Buying a handgun "etiquette"

shipping is free and no tax
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NOTHING is free; you're paying it one way or the other. As to shipping, while it might not be collected at the POS, you are required (if your state has a sales tax) to remit the appropriate amount as a "use tax". Since no one does so voluntarily, we are seeing more and more states mandating the collection of sales taxes by the seller - so check to make sure it isn't happening yet where you live.

Even with tax the gun will come out to 9 bucks cheaper.
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Am I understanding you correctly that the difference is only $9 cheaper buying online, or did I misread something?
 
It's hard for any of us to really answer this question for you. While $70 may not be a lot to some people it is a lot to others and for most of us on this site that price difference translates to ammo money. There's a local guy I use with an FFL that I know pretty well at this point. He knows my wife, I know his and his kids, and he's a nice guy. I often buy through him at a loss of $25 or so on my end, even with transfer fees included, because I'd rather support him than some online store. Now that being said if the price difference jumped up closer to $50 even I have to take pause. At some point business is business and money is money. Some stores will let you negotiate a little on the price and see if you can come close, but I've also dealt with those that when I asked that it was pretty much the end of me going to that store because the owner got pretty heated.
 
It's only paperwork !!!

I have replied before on transfer fees and just to give you a reference point, my go-to FFL dealer, charges $10.00 + 0.07% State tax. His fee has been the same since I started working with him, three years ago. He is also a good friend and this is what he charges everyone. As he often says, it's only paperwork. ...... :rolleyes:


Be Safe !!!
 
I bought two guns a few months ago (CZ 75BD and SCCY CPX-2). I priced them both on line first, and then went to my LGS fully expecting them to be higher. I was willing to pay up to $25 more for each gun in order to support my LGS, but didn't have to. To my surprise the LGS came in just $6 more for the CZ and $20 cheaper for the SCCY after netting out shipping, tax, and transfer fees. And I didn't even ask them to be competitive. They certainly won my future business.

TomNJVA
 
For the price difference, and if it was me, I would buy from my local gun store. I try to keep the money flow local until the price difference goes over a $100. Then again that's just me.


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Personally. I always buy local. I would rather spend 50 dollars more and line the pockets of a local business vs a major online retailer. I mean, in all consideration it's only 50 dollars. That doesn't mean I won't shop around and find the local retailer with the best prices. I just believe in supporting local business. They aren't buying in the bulk amounts that online retailers do and can't sell the guns at as low of a price. That's fine with me. Customer service is worth the extra cost. Plus, when it comes down to it, who really wants to wait for a firearm to be shipped to them just to save a couple dollars? I don't. If I pay for something I want to take it home with me the same day.
 
The last 2 firearms I purchased I bought my VP9 for 670 out the door and my Gen 4 Glock 19 for 580 out the door. So I don't really see the point or savings in using online retailers. I do get a qualified professional discount from Bud's Gun Shop though, so in that case it may be worth the hassle.
 
I'll buy from the LGS if they have what I want in stock. If not I'll order on line. Lately what I've coveted has been hard to find, even on line.
 
I was looking for RIA 1911 and found a deal on-line for $545. This gun dealer was in my state, but a 3 hour round trip drive. I call my LGS and asked him about the same model number gun and he came back with a price for $575; which made the three hour drive a savings of only $30. They might just tell you that there isn't a deal; which you can go back to your earlier idea.
 
I hate paying 9% tax so I always buy from Buds. The cheapest LGS I can find is always $40 - $50 more out the door. Sorry but 30% of my pay check should suffice.
 
This is always a hard debate. The best LGS understand the plight of consumers that WANT to support their small businesses in town, but are on a budget! If price were no issue I would ALWAYS shop locally. My general rule is that if I can get the firearm for within 10% of online price, I will try to buy locally. Especially things like magazines, cleaning supplies, parts, etc because it is a couple bucks extra, and I can stomach that.

Now things like ammo and firearms (and AR parts) ... there is usually a HUGE gap between local and the interwebs. I have gotten to know a few guys at a LGS and they are always talking about the great deals they get online. They understand. Another LGS combined his businesses because he couldn't make enough money on firearms. You walk in and on the right are car/truck parts, and on the left the gun counter. Pretty funny the first time you walk in.

To oversimplify: I'd rather help my LGS employees feed their families than give CEO's a third vacation home.
 
I agree with rick b too

furthermore, as my LGS owner is a friend, I would NEVER buy a gun that he carries from an internet source. It feels like betrayal to me.

IF I want a gun he cannot get--fine he had his chance. I did this in other LGS/ranges I had frequented in the past too. I give the lgs a chance to match a price. They have a living to earn and deserve that respect (JMHO)
 
Okay here is the deal. There is a gun that I was considering purchasing, and the price of it online is roughly 70 dollars cheaper than the price of the same gun at this gun shop near me. Am I going to seem like a douche bag by doing the ffl transfer for the same gun, rather than paying their prices? I am assuming no because that is what the $25 transfer fee is for basically. Thanks.
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So there is a $45 difference. Is is worth paying $45 to have the gun right now vs shipping? Is it worth $45 to know that if there is a problem with the gun you can take it to that store vs the online store to deal with the manufacturer? Is is worth paying $45 so that you can see/feel/hold the gun before buying to visual inspect it for problems first? Only you can answer these questions. For me personally, if I wasn't in a huge rush I would prefer to save the $45 and do it online. I would definitely first ask the gun store if they can match the price though before you do anything. I have bought from a LGS instead of online when I probably spent $25-$30 more but I wanted the gun right away and knew I could deal with the store if there was an issue. Plus they now know me as a customer. Just some stuff to think about.
 
Good reply by Mr. Bomb. I personally put a significant value on support local people that I know, and who in turn support me with services and advice. I would go one step further and say that I don't feel right using their inventory - a very real cost to them - to make my selection and then buying elsewhere.

For that reason, I will buy local if I am buying a gun that I need to see and handle before the buy, or if I can get it for within 10% or so of the same price out the door. I usually can. I have, on one or two occasions, had my LGS tell me frankly that they would make more money on a transfer than by matching the price, and that I should go ahead and buy online and they will take care of it for me. Some gun shops are nicer about it than others, but the ones who are frank and honest about it while remaining cordial get my business.
 
I like my LGS owner. Our ancestors served in the military together, and the two of us enjoy conversing.

If I buy a gun from him, he had to pay out his cash up front, unpack it, clean it up, and move it from the safe to the glass case and back every day until it sells. Maybe he makes $100.

If I buy a gun from Gunbroker and have it shipped to him, he makes $25 for doing nothing.

It sounds like win/win.
 
I just don't have too many choices where I live and prices are just about MSRP for new; although some used guns can be found for decent prices.

When I was stationed at Fort Hood, I tried getting a local dealer (where MAJ Hasan purchased his FN Five Seven) to work with me comparing prices for an online pistol purchase verse his in-stock one. I'm willing to go up to $50-75 even after including FFL transfer fees and shipping...those jackasses were selling the same pistol almost $200 more than what I could get online and they wouldn't even consider budging...I took my business elsewhere.

I would rather find a pawn shop willing to do transfers for $10 (like I have now) and then buy a used gun or ammo once in a while from them. My current FFL dealer bends over backwards and I've purchased closed to 20-30 firearms through him. It's about time I pay him another visit and purchase something off his shelves.

About all my purchases are online because I can't get anybody to get close to within a $100-150 of what I can purchase online including both shipping (usually factored in or free) and a $10 FFL transfer. I'm all for supporting local businesses, but if they don't know how to be competitive yet still make a profit, they're probably not going to last very long in that business.

For mom and pop shops that are more pawn than just gun stores, I find them much easier to deal with...it's the bigger stores that should be able to make a profit on bulk not MSRP yet still rape their customers (mostly because they're ignorant of how to do online sales or understand how overpriced MSRP really is)...I don't have much patience for those stores.

ROCK6
 
If the end price is within $30 or so I will buy local for convenience. However paying 10% sales tax plus background check fee is grinding. I never buy the story that the local ffl can't purchase the firearm as cheap or cheaper than I can. However I realize he must collect sales tax if he ordered it. With an online transfer he has not fronted any additional monies to get the firearm to his shop. He just logs it in his book and transfers it to me when I show up. The FFL transfer fee from $25-45 is pretty much pure gain- he has his existing overhead already whether or not he transfers that firearm to me. If he transfers 100 firearms per day(hypothetical large number) he would take in $2500-4500 per day with no inventory or capital outlay. I'm sure FFL holders will beg to differ. Internet firearms sales will probably be a thing of the past very soon anyway. The ignorant and/or lying libs stand up and blah blah everyday about ordering firearms right to one's door from the Internet. And what's worse is the ignorant voters who believe them.
 
As long as the difference is not much more than $25 I would always buy from the LGS. My go to LGS has very fair pricing so fortunately I have not had to deal with this issue. I don't however, see why someone would have a problem with you saving a few bucks.

Just seems better to do business with locals when possible. I sure don't want my local store being forced out of business by internet sales.
 
I use a local pawn shop for transfers, for multiple reasons...

1. No bad feelings because he only stocks 1911's & Glocks...
and whatever he buys/gets in on pawn...
so chances of duplication are fairly slim.

2. He only charges $15 per transfer. Calls it his lunch money ;)

3. Small shop, he doesn't get to see a lot of weird/unusual guns,
except for what I bring through...and we spend half the afternoon
talking about guns/oddball musical instruments every time I go in ;)
Today's subject was a 1910's/20's antique Banjolin he took in,
which will probably end up at my house in a few months...
 
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