit card. It was +70.00 credit card fees only. So I'm thinking: should I make as much as the credit card company? Hell, yes! He never once even asked if I would order a firearm for him. Far too many people are loyal as hell as long as they're getting the best deal they can. Then they'll carp like hell when they sell their mothers and find out the next day they coulda gotten a nickel more. 0
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