Question about shipping?

[mausermeister]

Why is no one in California willing to ship a rifle?

I am new here and found this site quite by accident. I live in Tennessee and have an 03 FFL. I have noticed a few guns in the classifieds that were priced quite reasonably and contacted the sellers about buying them. But none of them will even consider shipping. What's the deal? I have sold several guns and shipped them to CA over the years. I've received rifles from almost every state in the Union. I would have to check my log book to be sure, but now that I think about it, I don't believe I have never had one shipped to me from there. Has the Peoples Demokratik Republik of Kalifornia become so repressive that they will not even allow you to ship a rifle to an FFL anymore?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

I think a lot of folks here are trying to sell locally to avoid the hassles of packing, shipping, and possible returns that occur with selling a rifle to somebody far away.

If they are willing to ship a gun then they might be listing it on one of the national boards to get a bigger audience.

Or are you saying some people you've contacted will ship, but just not to somebody out of state?

[ocabj]

I have no problems shipping firearms if selling. I've done it several times, both with modern firearms and C&R firearms.

I just make sure I get compensated appropriately for the cost of shipping.

[C.G.]

I have no problems shipping firearms if selling. I've done it several times, both with modern firearms and C&R firearms.

I just make sure I get compensated appropriately for the cost of shipping.

+1. I sold a couple of rifles to a guy in Alaska last month and he did not mind the extra shipping charges. Great guy, wouldn't mind meeting him sometimes and going hunting with him.

BTW, sometimes selling outside of the state is better as the people buying really do want your stuff.

[mausermeister]

I don't mind paying shipping. However, I'm not going to pay a large "handling fee". I ship stuff all the time and only charge the actual cost of shipping. I would be willing to send a pre-paid shipping label with my FFL and money. All they would then have to do is box it up and send it off. These guys just flat out refuse to even consider shipping, period.
One did say he didn't have a box. I would be tempted to send him a rifle box or two, but it would cost almost as much to send the empty box out there as to ship the rifle. Most local gun shops around here will let you have an old rifle box or two if you ask. They just throw them in the dumpster anyway.

[chuck762]

Maybe people are unsure of the laws and want to avoid any hassles with either the shipping company or the law. I am sure most have read of the horror stories that some people run into when shipping a firearm.

I sold a rifle a couple of years ago. I was unsure if I had to go through a dealer or if I could ship directly to a FFL. I asked a local pawn shop who does transfers and they said I could ship it myself. I did some double checking and found I could ship to a FFL.

So with that knowledge and Fedex's own firearms shipping rules printed out in hand (I expected a hassle at fedex and wanted to be ready) I headed to the local Fedex hub. Everything went fine and I was shocked that the woman behind the counter didn't even blink an eye when she asked what I was shipping and told her a firearm.

After that I would have no problems shipping a firearm, providing I had something I wanted to get rid of.