FFL Transfer fee rant

I called a local gun store in Garland @ Beltine & l30 for to do a FFL since they're 2 miles from my house. Dude quotes me $75.00! I don't mind paying a fair price for a FFL fee, but that's highway robbery. Went through GT Distributors for $25.00. I haven't been to that store since they were buying ammo from local stores, and marking it up to ridiculous prices. Lesson learned on ever using their services, or visiting their store again.

He didn't want to do it.

I agree, but then I do!'t understand why they're listed as preferred dealer on Bud's gun shop website.

Get ready... If Hillary gets her way we will all be paying FFL fees to keep guns in the family after a member passes away. And that's a fee for each gun to put them in your name. They just keep making it harder and harder for good people to have and keep guns. SMH

Think of how many people will just say screw it...it's not worth it, and not keep granddaddys guns.

Wow.....$75? That is outrageous. I'd send Bud's an e-mail just to let them know. I use a couple of pawn shops within a few miles of where I live and both are $25 and never try to cross-sell. Highest I've ever been quoted is $35.

I use Bryan's Bunker in McKinney. $10.00.

Got a local place like that and I think it's just what they feel like that day charging. Needless to say I don't shop there any more and I've bought plenty from them prior to that.

That place in garland is so 1990. They suck

They have always treated me right when I bought from them and the wife bought a few guns and leather and she always seemed to think she was treated fair.It's been a few years since we stepped into their shop but we still have friends that still shop there.

Prices are high on everything there. I'll say the name Bull and [censored] Guns.

yep

Will never do business with them, and wouldn't advise anyone else to. Bunch of thieves over there.

Was GT Distributors or the other store marking up prices on ammo?

It was the other store. The guys at GT were very helpful and eager to get my business.

There is a page on Gunbroker where you can find local FFL dealers that will transfer for you. They even have most of their prices.

Bud's has that as well. I used a pawn shop in Weatherford, iirc it was $15, may have been $20 but no more.

Personally, If you call Bud's and complain, I don't see what that would do for you, business can charge what they want. Word gets out and many places can price themselves out of business, of course, there is always sheep walking around as well.

Spreading the word is the best way to combat over zealous folks.

Buds list the price of the transfer for each FFL on checkout.

As far as highway robbery there is a store in Granbury that does it for $50 but most of the little guys are $15-$20. The $75 just says he doesn't want to mess with it.

His price is telling you that he doesn't want to do transfers... he would rather sell you the gun from his inventory. But if he can't do that and you want him to do the transfer, he wants to make the same profit.

Since the store is only 2 miles from your house, did you give him the chance to sell you the gun before you bought online?

Wow! That's crazy high! When I do my transfers it's $10 with my CHL $20 if I didn't have one.

Ditto

they need to keep the lights on and taxes paid on their store

I use Lewisvlle Pawn, $15. When I use Buds.

Being the devils advocate here. Retailers with stores have bills to pay. Yes they could all charge 25.00 to do transfers all day but guess what? If they are a good retail store they inventory that they have to pay for sitting in the store and if they don't sell that inventory they will go out of business. Then where would you guys that buy everything from buds to save 50.00 go to hold the rifle or shotgun you are interested in. I don't blame any retailer for charging a high price to do transfers. Transfers will not pay their bills or their employees. I know very dew big guns stores that like doing transfers. Little shops with not much invested in inventory or employees seem to be the guys that are happy to do them for 25.00.
Think about what you do for a living and how well your business would be if your customers just used you to receive their goods and didn't buy from you.

Being a business owner I understand if you don't want to do it.

But If that's the case, it would be smarter to just say we don't do FFL transfers.

Throwing out a high price because you don't want to do it is a good way to run off customers IMO.

Use Rockwall Gold and Silver on 205 or Morgan with Dallas Shooting Supplies in Rowlett if he still does transfers I believe he was $10

It's a free country where you can choose where you spend your money, and businesses can decide what they charge for their services. God bless America.

What do you charge for 45min of your time? $75 doesn't seem too much out of line when you look at it this way.

I have a harder time understanding why anyone would do it for $10-$15.

agree

we have gotten to be a moaning society ...

you don't pay me enough ... i don't want to pay for your services (which pays someone's salary )


they'll charge $10-$15 if they don't have high overhead and can afford to do so (free market)

Since when does a transfer take 45 minutes? More like half that time.

There's a gun store with a gun range locally. I asked what their tranfers fees were and they said $75. I guess they want their cut of someone else's sale. They can charge that if they want. I'll never buy from them.

if you don't like the price move on...to diss a business on a public forum like this for only that reason is very bad form...you have NO idea what they have to do to stay in business...

Transfers at a low or fair price get people in the store who may purchase something....transfers at a high price keep them out.

No, transfers at a low price get people in the store to handle your inventory, ask questions of your salesperson, and then order it online for $50 cheaper.

I would agree with 45 minutes. Think about the steps involved.

1. Receive item. Open box and inspect item for damage.
2. Record item in bound book.
3. Notify customer that the item is in hand.
4. When customer comes to pick up item, pull from inventory room or safe.
5. Inspect item with customer. (this step alone could be 45 minutes depending on item and customer)
6. Once customer indicates that he will accept item, instruct customer on 4473.
7. Once 4473 completed, call into NICS,if no chl.
8. Transaction completed, repackage firearm for customer.
9. Close the record in book, documenting disposition of firearm.

Very easily 45 minutes of a shops time. Not to mention ties up your salesperson...

I agree... Butt-hurt whiners are a lower form of life, that we would all be better off without.

Reporting a real problem is useful to all. - Whining is despicable.

Additionally:

1) accept liability to protect the gun between delivery and the customer pickup.
2) risk dealing with pain in the arse cheapskate customer if he wants to send it back
3) risk dealing with pain in the arse cheapskate customer if he doesn't pass NICS, or has a "delay"

$75 is about right for a brick and mortar business.

$20-25 is more what the guys charge who are dealing in their kitchen. They are padding their bound book to insure they are "dealing" when the next compliance check comes around. The only thing a brick and motar business has to gain is foot traffic. Some of them aren't worried about that, or it's not worth the hassle.

Paying a salesperson the same wages/fee as the owner is like paying a receptionist or nurse the fee for a Doctor's exam. Maybe CTD was a bargain when they jacked their prices up. Everyone wants to save a dollar. I'm sure some people who have lost jobs in the O&G industry feel since they once made $48/hour they should make the same wage working at KFC. Point being, if you are buying it is too expensive and if you are selling it is too cheap.

A transfer is easily a 45min process if not longer as others have pointed out. You're only used to seeing one part of the equation.
But don't take my word for it, I've only done a few thousand in the past.

If a legitimate business was to only fo transfers for $10-$20 a pop they wouldn't be open long unless they had multiple transfers per hour handled by one person.

You aren't paying the salesperson the same wages as an owner. Last I checked the money goes to the business where upon the owner pays mortgage/rent, electricity, insurance, phone/internet, pays salaries, copious amounts of taxes, and countless other thi gs before they even see any of it.

How many of those hobbyist gun transferers do you think pay the IRS a percentage of that $10-$15?

I think they do if they don't they're asking for trouble

each transfer is a record, an auditor can see that trail in terms of transfer-revenue-tax paid

A transfer in a log book does not prove money was exchanged for that service.

I do FFL transfers in Weatherford for $15 with a CHL and $20 without, unless you're a know it all then I charge you $25, but you are right $75 is robbery.

You making like 100 bucks an hour or what?

And do you have a store front with inventory and employees, or are you doing transfers from your kitchen table?

Your theory would make sense if there weren't any actual businesses with overhead out there doing ~$20 transfers but there are.

I wished I made $100/hr! I'll get there.

I don't do outside transfers due to time constraints but if I did I would have to price it at $50+ to compensate myself for what I would have made doing other work.

The average gun shops break even point Is $40/hr. Some lower, others higher.
The point I'm trying to make is everyone values their time differently. If you don't like it you have the freedom to spend your money elsewhere, but don't get on an internet forum and rant. Its also not your place to tell someone what they should charge.

I have brick/mortars in my area that do them for $20. I offered them my business but they couldn't come close to meeting the price on the item, so even after the $20 I came out well ahead. I bought some other things from them, though, so it did get me in the door and it did result in business for them. $75 is ludicrous, but if that's what the market bears then so be it. Sounds to me like they'd just rather not be bothered with it, so when they are they make it worth their while. Caveat emptor.

Best post yet. I haven't said anything on this topic because I'd go off. Don't like it, then become an FFL yourself, and do your own transfers!

And every transfer I've done, the customer wants to talk, talk, talk, about ammo and guns. If they charge $75 for a transfer, that's what they charge. You have every right to go else where.

It is absolutely a consumers place to tell someone what they should charge.

Fify


When it's your money and your equity in the business you can do what you want.


Remember not all business are profitable

How they spend their money is how they tell them.

Really? Someone has an opinion regarding a business, service or prices and they're a lower form of life? I remember a time when this forum was full of people complaining about $2,000.00 DPMS ARs, 75.00-100.00 bulk .22 ammo, crazy prices for 30 round AR Mags and 4.00 a gallon gas. I guess everyone who has ever complained about these things or others are low life people who should be kicked off the forum.

I'm not looking for businesses to lose money on me, but I dang sure want do business with those who charge 50-100% more than anyone else.

I paid a shop $50 to transfer a rifle I sold and thought that was a fair price. To be honest I would've been OK if they charged more. I had never been there before and they knew I would probably never be back. They're in business to sell their own inventory, not handle my gun sale.

bigjoe8565 I'm a FFL that works out of my shop/garage. I am approved for Gunbroker,Buds,and a few others. I charge $20 for a transfer, and $5 each additional item,if you pick them up the same time. I also offer "after hours" pickup that most storefronts don't offer. MOST of the time it's a short process of receiving,inspection,logging,calling/emailing,log in FBI,and complete the transfer. Then... sometimes, miss the delivery, go pick up the package, return home,then complete the process. Then sometimes you have to move family things around to be home to receive a package. Or so a customer can come over and pick up their firearm.
I'm in Mesquite, off Galloway, near the Arts Center.

And here I thought this was a public forum for people to share ideas, thoughts, and information. I guess this is not that kind of place and we should all keep it all to ourselves. (/sarcasm) Some people don't have to share, others don't have to respond. The market determines the price for goods and services. The consumer is half the market, so yes, as a consumer it is his place to tell someone what they consider a fair price. What the seller does with that information is up to them.

It is a free country, I don't have time to whine about high FFL transfer fees, CTD and such. I just don't give those entities my business.

I also don't understand why people pay Cabela's, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro, etc. the money they charge for firearms when they can save serious money purchasing online. But many many people do. I've also heard people say there isn't much savings if any purchasing online when you factor everything in. I say bull. In August of 2014 I purchased a Ruger SR9C online. My cost was $415.00 including TT&L. Add $5.00 in gas for the drive to my FFL and I spent $420.00. It would have cost $519.59 at Cabela's. Add $5.00 for gas driving to Cabela's and I paid a little more than $100.00 less purchasing online.

A lot of us like to buy local when we can, so the firearms merchant will be there for us when we want to look at different models, need help with a problem, and have ready access to accessories and ammo etc..

A lot more of us simply do not want to have to wait.

If I am thinking of buying something that is mass-produced, has lots of plastic and possesses no particular character that distinguishes one from another, I might buy online. A "tactical" weapon, or a plastic-stocked economy bolt gun would be good examples of guns that I might buy online.

If I am looking to buy a fine, quality firearm though, I will want to examine the gun first, see what the wood looks like, check the workmanship, the fit and the finish before I throw down my hard-earned cash. This is one reason why I encourage local gun merchants to primarily concentrate on stocking quality firearms. - You can identify merchants who are on a downhill slide because they will have more plastic than wood in their racks.

Truth be told though, if the gun is something that I am really interested in, I am one of those who will pay a bit extra simply so that I won't have to wait.

One thing that I simply have too much class and self-respect to do though, it to go look at guns at the local gun store, then go home and order what I have chosen online. I consider that kind of behavior to be chicken bok-bok in the extreme, and I look down upon those who engage in it.

Notice how hobby shops are hard to find these days? - That's because mail-order outfits put most of them out of business long before there was ever such a thing as the internet. And guess what happened after that? - Hobbies in general went into a serious decline and have not recovered since.

The same thing is starting to happen to gun shops today, with rapidly shrinking mark-ups. - Something to consider if you like having a local gun store.

I value my relationship with my local gun store.

I know that I could save a buck by buying elsewhere, but having strong backup with solid customer support is valuable to me. If I’m not a regular customer buying through him, I would expect to pay for the nuisance factor.

When I do need a transfer, it's a courtesy. When ammo was in short supply, it wasn’t a problem for me. I also get a phone call when a used gun that I want, gets traded in – before it goes on the rack. Tips on who is wanting to sell what gun, also come from the local guy.

Saving money is critical to most of us, but I also want small, local brick and mortar relationship based gun stores to stay in business.

Marc

The cheapest transfer fees where I live are in a little shop that is only open for a few hours, two days a week, and is run by a fellow who depends upon votes to keep his day job.

I see a lot of the local elites going in and out of there, fellows who are not particularly strapped for cash. - They're just cheap.

I look at FFL Transfer Fees a couple different ways.
Buying a new firearm online and then having it shipped to a local dealer that may sell the identical firearm is a touchy subject to a lot of dealers. They seem to get mad when you don't give them the chance to sell you a firearm from their inventory,and I don't blame them. Most gun stores can't match the price of firearms from places like Bud's Guns,but given the chance,they may come pretty close.

Most of the transfers that I have done were on used guns that I bought on gun auction sites like Gunbroker. Paying a $20 transfer fee has never bothered me,but now it seems like most places want $40 or more for a transfer so I don't do much online buying anymore.

In the last few years,most local shops have really jumped on the price gouging wagon for all of their products. I know,it's a free market! But,I have completely stopped buying my reloading supplies from several of the shops that I've dealt with for several decades because of the price gouging. If that's how they want to treat their customers,they don't deserve my business anymore.

If someone wants to charge $50-$75 for a firearms transfer fee,and people are dumb enough to pay it,then more power to them. I choose to find dealers that want my business for the long haul,not for a single firearms transfer.

Free market...a business is in business to make money folks...it's fairly simple. Sure they make money on a cheap transfer but are they making profit...you folks complaining about this have no idea what it takes to run a profitable business....and its insulting to hear you whining about it...you have prob cost that business thousands of dollars over the long haul in your negative advertising rant...great job, now someone's kid can't get into a good college because of your very rude behavior. Or maybe a house payment can't be paid...all because you had to complain on a public forum that will be on line forever...for 25 bucks. Buddy, that is a real class act...

I happen to have a few businesses and can tell you I can't hardly take a dump and flush the toilet for less than your 25.00 transfer fee complaint...that's the truth.

just so you know, the business world has names for COSTEMERS such as yourself...too bad I have class and won't use that kind of language

If you are a plumber or electrician, a roofer or carpenter and someone callls you and says " I just bought the materials needed for the job you quoted and gave the job to a guy that will install it for me cheaper, but he can't go get it and deliver it, who you do that girl me?" What are you going to charge him? Are you going to work for deli er the stuff and make 75% less, or are you going to quote him your normal hourly cost? Or are you going to tell him to go to h€lol because he didn't let you do the job and make all the profit?

Go back read my original post. My complaint was regarding a $75.00 FFL fee not $25.00. If you're still so offended by post call me what you want to call me buddy.

Everyone who said it's a free market is 100% correct. They charge 75.00 and I chose not to do business with them. GT charges me $25.00, so I chose to do business with them and I'll by other things from them as well. GT may have broken even at $25.00 or maybe lost money, but they picked up a customer who will buy their products. I figure most big dealers chose to offer FFL services as a way to generate additional/future business vs. being their primary revenue source. If this true, why would you price a potential loss leader service way above what the local market dictates? It's either they don't want to offer the service, or they're hoping to attract people that don't know any better.

Going rate is about $25 most places, so this place is at 3x the average. If you pulled into Whataburger tomorrow and they tried to charge you $25-30 for a combo meal would you go there any more? Would you say something to a friend or relative? What if an oil change place wanted $100 for a simple change? $90-100k for an average truck at your dealer?

FTR, I have run my own business (successfully), have worked in several businesses and have multiple degrees in business. I have every idea what it takes to operate a successful business.

So if you pulled into get your oil changed and brought your own oil and filter do you think it would be good business for them to change your oil for 10.00? Or do you think they would do it at all?
What if you brought your own meat and bun into Whataburger and asked them to cook it? Think they would.
Regardless of how many degrees you have, it makes no sense for a gun dealer with a true inventory and a building and employees to receive guns for cheap.
Gun dealers are the only retailers anyone expects this service from. How do you think Walmart would react if you had a TV shipped to them from Amazon? I doubt they would go for that.

If I don't have time to change my own oil, I'll take the oil with me have them change it with my oil. Never ever been a problem.
Health code wouldn't allow Whataburger to cook your meat. But the SELECT ground meat you buy in Walmart is far better than the Commercial grade ground beef fast food places use.

This thread got stupid in a hurry..

Gun dealers are the only businesses that are required to file a 4473 on the products that they sell or transfer. With or without firearms transfers, your store would be open for business if you have a customer base, so don't say it cost you time and money because your doing a transfer.
It's pure profit doing transfers, you didn't spend anything ordering products from your wholesalers. The customer spent their money for the firearm and shipping cost.
Granted,you are spending a few minutes of your time dealing with transfers, but most transfers net you more profit than any other single item sale.

Doing transfers does take time and time is money; everyone values theirs! $25 or less is a fair price.

Receive
Un-package
Log in
Notification
Dispose of trash (recycled peanut packing is fun and usually clings around for days)
Store (in some cases long term)
Insurance (yes, we are responsible for your item)
4473 prep (sometimes it takes the customer 3-4 times to get the form correct...illiterate, poor penmanship, lack of reading comprehension, etc...)
Log out
Final chit-chat (oh and there are talkers too...)

My oil change guy will do it for $15 if I bring my own oil (I actually change it myself most of the time, though). He usually charges $35-39 for gas engines, 5-6 qts plus filter.

Define 'cheap'. My last two transfers were either $20 or $25, and they had three employees standing around doing nothing when I got there. I was in the store less than 20 minutes both times. Even if it took them 40 minutes to do their side, so total 1 hour to do it all, they got $20 for an employee they're paying $10. Taxes, insurance, etc., maybe they broke even on the deal, or at 25-30-35 they make some money on it, again their employee was doing NOTHING. And as I stated in my other post, I've bought other things at that store, so it got me in the door and they made money other ways, so YES, it made sense for them to do something for me where they didn't make a lot of money.

$75 is a rip and being one of Bud's preferred FFLs sets up a lot of people to get the shaft (yes they should call first, but most wouldn't expect it to be 3x market average).

It's their right to charge whatever they want. It's my right to choose to never spend a dime in their shop, and tell everyone I know why.

Wheres Bryans Bunker?

+1

I buy almost every firearm online.

Better Prices, than local and FTF (ppl are silly in DFW)
No Tax
$10 Transfer fees

Reason I have to buy them to try them. And have some that I sell still NIB.
I dont like renting guns"

example.

I just purchased a 9mm Subcompact, with a laser for $360ish

Local, people want $400-$515 for used, same model,without laser.

rifles, everything falls into this category,buy online save plenty of money.