Buying new from a LGS vs buying new online and transferring?

C

checkmyswag

New member
Any advantage to buying at the LGS (if they have to order) vs buying new online and having it shipped to LGS?

I have been trying to buy at a small store with great service. They have a small inventory, so I figured they could order what I need. Their suppliers don't have in stock what I want to order, yet I can find it on gunbroker.

Any reason to wait and wait for LGS's distributors to get gun in (may or not be the exact configuration I want)?

The transfer fee is reasonable, I just don't see any since in waiting, paying more and maybe still not getting exactly what I want when it's available online.

What's the process for buying online? Send my info to the dealer, money order, copy of my LGS FFL?
 
I'm a strong advocate of supporting any local business. But if they don't have what you want, then there's no sense in buying from them. I've never bought a gun online, but as far as I know you just need to give the seller his money and send him your local gun shop's FFL info. Then your LGS takes care of all the legalities on their end and take their fee for shuffling some papers around.
 
I do most of my purchases online. Not only does it get me guns at a lower purchase price, I save the sales tax.

Compare the difference in these two SKSs:
..............Online..........LGS
price:........$200.........$350
tax................0...........$25
transfer.......$20..............0
Shipping......$15..............0
total...........$235........$375

I try to buy more than one gun at a time to spread the transfer and shipping cost over more than one gun. On a more expensive gun the savings in state sales tax become even larger.
 
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My LGS is a small guy who thrives on ordering in guns and doing transfers and Title II stuff. he can order a gnu in from his distributor, and with tax, fess, check, etc., STILL beat Bud's price by $10 or more, which I would then need to add transfer fee and check.
 
It depends upon what it is you are ordering. I've had this discussion with my LGS, and sometimes they will make MORE money off of the transfer fee than they would selling it to you.

I tend to discuss most purchases with the LGS staff, and we figure out what purchases we can both win - they make a buck, and I get a deal.
 
Within $20-$40 local.

But when I go there most times I shoot (indoor range) or buy something or a little ammo so I dont feel that bad...
 
Between the shipping and FFL fee I don't find it significantly cheaper then buying local. I usually buy online more to get guns local dealers don't have and can't get.
 
My last purchase I was faced with this debate, and I bought from the LGS/Local Chain. However in the future I will be looking around for a place to do transfers and/or my buy from, as the local chain has decent prices sale items but otherwise the prices are not competitive with buying online and they're firm on their prices(Guy in there with me one time said he'd buy right then if they gave him $50 a $1200 rifle, they wouldn't even consider it). For me I'd give my patronage to a place locally if they we're open to haggling or making a deal, In my experience once a small business realizes you're a dedicated customer they'll often make concessions they normally would not. So I may not get the absolute best price, but a fair price and good service.
 
I almost always buy out of state and have it shipped to my FFL. I buy a lot of used stuff and stuff the locals guys cannot get or cannot be competitive on. For me I save 6% tax and the transfer is only $10.

If I am buying something mainstream I will check his price. For example he quoted me $470 OTD on a Glock 19. I found one for $400 shipped LNIB used so I bought the used one. Had I not found the used one I would have bought his at $470. If he is within $20 or so of my cheapest online price I will buy from him.

He is always happy to do a transfer for me because I buy other stuff. I give him tons of customers via word of mouth so he knows he makes money on my business.

He will even ship guns I sell to others out of state for $10 plus the cost of USPS priority and insurance. So I can sell a gun in the classifieds and ship it for a reasonable cost instead of paying UPS/FED EX and arm and a leg.
 
Any advantage to buying at the LGS (if they have to order) vs buying new online and having it shipped to LGS?
Click to expand...

My Evil Pawn Shop Guy isn't like this,,,
But other LGS owners could easily deny service if you order it in from Buds Gun Shop.

If I buy a gun from an LGS and it has to go back,,,
I expect him to assist me in getting it back to the warranty center,,,
I also expect him to receive the gun when it returns so I don't have to worry about being there when UPS tries to deliver.

If I ordered it in I would have no right to expect any help if I need it.

But I'm like Fargazer,,,
I discuss it with my Evil Pawn Shop Guy,,,
He's happy to make a quick transfer fee with no inventory cost,,,
And I almost always buy a gun rug or ammunition or something else from him.

He can almost always match Buds Gun Shop prices,,,
But he can't always find what I want from his distributers,,,
He understands I do not want to wait so he facilitates my on-line purchase.

It's really a win-win for both of us.

Aarond
 
My favorite LGS transfer guy doesn't use the internet. On many occasions he's ordered the same guns I did to stock his store. I've become his researcher in a way.
 
I've never found a gun online that my LGS couldn't get for the same price or less. Yes I have to pay tax, but when ordering online the transfer fees and shipping end up raising the cost above what I can get it for locally.

The only guns I've ever ordered were used guns, no longer in production that my LGS did not have.
 
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