Would It Bother You If...

A gun sent to us for transfer isn't our gun. Therefore, it's not ours to hand around or play with unless we've been given permission.

Now, we do have to open the box and check the gun to verify serial numbers and make sure the weapon is clear, and you should hear some of the flack I've gotten for that...
 
The more I think about the LGS handling my gun to confirm serial number, the sillier it sounds to me. Especially with Tom's comment that they must do it. I'll withdraw any objection to that.
 
We're a "Ma and Pa" shop that mostly does refinishing/restorations on customers firearms. We don't stock firearms for sale. However, we do transfers for a few people. I had one guy get all upset with me because I opened the box before he got to the shop. The thing was, it took him a week to come pick it up once I told him that it had arrived. Now understand: The firearm was paid for and there was room in the safe to store it. There were no issues with storing it for him.

The only issue is that I have to log it into my Bound Book by the close of business that day. To do that properly, means that I have to verify the serial number and other info from the firearm itself, not just from the side of the box. I will never handle a firearm without clearing it so yes, I opened the action on this one.

On the other hand, I have had people rush over as soon as I call them to tell them that it's arrived. If they're coming over that day, I let them open the box. It doesn't matter to me who's "first". I just need to get it all logged in that day.

As far as shop employee's "playing" with a customers firearm or letting other people handle it without the owners permission: NOPE! AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN! First, it's disrespectful to the owner whether he knows about it or not, regardless of whether it's something special or not. Second, what if he/she damages it? Who's going to pay for it? Me! You can look but don't touch.

An interesting and factual story about playing with other peoples firearms: Per the prosecutor handling the case: A small gun shop get's a Class 3 select fire weapon in for refinishing. He takes the weapon, a case of ammo, several freinds and a few cases of beer out to the desert. Somebody calls the cops about World War 3 happening behind their home. The cops show up, arrest everybody and take all of the firearms. It takes a long time for the true owner to get his Class 3 weapon back. Keep yer powder dry, Mac.
Tuff-Gun Finishes. The Name Says It All.
Mac's Shootin' Irons
http://www.shootiniron.com
 
I had one guy get all upset with me because I opened the box before he got to the shop.
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I wouldn't have a problem with that, and in fact, it would surprise me to find that the box hadn't been opened before I arrived. That's significantly different from "letting other people" handle the gun.
 
What ever the shop employees need to do to stay legal is of course OK, but to let others fondle "my" new gun....... No Way is that acceptable to me.
 
How about if you won an AC Cobra at auction and had it shipped to a local car dealer who also won a car in that auction. What kind of a stink would you make if you found the dealer and his buddies trying out your car???
 
i believe its illegal? for a dealer to allow anyone other then atfe or the purchaser to touch a transfered gun. to let anyone else is violateing ethics.
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I don't know of any such law. As has been mentioned, it's incumbent upon the FFL to open the package and verify the make, model, and serial number of the gun.
 
A LGS allowed other people to handle a gun you had transferred to their shop before you picked it up? Regardless of any precautions taken, would you consider this professional behavior?
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I'm ok with the Owner of my LGS (and only the Owner) handling the gun even if I'm not there, but no, I wouldn't want the owner to permit others to handle it. The reason I make an exception for the Owner is because I like the Owner, I let him handle what I transfer through him anyway, I don't buy NIB guns - so racking the slide isn't going to hurt anything, and he knows how to handle a gun ever bit as well as I do.
 
It would be like a car dealer letting somebody test drive your new car after you paid for it but before you finished signing all of the paperwork. What if they drive into a light pole?

If it was a used gun, how would you ever know that the scratch on the slide was there before the stranger handled it? How would the shop owner feel if he got sued over a gun damaged while waiting to be transferred?
 
Yes it would bug the hell out of me.
When I put my money down (ALWAYS the minimum deposite) and start the 1 or 3 day waiting period, I am required to sign off on the condition of the gun and that I accept it. That is how my favorite LGS works. They take the gun off the floor and it is not put out for public touchies anymore.

Given that had I found out they were using my gun as a "display" gun until I picked it up I would be bugged, it can get dinged up, dropped, etc etc.
 
I bought an unfired and unturned Colt Frontier Scout that was collector grade (NIB etc.) and I just about had a fit when the young lady at the cash register started to work the hammer and cylinder..... STOP.... but what if its loaded?..... I don't care. Don't move that cylinder......

For me it depends on the gun and it depends on "who" is doing the fondling. If a gun shop shows me a collector type gun that is "sold", I literally do not move the action or put my finger on the trigger. It can't fire if I don't pull the trigger regardless of whether it is loaded or unloaded.
 
It would bother me, but then again I also agree with post 8. I could see cases where I would not object, if they asked.
 
but what if its loaded?..... I don't care. Don't move that cylinder.
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In all fairness, if you need special handling precautions like that (and they're not unheard of), you need to let all involved parties know before having the gun shipped.
 
There's a huge difference between the guns owned by the store which are waiting to be sold and a firearm which I have purchased (and therefore already own) and have had delivered to an LGS so that they can handle the official transfer.
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This

After a quick inspection to see its the correct firearm and it is safe for storage, don't touch it.
 
In all fairness, if you need special handling precautions like that (and they're not unheard of), you need to let all involved parties know before having the gun shipped.
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I agree with this. With a single action, you don't need to flip open the cylinder to check serial number and so forth to log it in.

If the young lady had put a mark on that gun, I would have walked out the door because I was already paying a premium for it (or they could have dropped the price $200 which they would never do). It was no $500 Colt.

My rule of thumb is to handle any collector grade gun like it is a treasure. If a shop had white cotton gloves to put on, I'd do it. The problem is that many do not understand or believe that a gun is worth anything unless it is shot (it's purpose). There is no working the action or playing with it. Some would say this is ridiculous, but the gun is being purchased/transferred and most likely will never be fired. That little single action was a first year production with the original sales receipt included. That might not mean much to many, but it meant a lot to me at the time.

The point is that I treat other people's property very carefully and respectfully. I don't own it until I own it. Once I own it, if I choose to throw it in the trash, it's my property and I can do what I want with it.
 
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I would agree as to collector grade guns in 95% or better condition. But if it's a used STI LS40 (for example), I'm not going to worry too much about my FFL checking it out for himself. Still, passing it around the shop or letting customers handle it is a no-no. And, if it is a collector grade gun (like the 1960 Python I purchased), I let him know and he won't even open the package until I'm in the shop.
 
I paid for it so for someone else to handle my firearm that is not a LGS employee that I did not give permission to then yes it would bother me.

If I saw damaged I'd raise hell. If I saw them just handling it I would ask the employee to ask my permission before showing off my weapon to try and make a sell.
 
Yep, That don't fly with me. I am too picky and don't want anyone else handling my firearms, much less a customer at the store that I had it transferred to. It should not be touched unless inspected by the customer and store owner. I had a gun store owner order a AR for me (a couple of years ago). I get there to pick it up and he and one of his friends are shooting it.. I carried on some small talk, they loaded a magazine and handed it to me an said "you want to shoot it?",I shook my head no. The owner said "we need to go do some business" I nodded and we went into the shop. When he started wiping the rifle down and said here ya go see what you think of it. It told him, I bought a new rifle not that one. He even tried to explain that all of them are shot at he factory and they are all "used". I got my deposit back and never went back. I know some will think I is overboard but, I am way too OCD for this type stuff.

This was the first Hk MR556 I was supposed to buy... So it was almost $2600 at that time. They were new to the market and I guess they wanted to shoot it...
 
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I feel like I'm invading someones privacy by looking at the serial number, but it's something that has to be done. Even new guns can arrive with small damage. It's great when the customer is there to open the package the same day. Then if there is damage, you can both testify that the gun arrived in that condition and report it to the seller. It's also nice to do transfers for people that you know and who trust you.
 
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