Why are CA FFL transfer fees higher then nationwide average?

[Chatterbox]

I noticed that most California FFLs charge anywhere from $50-75 to transfer a weapon (plus the state fee, of course), while in the rest of the country the average is closer to $25. Why is that?

[Starscream]

To make it that you buy guns from them instead

[Fjold]

Why do houses cost more here than in most of the US?

[shark92651]

Because it is more work to do it here and longer storage (waiting) period. CA FFLs have to work harder than in any other state to keep themselves out of jail.

[SikDMAX]

You answered yourself... "California".

:-)

[for2nato]

its capitalism. they know that you can find almost any gun out of state for $100 less than the going rate in california. so if the ffl fee is higher and it basically balances out all your savings you will just by the gun from them. either way they make their profit on the sale. it cost nothing to keep a gun in a safe for 10 days. and the paperwork is the same on all firearms purchases in california. so it is not any of those reasons. it is pure capitalism. if you want a good deal on ffl fees then find and befriend a kitchen table ffl to do all your transfers.

[shark92651]

its capitalism. they know that you can find almost any gun out of state for $100 less than the going rate in california. so if the ffl fee is higher and it basically balances out all your savings you will just by the gun from them. either way they make their profit on the sale. it cost nothing to keep a gun in a safe for 10 days. and the paperwork is the same on all firearms purchases in california. so it is not any of those reasons. it is pure capitalism. if you want a good deal on ffl fees then find and befriend a kitchen table ffl to do all your transfers.

Nothing is "free". There is a significant amount of time and paperwork involved and the FFL deserves a fair price for the transaction. We charge $50 and we feel it is a fair price. I have a safe with limited capacity and the more room taken up by a firearm I did not sell to someone could be used to hold a firearm I did sell to someone. Also, there are more regulations and requirements to do a transaction in CA. You have the CFLC to deal with for one, checking roster and AW status of a firearm, dealing with the HSC test and safety demonstration, etc... All of these requirements have costs attached to them so you really should reconsider the "it cost nothing to keep a gun in a safe" comment. How valuable is your time? If you went to a mechanic and he spent 30-45 minutes working on your car and had to submit paperwork to the state, store your car on his lot for a week, etc... would you feel that $50 was excessive? It's just an example but I hope you see my point.

[rod]

I was about to pay $25 for an out-of state transfer from an online gunstore to my local gun shop, and an additional $2 for the 5 min background check. The store owner ordered the gun himself and saved me $25. He actually ordered two of them and sold me one at his cost, saving me even more money. I still had to pay the two dollar background check fee though.

[halifax]

its capitalism. they know that you can find almost any gun out of state for $100 less than the going rate in california...

Could that be because the markup to cover the costs for all the extra BS CA dealers need to go through is included in the price?

[JeffM]

Nothing is "free". There is a significant amount of time and paperwork involved and the FFL deserves a fair price for the transaction. We charge $50 and we feel it is a fair price. I have a safe with limited capacity and the more room taken up by a firearm I did not sell to someone could be used to hold a firearm I did sell to someone. Also, there are more regulations and requirements to do a transaction in CA. You have the CFLC to deal with for one, checking roster and AW status of a firearm, dealing with the HSC test and safety demonstration, etc... All of these requirements have costs attached to them so you really should reconsider the "it cost nothing to keep a gun in a safe" comment. How valuable is your time? If you went to a mechanic and he spent 30-45 minutes working on your car and had to submit paperwork to the state, store your car on his lot for a week, etc... would you feel that $50 was excessive? It's just an example but I hope you see my point.

+1

Not to mention higher rent, labor, taxes, fees/licensing, etc.

Now I'm a cheap motherf*cker, but complaining about an extra $25 that offsets all the extra overhead and BS a CA FFL has to deal with is ridiculous.

If you don't like it, move out of CA... Where homes cost less, taxes are lower, the cost of living is lower... oh, and where you'll probably be paid half as much if you can find a job... and contend with weather and scenery that is no where near the quality we have here.

[caoboy]

Why do houses cost more here than in most of the US?

Because 2 hours one way, you've sunny beaches, and bikini babes, and 2 hours the other way, you've mountains, and snow bunnies!


That is the opposite for firearms though....we've the downsyndrome of hot guns.

[w55]

There are FFL 's around that dont charge very much for out of state. Most seem to be kitchen table guys. I have paid from 10 bucks to 25 for out of stae transfers. But they arent dealing with a big overhead and all the other issues a gun store has.

[Milsurp Collector]

If you don't like it, move out of CA... Where homes cost less, taxes are lower, the cost of living is lower... oh, and where you'll probably be paid half as much if you can find a job....

Median Household Income (2008)

1. Maryland............$70,545
2. New Jersey.........$70,378
3. Connecticut........$68,595
4. Alaska...............$68,460
5. Hawaii...............$67,214
6. Massachusetts....$65,401
7. New Hampshire....$63,731
8. Virginia..............$61,233
9. California.........$61,021
10. Washington.......$58,078

15. Nevada.............$56,361
22. Arizona.............$50,958
26. Oregon.............$50,169
27. Texas...............$50,043

Unemployment Rate (Nov. 2009)

1. Michigan............14.7%
2. Rhode Island.......12.7%
3. California...........12.3%
3. Nevada..............12.3%
3. South Carolina.....12.3%
6. Florida................11.5%
7. Oregon...............11.1%
8. Illinois................10.9%
9. North Carolina......10.8%
10. Ohio..................10.6%
10. Kentucky............10.6%

19. Washington..........9.2%
21. Arizona................8.9%
30. Texas..................8.0%

[Draankol]

Its the land of sea and sun, everything costs more here.

[Chatterbox]

+1

Now I'm a cheap motherf*cker, but complaining about an extra $25 that offsets all the extra overhead and BS a CA FFL has to deal with is ridiculous.

There is a difference between a question and complaint.