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People always muck everything up in threads like this by providing answers for types of transactions that have their fees capped and comparing them to those which don't.
There are three basic types of transfers in California...
1. You buy a gun that's at a gun store. It may be store's inventory, or it may be a consignment that is in the store. The DROS (state fee) fee is $25. The profit in such a transaction is made on the gun itself, either as a mark-up or percentage of the consignment.
2. You buy a gun from another person, and you both physically go to a gun store/FFL. This is a PPT (private party transfer). The DROS is $25. The dealer is legally allowed to charge another $10 for their effort/time in processing the transfer. Thus, the total is $35. For this type of transfer, this is all they are allowed to charge. If they charge more, they are breaking the law. The state mandates this to encourage legal firearms transfers.
This capped PPT fee is a reason why some FFLs discourage PPTs and make life hard when people try to do them. But, the smart FFLs do them efficiently, because they know that gets folks in the store, and those folks may come back and buy other things, particularly when things are done smoothly and the service is cool.
3. You buy a gun from someone and it is shipped to a store/FFL. This is not a PPT (even if a 'private party' is shipping it). It could be someone in California, someone out, another business, etc. The seller not present is the key. In this case, the DROS fee is $25 (as always). However, the FFL can charge whatever they want for processing the transfer. One FFL may charge another $25. Another FFL may charge $150. The reason for this is that their processing fee is the only way they can make money on such a deal. So, for this type of transfer it obviously pays to shop around. And, when you call and ask, don't ask what they charge for a PPT, or you're likely to get the wrong info. Ask what they charge if it's being shipped.
So, out of the three above, the only relevant type of transfer to mention when comparing costs is #3 (when a gun is shipped), as it's the only one with variable costs.
There are three basic types of transfers in California...
1. You buy a gun that's at a gun store. It may be store's inventory, or it may be a consignment that is in the store. The DROS (state fee) fee is $25. The profit in such a transaction is made on the gun itself, either as a mark-up or percentage of the consignment.
2. You buy a gun from another person, and you both physically go to a gun store/FFL. This is a PPT (private party transfer). The DROS is $25. The dealer is legally allowed to charge another $10 for their effort/time in processing the transfer. Thus, the total is $35. For this type of transfer, this is all they are allowed to charge. If they charge more, they are breaking the law. The state mandates this to encourage legal firearms transfers.
This capped PPT fee is a reason why some FFLs discourage PPTs and make life hard when people try to do them. But, the smart FFLs do them efficiently, because they know that gets folks in the store, and those folks may come back and buy other things, particularly when things are done smoothly and the service is cool.
3. You buy a gun from someone and it is shipped to a store/FFL. This is not a PPT (even if a 'private party' is shipping it). It could be someone in California, someone out, another business, etc. The seller not present is the key. In this case, the DROS fee is $25 (as always). However, the FFL can charge whatever they want for processing the transfer. One FFL may charge another $25. Another FFL may charge $150. The reason for this is that their processing fee is the only way they can make money on such a deal. So, for this type of transfer it obviously pays to shop around. And, when you call and ask, don't ask what they charge for a PPT, or you're likely to get the wrong info. Ask what they charge if it's being shipped.
So, out of the three above, the only relevant type of transfer to mention when comparing costs is #3 (when a gun is shipped), as it's the only one with variable costs.
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