Increase in transfer fees!?

G

GunXpatriot

New member
After I moved upstate NY, I was surprised how much higher transfer fees were, than at the two LGS' I had frequented in Long Island.

Costs went from about $20 for a transfer, to about $30 here. One place even charged 50. I figured that the lack of volume here, would make it understandable to have higher fees. I think all places charge more for transfer of a handgun, but I'm talking strictly long guns.

But in the last couple weeks, something's happened. I still get a newsletter from the Long Island shop. Last week, they raised transfer fees to $50 per gun!

But get this. Yesterday, I received an email from a current LGS and they raised their price to $50 as well!

Did something happen recently that I missed? I thought the gun industry was still in full swing. So in that sense, I guess it's capitalizing on the current situation. But why not last year, then?

Also... From an FFL's perspective... What is the process? Does it cost them money to put in a NICS check? I believe it did, but I'm not sure. Has that price for FFL's went up?

This is really puzzling me, I have to admit!
 
The gun industry is in full swing, but not nearly as full as last year. Every FFL I've spoken with for the past several months has said things are very slow.

And the NY SAFE Act may have imposed some additional burdens on transfers -- I don't know the details of that law, so I'm just guessing.
 
Guess you have to play, their game ???

This is really puzzling me, I have to admit!
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You are not alone. Some dealers are charging more for handguns than long-guns. Currently I have a new local FFL, that is charging $15.00 for all and another that is 45-miutes away, that charges $10.00 for all. When I asked him, why so cheap, he replied; "It's just paper-work". ..... :confused:

Be Safe !!!
 
If you live anywhere near Rochester, let me know and I'll send you info on several dealers that charge a reasonable fee for transfers.
 
It could be due to any number of factors. I'm not current on all the new regulations that have passed in New York in the last couple of years, but I can imagine they're hurting dealers to some extent. Raising transfer fees might be a way of helping with that burden.

It could also be that dealers are seeing more of their business lost to online dealers.
 
Transfers out here in Washington state are generally $25, maybe $40 some places. I can see, however, a $50 fee as being reasonable.

Face time for customer and FFL is about 15 minutes, including the phone check. Handguns or multiple guns require additional state reports in addition to the 4473, and once you leave with your gun the FFL still has to log it and file the forms, and if state reports were needed, prep them for mailing.

So he's probably got a good 30 minutes minimum in a transfer, maybe more if you all talk about the Seahawks game, so it seems reasonable enough, especially for a Gunbroker purchase or something that the FFL will make no profit on at all, just the transfer fee.

Here we get to pay state sales tax on any used gun transferred in the state, so buy something on Gunbroker from Georgia, you get to pay sales tax on it in Washington.
 
I still charge 20.00 for general public and 10.00 for LEO and Military retired or active. I don't charge for my dept. Lee county sheriffs office. It really isn't that much work or paperwork.
 
A lot of stuff I haven't really thought of, good stuff guys!

And Mike, thanks for the info, but I'm 3.5+ hours from Rochester. I'm all the way over in Greene County! Much appreciated, though!
 
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