Question for those that sell guns

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NorthBorder

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I bought a S&W Shield at Cabela's today and when I gave the salesman my DL and CC permit he said he had to go into the office and do some checks and fill out some paperwork before we got to the 4473. I questioned him about what checks he needed to do and he indicated that they were pre check so there would not be any NICS problems. I told him that NICS checks weren't necessary because I provided my CCW. He said that it was necessary. When he came back out to the counter I pressed him again. He had a paper with my info and the gun info on it. He said he didn't do a NICS
check. I told him that of all the firearms that I have purchased in the past using my CCW, even at Cabela's nobody has ever done any paperwork other than the 4473. He said that they do at Cabela's so that there are no mistakes on the 4473. So what gives? I would have walked away but Cabela's was selling the Shields for $240.
 
It could be some internal (Cabela's) paperwork to make sure nothing is missed. Every company has it's own protocol. It could even be mandated by a specific store manager for CYA and not every Cabela's may do it.
 
Bought a used gun at Cabela's the other day. First time since the Bass Pro takeover. It reminded me of why I never bought anything at Bass Pro - just a bunch of useless hoops to jump through. Fortunately I've dealt with this salesman before and he made it as painless as possible. I think he found it more aggravating than I did - I only encounter these hassles once in a while, he deals with them every day.
 
When I lived in Lewisville, TX I used to go to the Bass Pro in Grand Prairie for their excellent indoor range. Didn't much care that whenever I entered with a gun, they checked it (OK, to ensure it was unloaded) but then proceeded to write down my ID, the make, model, and SN# of the firearm. When I inquired about why that was necessary, they said it was "for their records." Further questioning produced the information that they kept files on all customers who used their range, with every make model and SN# of firearm they brought into the store in a permanent file. Needless to say, I went elsewhere to shoot my other guns. :scrutiny::scrutiny::(
 
That can serve two main purposes IMO - one, that protects you from being accused of stealing one of their guns; secondly, if that gun is used in a crime, they have a record of who last brought it in their location.
 
I've worked in two gun shops, and while both had individual paperwork quirks, neither BS'd the customers with "it's the law" excuses. I have only found that made-up law crap at the big-box stores when buying guns or ammo. I run into the same BS when buying beer at area supermarkets (in PA), when they demand to scan your license and limit your alcohol purchase to 2 six-packs or less. I may look young and beautiful, but at 59, I'm nearing my 3rd run at 21.
 
Nice that they are running their own personal gun registry. Question is, how securely are they protecting your private information they're storing?

How much would a burglar, terrorist, or politician be willing to pay an employee for that info?
 
Sounds kinda sketchy to me but they are making the rules as sellers. I never purchased any firearms from the semi local Cabellas as they were the highest priced GS in the area that I visited. Kinda happy about that about now.;)YMMV
 
I've had a nearly identical situation happen to me at a Cabelas probably close to 10 years ago. I gave them my CCW and DL and then they disappeared to do their "checks" on me for 15 mins. I ended up complaining to store management later when I got home. The manager was friendly but gave me the "it's the company's policies" crap. I said fine but I'll be purchasing firearms elsewhere until the company's policy changes. I haven't purchased a firearm from Cabelas or Bass Pro since.

I would rather pay an extra few $ just to avoid their BS. Most of the time, their prices are higher than the dealers I use anyways.
 
State laws do vary, bit having sold guns in two States I've yet to see any way possible to do any pre check, unless they are checking their own records to see if you've bought from them before.
 
BIg stores have deep pockets. That makes them targets of lawsuits far more often than smaller mom and pop stores. This store
https://adventureoutdoors.us/ In Smyrna GA claims to be the worlds biggest gun store. They sell a LOT of guns. And some of the guns they sold started ending up being recovered at crime scenes in NYC. They were sued by NYC several years ago claiming they weren't doing a good job at preventing straw purchases. Since then you have to go through about 4 layers of paperwork to buy a gun from them. Everything is checked by multiple people to be sure that there are no errors on the paperwork.

Walmart is almost as bad. But that is why, that is also part of the reason their prices can be higher. If someone makes a clerical error in a small gun shop no one is going to come down on them. If someone reverses two numbers on the zip code on a 4473 purchased at Cabelas someone is going to use it in court to try to claim they were negligent in doing their paperwork and try to get money from them if that gun is used in a crime. Even it changed hands multiple times after being purchased at Cabelas.

Getting mad at the stores isn't the solution. They are doing what they have to do in order to avoid liability. The other option is to stop selling guns.
 
The only firearm I bought from Walmart was my 10/22 and it was a farce. Three different employee's and one Manager. A hour later I walked out with it. That will be the only one I buy from them. Never bought from Bass pro. After this post doubt u ever will. Usually it takes 20 min at my LGS 30 min max.
 
It’s impossible to answer the OP’s question without knowing what state he’s in. This could be some new state law, or maybe it’s a long-standing state law but he’s never bought a gun in this state before. Or maybe it’s just some mysterious store policy.
 
Similar deal at GM here. Reams of forms.

Local operation has e-4473 which is slower than paper. You have to keypunch the info, then they print it out for review by the manager.
Now the BATF has found a sheriff who was not running full background checks on CCW, so our permit is no longer adequate for purchase.
 
In Oregon gun purchases for new and used guns were pretty straight forward at Cabela’s.
Then Bass Pro bought them and their rules changed. I would go into a long rant about what changed but it’s just not worth it. It just took longer. The Gun Library was as ruined, you couldn’t get a fair price selling or buying and buying a new gun took twice as long because of new “rules”.

Bass Pro ruined Cabela’s.
 
"Pre-check so there would not be any NICS problems?" I'm a bit skeptical. I'm thinking it was either some kind of state law check or a corporate (CYA) policy.
 
In Oregon gun purchases for new and used guns were pretty straight forward at Cabela’s.
Then Bass Pro bought them and their rules changed. I would go into a long rant about what changed but it’s just not worth it. It just took longer. The Gun Library was as ruined, you couldn’t get a fair price selling or buying and buying a new gun took twice as long because of new “rules”.

Bass Pro ruined Cabela’s.
No, going public like Cabela's did and going Wall Street-focused on only the next 3 months and how much they could squeeze out of every s.f. in those over-priced "lodges" killed Cabela's
 
I live in Montana. And Cabela's here also does the E -4473 which does take longer. I never thought about it before but maybe it just makes it easier to transfer digitally to BATF if there is a need. Their inquiries would be a lot simpler that way.
 
Nice that they are running their own personal gun registry. Question is, how securely are they protecting your private information they're storing?

How much would a burglar, terrorist, or politician be willing to pay an employee for that info?
You know, the interesting thing is that there's a fair number of folks on this forum who are just fine with individuals doing exactly that when they sell a gun privately. I'd be interested to hear what those folks have to say about Cabelas doing it.
 
State laws do vary, bit having sold guns in two States I've yet to see any way possible to do any pre check, unless they are checking their own records to see if you've bought from them before.
You can do a background check on somebody that theoretically shows their criminal record but isn't run through NICS.
 
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