Jealous Local Gun Shops MOD PLS LOCK

[lonejacklarry]

I don't get what's so dramatic about the whole thing.

Look for someone who specializes in doing transfers. Simple.
Sgt Lumpy

This, I think, is very good advice. My FFL works out of his house. He is a local fireman and has a lot of time away from work. (Actually, he doesn't do much at work but this is the standard police vs. fire argument.)

He tells me that he will take all the transfers that come around. Word of mouth has made his business soar in the last couple of years. $20 and 10 minutes.

 

[SgtLumpy]

... My FFL works out of his house. He is a local fireman and has a lot of time away from work. (Actually, he doesn't do much at work but this is the standard police vs. fire argument.)

Well, they have to go to the gym a lot. And have all those BBQs on the back porch of the fire station. You'd need a couple of days off too after 24 hours of doing that.

...


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Peter M. Eick]

My dealer charges $35 and every gun I get shipped in results in a lesson about S&W's and a lot of handling and review of the new "prize". In my dealer I am known as the S&W guy. They don't have any guns I want and they know and accept that. But they get a bunch of transfers and referrals by me.

 

[Jim PHL]

About ten years ago or so, the shop I was frequenting at the time could not (or would not) get me a particular gun I was looking for. When they finally got one in their case, they had it marked $10 over the published MSRP (which was big time just under $1100 back then). I asked if they could do better and they never would. Found one barely used on line for less than half and asked if they did transfers (without saying what it was I was buying or asking what they charged - my mistake). They did the transfer for $50. About average in a lot of places now but was pretty high back then. I was a little taken aback but they already had the gun so I completed the transaction. Until that time I don't think I had bought anywhere else including several new and used guns and all kinds of supplies. I remained friendly with them and still stop in once or twice a year just to chat but haven't made a significant purchase there since then. ((Edit to add: that gun at the time had a MSRP of $1085. They had it in their case for $1095. I saw it at other shops and online for $950-$985) It sat in their case for at least a year. My used one was truly "like new" and I had $570 in it including their charge.))

On my NEXT on-line purchase I simply checked the GB search site and found a guy in a near suburb who did them for $25. When I sell he ships for $35. Haven't used anyone else for shipping or receiving firearms since and bonus; even though he's not a retail shop he often has certain ammo when others do not and sells it at reasonable prices.

My current favorite shop doesn't do them, either. No biggie. Their choice. I enjoy shopping there, get great deals on new guns and occasionally used ones, too. I still shop on line and still use the other guy when I find something I want.

I agree with the comment about online transfers being a "gateway" transaction. If I owned a shop I would certainly do them. (Maybe even "adjust" the pricing based on the customer and the item.) But these days it's certainly a good way to get bodies in the door.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

About ten years ago or so, the shop I was frequenting at the time could not (or would not) get me a particular gun I was looking for.

Eh? Rowland Avenue at Frankford? John L?

 

[Jim PHL]

Eh? Rowland Avenue at Frankford? John L?

Rather not say who it was but it wasn't Locks. Shopped there a few times. Tried to get some work done on an old Colt revolver once. They weren't able to fix it but charged just a few dollars for their time spent. Never had a bad experience but i don't recall ever buying much there.

 

[rock doc]

I buy most of my firearms on-line and use a LGS for the FFL transfers since he has the best price in the area. He is a one-man shop and does most of his business with transfers since he doesn't carry an inventory, but sells other owners guns for a commission, or buys on-line himself for a customer. He was charging $20 per transfer, and was happy to do it. He would rather get the $20 than nothing. During the last gun-buying frenzy, I suggested he raise his transfer fee to $25, which is still about half the costs of his competitors in the area. And he did.

 

[wbraswell]

Sorry doug, but your post doesn't fit me. I'm always right, just ask me. I'm not dishonest, I'm not trying to steal anything, and I know what I want, when I go gun shopping. I'm informed enough that I find a lot of guys behind the counter at shops, amusing or almost annoying. A merchant blowing hot air at me, is not helping his business. If I'm wanting a pre-war, 1905 4th change Target, don't be telling me I need your polymer 17 shot 9mm, instead. I'm a customer, if you won't serve me, and be reasonable, I'll walk. Somebody wants my business.

 

[Harrison]

My only LGS is pretty small and does not have much of a selection. He is more than willing to order anything I want for his cost plus a 5% markup, no fee for filling out the paper work. Seems fair to me.

 

[islamoradamark]

i was calling around to get prices on transfers most were 20.00 to 50.00 thats ok this other store told me 50.00 on transfers 4 toys under 1000.00 if they were over 1000.00 he wanted 100.00 bucks i said a transfer is a transfer whats the difference .He told me thats the way the boss does it.i dont think it is anyones bizz how much i payed for my new toy . iknow one thing for sure i aint going there

 

[KevinCH]

First - do you folks in Philly have to register your guns? Time to move - unless you really mean just transfer. I lived in SW PA up till about 5 years ago & there was no gun registration.

As far as internet purchases go - I look on-line at places like Bud's, calculate the cost of the gun & shipping (if not included) plus maybe $25 for the transfer fee & come up with that total number. I then calculate what retail price I'll have to buy the gun for from the local dealer(s) so when I include tax I'll be at that on line total, plus maybe 5~10% or so. I really don't have an issue paying a little more & being able to foster a good relationship with a local brick & mortar dealer. I've always been able come very close to the internet buying cost on every new gun I've purchased - I have yet to buy one on line. I just made my first on line purchase of a used gun; the GA site has a list of FFL holders that have offered their services to transfer. I found a local one that will do it for $15. So far, I've always been happy with my purchasing experience & I look for this transfer to be the same!

 

[millisec]

Most of the shops around here have jacked prices to $50-60 for a transfer which only annoys me to a point I don't do as much business with them. Pawn shops have been the best bet for me. I found a good local one that still only charges $30. If a LGS has a fair price AND actually has the gun in stock I will buy from them but that's usually not the case. Last gun I bought was a Versa Max Tactical from Bud's. Not a single shop had one (well Gander had a pink one for $600 more lol) and the useless FL chain LGS did not even seem interested in ordering one when they tried and failed to sell me a grossly overpriced blue Patrick Flanagan. Lets put it this way... even if I paid $60 for a transfer I still would have saved $100++ on every transaction not even including saving sales tax on internet transactions. Shops might be in business to make money but I'm here to get the most bang for my buck.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

the GA site has a list of FFL holders that have offered their services to transfer. I found a local one that will do it for $15.

That is really useful information. I'll have to look on their website for that data. Thanks.

Trolley

 

[Old Corp]

My shop does ALOT of transfers, $30 each. It's a service we're glad to provide for customers.
But you know what's really annoying? You'd be surprised how many transfers come in with NO ONE'S name attached to it. Nothing. No name, no phone number, etc. This is even after advising our customers to advise the seller to include some sort of bill of sale, buyer's name/contact info, etc.
Suppose we're just supposed to have a crystal ball and KNOW whose gun it is. PITA.

 

[Rastoff]

You'd be surprised how many transfers come in with NO ONE'S name attached to it.

Do you refuse those guns and send them back?

When I have a gun coming in, I contact my FFL and give him all the pertinent info. I include where it's coming from, the seller's name, the type/color of the gun, the serial number and the shipping tracking number.. I feel it's only fair to my FFL so he doesn't have to guess.

 

[S&W357]

I was going to post the same question. I'm glad i'm done buying guns because my LGS charges me $35 and if he can get the gun and i bought it on line $50. He never charge me $50 but he try to when i ordered my Wilson Combat.
I bought a ruger W.C. gun when they first came out- Price $750 then a week later it was on sale for $600. I was pissed. I'm done buying guns from him. The on line prices are about 100 to 200 bucks cheaper even if you add the $35 or $50. I just sold my ruger mark111 and he told me $35 to ship it. When i gave him the gun to ship he called me the next day and said i o him 15 more. It was $50 bucks to ship the gun. If the guy that bought my ruger wasn't from this forum -i would of stop it and mail the money back to the guy who bought the ruger. I'm done with my LGS....
The LGS still calls me and asks me why don't i not come in anymore. I was a good customer. I would buy 2 or 3 guns a year from him. Now - i'm done with him.

 

[dcxplant]

I buy from my local gun shop, with one exception; a particular gun they don't have, and probably can't get that someone else has.

Last time, it was a Talo version of a Ruger 10/22 with a walnut Manlicher stock (out of production). I found it new online, and had it transferred, one of the last new ones in the country.

 

[JSW]

No complaints from my dealer. He knows most of the stuff I buy he just doesn't have for sale. He's happy to get the $20 for just doing a few minutes' worth of paperwork.

 

[Alaska MJ]

This. I use a pawn shop where the guy is perfectly happy to do it for $20. I would think the shop that charges $50 would be happy to do it for the ten minutes work involved and no inventory to have to worry about, especially if the alternative is to have the customer go down the street and pay the competition to do the transfer

Pawn shops are the way to go, they don't care,they love it. And your local dealer doesn't even know. So everybody's happy. MJ

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Reasonable Transfer Fee

Thanks to Pineappleshooter I now have someone who charges $20.00 for long guns and $25.00 for handguns.

So this nice long thread has been a pleasure to follow and will save some $$$ which I can use for ammo which means more range time.

Ya gotta love this forum.

Thanks to all.
Trolley