This will most-likely be the last time I ever order a firearm online...

[Echo40]

I only have limited experience ordering firearms from online retailers, but I'm generally a "three strikes" kind of guy, and this will have been my third negative experience ordering firearms online. All of the orders I've placed were from different retailers who have a generally good reputation, but I'm going to withhold their names.

Now, before anyone makes any rash assumptions, this has nothing to do with shipping time. I'm well aware that shipment has been slowed down by COVID-19 and thus I was fully prepared to wait patiently for shipment/delivery to my FFL.

The problem is how the retailers I've dealt with have managed my orders. Problem number one is lack of communication. When I purchase something as expensive as a firearm, I expect to be kept up-to-date regarding the status of my order. I want step-by-step notifications, frequent updates, and in-depth information. (If Amazon.com can do it for cheap little things, then there's no reason why an online firearms retailer cannot.) Unfortunately, it appears that all online firearms retailers I've dealt with have a very hands-off approach to keeping customers notified, take their sweet time to update the status of the order, and generally only provide information after the fact.

Shipments are another problem, as they often don't provide very many options, and sometimes they only use USPS Priority Mail, which I've had nothing but trouble with. USPS Priority Mail is slow, provides poor tracking, and frankly doesn't pay any attention whatsoever to business hours when it comes to the recipient, they just deliver it whenever and if nobody is there when it arrives, then it gets stuck in limbo and either you have to reschedule the delivery (sans time of day, so they can easily deliver it outside of business hours all over again) or the FFL has to take time out of their day to go pick it up from the post office.
Frankly, USPS Priority Mail shouldn't even be used to ship firearms because they're just not reliable enough to be trusted with it, but the retailers don't care because they aren't the ones who have to deal with it when the USPS screws everything up by delivering outside of business hours.

Lastly, I dislike their hands off approach towards problem-solving. Sure, you can provide them with all the information, but if something goes wrong, then they're slow to inform you of it, and need you to hold their hand if not take the reigns when it happens. For example, the last retailer I dealt with needed additional information from my FFL to complete the order, and although I provided them with my FFL's contact info, they wanted me to contact my FFL to tell my FFL to contact them, without providing me with a phone number, Fax, or e-mail address to give my FFL. So I ended up having to e-mail the retailer, politely yet sternly reminding them that I'm paying them and that they should be making use of the contact info they had me fill out for my FFL, not complicating the matter by using me as a middle-man to relay a message to my FFL.

Currently, my latest firearms order is stuck in limbo at the Post Office because the USPS attempted to deliver the package at 8:40am despite the fact that there a big roadside sign outside my FFL which clearly lists that they don't open until 10:00am due to COVID-19. Of course, the mail man couldn't simply go about his business and swing back around later to deliver it, so instead he left a notice at my FFL, took it back to the Post Office, and now I either have to either reschedule a delivery or the FFL Dealer has to go retrieve it.
I'm going to wait until the end of the day, just in case my FFL decides to go pick it up, and if it isn't retrieved, then I'll reschedule a delivery for tomorrow. Problem is, the option to reschedule a delivery does not include what time of day to deliver it, meaning the mail man might just end up trying to deliver it outside of business hours all over again, so hopefully my FFL Dealer will retrieve it instead.

Regardless, I'm pretty sure that this is the last time I'll ever order a firearm online. It's just too darn stressful.

 

[emptypockets]

Sorry to hear about the negative experience. When buying a firearm online one must prepare for the possibility of having their heart broken or their *** chapped. Been there and survived. I hope when you do receive it you are satisfied. Hang in there....

 

[gonerydin]

I suspect your ffl goes to the post office quite frequently. Ordering anything firearms related has been troublesome since the virus happened. They are all apparently swamped.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Andyd]

I only have limited experience ordering firearms from online retailers, but I'm generally a "three strikes" kind of guy, and this will have been my third negative experience ordering firearms online. All of the orders I've placed were from different retailers who have a generally good reputation, but I'm going to withhold their names.

Now, before anyone makes any rash assumptions, this has nothing to do with shipping time. I'm well aware that shipment has been slowed down by COVID-19 and thus I was fully prepared to wait patiently for shipment/delivery to my FFL.

The problem is how the retailers I've dealt with have managed my orders. Problem number one is lack of communication. When I purchase something as expensive as a firearm, I expect to be kept up-to-date regarding the status of my order. I want step-by-step notifications, frequent updates, and in-depth information. (If Amazon.com can do it for cheap little things, then there's no reason why an online firearms retailer cannot.) Unfortunately, it appears that all online firearms retailers I've dealt with have a very hands-off approach to keeping customers notified, take their sweet time to update the status of the order, and generally only provide information after the fact.

Shipments are another problem, as they often don't provide very many options, and sometimes they only use USPS Priority Mail, which I've had nothing but trouble with. USPS Priority Mail is slow, provides poor tracking, and frankly doesn't pay any attention whatsoever to business hours when it comes to the recipient, they just deliver it whenever and if nobody is there when it arrives, then it gets stuck in limbo and either you have to reschedule the delivery (sans time of day, so they can easily deliver it outside of business hours all over again) or the FFL has to take time out of their day to go pick it up from the post office.
Frankly, USPS Priority Mail shouldn't even be used to ship firearms because they're just not reliable enough to be trusted with it, but the retailers don't care because they aren't the ones who have to deal with it when the USPS screws everything up by delivering outside of business hours.

Lastly, I dislike their hands off approach towards problem-solving. Sure, you can provide them with all the information, but if something goes wrong, then they're slow to inform you of it, and need you to hold their hand if not take the reigns when it happens. For example, the last retailer I dealt with needed additional information from my FFL to complete the order, and although I provided them with my FFL's contact info, they wanted me to contact my FFL to tell my FFL to contact them, without providing me with a phone number, Fax, or e-mail address to give my FFL. So I ended up having to e-mail the retailer, politely yet sternly reminding them that I'm paying them and that they should be making use of the contact info they had me fill out for my FFL, not complicating the matter by using me as a middle-man to relay a message to my FFL.

Currently, my latest firearms order is stuck in limbo at the Post Office because the USPS attempted to deliver the package at 8:40am despite the fact that there a big roadside sign outside my FFL which clearly lists that they don't open until 10:00am due to COVID-19. Of course, the mail man couldn't simply go about his business and swing back around later to deliver it, so instead he left a notice at my FFL, took it back to the Post Office, and now I either have to either reschedule a delivery or the FFL Dealer has to go retrieve it.
I'm going to wait until the end of the day, just in case my FFL decides to go pick it up, and if it isn't retrieved, then I'll reschedule a delivery for tomorrow. Problem is, the option to reschedule a delivery does not include what time of day to deliver it, meaning the mail man might just end up trying to deliver it outside of business hours all over again, so hopefully my FFL Dealer will retrieve it instead.

Regardless, I'm pretty sure that this is the last time I'll ever order a firearm online. It's just too darn stressful.

Are you feeling better now?

 

[LVSteve]

Now, before anyone makes any rash assumptions, this has nothing to do with shipping time. I'm well aware that shipment has been slowed down by COVID-19 and thus I was fully prepared to wait patiently for shipment/delivery to my FFL.

Yep, doing that myself right now.

The problem is how the retailers I've dealt with have managed my orders. Problem number one is lack of communication. When I purchase something as expensive as a firearm, I expect to be kept up-to-date regarding the status of my order. I want step-by-step notifications, frequent updates, and in-depth information. (If Amazon.com can do it for cheap little things, then there's no reason why an online firearms retailer cannot.) Unfortunately, it appears that all online firearms retailers I've dealt with have a very hands-off approach to keeping customers notified, take their sweet time to update the status of the order, and generally only provide information after the fact.

Well, Amazon is Amazon and most everybody else online isn't. Remember that a lot of "online retailers" are actually small businesses only online for survival in the face of the onslaught of Gunbroker, Armslist Proxibid etc. I would agree that one particular, apparently large, online retailer has a poor reputation for communication and slow delivery. Maybe not having staff to do those things is why they have such low prices.

Shipments are another problem, as they often don't provide very many options, and sometimes they only use USPS Priority Mail, which I've had nothing but trouble with. USPS Priority Mail is slow, provides poor tracking, and frankly doesn't pay any attention whatsoever to business hours when it comes to the recipient, they just deliver it whenever and if nobody is there when it arrives, then it gets stuck in limbo and either you have to reschedule the delivery (sans time of day, so they can easily deliver it outside of business hours all over again) or the FFL has to take time out of their day to go pick it up from the post office.
Frankly, USPS Priority Mail shouldn't even be used to ship firearms because they're just not reliable enough to be trusted with it, but the retailers don't care because they aren't the ones who have to deal with it when the USPS screws everything up by delivering outside of business hours.

USPS for delivery isn't going away. It's the cheapest method, and people like cheap. As for giving you choice, then they would need a contract with UPS and Fedex.

Lastly, I dislike their hands off approach towards problem-solving. Sure, you can provide them with all the information, but if something goes wrong, then they're slow to inform you of it, and need you to hold their hand if not take the reigns when it happens. For example, the last retailer I dealt with needed additional information from my FFL to complete the order, and although I provided them with my FFL's contact info, they wanted me to contact my FFL to tell my FFL to contact them, without providing me with a phone number, Fax, or e-mail address to give my FFL. So I ended up having to e-mail the retailer, politely yet sternly reminding them that I'm paying them and that they should be making use of the contact info they had me fill out for my FFL, not complicating the matter by using me as a middle-man to relay a message to my FFL.

That's unacceptable. It's up to the seller to follow through on deliveries.

Currently, my latest firearms order is stuck in limbo at the Post Office because the USPS attempted to deliver the package at 8:40am despite the fact that there a big roadside sign outside my FFL which clearly lists that they don't open until 10:00am due to COVID-19. Of course, the mail man couldn't simply go about his business and swing back around later to deliver it, so instead he left a notice at my FFL, took it back to the Post Office, and now I either have to either reschedule a delivery or the FFL Dealer has to go retrieve it.
I'm going to wait until the end of the day, just in case my FFL decides to go pick it up, and if it isn't retrieved, then I'll reschedule a delivery for tomorrow. Problem is, the option to reschedule a delivery does not include what time of day to deliver it, meaning the mail man might just end up trying to deliver it outside of business hours all over again, so hopefully my FFL Dealer will retrieve it instead.

That can also happen with UPS and Fedex. You may guess how I know.

Regardless, I'm pretty sure that this is the last time I'll ever order a firearm online. It's just too darn stressful.

I get where you are coming from, but that isn't really an option here. Being at the far end of most supply lines we get it stuck to us on special orders and the like. The inventory of used guns is also pitifully small, so most collector pieces have to come via the Web.

Enjoy your gun when it finally arrives.

 

[Hair Trigger]

When buying a firearm online one must prepare for the possibility of having their heart broken or their *** chapped. Been there and survived. I hope when you do receive it you are satisfied. Hang in there....

Two reasons I've been very hesitant about buying guns online, and so far, haven't done it.

A picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words, but nothing is as good as a hands-on examination. When you're shopping for something worth what a collectible firearm costs, you want to know without a doubt that the one you're looking at online meets your criteria. When you get it and it isn't like you were led to believe, then you're either stuck with it, or have to fight a war to get satisfaction. Plus the business of shipping it to you and it takes an inordinate amount of time because either nobody on the sending end is concerned with good service, or the shipper themselves don't seem to care when they get it to you; and then there's the possibility it will get diverted and you'll never see what you paid good money for.

I won't even go into what I think is happening with online gun sales. It's becoming the same way the collector car business is, artificially elevating prices to the point that the product (guns or cars) are markedly overpriced and only the wealthy can afford them.

 

[Echo40]

Well, my FFL didn't pick it up at the Post Office, so I rescheduled a delivery for tomorrow, and under the additional instructions section I specified that the package must be delivered during business hours.

 

[sparkyvega]

I've had good experiences ordering online, but there are definitely risks of doing so, even with reputable websites. Shipping and communication issues, and the disadvantage of not seeing the goods before the purchase. After three strikes, I'd probably give up as well.

BTW, I like your signature line.

Well, my FFL didn't pick it up at the Post Office, so I rescheduled a delivery for tomorrow, and under the additional instructions section I specified that the package must be delivered during business hours.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Well, my FFL didn't pick it up at the Post Office, so I rescheduled a delivery for tomorrow, and under the additional instructions section I specified that the package must be delivered during business hours.

Surely you realize the mail carrier on that route may not pass that location but once a day? If that is the case, he or she is unable to deviate from the route to re-attempt a delivery.

 

[Echo40]

Based on the location of the post office and the FFL, I find that unlikely.

 

[adwjc]

Harry, time out.

Take a chill pill and let your FFL handle it.

My FFL has standing instructions at his Post Office for them to hold ALL packages for him, he picks up on his way to the shop daily.

No muss, no fuss; he calls me when he has the package in his hands, then I head over to the shop and get it, done.

 

[Echo40]

That's all well and good, but my package has been at the Post Office since 05/29, and my FFL hasn't retrieved it yet.

Besides, what difference does it make? If he decides to go in and pick it up himself, then great, but he hasn't done so yet, ergo I chose to finally reschedule a delivery because I'm not counting on him to go pick it up. Either way, rescheduling won't impede his ability to go in and pick it up, especially if USPS once again attempts to deliver it outside of business hours, in which case it will most likely be right there waiting for him.

 

[usmc2427765]

Everyone is struggling now, however when there is a firearm floating around out there, I would be concerned.

 

[Oracle]

I have ordered several from the vendor Hickok45 uses with no problems whatsoever.

I have also ordered through a website whose webpage lists vast amounts of items for sale from a vast amount of vendors, kind of like &Bay. I did a purchase of an item which is rarely found with a very favorable price. That particular vendor immediately advised me they had the order, were short staffed and would get the order out as soon as they could. The vendor sent email advising each step. The order took a little longer but how could I complain with the excellent service.

 

[Absalom]

That's all well and good, but my package has been at the Post Office since 05/29, and my FFL hasn't retrieved it yet.

Besides, what difference does it make? If he decides to go in and pick it up himself, then great, but he hasn't done so yet, ergo ....

I may be missing something obvious, but it doesn't sound like you're communicating with your FFL. I can't find any mention of you calling them and asking them to pick the gun up, or how they want to deal with a USPS delivery that comes by before they open.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

literally all my guns are bought online. Never had a problem

 

[msauter]

Your problem seems to be the FFL. If they are going to accept transfers they have an obligation to be available to receive them, or go pick them up on a timely basis.

I am surprised you were able to reschedule the delivery, since you are neither the shipper or the recipient of the package.

 

[Echo40]

I may be missing something obvious, but it doesn't sound like you're communicating with your FFL. I can't find any mention of you calling them and asking them to pick the gun up, or how they want to deal with a USPS delivery that comes by before they open.

I was communicating with them, but they've become increasingly difficult to get a hold of since they're only open about 4-6 hours a day and typically during odd hours. Last time I called it took me 5 tries to get through because their phone was busy.

If the package isn't delivered during store hours today, then I'll try calling them tomorrow about it.

Your problem seems to be the FFL. If they are going to accept transfers they have an obligation to be available to receive them, or go pick them up on a timely basis.

I am surprised you were able to reschedule the delivery, since you are neither the shipper or the recipient of the package.

Perhaps, but I'm not going to hold it against them when they're a small mom & pop sort of gunshop with few employees, plus it's a tiny little shop not much larger than a garage, so with social distancing they can't have many customers inside at once, so they're busy.

I stick with them because they're friendly people with good prices on their firearms who typically handle things very smoothly. This is the first time that I've had any trouble, and given the circumstances as well as the fact that I really can't blame them for USPS delivering the package outside of business hours, I'm not about to hold this one negative experience against them.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

Perhaps, but I'm not going to hold it against them when they're a small mom & pop sort of gunshop with few employees, plus it's a tiny little shop not much larger than a garage, so with social distancing they can't have many customers inside at once, so they're busy.

I stick with them because they're friendly people with good prices on their firearms who typically handle things very smoothly. This is the first time that I've had any trouble, and given the circumstances as well as the fact that I really can't blame them for USPS delivering the package outside of business hours, I'm not about to hold this one negative experience against them.

Sounds like you're ready to forgive the FFL which is obviously to blame for not picking it up at the post office like they should have (I mean, that is why the postman left a note for the FFL, the ball is in his court now, and by not picking up your firearm, the FFL is clearly neglecting their duties), but you're wanting to blame USPS when they seem to have done there job to the T...? Weird. Obviously you understand that your precious FFL is short handed, but you don't want to give the same slack to USPS? Some more weirdness in my book. You say your FFL handles things smoothly, but this is definitely not smooth; quite the opposite.

And why cut a business a break because they are a mom and pop store? We are all in the same boat. I like to apply Darwinism to businesses: if you are good at what you do then you'll grow and flourish. If you do your job poorly you're going to have to find another. That's beautiful capitalism at work! That's America baby!

 

[bobandmikako]

I've used two FFLs who are in the gun business part-time and have full-time jobs the rest of the time. I know one is a police officer, but the other also seems to work different shifts. Anyway, I've been notified by the automated tracking that nobody was there for delivery (both USPS and Fedex) but the FFLs made arrangements for redelivery and/or pick up. I don't recall ever having delivery of the gun delayed for more than a day. I do buy most of my guns by ordering through one of our local FFLs, but sometimes good deals at big online retailers are hard to pass up or they have something in stock that is hard to find.

 

[GuyMontag]

Having bought lots of guns online over the past decade, and like others believe this is an FFL related issue. If had to buy guns based on local availability, my choices would be highly limited. Thankful that my FFL is on it, and gets things done expeditiously.

 

[Borderboss]

I agree 100% with the shipping through USPS. I always insist that the seller ship via UPS express. I'm willing to pay the cost. if the seller won't, then I don't place the order. Life is too short to have additional aggravations because of the idiots at USPS.

 

[StephenWhoDat]

I purchase probably a dozen or so firearms from online vendors each year, and have never had a problem at all. But, my FFL is great and provides a level of customer service that many FFLs refuse to provide. So perhaps there have been issues and he just resolved them without me ever knowing. I'm sorry to hear you have not had such good luck. I will agree with on the fact that the USPS is garbage in most cases, but as far as delivering my firearms, they have been decent. Slow, but decent.

 

[Absalom]

In summary, the law requires that online purchases go through an FFL, and you have to work with what you've got. No reason to make it a rant against online buying in general.

I have bought an estimated 50 to 60 guns online over the last 10-15 years. My area has just been very poor in opportunity for the older ones I was looking for.

My transfer FFL is a personal friend who has no store front at all, works semi-retired in law enforcement, emergency services, and as a gun dealer. He is often out of town, works odd hours, and it has sometimes taken a week for us to complete a transfer if his wife had to take delivery or the gun sat at the PO a few days until he could pick it up. We talk a lot via text and phone when I have a gun on the way.

Meh. I have enough guns, and I get excited about other things in life.

 

[Patrick L]

I'm sorry you have had difficulties, but it seems that it is more the people you are dealing with than the process itself.

Personally, I've only done it twice, and been happy both times, but I will admit it was like 15+ years ago. I'm sure things have changed a bit.

 

[Chino74]

Multiple on line purchases, one frustrating experience where in the seller shipped to a similar sounding FFL / different address & ended up in sitting in a shop in the Midwest instead of my own state...that took about 2 weeks to get figured out, I ended up making phone calls etc. the seller did pay for the FFL to FFL shipping once the problem was corrected.

 

[Boxer9]

Sounds like a dealer problem, not a shipper or carrier problem to me.
You said you've had issues three times, but you insist on using the same dealer.

If the dealer accepts transfers, and they have adjusted their hours of operation, then its up to them to make arrangements for delivery, or they can use those adjusted hours they made to open later to go get your parcel.
If they don't accept transfers right now then they should have stated that when (I assume) you called to make sure everything was normal before ordering. They are getting paid for the transfer right? Then that requires them to do their part.

Ive never had a problem with any carrier. I've only had one issue with an out of the way FFL that worked from home and he had it delivered next day.

As for internet sale companies/dustributors. They don't have time to babysit every order. They update you when your order status changes. You get a conformation of purchase usually within 24 hours, usually right away. Then when they pull your order they tell you ins in preshipment or shipment and when a label is created. Then its up to you to follow tracking information. Is its normal business days then usually the carrier will pick up the shipment by end of day or following day. Then it has to be "accepted" which generally means scanned in, either by the pickup carrier by scanning the manifest, or by scanners as the truck is unloaded at the main shipping facility for the area. That can take 24 hours before the package is departed/in transit. If its not the weekend it generally takes about two business days assuming theres no natural disasters/covid BS/riots/etc. I've never had one take but three business days (not including weekends or holidays).

Its easy to get in a hurry. These distributors ARENT Amazon. They get **** ton of orders and have to very carefully provess each one, because they aren't shipping you boxer shorts or Sunny Delight, they are shipping guns and ammo that can get them fines, loss of license, or jailtime.
Personally I'm thankful for their services. Its not perfect, they do overlook something sometimes like sending an email on time. But I have never called and asked about my order when they weren't able to reassure me what is going on.

Try a different FFL and see if your experience is better. Or buy locally and hope they can get it from distributors or give you a fair price.

 

[Chief Wiggums]

I'll name , names
Discount Guns for Sale - Buds Gun Shop

Ive purchase several firearms from these guys.
Not 1 single bellyache on my behalf...I love these guys....
Great order tracking system
great pricing (they will price match)

OP - I empathize ...... our $$ are hard to come by these days and when we spend them , we want a hassle free / smooth experince

 

[Echo40]

It's funny, you can tell when folks walk into a thread with preconceptions because they always go making a lot of assumptions and filling in the blanks with baseless conjecture.

Needless to say, I have not provided, nor will I be providing all of the details regarding everything that is going on behind the scenes for a number of reasons including but not limited to privacy, not to mention observation of the forums rules as well as simply not wanting to throw dirt on an online retailer or retailers over a single bad experience which has taken place during a global pandemic and thus isn't necessarily representative of what kind of service one might expect under ordinary circumstances.
Unfortunately, folks who are accustomed to knee-jerk reactions and running their mouths on a whim cannot read between the lines so I have to explain things which I would expect go without saying. For example, that this entire thread was made with the intent of venting my own personal frustrations with an experience.

That being said, congratulations to everyone in this thread who didn't impulsively jump down my throat, second-guessing me at every turn that I wasn't already doing my due diligence on the matter, as well as making baseless assumptions in regards to my FFL just because I haven't painstakingly transcribed every phone conversation I've had with them on the subject. Sincerely, it's folks such as you who display such virtues as common sense, empathy, and understanding which enable me to continue posting on these forums in spite of the few who make infuriating ignorant, condescending replies to practically everything I post and nonsensically rush to the defense of online retailers whom I haven't even named in the first place. God bless you.

 

[boykinlp]

The last gun I bought online could have turned out bad. I won it on Gunbroker. The seller can't make it easy. While Gunbroker has an easy checkout system, he doesn't use it. I had to jump through a few extra hoops, but knew it ahead of time. One hoop was that my FFL had to fax his license to the seller. He did that and also said that the gun needed to be sent "signature required". He was told I would pay the extra shipping costs.

My dealer's regular hours has been that he is closed on Wednesday's. The seller mailed the gun USPS. Of course, it arrived on Wednesday, which shouldn't have been a problem. But, the knucklehead seller sent it without the "signature required" option like the FFL asked for. Sorry for the name calling.

My dealer called me on Thursday and told me my gun was ready for pickup. When I got there, I asked how things went. He told me that when he got there that morning, my package was sitting on the ground, outside his door, and had been there since the day before. It started pouring down rain about an hour after he opened. His business is a stand alone building that sits on a very busy 4 lane divided highway. He called the seller to voice his displeasure and was curtly told that selling guns was just a sideline, and that he can't be expected to remember everything. The seller also stressed that everything did turn out fine. After hearing the story, I was glad to get my gun. BTW, my dealer wasn't even going to bring it up, but since I asked, he told me the story. He says he sees it all.
Larry