Have FFL transfers gone up?
- Thread starter 5RWill
- Start date
kilimanjaro
New member
$25 here, then add sales tax and perhaps multiple-gun transfer form for the state.
25 to 35 is common around here with some obvious outliers who can be 75 or a percentage of the gun etc. at least those were the outliers a few years back.
Remember to check pawn stores many have FFL s and typically do a xfer I expensively. But around here like I said common prices hover around 25 to 35 which I think is perfectly fair. Remember these guys have to hang on to this paperwork for damn ever basically.
Remember to check pawn stores many have FFL s and typically do a xfer I expensively. But around here like I said common prices hover around 25 to 35 which I think is perfectly fair. Remember these guys have to hang on to this paperwork for damn ever basically.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Purposely taking action to circumvent this reporting requirement is maybe a grey area.
I had to do it once. The FFL performing the transfer told me he has to deliver the report a couple times a week and the local police department hates it almost as much as he does and seems to pay no attention to them whatsoever. I considered picking up one later, but it really didn't seem worth the hassle.
I feel the same way it would be a hassle to have to send it somewhere else or drive there twice. I've read it's no big deal i just personally feel they don't need to know. I'd even go so far as to say they have no business knowing, but that's for another discussion. Though i don't really guess it matters. I have a suppressor so they know about me regardless.
Going to ask him what he thinks on the form and multiple purchases. Probably will bite the bullet.
Going to ask him what he thinks on the form and multiple purchases. Probably will bite the bullet.
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There are two concerns for this.
The first is that the dealer isn't a storage unit. He needs to get the paperwork filled out and the gun disposed of in a timely and efficient manner. Staggering out transfers over multiple days and forms doesn't make sense.
The second is that he wouldn't want to appear complicit in an attempt to skirt the multiple handgun reporting requirement.
People do pull stuff like that with transfers on a regular basis, and it's one of the reasons dealers charge what they do.
kilimanjaro
New member
Picking up your gun purchases one at a time to avoid the reporting is like structuring bank deposits to avoid reports to the IRS, both practices are illegal.
You're a law-abiding citizen, let the state waste their time for nothing instead of chasing criminals. They'll gladly chase you if you give them a reason.
You're a law-abiding citizen, let the state waste their time for nothing instead of chasing criminals. They'll gladly chase you if you give them a reason.
I have to ask Tom how much time is involved with the average transfer of a firearm for the dealer.
Is the NICS background check free to the dealer? Here in FLA the dealer went on line and had the answer in a mater of minutes. Is there a charge for doing the check on line?
I ask the questions because $50 seems a bit of a gouge to the buyer.
IF the transaction goes as it should, it's about 30-45 minutes. For every one that does, there are three that don't.
Here's the all-too-common process. Customer tells me he bought a gun online. He needs me to send a copy of our FFL to the sender so it can be shipped.
Of course, the sender is some guy who only answers his phone between 6:00AM and 6:25AM every other Thursday. Even then, he has trouble using his fax machine (gun dealers are terrible about not having email). Once we've done our part, the wait begins.
The customer calls every day. Or perhaps he follows the UPS truck to the shop. Where's his gun? Why hasn't the other dealer shipped it yet? I don't know. Well, can I call the other dealer and chew him out? No. I have other things to do.
Eventually, the gun arrives. Only problem is, the other dealer didn't include a copy of his FFL. Or worse, it was a private seller who didn't provide any documentation. Yay. I can't even log it into the books.
IF the sender had the presence of mind to include ANY documentation, I might be able to contact him. Or the recipient. Usually, that's not the case, so I'm stuck with a mystery gun.
Eventually, the buyer comes in. I have to explain that I can't log the gun in until I've got some documentation from the sender. No, I would have already called if I had the sender's number. No, I can't release the gun until I can get it properly logged in.
Can I make an exception? You mean, to the law? No. Oh, so now I'm the bad guy, and the customer's writing a nasty Yelp review.
Finally, after several hours of hair-pulling, I get the information I need. Let's start the 4473. Oh, the customer doesn't have ID with his current address. It's not my fault. I didn't write the GCA. Here's the address for the nearest DMV office.
Then the customer decides to do the white-glove test on the gun. So, the seller said it was 95% on the Gunbroker listing, but the customer thinks it's only 94.3%. Sweet zombie Nixon! No, I'm not going to write a statement to that effect on company letterhead. It's between the customer and the seller. We're just transferring ownership.
Again, I'm the jerk.
So, after all that (and assuming the buyer doesn't get delayed) we collect a measly $20. Yipee. Now my kids can go to college.
And on top of all the things that can go wrong and take up more time, people forget that they are paying for the person and the facility for that amount of time.
I recently had a big run-in with a client who complained vigorously that we charged more for providing a certain service than we charged them for providing the materials for them to do it at home. They just never got it that people and facilities cost something. They wound up taking their problems elsewhere, and we were not particularly sorry to see them go.
I relate all that only to empathize; some people just don't have a realistic view of what it takes to run a business.
Tom,
I appreciate the viewpoint. I know people talk about the hassle a lot....
My dealer logs it in his book while I fill out the 4473. He always beats me.
Then he finishes the 4473 and calls. He files it right after while I walk out with a gun.
Probably 15-30 min. 10+ is conversation about the weather, catching up and maybe some other chat.
Maybe he's efficient, but I don't think so.
I appreciate the viewpoint. I know people talk about the hassle a lot....
My dealer logs it in his book while I fill out the 4473. He always beats me.
Then he finishes the 4473 and calls. He files it right after while I walk out with a gun.
Probably 15-30 min. 10+ is conversation about the weather, catching up and maybe some other chat.
Maybe he's efficient, but I don't think so.
9x18_Walther
New member
Tom, thanks for such a detailed post.
When I purchase a firearm online, I like to use a FFL which the seller already has on file (I have four or five I use regularly in my area). This way I minimize the disruption to the FFL holder.
Afterwards, with a CCW permit in my state my FFL transfers take about ten minutes.
It's a shame that buyers and sellers have to slow this process down. I've never taken longer than ten minutes doing a transfer. Thanks for letting me know why some places don't like transfers.