Central Florida FFLs telling me I MUST use them to ship handgun

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So I sold a handgun for the first time on Gunbroker. According to Gunbroker's "Help" section, it says an unlicensed seller like myself can ship the gun directly to an FFL using UPS or FedEx overnight.

I called my local dealer (Tactical Defense Weaponry in Clermont, FL) and he said Gunbroker is wrong, I must bring the handgun to him and pay the $30 FFL fee plus shipping. I told him I read online that if I do pay him the FFL fee, he may be able to ship the pistol via USPS Priority. He said that is also wrong, that he has to ship overnight.

I then drove to Gun & Pawn in Clermont. They said the exact same thing... it would be illegal for me to ship the gun to an FFL myself, that I MUST bring it to them and have them ship it for me via overnight and pay a $25 FFL fee. I told them I was very surprised because everything I read online tells me that I can ship a handgun directly to an FFL myself... both of the guys looked at me like I was crazy.

I then called Shoot Straight in Apopka, FL, one of state's largest dealers. They told me the exact same thing except they charge a $40 FFL. I then called another Shoot Straight location in Tampa, FL and the same story there.

My final call was to East Orange Shooting Sports in Orlando. The gentleman on the phone said I was right.

Why would 4 FFL's in a row misguide me about shipping a handgun? Even when I told them that everything I've read online spells out that I do not need them, they acted like I was the ignorant one.

Do you think they are doing this because they want to make some $$$ on the FFL fee or do you think they are just ignorant of the law?
 
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Federal law allows a person without a license to ship a handgun to an FFL.

Check Florida state law. I bet the state Dept. of Justice has a web site with gun laws. I am not personally aware of any state with such a requirement but it's a possibility. I doubt it and think the FFLs are hosing you either out of ignorance or greed but make sure state law isn't in effect with this matter.
 
Some FFL's won't accept a gun shipped to them not via another FFL. Maybe it's their policy or they are assuming the policy is also law.
 
You are legal to do so unless Florida explicitly forbids it. - you need to check on that one.

BUT... Make sure the RECEIVING ffl will accept the shipment from a NON FFL. He doesn't have to. A lot of FFLs will NOT as a business practice.

And that WILL mess up the deal!
 
Already checked the receiving FFL... they have no problem with it. They just asked me to include a copy of my driver license and write their customer's name and phone number on the outside of the shipment.

I can't find any information that Florida doesn't allow an unlicensed individual to ship a gun to an FFL.

I would understand if the stores told me it was a policy... but all 4 of them specifically told me I would be breaking the law if I ship the gun myself. Oh well, no sweat off my back, I just thought FFL holders/gun store retailers would know the law better than a first-time seller like myself.
 
They're lying to you because they want your money. Btw, best FFL for transfers in central florida is Cover All. $25 for the first transfer, $15 for each subsequent transfer, and they're real nice guys.
 
every body here is correct....the problem with an non ffl shipping, is that you are at the mercy of overnight fedex...i am a lucky one, my ffl out fee is $10 plus $15 priority mail...this way i have a paper trail, and it comes out cheaper than fedex....look on gun broker, they have listings for ffl's...that's how i found mine...gpr
 
This is just a case of FFL's teaming up to make money. They can't compete with internet prices so they all agree to set rules to help each other out. Similar to the oil companies and so on. Just keep looking for an FFL that doesn't go with this nonsense. Let the others fail.

On a side note you can call the ATF yourself and ask any questions you might have. I have done this several times while verifying the FFL license number of the person I am shipping a gun to.
 
The dealers are wrong, simply put. Who did you talk to at Shoot Straight in Apopka? I would be very surprised if it was the store manager Larry (or Brad) that told you that. Most of the rest of them, I'm not surprised.
 
The 4 that lied to you, never do business with them ever again. (not one penny's worth)
The one that told you the truth is your new gun dealer. (IMO of course)
 
You are legal to do so unless Florida explicitly forbids it. - you need to check on that one.
Click to expand...

They do not. I have shipped (and received) many handguns to FFLs. The FEDEX guy usually asks what type/caliber it is.
 
CraigC said:
The dealers are wrong, simply put. Who did you talk to at Shoot Straight in Apopka? I would be very surprised if it was the store manager Larry (or Brad) that told you that. Most of the rest of them, I'm not surprised.
Click to expand...
Craig, I didn't catch the name... I just asked the first person who answered the phone.

Thanks for all of your replies. I guess I could stand my ground and tell them to do some research but I'm not sure that will accomplish anything.
 
I would not assume that they lied. There is A LOT of ignorance at gunshops, even very large and reputable ones. I had the toughest time at Peterson's in Mt. Dora, FL in explaining to them about doing transfers. Wasn't worth the effort. Similarly, I've had to explain policies to dealers in my area of TN. One that didn't know that guns made before 1898 did not have to go through a dealer. After he told someone that ordered an 1895 Mauser from a catalog that he had committed a felony. Had another conversation with him about UPS and FedEx shipping regulations. He did not know that handguns had to go overnight, or that you could not ship from a UPS or Mailbox store. Another dealer, just last week, thought I could take a handgun to the Post Office and mail it. Didn't know why I was asking him to do it. These aren't lackeys but store owners. Larry is the sharpest gunshop employee I've ever dealt with. 99% of the time he knows his stuff. Which is good, because he's been at it for probably 30yrs.
 
Shipping it yourself might be preferred, but sometimes a business will get a significant discount on shipping rates. You might find that going thru a dealer is cheaper than shipping. I know the local shipping stores where I live absolutely rob you to ship anything, and getting to a FedEx outpost costs time and gasoline.

It still is ridiculous for a dealer to charge you a transfer fee on your end - again, a reasonable handling fee to do the paper, but not a full transfer fee. Good luck!
 
Many FFL's have not read the rules in years. And they change.

It mostly depends on the receiving FFL. If he will accept a handgun from a non FFL.

I know FFL's who don't want to deal with guns shipped by the general public. Too much risk that the thing could be stolen and it lands on their books. Plus the general public is even more ignorant than FFL dealers.

I know one dealer accepted an order for a AR-15 lower purchased on a web auction site. He sent his FFL to the seller, who sent the lower not to the licensed FFL premise, but to the home address of the auction winner. The seller, who turned out not to have an FFL, claimed he did not know that a lower was considered a firearm. (But he wanted an FFL for the purchase!!) The purchaser did the right thing by bringing the lower in to the dealer and filled out the 4473's.

But one bad experience was enough for that FFL and he won't accept firearms from non FFL's on web auction sites.
 
SlamFire1 said:
I know FFL's who don't want to deal with guns shipped by the general public. Too much risk that the thing could be stolen and it lands on their books.
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This is an invalid reason.

The dealer has no risk on a transfer of this type.
 
Just another case of uninformed FFLs trying to gouge a local customer because they have not adapted to the current marketplace.

There is a difference between telling someone I will not do this because of my companies policy and telling them it is illegal. Too many FFLs have their heads in the sand when it comes to the modern marketplace. These guys oddly enough are often the ones complaining the most about the business they are losing to internet dealers and places like GB and the classifieds here.
 
The dealers aren't wrong. They LIED.
The problem is not a legal one.
Fedex and UPS are getting very ****y about a private individual shipping directly to an FFL.A lot of service hubs won't accept a gun for shipment even if you're standing there with their own rules in your hand saying you can do it.

An FFL shipping to another FFL can ship via us mail and NOT use overnight.

Good luck

AFS
 
Fedex and UPS are getting very ****y about a private individual shipping directly to an FFL.A lot of service hubs won't accept a gun for shipment even if you're standing there with their own rules in your hand saying you can do it.
Click to expand...

That is when you call the 800 # ask for a supervisor and make them honor their own policy. I had to do it once at Fed Ex in VA with a prepaid label from S&W.
 
They are wrong-----buttttt

I was told by my local gun dealer that I could ship a gun to an FFL.

I shipped a hangdun out of state using FED-X to a dealer. FED-X contacted me to tell me that the gun was refused by the out of state dealer.

I went back to my gun dealer and they said they did not understand why it had been returned. Well, the gun dealer in Virginia has a STORE POLICY of not accepting guns sent my NON-FFL's.

Lesson, call the receiving gun dealer first and my policy now is to not deal with anyone who will not receive from a non-ffl.

Some states may also have restrictions. So the best advice is to call ahead of time and see who will do what.

Jim
 
Now, I will ship through an FFL, as he charges only charges $10+USPS priority....
and that is cheaper than driving to the airport and dealing with UPS or FEDEX
 
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