Internet buying advantages?

[DMCA]

In the last 30 days (I know the time rule, the 2nd is a deposit until I can commence a new DROS), I've bought 2 new handguns, both Glocks.

While I didn't search every single site on the internet, I covered a few and the best deal I could come up with would have saved me $5 on the first purchase and the second offered no advantages at all.

I get the impression some people are getting wondrous deals on the internet, Are they getting them on new Glocks, Sigs or HK's and if so, where are these deals to be had?

I live in LA.

Thanks.

[Bagger]

im looking for a good deal on a Sig 226 online or locally.

[DMCA]

im looking for a good deal on a Sig 226 online or locally.

In my experience, Turner's or Retting will tell you over the phone if they have something in particular in stock and also tell you what it's selling for. They may not be the best arbiters of price in S. Cal, but they have respectable inventories. Armed with that info, you can go online to the likes of "bud's guns", see if they have the same model, register to get a price quote, check their list of CA FFL's for one local to you, check their fee then add it all up.

I found no advantage regarding what I wanted to purchase so I went to a place, paid, then picked it up at the appropriate time.

I've read some people discuss local CA FFL's that only charge $25 to receive a gun. Everyone I looked at who was reasonably convenient was between $70-$100.

[hi_desert]

If you're not in a hurry there's deals to be had online. However, the "deal" really hinges on your local FFL's transfer fees. When those fees (incl dros) start running $75-$100 you're really not saving that much. I'm batting about .500 for online vs local.

[tenbrook]

$440

http://www.topglock.com/item/3670_Glock_Hand_Guns_Pistols_Glock_17_Pistol__9MM__10r.aspx

[rtlltj]

Like everyone else said above, the amount you pay in shipping/ffl fees makes buying a handgun online not worth it. Now using forums like calguns to find deals for ppt is definately worth it since you pay no tax and for the most part only $25-35 in dealer fees.

[DMCA]

$440

http://www.topglock.com/item/3670_Gl..._9MM__10r.aspx

Thanks for providing that info. In a sense though, it proves a point.

TopGlock's credit card price is $459 + $20 shipping = $479 + the $70 my FFL would charge to receive it = $549.

Turner's has that gun for sale today (where I bought it) for $519.

[DMCA]

To DedEye and Rttllj

Thanks for the comments. The advantage would lie in a secondary type of transaction but I don't see the FFL I deal with charging less than $70 for the first item, perhaps the lesser when there are multiple?

[wildcard313]

Thanks for providing that info. In a sense though, it proves a point.

TopGlock's credit card price is $459 + $20 shipping = $479 + the $70 my FFL would charge to receive it = $549.

Turner's has that gun for sale today (where I bought it) for $519.

Dont forget your tax, so your paying another $45ish. Im not sure where you live, but Entreprise Arms in Irwindale charges $35 for a FFL, so if your close to them you can save another $35 that way. When you're looking for a FFL dont go to gun shops, generally they will charge big prices trying to get you to buy from their inventory I think. Check out custom shops, gunsmiths, pawn shops etc. If you buy alot of guns online, start a relationship with a FFL and amazing things can happen. BTW, know the laws and rules yourself, Ive delt with 3 different FFLs and the level of knowledge they posses is erratic at best.

Problems with online sales generally run in the customer service section. Im guying a Glock 26 from gunsource, $440 list, Im always in a hurry so I paid with CC, so $459 + $19 + $35 + $513 spent. Now, I called in to see what their stock is, they said the gun will ship in 2 days max. That was a week ago. I called in again to see whats up and get the same BS. If things arent cleared up by Tuesday im going to try and cancel my order, I wasnt super sold on the gun I bought anyway so. Ive bought from Tanner's through gunbroker and loved everything about it, plus got a gun that I cant find anywhere in SoCal (FN SLP), and at a great price.

Good thing about online, you can shop hundreds of stores basicly in a couple minutes. You can get anything you want (CA legal at least, be sure you know dont count on anybody besides yourself). If Turner's or anybody else has a sale on something you want, great, you may be able to get it at a price similar to what you can get online. If you really want a gun, chances are you can save a couple hundred online (I did with the Glock 26, I couldnt find it anywhere for under $599 locally). As a added plus, you dont always have to deal with gunshop stupidity. I went to 3 shops today because I had nothing better to do plus I needed a couple little things I cant save much on by buying online (glasses, range bag, SG case) and I cant tell you how much I dislike gunshop people. Some are great, some think they know what you need better than you do, some thing they know everything because they read Soldier of Fortune once, some are just rude jackasses. I generally know what I need and want and dont really look for alot of input by some guy that doesnt know what research Ive put into a buy and has no idea who I am. BTW I came up empty, so basicly wasted my time (though I did decide to buy Oaklys and got them from Oakly shop).

[DMCA]

Dont forget your tax, so your paying another $45ish. Im not sure where you live, but Entreprise Arms in Irwindale charges $35 for a FFL, so if your close to them you can save another $35 that way. When you're looking for a FFL dont go to gun shops, generally they will charge big prices trying to get you to buy from their inventory I think. Check out custom shops, gunsmiths, pawn shops etc. If you buy alot of guns online, start a relationship with a FFL and amazing things can happen. BTW, know the laws and rules yourself, Ive delt with 3 different FFLs and the level of knowledge they posses is erratic at best.

Problems with online sales generally run in the customer service section. Im guying a Glock 26 from gunsource, $440 list, Im always in a hurry so I paid with CC, so $459 + $19 + $35 + $513 spent. Now, I called in to see what their stock is, they said the gun will ship in 2 days max. That was a week ago. I called in again to see whats up and get the same BS. If things arent cleared up by Tuesday im going to try and cancel my order, I wasnt super sold on the gun I bought anyway so. Ive bought from Tanner's through gunbroker and loved everything about it, plus got a gun that I cant find anywhere in SoCal (FN SLP), and at a great price.

Good thing about online, you can shop hundreds of stores basicly in a couple minutes. You can get anything you want (CA legal at least, be sure you know dont count on anybody besides yourself). If Turner's or anybody else has a sale on something you want, great, you may be able to get it at a price similar to what you can get online. If you really want a gun, chances are you can save a couple hundred online (I did with the Glock 26, I couldnt find it anywhere for under $599 locally). As a added plus, you dont always have to deal with gunshop stupidity. I went to 3 shops today because I had nothing better to do plus I needed a couple little things I cant save much on by buying online (glasses, range bag, SG case) and I cant tell you how much I dislike gunshop people. Some are great, some think they know what you need better than you do, some thing they know everything because they read Soldier of Fortune once, some are just rude jackasses. I generally know what I need and want and dont really look for alot of input by some guy that doesnt know what research Ive put into a buy and has no idea who I am. BTW I came up empty, so basicly wasted my time (though I did decide to buy Oaklys and got them from Oakly shop).

You raise a lot of valid points and I don't mean to automatically disparage internet buying. Unfortunately for me, one round trip to Irwindale would cost me $20 in gas and I'd need 2 trips, one to initiate the DROS process and the other to pick the gun up. Here in the valley though, there are probably a number of pawn or other types with an FFL.

As a transplant from Chicago, I will testify that the experience of dealing with gun shops is earily the same around the country. I don't know what it is, perhaps the fact that they are selling guns and that creates a certain type of tension, but a lot of the people in the stores range from the knowledgeable with an attiude to the truly ignorant. I'm as bargain driven as the next person and in my work, I buy and sell things for a living and it's taught me to value my time and offer a premium for less aggravation.

I won't even consider an internet purchase that doesn't go on a credit card so that means 3% on top of every quote. As for the sales tax, any FFL doing a lot of this sort of business would be wise to collect it, burdensome as it may be. I'd rather pay them than have to fill out a separate form - that's just more aggravation. More than price itself, the smoothest transaction will count a lot for me. I'd like for the internet process to function very well in this area of commerce and I think the wise dealers would fully embrace it.

The point you raise about the law is also very valid and Calguns is a great resource in that respect. Compliance, as much as I hate and disdain the regulations, is essential. One additional advantage with a local retailer is that they insert themselves, to an extent, in the possible chain of jeopardy.

I'm afraid to go to the range with my pre-ban magazines which I lawfully imported into and registered in California.

[DMCA]

Where do you live?

SFV

[SJgunguy24]

I always try private partys first. None of the B.S. with transfer fees or if a handgun is on "The List". What I do like about internet shopping is networking. Whatever you want is out there, you just have to find it. Somebody knows somebody who's ex room mate's, brother's, girlfriends uncle has what you want. Hey don't laugh my G26 cost me 300$ with Trijicons.

[TonyM]

Once you factor in shipping and transfer fees, the deals tend to diminish. Online is best (to me at least) for finding PPTs such as you can on Calguns, or for stuff that the local guys don't stock.

Depends on the deal. I just got a 870 Police that 3 FFLs I've asked to look for one never got back to me. The one FFL that did get me a quote quoted me $300 more than what I ended up paying, including shipping and the FFL's transfer fee.

Most of the problem I see is, the FFLs in California try to rape people on the guns in the first place, then if a non-PPT comes in they try to charge you ~$100 there too.

I bought 4 new pistols and a couple rifles from a local FFL in July and did some PPTs there too. I got decent deals on them, so I bought. If they hadn't given me a discount from the asking prices I would've very hapilly done the internet transaction and had them sent to my transfer only dealer that is 2 miles from my work.... Even if the savings was a couple bucks, or even. A convenient location and not fighting over the $350 markup is nice.

If it continues and my reasonably priced transfer FFL closes shop, I'm going to just buy my guns when I am at my house in Arizona and pay the registration fee if I decide to bring them back here. I can get the same gun for a much more honest price there anyway. $160 for a stripped lower, then trying to justify that with "Once you get one for $95 and pay my $90 fee, you'll be paying more anyway" is just wrong, and yes... I heard those exact words being said to a customer.

[CACitUP]

Move on from TGSCOM. I had a g26 on order for the past 2 weeks. Cancelled on Wednesday of last week after I was told no Glocks would ship for a minimum of 2 weeks and likely more than 3. Glockmeister had the same gun in stock on sale for roughly the same amount. Ordered on Wednesday arrived on Friday. Have to say I barely come out ahead compared to buying local bu my local shops insist on full MSRP for Glocks. That plus tax and $25 in fees and Im still ahead on the internet.

Dont forget your tax, so your paying another $45ish. Im not sure where you live, but Entreprise Arms in Irwindale charges $35 for a FFL, so if your close to them you can save another $35 that way. When you're looking for a FFL dont go to gun shops, generally they will charge big prices trying to get you to buy from their inventory I think. Check out custom shops, gunsmiths, pawn shops etc. If you buy alot of guns online, start a relationship with a FFL and amazing things can happen. BTW, know the laws and rules yourself, Ive delt with 3 different FFLs and the level of knowledge they posses is erratic at best.

Problems with online sales generally run in the customer service section. Im guying a Glock 26 from gunsource, $440 list, Im always in a hurry so I paid with CC, so $459 + $19 + $35 + $513 spent. Now, I called in to see what their stock is, they said the gun will ship in 2 days max. That was a week ago. I called in again to see whats up and get the same BS. If things arent cleared up by Tuesday im going to try and cancel my order, I wasnt super sold on the gun I bought anyway so. Ive bought from Tanner's through gunbroker and loved everything about it, plus got a gun that I cant find anywhere in SoCal (FN SLP), and at a great price.

Good thing about online, you can shop hundreds of stores basicly in a couple minutes. You can get anything you want (CA legal at least, be sure you know dont count on anybody besides yourself). If Turner's or anybody else has a sale on something you want, great, you may be able to get it at a price similar to what you can get online. If you really want a gun, chances are you can save a couple hundred online (I did with the Glock 26, I couldnt find it anywhere for under $599 locally). As a added plus, you dont always have to deal with gunshop stupidity. I went to 3 shops today because I had nothing better to do plus I needed a couple little things I cant save much on by buying online (glasses, range bag, SG case) and I cant tell you how much I dislike gunshop people. Some are great, some think they know what you need better than you do, some thing they know everything because they read Soldier of Fortune once, some are just rude jackasses. I generally know what I need and want and dont really look for alot of input by some guy that doesnt know what research Ive put into a buy and has no idea who I am. BTW I came up empty, so basicly wasted my time (though I did decide to buy Oaklys and got them from Oakly shop).

[JBird33]

Online is only worth it for non-list guns or good deals on PPT items. If you're gonna buy new may as well look for the best price from a local dealer once shipping and dealer fees come into play.