Jealous Local Gun Shops MOD PLS LOCK

[arjay]

My ffl charges me $45 to bring one in,but he will ship for me too,which saves me money and aggravation.

 

[NCTexan]

First I must say, "I am not a local gun shop owner."

"But I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night..."

I'd imagine that most gun shop owners are doing what they do to make a profit... and obviously like the kind of business they are in.

It would seem to me that if "profit" is the objective, then it doesn't make any difference whether it comes from transfers, new guns, consignment sales, or selling cleaning patches.

Somewhere between free and $500 per transfer ought to be a price that works.... one that is high enough to more than cover time and effort, but is low enough to keep people coming in the door.

I've bought guns from my local when they had something I wanted but then gladly paid them $40 for transfers when I bought elsewhere. I'd still go to them (because they offer good friendly service) even if I could get it done around the corner for 20 bucks.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In the late 90's a big LGS had 3 Beretta 686 Silver Pidgin 28 gauges at $1700 each. At the same time a dealer in S. Carolina had an add for same gun he had 20 @ $1000 OTD. I made an offer for $1100 to the LGS after showing him the add. He said he would make money at that price but would keep the gun to sell to someone else. 2 years later he still had 3. Life is just tough sometimes! Ivan
PS with fright and transfer I got it for $1073.

 

[df06]

My dealer charges $25 per transfer. Occaisonally he says "don't worry about this one." I do a lot of business with him.
I do know some other FFLs are not happy with his transfer fee, and they work out of their home.

 

[tacreload]

Good friend operates a small gun shop.He knows he usually can't compete with the online guys.He's lucky to be able to make fifty bucks on a new gun that he orders and sells after they hammer him for shipping.He's done as many as ten transfers a day from time to time at 25 bucks a pop from on line purchases that are shipped to him for pick up.Said he'd do them all day long.Easy money.If there's any problem it's all between the buyer and the seller and he usually has no grief.He does try to help if there's a problem if he can and sometimes he can.It has brought him some business.A couple of guys have had him order guns that they could have gotten somewhat cheaper on line but said because he gave them no attitude they prefer to try to help the local guy.

 

[cowart]

There are plenty of dealers in PA who are actively seeking customers such as yourself. Some charge as little as $15 to do a transfer. Take a look at
FFL Guide for State |

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

There are plenty of dealers in PA who are actively seeking customers such as yourself. Some charge as little as $15 to do a transfer. Take a look at
FFL Guide for State |

cowart, I just found out how right you are. Today three of us drove up to Tanner's in Jamison PA and I purchased two guns and the fee was $15.00 for both guns. (new Kimber Eclipse Target II and a Colt Diamondback 4").

And I will add that the price of the Kimber was $200.00+ less than in Philadelphia, and the sales tax was 2% lower. Oh, and the service was good.

Trolley

 

[cowart]

My Advise:
Get a C&R FFL.

How would that help the OP? He gave no indication of being interested in C&R firearms. He seems to be primarily interested in current firearms.

See C&R FFL 03 Resources

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Because of the law requiring me to use an FFL to transfer my incoming guns, I have actually purchased quite a few guns in the store of the LGS that earned my transfer business with their cheap and easy transfer policy. Transferring is a gateway transaction, the smart business owner realizes this and welcomes customers, who may never have come in the door otherwise, with a decent transfer policy. The short sighted FFL acts like incoming transfers are stealing business from his store and drives away not only the profit from the transfer but from any additional purchases those customers might be tempted to make once in the store.

But let's be honest here, these LGSs should be very thankful that the federal government requires us to use an FFL to transfer a firearm as it's only thing that keeps many of them in business. If I could order guns directly from Amazon to my house without involving an FFL I'd rarely step foot in another gun store, just like I never go to Best Buy.

Have been on BOTH sides of the counter on this one-- before the internet, all you heard was the crying of how 'kitchen FFL
s' were a ruin to their business. Bull pucky -- Many of these places cannot or choose not to stock what people want, or need. Then they cry when we go somewhere else. When they DO get in something worthwhile, the mark it up over the top. I have seen it for 40 years so don't bother trying to convince me different. It is a tough business, if you are not up to it, maybe you should do something else. Case in point, shops that don't even open the door until 10 or 12pm, then maybe not at all. We all adjust to our own needs. If a shop owner is unwilling to adjust to the needs of the buying public, then-- I am sure most here know the drill. JMHO of course.

 

[LoadEmUp]

cowart, I just found out how right you are. Today three of us drove up to Tanner's in Jamison PA and I purchased two guns and the fee was $15.00 for both guns. (new Kimber Eclipse Target II and a Colt Diamondback 4").

And I will add that the price of the Kimber was $200.00+ less than in Philadelphia, and the sales tax was 2% lower. Oh, and the service was good.

Trolley

I have shopped there since they opened 22 years ago and have found a lot of good guns. They usually have a good selection of used and new firearms and will special order as well.

The fee on gun purchases is $10 for the first, and $5 for each additional gun purchased at the same time.

Now that you got that Diamondback I won't be tempted each time I go in there

 

[wbraswell]

Well, since I'm not an FFL holder. Let's get this straight first....I am a customer, I am ALWAYS right. You don't have the guns that I want in your shop, that's just TDB, I can let you make a few bucks off me, if you handle my transfer. If you want to carp and gripe about it, fine, I'll walk, and take my business elsewhere. Treat me nice, and I'll enjoy coming in your shop and doing business with you when I can. This is the age of the internet, if you don't take advantage of it, your business will be dead as the 20th century. I pay $25 for transfers, and I've never had anyone complain about it.

 

[Jim1392]

I'm kind of in the same situation right now. I purchased a gun from my LGS last week on his web site and picked it up. While in conversation with him I made it clear that I would rather not buy things online, and I wanted to give him my business. I guess I was hoping to establish a relationship with him. Well a week or so later I'm looking to buy another revolver that he doesn't have on his web site. So I email them since their site says it's there for a quicker response. One day, two days go by nothing. So call and get someone there and ask if they can get it for me. He says he will check and get back to me. I call him back a day later, since no one called me, and he tells me his distributors do not have it in stock. I ask him if he can order it and he says he may have one arriving in a week or two. So then you will have one then right I ask. Well I'm not sure he says until I open the boxes. We just get what they send. Now I have found the gun on one of the major online sites and I'm seriously considering just looking out for myself, even though, there will be shipping, transfer fees etc. and just order it, and pick it up somewhere else. And I know in the end I will wind up paying more for it. I'm thinking that sometimes it's just better to look out for yourself and not worry about supporting LSG's since it seems like some don't really care where you buy your guns.

 

[paplinker]

cowart, I just found out how right you are. Today three of us drove up to Tanner's in Jamison PA and I purchased two guns and the fee was $15.00 for both guns. (new Kimber Eclipse Target II and a Colt Diamondback 4").

And I will add that the price of the Kimber was $200.00+ less than in Philadelphia, and the sales tax was 2% lower. Oh, and the service was good.

Trolley

I always use Tanners when i can. On something new i always give them my business. Used revolvers go real quick

Now online transfers are 50 bucks. I think He really likes the online business. I could pay $20 for a private ffl thats closer but i would rather pay more and give them my business. Also they are very good at handling higher end guns, and i trust them having my personal info. They take care of me and i show them my loyalty.

 

[Rastoff]

Around here the gun stores are up front about it. They will do transfers, but they don't like it. They discourage you by charging ridiculous fees. One local place charges $175 for a transfer. Most other places are around $75.

Fortunately I have a friend who's an FFL. He charges $20 and I usually give him a little extra for the good service he provides.

 

[SgtLumpy]

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

When I went looking for an FFL, I went online, found a listing of all FFLs in my area. Some had an added little message saying something like "I'm happy to receive your shipments of online purchased firearms for only $xx". Every one of them listed their price and location. I simply picked the one that a price, location and attitude that I liked. If I didn't like their pitch, or distance, or cost, I went down the list.

Look for someone who specializes in doing transfers. Simple.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Rugskipper]

I just support my neighbor.

I've been waiting 20+ years for my neighbor to offer me a 3.5" model 27-2. Hasn't happened yet. Don't blame me for going online to get what I want.
Processing transfers is a source of income. If a dealer doesn't want to do it, then someone else will. That's the way the system works. But don't take someone's money and then gripe about it. That's not classy at all.
My guy charges $15.......Happily.

 

[Brian41]

The local shop I use doesn't mind transfers and charges a reasonable rate for doing so. It's more than just the paperwork as he has to receive it, store it and take the time to call me too. He was though a little jealous over the nice 24 I had shipped there as they do appreciate nice guns there. I've also done quite a bit of business there buying guns and ammo, even my safe. They do me right though as I'm a repeat customer and know I'll be back.

 

[dougb1946]

Actual studies show that while the customer believes he right 97.3% of the time, he is actually wrong 98.6% of the time and that the store owner, trying to avoid losing a customer, will permit the customer to maintain his belief. But this view is changing.

The customer is always right - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

it was pointed out as early as 1915 that there can be an issue with customer dishonesty and that a careful medium between the two extremes must be made.[4]

3 Reasons Why the Customer Isn't Always Right - Forbes

Customers really aren't always sure what they want and many times we don't do a good job of uncovering what they really need:

If customers don't know the answer, they make it up:

Customer expectations are not always rational:

Read more: Page not found

What if the businesses you buy things from began publicly rating you on things like:
How kindly you treat their staff when you make a request or ask for help
Whether or not you honor your agreements to pay on time
Your willingness to read the fine print and follow instructions
Your behavior towards other "shoppers" or members of the community

Fire Your 'Bad' Customers And Send Them To A Competitor!

Let's face it; some customers are just more trouble than they are worth. It's the old 80/20 rule... 20 percent of them account for about 80 percent of your profit. These 20 percent are your 'best' customers. They are like gold! You want to keep them — and keep them happy! However, look closely at the other 80 percent of your customers, and you'll likely discover several you'd be better off WITHOUT!

I made up the study, but it is based on a lot of time in retail management. I may have understated the amount of customer error.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I laugh at retailers who hate their customers....they must be in the wrong business.

If a local gun store gets po'ed doing transfers, ask if they could have supplied the gun you bought. Sportsman's Warehouse doesn't handle used guns or tradeins. I doubt they handle transfers either.

Most gunshops around here don't have many/any old S&W revos. I have a friend who does my transfers and he enjoys seeing what I bought. He doesn't like to get paid by friends but he sure does like good cigars!!

 

[ColumbusJBR]

It's a 15 minutes for $20-$30 bucks (my area) which works out to $80-$120 bucks of revenue per hour.

A customer comes in, says "I'll give you $25 bucks to fill out this form for me"….hmm let me think….. um, YES.

Seems like free money left on the table by those FFL shops not willing to make a transfer.

Plus, you need some ammo for that new gun? Need a new pair of shooting glasses?

Revenue with no risk or cost up front, and increased foot traffic in the store. It's a no brainer.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I'll handle transfers as long as they keep comin in. Would I have rather sold the gun myself? Of course. But I'm not gonna hold a grudge, be a jerk, refuse $20 for filling out some paperwork and making a phone call, and turn away foot traffic.

One guy called the other day to arrange a transfer and was almost apologizing for buying from someone else. I had to tell him to relax, if I didn't want to do transfers I wouldn't advertise that service.