Is my dealer screwing me on transfer fees?

EGwhisper

EGwhisper

Blaster
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 14, 2017
603
384
#1
$50 to do a transfer from an individual, would have been $25 if they would have shipped from an FFL location (seller wouldn't have to pay a transfer fee, my dealer just wants it to be shipped from an FFL). His reasoning was that he assumes more liability coming from an individual, and anyone can make up a copy of a DL... What is the risk involved? He is transferring to me, putting a firearm TO my name. Who gives a s*$# if the firearm isn't transferred FROM the seller's name, besides the seller? This was a $4000 long gun, btw, not a $50 Saturday night special pistol. The dealer was Two Bear Arms gun shop in Etna Green, IN. Are there other dealers out there who do this, or is he just making up reasons to double his income?

The last time I had transferred a rifle from an individual shipper from another dealer the rate was $25, no mention of whether it was shipped from an individual or FFL location.
 
#2
Youre spending $4,000 on a gun and are griping about $25 ?


did you not ask his prices before hand?.........if you didnt like them, find another dealer
 
#4
mcameron said:
Youre spending $4,000 on a gun and are griping about $25 ?


did you not ask his prices before hand?.........if you didnt like them, find another dealer
Click to expand...

Thank you for the useless contribution. Yes, I am griping about being charged double what I believe should be charged, not all of us have Gunfighter14e2 money and I could have bought a few sandwiches with that $25. There was no mention of whether it was shipped from an FFL location or an individual, I asked for a transfer before it arrived and was told $25, until it arrived and he noted it wasn't shipped from an FFL location and would be $50, not going to tell him no and deal with that mess.

Again, thanks for the useless contribution to the thread. I know my choices. The question is whether this is an emerging trend, as I am aware some dealers don't even take transfers from individuals, some don't even take transfers at all, but this guy seems to think there is a premium for being shipped from an individual via USPS.
 
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#5
If he told you $25 and charged you $50, I'd say he screwed you. Not a lot of recourse for you, just don't use him again I guess.
 
#7
Gunfighter14e2 said:
If you had gunfighter14e2 money, you would not be buying any food at all. My food is mostly 3 day old sail rabbit smothered in hotsause.
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Lol, haven't heard the term sail rabbit in a long time. I get what you're saying about being petty, just the principle more than anything, and I certainly don't want to be charged $50 to transfer a $200 rimfire.
 
#8
The problem is that the FFLs can charge you whatever they want, so you are kind of stuck. I usually get charged $35 per time but less and less of the dealers are being willing to take a transfer from an individual.
 
#10
EGwhisper said:
Thank you for the useless contribution. Yes, I am griping about being charged double what I believe should be charged, not all of us have Gunfighter14e2 money and I could have bought a few sandwiches with that $25. There was no mention of whether it was shipped from an FFL location or an individual, I asked for a transfer before it arrived and was told $25, until it arrived and he noted it wasn't shipped from an FFL location and would be $50, not going to tell him no and deal with that mess.

Again, thanks for the useless contribution to the thread. I know my choices. The question is whether this is an emerging trend, as I am aware some dealers don't even take transfers from individuals, some don't even take transfers at all, but this guy seems to think there is a premium for being shipped from an individual via USPS.
Click to expand...

I don't think Mcameron's questions/perspective were necessarily off base. I'd suggest that you look on SiCo's, Gemtech and/or Capital Armory's websites for FFL's in your area and see what they charge ahead of any anticipated transfer.

In Washington State, the paperwork burden has tripled. FFL's need to make a profit and the increase in paperwork burns through $25 pretty quick. I have a buddy that I do all my transfers through. I give him $50 because I want him to make a profit and be in business for as long as possible. This used to be a much less expensive hobby/sport, but not any more. The liberals are doing their damnedest to price everyone out of the market.
 
#11
The risk with accepting from an individual is he/she may be a dipshit and not provide any of their info. That info has to go in their bound book. IMHO, a lot of dealers take it too far; a driver's license is not required, just the info of the person / company the FFl received the firearm from.

$25 ain't bad. Being told $25 and charged $50, I'd have told him to fuck himself; they are not going to send it back cause it'd cost more than the difference.
 
#13
EGwhisper said:
Lol, haven't heard the term sail rabbit in a long time. I get what you're saying about being petty, just the principle more than anything, and I certainly don't want to be charged $50 to transfer a $200 rimfire.
Click to expand...

It wasn't Gunfighter that said it. It was mcameron.

It really comes down to what did he quote you before the transfer? If he quoted you 50.00, there's not much to complain about. If he quoted 25.00 and charged 50.00 at the transfer, then I'd find another dealer. I pay 35.00, but haven't ever transferred from an individual using this shop. Years ago I used to use a shop before this one that charged the same 25.00 no matter who it came from. That shop went out of business after ATF found some discrepancies in their records (not that one had anything to do with the other).
 
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#14
MtnCreek said:
The risk with accepting from an individual is he/she may be a dipshit and not provide any of their info. That info has to go in their bound book. IMHO, a lot of dealers take it too far; a driver's license is not required, just the info of the person / company the FFl received the firearm from.

$25 ain't bad. Being told $25 and charged $50, I'd have told him to fuck himself; they are not going to send it back cause it'd cost more than the difference.
Click to expand...

What's done is done, the decision I have now is whether or not to allow him to be my go to dealer when purchasing new firearms. The seller was gtg, gave a copy of his license in the box with the gun. The dealer tried to cop the play that "anyone can make a fake copy of a DL". Why would someone go through that much trouble? If the weapon were part of a murder I'd suspect the person would ditch it in a river, not sell it.
 
#15
Consider yourself lucky last transfer in suck ass komifornia was $75+$30 for background + what they deemed value at for tax on a used rifle. This is why I maintain two residents and go to Az or Nv.

Yeah if it was a bait n switch Id be mad but I wouldnt gripe about the cost itself.
 
#17
EGwhisper said:
What's done is done, the decision I have now is whether or not to allow him to be my go to dealer when purchasing new firearms. The seller was gtg, gave a copy of his license in the box with the gun. The dealer tried to cop the play that "anyone can make a fake copy of a DL". Why would someone go through that much trouble? If the weapon were part of a murder I'd suspect the person would ditch it in a river, not sell it.
Click to expand...

A little more info on the drivers license. When a trace in performed, it starts at the manufacturer. From there it's traced to the distributor, FFL, nonlicensee and then wherever it goes from there. It's top down.

When your dealer gets audited, atf will see this firearm in their bound book; it will say who/where it came from and who it went to and there'll be a 4473 to go along with that. That's all that's required. If it had came from a dealer, there would be a copy of their license, but it didn't come from a dealer. A DL from the person that shipped to them is just extra info and no one will ever check the DL. Your dealer is either stupid or feeding you a line of bullshit. I'd put my money on stupid.
 
#19
If the dealer said $25, I'd say he screwed you. And yeah, I don't care if it's a $200 rimfire or a $4000 custom rifle. If he said one thing then did another, I'd have words with him. If it took the extra $25 to get my gun from him, I'd pay it. And, on my way out, I'd let him know that it's gonna cost him a lot more than the $25 he just yanked you for. I like to remind assholes like that how it cost them.

That said, I frequented a gunshop in MSP that had a policy that if you bought new, something he could get, he charged you more. But, he was up front about it. He didn't just say $25. He said, $25 for anything used, and anything he didn't have access to get. $40 for something he could get and sell in his shop. He let some slide on that when a particular gun was hard to get in.
 
#21
i went to a local guy to send a gun out once...asked him a week before what he would charger, 40 was his answer.

the day i showed up, he says "that'll be 80"...to whhich i calledhim on in, he insisted nah, nah, nah...then relented and dropped to 40.

he tried to screw me....and i'll never forget it. beyond that, i spread the word far and wide. i've done transfers for years, and NEVER had issues until this guy.
 
#23
I got charged $50 at a LGS for just an action from another FFL (PVA). I will not ever use them again. Found a smaller shop that said they'd take care of me at $20/transfer. I should have shopped around first.
 
#24
vh20 said:
OP needs to answer the question, what was he quoted beforehand?
Click to expand...

Post #4. Had also dealt with the dealer a month beforehand and no mention of whether that firearm was from an individual or FFL - $25, and did come from an individual. Sounds like some new stuff he is trying to pull to squeeze out another $25 to me based on the responses here, thanks guys. Looks like someone else will be making ~$1500 profit off of me in the next year at least, hope the $25 was worth it to him!
 
#28
No problem, appreciate the insight on the post. Didn't know if this was a new trend across multiple dealers charging so much more coming from an individual, or just my dealer being a dick. Sounds like the latter.
 
#29
It's all Trumps fault, bucks ain't flowing an some LGS have lived beyond their means. Many over stocked on over priced an expensive items when they came back after SandyHook. A lot of that inventory is still hanging on their walls an they are trying everything under the sun to keep the doors open. Had the slut won, the walls would be bare again and what he charged you would/could have been worth every penny. Everything is relative.
 
#33
Threadcutter308 said:
I don't think Mcameron's questions/perspective were necessarily off base. I'd suggest that you look on SiCo's, Gemtech and/or Capital Armory's websites for FFL's in your area and see what they charge ahead of any anticipated transfer.

In Washington State, the paperwork burden has tripled. FFL's need to make a profit and the increase in paperwork burns through $25 pretty quick. I have a buddy that I do all my transfers through. I give him $50 because I want him to make a profit and be in business for as long as possible. This used to be a much less expensive hobby/sport, but not any more. The liberals are doing their damnedest to price everyone out of the market.
Click to expand...

OR, anyone/everyone can check out our own DIY section, for a sticky there, which has a list of FFL's that accept from non-FFL's, and the prices. Right here on the 'Hide....

I'm just sayin'
 
#35
EGwhisper said:
No problem, appreciate the insight on the post. Didn't know if this was a new trend across multiple dealers charging so much more coming from an individual, or just my dealer being a dick. Sounds like the latter.
Click to expand...

Maybe we could just call this guy...over and over again...if this is the correct price for transferring a gun in?
 
#36
If it makes you feel any better, my guy just charged me $65 for a bare TL3 from core shooting. He's right down the street from work instead of the guy who charges me 20 but is 20 miles away from home in the opposite direction of anything I ever go to
 
#37
sandwarrior said:
Maybe we could just call this guy...over and over again...if this is the correct price for transferring a gun in?
Click to expand...

You're welcome to if you think you'll get a different response. He pointed to the sign with his new store policy when I went to pick it up. Transfers: $25 from FFL, $50 from Individual.
 
#38
Sixfivesavage said:
If it makes you feel any better, my guy just charged me $65 for a bare TL3 from core shooting. He's right down the street from work instead of the guy who charges me 20 but is 20 miles away from home in the opposite direction of anything I ever go to
Click to expand...

Sounds like he is sticking it to you for not buying new from him.
 
#39
EGwhisper said:
You're welcome to if you think you'll get a different response. He pointed to the sign with his new store policy when I went to pick it up. Transfers: $25 from FFL, $50 from Individual.
Click to expand...

I hadn't seen where you posted that he had a sign up. I still believe he should have given you the $25 price as that was his policy in force at the time you transferred in. A change in policy begins with all firearms to be transferred in, not the ones in process.

My point in having us call him was to address him directly about charging more. Enough calls and he might think better of just jacking prices. I do think $25 is fair. It takes his time to get it done. What state are you in, BTW? I've seen dealers in CA charging as much as $100 for a transfer. That is exorbitant, IMO. The guys that annoy the crap out of me are the ones who charge an abnormally high transfer fee, but won't order in the rifle you want. Which would take weeks anyways.
 
#43
EXTREMEPREJUDICE said:
If you don't like his transfer fee and related policies just use another FFL that will do it for less and from a private party, problem solved.
Click to expand...

Yeah, figured I would get some other educated opinions on the situation before I condemned that shop. Didn't know if other shops were starting to do the same or what.
 
#44
Well, actually my bad as I got to the party late......................thought there was only one page on the thread so you had already received a ton of feedback and clearly didn't need mine as it was more than redundant.. I apologize for that!
 
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