Smoke
Member
I have been buying firearms over the internet off and on for about 4 years. With each passing year it seems to be increasingly difficult to the point I think I'm going to have to quit looking.
First road block was 2 years ago, only local gun shop (pop. 3500) raised rates from $20.00 for a transfer to $85.
So I go to major metropolitan area with more gunshops. Its a 45 minute one way drive but I can save over $50.00 on the transfer fee. (Some gunshops there also have unreasonable rates for transfers)
Now only remaining gunshop within an hours drive informs me that they thought the shipper was an FFL holder (he wasn't) and he must fax his drivers license to them so they can "book" the gun in. This is new to me. This dealer has received 2 other guns shipped in from individuals for me and never said a thing.
I called another gunshop in town to check with them again and they said their fee is $100 and they will not accept firearms from individuals.
I have seen threads on this from others that report $20 fees and no problems. Why is this local such a pain in the butt?
Here is the reasoning I got from the stores I checked with:
Store 1 (local): ATF requires forms to be kept for 20 years. "We must recoup our costs of storage and maintenance. " In talking with the manager on the side; he commented that the store had just gone through an ATF audit and that "pressure" was being put on them to stop internet sales.
Store 2 (Metro): Gave same story as Store 1. ALso sited that it was against store policy to accept guns shipped from individuals. No explanation for the policy was offered.
Store 3(Metro) Gave me a story last time that ATF was going to require sales tax be collected on any firearm sent in from a dealer. This has not materialized but stated that ATF thought guns from dealers were "Dealer to Dealer" transfers and so tax must be collected. Now they are balking at guns from individuals also.
Anybody have any suggestions of a honest gundealer that wouldn't mind pushing the paper for me at a reasonable fee in this area? Has anyone else incountered any problems of this nature?
The hassle + the shipping + exorbitant fees = no deals on the internet.
First road block was 2 years ago, only local gun shop (pop. 3500) raised rates from $20.00 for a transfer to $85.
So I go to major metropolitan area with more gunshops. Its a 45 minute one way drive but I can save over $50.00 on the transfer fee. (Some gunshops there also have unreasonable rates for transfers)
Now only remaining gunshop within an hours drive informs me that they thought the shipper was an FFL holder (he wasn't) and he must fax his drivers license to them so they can "book" the gun in. This is new to me. This dealer has received 2 other guns shipped in from individuals for me and never said a thing.
I called another gunshop in town to check with them again and they said their fee is $100 and they will not accept firearms from individuals.
I have seen threads on this from others that report $20 fees and no problems. Why is this local such a pain in the butt?
Here is the reasoning I got from the stores I checked with:
Store 1 (local): ATF requires forms to be kept for 20 years. "We must recoup our costs of storage and maintenance. " In talking with the manager on the side; he commented that the store had just gone through an ATF audit and that "pressure" was being put on them to stop internet sales.
Store 2 (Metro): Gave same story as Store 1. ALso sited that it was against store policy to accept guns shipped from individuals. No explanation for the policy was offered.
Store 3(Metro) Gave me a story last time that ATF was going to require sales tax be collected on any firearm sent in from a dealer. This has not materialized but stated that ATF thought guns from dealers were "Dealer to Dealer" transfers and so tax must be collected. Now they are balking at guns from individuals also.
Anybody have any suggestions of a honest gundealer that wouldn't mind pushing the paper for me at a reasonable fee in this area? Has anyone else incountered any problems of this nature?
The hassle + the shipping + exorbitant fees = no deals on the internet.