A thread classic revisted: Why are your lowers so expensive?

[tenpercentfirearms]

An e-mail from a potential customer.

I am in Bakersfield and can drive to Taft, but a Stag stripped lower goes for $99 + transfer + DROS and you are selling for $170 + DROS. Why the price differential? I like to support businesses in the area, but it's hard when the prices are not competitive.

Pretend you are me, what would you say? You might also need to know you currently don't have Stags in stock too.

[ocabj]

If I were you, I would simply tell him how much your transfer fee is, as well as the transfer fees of the other FFLs in the area. This is all assuming that you are incorporating transfer fees into your pricing.

[CavTrooper]

I guess one might say something along the lines of...

Markup baby! If you dont like go somewhere else!

But that wouldnt be very nice.

[Scarecrow Repair]

First ask him to stop comparing apples and oranges. He needs to get the transfer fee into that one part of the equation.

Then ask him how much overhead he thinks a retail shop has.

Next ask him how much profit you should earn.

And finally ask him how much HE would charge in profit for that same service and to justify why it would be more than you are charging.

[CSACANNONEER]

Just tell him that he can go ahead and order one for $99.00 and he has to pay for shipping. Then let him know that you have to charge sales tax plus you charge a $75.00 transfer fee and a $5.00 handling fee. Of course, there is the DROS that he will need to pay for either way. BTW, a $75 transfer fee is about average.

[megavolt121]

Let him know that you are happy to help serve him along with what your current transfer fees are, along with a few other shops. Then leave the option of purchasing online or from you up to him armed with the information of total cost.

[Fjold]

An e-mail from a potential customer.Pretend you are me, what would you say? You might also need to know you currently don't have Stags in stock too.

Just tell him that you need a new scooter.

[larryb]

I bought my Stag stripped lower from Breco in Clovis and was 203.00 out the door with all fees. I have been out of the gun scene for a few years and got bit by the bug again when a coworker informed me of OLL lower receivers and told me of Breco in Clovis. I learned of tenpercent firearms from this site and will definitely make a trip over to taft to pay them a visit.

[bigthaiboy]

I am aware that many FFL01 dealers in CA who have the conviction to stock OLL, AKs and Saigas, and all the other goodies that the CA DoJ would prefer we didn't have, have to charge more than other dealers in the rest of the country.

The extra cost of the OLL's and other goodies is not additional markups of profit. The CA DoJ has worked hard at making threats to suppliers and manufacturers making them believe that they would be breaking the law if they sold their products to CA.

The FFL's in CA that do dare to stock OLL, Saigas and AKs etc, often have to go through an out-of-state FFL01 who is acting as a middleman. The middleman of course adds his margin for their trouble, so in effect many CA FFL01 dealers will be paying more for the rifles than any other out-of-state dealer, who is ordering directly from a distributer or manufacturer. So of course it's going to cost more.

[SemiAutoSam]

My local FFL does not stock Lowers but he sure does do transfers for cheap.

35 for the first inc the DROS and 20 for each additional Transfer on the same DROS.

plus it helped quite a bit that the credit card I used was never charged for the lowers in the first place so all I paid for the whole deal was the cost of the DROS and the 20 per additional lower. LOL

[CavTrooper]

Question:

Are CA FFLs charging a transfer fee for items in stock? How about special orders?

Well, if I end up with more stag lowers than AR uppers when I move, they might end up getting sold.
BTW, I paid $225 out the door for 2 stripped Stag lowers.
Im gonna miss these good gunshops.

[tenpercentfirearms]

Question:

Are CA FFLs charging a transfer fee for items in stock? How about special orders?

Well, if I end up with more stag lowers than AR uppers when I move, they might end up getting sold.
BTW, I paid $225 out the door for 2 stripped Stag lowers.
Im gonna miss these good gunshops.

I can only speak for myself, but the price I quote you for items in stock and that I special order for you include the mark up that makes it worth my while. I only charge a transfer fee when you are buying the gun elsewhere and are just using me as the middle man (well actually the state considers me the retailer, but that is another discussion).

So who else wants to throw in their two cents? I will post my actual response tomorrow.

[tenpercentfirearms]

i have a peso

You mispelled it. It is spelled peezo.

peezo. Glass pipe used to smoke crystal meth.
"I need my peezo to smoke my meth and get high."

I don't know if it is a good idea to brag about your crack pipes on a public forum. And if you want to know how I know what a peezo is, I teach continuation high school.

And I ordered your Crickett today too.

[FinweElensar]

Tell him to see your smile up close and personal costs $70.

[jumbopanda]

Tell him your lowers come with a free scooter ride?


I dunno man, to be honest I don't think I would pay $170 for a lower. I got a pair from Metroshot for somewhere around $250 out the door if I remember correctly.