Full electronic 4473 didn't go so well.

[davethedog]

So i bought a Ruger EC9s today. The whole purchase process was filled out on a tablet at Academy Sports. I used my concealed permit for the background check. It was not a smooth process. I had to fill out the electronic form twice because the first time it deleted itself. It took three sales guys to figure it out. It took forever for my permit to be recognized because it set off an "alert" in the system. It took the same three guys to fix it. Somehow i think the paper form was better. Is this system being used everywhere now?

 

[gobsauce]

I've never had a problem with it. It seems more like the issue was the people at the counter had little to no clue on how to use it.

 

[Reloadron]

Never had a problem with it for several buys at Cabela's.

Ron

 

[Resist Evil]

I did it electronically twice here in Nevada with no difficulty and once or twice in Calirado. I have never liked filling out forms by hand and I like the electronic approach. It's unfortunate you had a hassle.

 

[jmr40]

Nothing wrong with electonic 4473's. You had issues with operator error. I've used it a few times and it works OK. I can still do my part faster on paper. I've pretty much memorized the questions and just check them off without reading anymore.

 

[Mars5l]

I can do the paper ones quicker but my handwriting is hard to read. Plus if you make a mistake on the electronic it's easy to correct. But the only places I've been that do it are Rural King and Wal-Mart

 

[chamokaneman]

They use tablets at Sportsman's Warehouse. Usually pretty easy; however, we no longer can use our CPL in WA state instead of a background check so not sure how that may or may not figure into the process.

 

[CapnMac]

Is this system being used everywhere now?

No, my LGS is still on paper.
The big box stores seem to have embraced electronic more. But, they are also more likely to have less-skilled employees, too. (Among the many reasons I do not give my business to the bb's; don't really bother going in anymore, for that matter--but, that's me, others differ.)

 

[wiscoaster]

Of the three firearms retailers here in my local area that use electronic 4473's, they're all different, so I think the problem with a particular store's electronic 4473 has more to do with that retailer's software implementation of the process. Though I do prefer the paper 4473 - I can whiz through that pretty much with my eyes closed. I suspect eventually all licensees will be required to do their 4473's and their bound books electronically to make it easier for the BATF to audit them.

 

[Axis II]

Only issue I had was dealing with Dicks sporting goods. I purchased a rifle had an issue with the gun, so they swapped it. I was then told about a week later I had to come back because the computer didn't pick up the E in Lake for the city of birth. The store manager demanded I return to the store 30min away to complete another form. I am not a fan of the electronic version.

 

[22250Rem]

Did a paper one at LGS a few weeks ago, but have done the electronic version a couple years ago on a 4473 at a Runnings Home Farm & Outdoor Center. The electronic one took twice as long as doing one on paper with a normal pen. But at least I didn't have to do it twice like some folks have had to do. Paper version is much more convenient along with the less time required. Given a choice I would take the paper form every time.

 

[GAF]

I like the electronic form better. A couple of minutes and done.

If a thing can go wrong it will.

 

[MedWheeler]

I was born on Okinawa. On the electronic form, if "Okinawa" is offered as an option for place of birth and I select it, it turns up some sort of error. That goes away if I then change it to "Japan." On some of the electronic versions I've used, it wasn't offered, so I selected "Japan." That always sails right through. I don't even look for "Okinawa" anymore.

Prior to electronic forms, I always filled in "Okinawa (Japan)". Never had an issue.

 

[JDeere]

Well it was Academy so that may be the problem. I love Academy and I buy a lot of stuff at our local store. The problem is that an employee will have no clue what they are doing or what they are talking about. I had an issue once with an employee and had to take it to corporate. They were very responsive and I ended being friends with the manager of our local store.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Only problem I had was the owner filled out the form from my driver license but I'm a 3rd usually III the license had 3rd caused an issue till he saw the paper form, he had to redo the electronic form got a free box of ammo for my long wait.

 

[starnbar]

I don't know still prefer the paper my high school age grandson brags about some of the guys in his computer class can hack just about anything. Yeah I know they can take the paper copy too but if someone is spending lots of money for electronic hacking tools they are certainly using it for more nefarious things.

 

[BigBL87]

Only done an electronic one once, that was at Rural King. No significant issues. I legally only have a middle initial (my ss card only lists my initial not my full middle name) so I ended up having to explain to the employee why there was -IO after my middle initial (the form tells you to put that if you only have a middle initial). He was appreciative of learning something new, haha.

 

[jmorris]

Computers are basically just a bunch of switches that are on or off. If the programmer doesn’t have them right or user doesn’t “flip” them right, the desired result will elude you.

These three individuals who may or may not been awake while being given instructions on the software would not be involved in you filling out paper. Nor would the software programmers.

Under ideal circumstances the work would be faster and easier but under less ideal circumstances it’s obviously slower.

Not to mention the data wouldn’t as easily be gathered and collected for future use as a bunch of hand written pieces of paper.

 

[Jim Watson]

The gun I bought at DU had not only e-4473, it had a lot of store e-documentation, too. I don't know which dossier that went in. Very tedious.

The range/store where I have bought two guns and transferred in a mail-order does e-4473 and then prints it out to be scrutinized by a manager. Phew.

 

[doubleh]

One of the shops in town uses electronic. Due to my shaky hands and the keyboard and mouse being in a rather uncomfortable place for me I get the clerk to do the form while I answer the questions. It's fast and easy. The other shop is still paper and it takes me about four times as long to get the paper form filled out.

 

[GBExpat]

Sorry to hear of the problems that you experienced.

I have used the online 4473 systems at least a dozen times over the past 5 years at both Cabela's and RKGuns with zero issues.

 

[Cayle]

We will probably go to them here in the future. Our population is mostly retired people so going to the technology is 50/50. Most can't read the paper 4473s and the other half are technophobes. We'll see how it goes.

 

[bannockburn]

Have done it electronically twice and it seemed to take longer to do it that way than my filling out the paper form.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I used the tablet at Dunhams and a laptop at Cabelas. And desk top at Walmart. Both worked well. I like it better than the paper ones.

 

[Rule3]

And of course that E 4473 is not being stored in some other data base they claim doesn't exist.