Buying an internet gun

[sammy]

Hello all, I have been looking for a Browning Buckmark for my father. I recently got him into shooting and he loves my Ruger MkII, but went looking on line and fell in love the Buckmark. Retail is $300.00 for the bottom of the barrel 5.5" Camper model with adjustable sights but cant come close to that with local shops. Found one on line for $270.00 shipped but the the transfer at my cheapest local shop is $75.00 +$35.00 for the transfer + sales tax. I feel ripped off and have not spent a dime yet. Does anyone know of a fair FFL in the east bay area that will handle a transfer for a reasonable fee? Thanks, Sammy

[avidone]

My local FFL charges $150.00! There has been a lot of discussion about this type of thing with many feeling such charges are justified, however the net effect is often to alienate many a potential customer. They have lost a lot of my business because of their policy of charging $150.00 for any FFL ransfer other than a PPT or a purchase of one of their firearms. Most of the firearms I was interested in transferring were custom pieces that were unavailable to be purchased through them, so instead I wait for local sales and do PPTs of similar firearms where their fee is a mandated $35.00.

[Blue]

Call up Irvington Arms in Fremont. Don't quote me on it but I think they charge $75 for the whole deal. I may be wrong but call them up they're the best in the Bay Area.

[leelaw]

Where in the East Bay? I might be able to help.

[sdirielion]

WOW! bro, my FFL charges 40.00 for the transfer and 25.00 for the DOJ fee. so do all the other shops in SD. You really need to shop around, call every place within 50 miles. Good luck

[sammy]

Where in the East Bay? I might be able to help.

Thanks, I am on Concord, but am willing to drive a bit to get a better deal. I dont think I am bitching, I think it is simply greed to try and charge a customer nearly half of the guns worth just for a transfer.

[leelaw]

Thanks, I am on Concord, but am willing to drive a bit to get a better deal. I dont think I am bitching, I think it is simply greed to try and charge a customer nearly half of the guns worth just for a transfer.

I'm not going to get into whether it's greed or simple economics, but if you're willing to go to Fairfield/Cordelia (up hwy 680 @ hwy 80) send me a PM.

[The SoCal Gunner]

get a license see how much time and money it costs to stay in buissness and then you can b!tch.would you do your job for less than what you are making now.

I don't think you should be telling him what to do since he isn't spending your money.

I see your point but some FFLs charge ridiculous fees for a transfer. For consumers it is about getting the best price but for myself I try to find a balance. I've asked some dealers if they would work on the price because I can get it cheaper online and have stated that I would rather buy from them and still received a flat at no. They will not even negotiate a $10 reduction. These are stores where I have previously purchased firearms and accessories. Sometimes the deal is just way cheaper online.

Do you still feel that way if it is a gun they don't have in stock and will have to order it for you anyways? What if it is a certified used gun they don't carry like Sig CPOs? How about buying a used gun from out of state?

It just kills a great deal when you find a used gun for a rockin price but the FFL wants $100+ for transfer fees. Of course it is their choice and I'm not going to cry about it, I'll just find another place to do business with if they aren't willing to work something out.

[DedEye]

It was $35 out the door for me to DROS my lower receiver from Coldwarshooters.net.

[zefflyn]

Thanks, I am on Concord, but am willing to drive a bit to get a better deal.

Dom's in Livermore charges $80 or so.

[Jeffrock]

If you are talking about the $400 range, you are better off just buying it from your local shop.

If you count the extra time you drive to and from a new, cheaper dealer to dros then again to pick up, you might not be saving that much money...

Plus, if something is wrong with it, wouldn't you rather be able to have your local shop ship it back instead of having to deal with it yourself?

[colddeadhands]

the reason that shops have to charge so much for the use of their ffl is because it takes time and money to maintain an ffl, and when you transfer a gun into the gun shop they have to do alot of work to make sure that the gun is logged in, that its is legal for this backwards state, that you the customer know that the gun is there, they have to take the time to run dros, and store it there for at least 11 days. all of this costs the gun shop money. if they dont charge an ffl fee then they are doing all of this for free. look at all the gun shops you go to. how many actually like like they are making lots of money. we need to pay the fees to keep them in business.

[Rumpled]

This ? comes up all the time. I agree, it really sucks to pay a ton on a gun that doesn't cost so much. I've found dealers in my acceptable radius that charge from about $4 to about $150 plus CA DROS fees. Guess which ones I go to, and which ones I don't.
Actaully, the guy I go to isn't the cheapest, but he is about the best. I buy a lot of oddball stuff online and he gladly transfers for me. When it's ime to buy something standard; I go to the same guy and just pay his price. Basically, everyone just needs to find a good dealer and stick with them. Stick up for the little guys who stick up for you. F the rest who are trying to gouge you.

Can't speak for the area too much, but reports are that Irvington is a stand up place and a calgunner.

[CalNRA]

Not sure if this is still relevant since it's a thread from 3 months ago, but I go to Leelaw for my transfers and no complaints here. I have an apartment in Berkeley so it's a bit of a drive up to Fairfield but it's damn worth it.