I want to buy a Kimber Custom. I am curious if anyone has used sites like Gunbroker.com or Auctionarms.com to buy a handgun. These are the only sites I know of. Are there better ones and have you had good or bad experiences with these and others? Should I wait and go to a gun show instead for my first Kimber? I know that it is FFL to FFL only and I do have a local dealer that charges $20 to do the transfer. Also, I live in Virginia, will the state come after me for sales tax if I were to purchase a gun this way. The dealer said that he dosen't charge sales tax since I am not purchasing the gun from him. It is only a transfer fee. What do you know?
Has anyone bought a handgun through an online website?
- Thread starter Jonpod
- Start date
I have bought many guns off the internet, mostly from Bowers board, Vollmer's board (just listings of want to sell items and want to buy). I don't think sites like you stated are bad (Gunsamerica also), you just want to be careful who you are dealing with like any other site. There are plenty of reputable dealers who would be happy to sell and send you a new Kimber. Thats great that your dealer only wants $20 for a transfer (thats cheap)- the only disadvantage now is that shipping is more expensive to send guns (UPS- has to go overnight, Fedex- I believe is 2 days the latest). You would not have to pay sales tax if you are buying it from a different state- so your dealer would only charge you the transfer fee.
Some great dealers you can contact are Four Seasons Firearms, Bachman Pawn and Gun, Dr. David Avery (he has lots of Kimbers), Jersey City Armory (don't think Greg carries Kimber anymore though).
My opinion, call Dr. Avery- his prices are real good and lists like over 30 Kimbers in every issue of Gunlist- how he does most of his advertising (972) 562-4416, (972) 838-2226, he's a real straight "shooter."
[This message has been edited by JG (edited May 25, 2000).]
Some great dealers you can contact are Four Seasons Firearms, Bachman Pawn and Gun, Dr. David Avery (he has lots of Kimbers), Jersey City Armory (don't think Greg carries Kimber anymore though).
My opinion, call Dr. Avery- his prices are real good and lists like over 30 Kimbers in every issue of Gunlist- how he does most of his advertising (972) 562-4416, (972) 838-2226, he's a real straight "shooter."
[This message has been edited by JG (edited May 25, 2000).]
I agree with JG.Also try www.SportingArms.com
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"Until that time,Eustus,until that time."-from Soldier In The Rain
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"Until that time,Eustus,until that time."-from Soldier In The Rain
Greetings, I bought a LNIB S&W Model 28 from
Mount Vernon Gun & Coin, in of course Mount
Vernon, Illinois. Mr. Karl Morgan is a very
reputable dealer and a great person to deal
with; and I assure you, he will treat you right. Check out his website; and those prices are not set in stone, as he allows
some flexibility.
Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Mount Vernon Gun & Coin, in of course Mount
Vernon, Illinois. Mr. Karl Morgan is a very
reputable dealer and a great person to deal
with; and I assure you, he will treat you right. Check out his website; and those prices are not set in stone, as he allows
some flexibility.
Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Yep, I bought a handgun from a private owner through gunsamerica.com just three weeks ago. His FFL sent it to my FFL, we used a credit card to "secure" the purchase - my CC is through USAA, which has a "we'll send the SWAT team if we have to" approach to fraud.
No problems. It arrived the next day and I was shooting it that afternoon.
Just take all the normal precautions - obey all laws, don't use cash, and use a dealer on your end that you trust.
Regards,
Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC
No problems. It arrived the next day and I was shooting it that afternoon.
Just take all the normal precautions - obey all laws, don't use cash, and use a dealer on your end that you trust.
Regards,
Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC
I have bought quite a few guns from AuctionArms, GunBroker and GunsAmerica. I've never had a problem. I usually only buy from people who have good feedback and who post a picture or can supply one.
Federal law only requires an ffl holder on the receiving/buyers end of the transaction. FFL to FFL is not a requirement of federal law. Your state's law may be different.
USPS requires that both parties be FFL holders, but that's USPS regs not federal law.
Federal law only requires an ffl holder on the receiving/buyers end of the transaction. FFL to FFL is not a requirement of federal law. Your state's law may be different.
USPS requires that both parties be FFL holders, but that's USPS regs not federal law.
PLASTIC SIG
New member
Im not sure how to link this from its original post, so ill just copy it from the original and paste it here....
I ordered from an online supplier and I wish i wouldnt have. Heres why...
Asking a shop to order something that he has in stock is without question "insulting"
I wouldnt dare do such a thing. But i did.
I wanted a new sig. I went to my local shop (who claims they will match or beat any price)and asked how much. He had the best price locally. $490
I pulled out an advertisment i had and asked him how can these guys be selling it for so cheap($399) He said, "I have no idea, I cant do that"
I asked him if i would be insulting him by asking to do the transfer, he said "not at all" so we did. (FFL transfer fee, $50)
Well, after 3 weeks and about $50 worth of expenses.(had to overnight the FFL 3 times, Driving to the shop etc.)I got my gun. Now lets do the math.
Cheap gun $399
FFL transfer $50
Shipping/gas/phone bills $50
Total $499
Never again will I buy a gun that my local dealers can order for me. I since then have established a great relationship with them and have only dealt with them exclusively.
Support the local mom and pop shops and the little guy. In most cases it costs about the same in the long run. and it feeds the family. Even if it is a bit more expensive, I would rather pay the extra and support a small business other than a mega-store owned by a buncha rich guys in suits who know nothing about guns.
Tim
I ordered from an online supplier and I wish i wouldnt have. Heres why...
Asking a shop to order something that he has in stock is without question "insulting"
I wouldnt dare do such a thing. But i did.
I wanted a new sig. I went to my local shop (who claims they will match or beat any price)and asked how much. He had the best price locally. $490
I pulled out an advertisment i had and asked him how can these guys be selling it for so cheap($399) He said, "I have no idea, I cant do that"
I asked him if i would be insulting him by asking to do the transfer, he said "not at all" so we did. (FFL transfer fee, $50)
Well, after 3 weeks and about $50 worth of expenses.(had to overnight the FFL 3 times, Driving to the shop etc.)I got my gun. Now lets do the math.
Cheap gun $399
FFL transfer $50
Shipping/gas/phone bills $50
Total $499
Never again will I buy a gun that my local dealers can order for me. I since then have established a great relationship with them and have only dealt with them exclusively.
Support the local mom and pop shops and the little guy. In most cases it costs about the same in the long run. and it feeds the family. Even if it is a bit more expensive, I would rather pay the extra and support a small business other than a mega-store owned by a buncha rich guys in suits who know nothing about guns.
Tim
P Sig, I do agree with everything you said...without a doubt. Buying guns out of state and doing a transfer used to be a better option when the shipping costs weren't so high-used to be like $8, now is like minimum $15-$20 up to $30. So by the time your done with the transfer and the shipping now, you could have just bought it at the local shop (even with tax)- so the gun will cost and extra $20-$30 bucks.
Where transfers are still helpful, is obviously rare weapons that you can't get locally, buying an expensive one (like a Les Baer SRP)- who wants to pay tax on $2500, or even $1500 for a Wilson? Buying a $470 Glock out of state probably doesn't pay anymore.
But then again, its still an extra step that many folks just don't want to deal with- which is fine too.
For me, I have tried to stay local with the recent purchases I have made.
Where transfers are still helpful, is obviously rare weapons that you can't get locally, buying an expensive one (like a Les Baer SRP)- who wants to pay tax on $2500, or even $1500 for a Wilson? Buying a $470 Glock out of state probably doesn't pay anymore.
But then again, its still an extra step that many folks just don't want to deal with- which is fine too.
For me, I have tried to stay local with the recent purchases I have made.
Ron Ankeny
New member
I have sold 5 firearms right here on TFL. Not a hitch and everyone was happy.
Someone here on TFL turned me onto a local dealer with a hard chromed P7 for $700 with (4) mags. Its worth $900 with the finish and the mags.
Plus in Washington State you pay a 8.6 percent sales tax = $60.
So at a minimum, if I bought it locally, I'd pay $760.
Well, I paid $15 for a FFL copy and $15 for shipping so I saved $30. Not to mention, that gun would have cost me $900 here but in Ohio, the dealer couldn't sell it.
If you can talk to the gun dealer and have a fellow TFLer check it out for you, then consider buying it.
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The Seattle SharpShooter
Plus in Washington State you pay a 8.6 percent sales tax = $60.
So at a minimum, if I bought it locally, I'd pay $760.
Well, I paid $15 for a FFL copy and $15 for shipping so I saved $30. Not to mention, that gun would have cost me $900 here but in Ohio, the dealer couldn't sell it.
If you can talk to the gun dealer and have a fellow TFLer check it out for you, then consider buying it.
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The Seattle SharpShooter
I can understand wanting to support local dealers, and I usually do. But sometimes their prices are way beyond my pocketbook.
There's a Kimber stocking dealer in New Mexico, Bob I believe is his name. He advertises online at the Gun List (www.krause.com). I've bought a couple of Kimbers from him, no problem, and saved about $150 on one and $200 on a stainless Gold Match over what I would have paid here.
FWIW.
Dick
There's a Kimber stocking dealer in New Mexico, Bob I believe is his name. He advertises online at the Gun List (www.krause.com). I've bought a couple of Kimbers from him, no problem, and saved about $150 on one and $200 on a stainless Gold Match over what I would have paid here.
FWIW.
Dick