FFL return fees

[haretrigger]

Hi all,

I'm new to CA FFL transfers and I have a question about FFL return fees. I purchased a firearm from an internet store. I paid for insurance from the store to cover shipping damage. I had it transferred to a CA FFL and it arrived damaged. Should I expect to have to pay the CA FFL a fee to have it returned to the online store and then another fee to to receive the firearm? The FFL didn't have this policy posted in their web site, they didn't mention it when I contacted them to ask if they would receive the firearm and it wasn't posted in their store. I was only informed after I discovered the damage that my only options were to accept the damaged firearm and pay the standard fee, or return it for an additional fee and pay the standard fee once an undamaged firearm is delivered.

I feel that since I paid insurance and the FFL only informed me of this after the fact that either the FFL should forgo the fee or the seller should pay for it because the shipment is insured. Is this a standard policy?

Thanks!

[CSACANNONEER]

Whoever sent you the damaged merchandise should pay any extra costs.

[haretrigger]

I agree. But that doesn't answer the question as to whether or not this sort of return fee is standard for CA FFLs. If this is not a standard fee then the seller will probably refuse to cover it.

[Ducman]

I wouldn't call it a standard policy as CA FFL's are independently owned one's store policy wouldn't be the same as the other store, this isn't communism, this is a free market.
It may not be the norm but we are at their mercy.

[for2nato]

there is no standard fee. except ftf pp transfers. any out of state transfer the ffl can and will charge whatever they want. this is one of the issues with buying online/out of state. you just saw the bad end this time. the seller can refuse to pay the difference and the ffl can charge you what they want. you need to be very up front with the ffl ahead of time as to all the possibilities. that way there are no surprises. sorry to here your gonna get dinged. i hate when it happens to me. so im uber careful with the details now.

[Rover]

Do not accept the gun, you don't need to pay a transfer fee until the gun is transfered to you, no transfer, no fee. Contact the seller and make them pay for the return shipping of the damaged item and shipping on the replacement item, or make them pay the cost to repair the item locally before you DROS it.

The company you bought it from should issue a call-tag and send it to either you or the FFL and slap it on the box, all your FFL has to do is hand it to the UPS/USPS/Fed-Ex/Donkey and they take it back to your online seller.

[haretrigger]

Hi Rover,

I didn't accept the transfer and I contacted the seller. When I told them the FFL is charging me a return fee the seller questioned this and said that was between me and the FFL.

On the one hand I think the insurance should cover the fee and on the other hand the FFL should have been up front on their return policy before agreeing to receive the out of state shipment.

The seller has agreed to pay for the return shipping. The FFL says that their return fee is for "handling", "storage" and the paperwork involved in the transaction (logging in and out the firearm).

[dachan]

Just how much is this "return fee"? While it is impossible to forecast every possible scenario and have a fee structure in place, it does sound like the FFL is trying to nickel and dime you out of some change; but at some point you've got to wonder how much happier your own life would be if you stopped sweating the small stuff. Maybe you should just pay the fee, have it sent to another FFL if you're so upset with this one, get the gun into your hands and start enjoying it.

[haretrigger]

The return fee is $40. I agree that one shouldn't obsess over small stuff. And I'm not upset at the FFL, but nobody likes surprises. Return policies are a business standard in today's world and so is disclosing them in some form up front.

I also made the assumption that since I paid for insurance that I was covered for this possibility. It never occurred to me that the FFL would charge me. Next time I'll know. The main purpose of my questions here is that I just want to know what that standards are so I can learn from this experience.

[nn3453]

The return fee is $40. I agree that one shouldn't obsess over small stuff. And I'm not upset at the FFL, but nobody likes surprises. Return policies are a business standard in today's world and so is disclosing them in some form up front.

Please disclose the name of the FFL. He does not deserve your business. I have not heard of this before. A return policy should not apply since you are not ordering from the FFL himself. That is just poor service. My FFL would probably yell at the seller himself for sending a broken gun.

[zcrehan]

Please disclose the name of the FFL. He does not deserve your business. I have not heard of this before. A return policy should not apply since you are not ordering from the FFL himself. That is just poor service. My FFL would probably yell at the seller himself for sending a broken gun.

Agreed. It's time for you to find a better FFL IMO.

[ke6guj]

Please disclose the name of the FFL. He does not deserve your business. I have not heard of this before. A return policy should not apply since you are not ordering from the FFL himself. That is just poor service. My FFL would probably yell at the seller himself for sending a broken gun.

yes, he didn't order it FROM the FFL, but becuase of the OP's actions, the FFL is out time and money dealing with returning the firearm to the seller. He had to log the firearm in and now has to log it back out, get it ready for shipping back to the seller, pay to ship it back (or deal with the seller so that he can charge the shipping to the seller's accout or elese getting a call tag issued), etc. You don't think the FFL should be compensated for any of that?

[Splinter]

Since you paid for insurance, I would talk to the company again, and figure out what routes you can go throught to collect insurance on the damaged gun. Im not sure how this works as it is a firearm, but you should be compensated if its damaged. Thats how insurance works. Maybe tell them to pay for the damages?

[bigcalidave]

Was it not as described in the ad? Was it damaged in shipping? I don't think your FFL is trying to keep you as a customer, but at the same time they probably don't think of you as one already, since you ordered a gun online. I don't like it, and I wouldn't use them again. But you pretty much have to pay the fee. After you get the replacement, you can try to get the seller to reimburse you for the amount you are out if it was their fault, or the shipping company if it was their fault.

[redcliff]

yes, he didn't order it FROM the FFL, but becuase of the OP's actions, the FFL is out time and money dealing with returning the firearm to the seller. He had to log the firearm in and now has to log it back out, get it ready for shipping back to the seller, pay to ship it back (or deal with the seller so that he can charge the shipping to the seller's accout or elese getting a call tag issued), etc. You don't think the FFL should be compensated for any of that?

+1

I'd pay the fee.