FFL transfer fees

[Germz]

Didn't find anything regarding this in the FAQ's, but what defines how much a dealer can charge for an FFL transfer fee? is there anything that defines this or is it up to the dealer?

I.e I buy a gun from dealer X in norcal and have it transfered to dealer Y in socal, dealer Y charges me $100 transfer fee.

do they just set the $100 fee arbitrarily or is there some law that says how much they can charge?

[mej16489]

The receiving FFL can charge whatever they want for the transfer. The law is completely silent with regard to what they can charge.

Shop around, you should be able to find a dealer that charges less.

[RZ Operations]

Dealers can charge whatever they want on transfer fees.

[trackcage]

In my experience, this fee is set by the receiving FFL and varies by shop. Around my area its about $65-75 to recieve. $50 to ship

[ASD1]

set by the shop

[acespawnshop]

Dealers can set their interstate transfer fee however they want. Some places charge high fees to discourage people from purchasing online and would rather them buy from them, Like turners. Others have high fees because they do not do that many in volume and need to cover their costs of doing business. Some charge less and can do so because they have a steady income stream and consider interstate transfers as an additional source of income. Other FFLs are home based and do it as a side business.

The cost of being in the gun business is somewhat high. We have to get licensed by ATF, get a COE, Fingerprints, become FSC instructors, buy ink pads, paper, toner, pay accountants for our tax preparation, pay employees, deal with the DOJ inspections and ATF inspections that can take days, pay credit card terminal fees, and the list goes on.

I figure that it takes about 30 minutes to do a whole gun transaction. From the start we have to log the firearm into our computer system and our ATF Book, we have to make sure that every gun we get in complies with CA laws, we have to deal with returns when people order non roster guns, we have to do the DROS and 4473's that take time and make sure all the proper documentation is collected, we have to do safety demos and explain to people how their gun works. We do all this because we like firearms and believe in everyone's constitutional rights to own firearms.

We are not just a store that deals exclusively in firearms and the accessories that goes with guns. We have other means of making a profit and thus we can keep our fees lower than most. I charge $25 to do transfers, plus DROS fees, and collect sales tax. After I pay my employees their hourly rate and pay for everything I mentioned above I figure I probably only make about $10 per gun transfer. And again we like to help people get the guns they want and see transfers as a way to meet new customers, and get more people into our store. I understand that some dealers need to make more per firearm and have higher fees and its well within their rights to charge whatever the feel is best for their business.

So take everything I said and consider who you want to do business with. There are many FFLs who may be cheaper but less easy to deal with, or another who may charge a little more but is a reliable FFL and can accommodate your needs as a purchaser better, Like a home based FFL who may be able to meet you after hours or when typical brick and mortar stores are closed.

I see it on here a lot when people bash FFLs who charge higher fees. I just don't think the majority of firearms customers understand how much actually goes into their purchase and how much it actually costs the FFL to facilitate their transfers. So it's my intention to sort of hijack your thread to give people my perspective as an FFL who does his fair share of interstate transfers.

[rbetts]

So, moral to the story is to shop around. . . . . .

[grid]

Dealers can set their interstate transfer fee however they want. Some places charge high fees to discourage people from purchasing online and would rather them buy from them, Like turners. Others have high fees because they do not do that many in volume and need to cover their costs of doing business. Some charge less and can do so because they have a steady income stream and consider interstate transfers as an additional source of income. Other FFLs are home based and do it as a side business.

The cost of being in the gun business is somewhat high. We have to get licensed by ATF, get a COE, Fingerprints, become FSC instructors, buy ink pads, paper, toner, pay accountants for our tax preparation, pay employees, deal with the DOJ inspections and ATF inspections that can take days, pay credit card terminal fees, and the list goes on.

I figure that it takes about 30 minutes to do a whole gun transaction. From the start we have to log the firearm into our computer system and our ATF Book, we have to make sure that every gun we get in complies with CA laws, we have to deal with returns when people order non roster guns, we have to do the DROS and 4473's that take time and make sure all the proper documentation is collected, we have to do safety demos and explain to people how their gun works. We do all this because we like firearms and believe in everyone's constitutional rights to own firearms.

We are not just a store that deals exclusively in firearms and the accessories that goes with guns. We have other means of making a profit and thus we can keep our fees lower than most. I charge $25 to do transfers, plus DROS fees, and collect sales tax. After I pay my employees their hourly rate and pay for everything I mentioned above I figure I probably only make about $10 per gun transfer. And again we like to help people get the guns they want and see transfers as a way to meet new customers, and get more people into our store. I understand that some dealers need to make more per firearm and have higher fees and its well within their rights to charge whatever the feel is best for their business.

So take everything I said and consider who you want to do business with. There are many FFLs who may be cheaper but less easy to deal with, or another who may charge a little more but is a reliable FFL and can accommodate your needs as a purchaser better, Like a home based FFL who may be able to meet you after hours or when typical brick and mortar stores are closed.

I see it on here a lot when people bash FFLs who charge higher fees. I just don't think the majority of firearms customers understand how much actually goes into their purchase and how much it actually costs the FFL to facilitate their transfers. So it's my intention to sort of hijack your thread to give people my perspective as an FFL who does his fair share of interstate transfers.

I bet if the expensive FFL shops lowered their fees they would make more just with selling other items. Your shop at 25 bucks is a steal for a brick and mortar.

Now I am just a customer so I have no idea on the cost of things. But if I had a shop I would want as many customers as possible coming in.

[acespawnshop]

I bet if the expensive FFL shops lowered their fees they would make more just with selling other items. Your shop at 25 bucks is a steal for a brick and mortar.

Yup, its a deal of the century here. And yes they possibly would.

Now I am just a customer so I have no idea on the cost of things. But if I had a shop I would want as many customers as possible coming in.

That's the idea! Love seeing a full shop!

[acespawnshop]

So, moral to the story is to shop around. . . . . .

Not just shop around, find a store or FFL that you like. A lot of the customers we get from interstate transfers are repeat business. We know them, they know us. We remember who they are and their purchases and stories.

We get newbies all the time too, but we also see the same people over and over. Find a store that you trust, knows the laws, is efficient, friendly, and values your business. Once you have found that you will find out the fees you pay are worth it.

[rbetts]

^^^what they said^^^^^

[rbetts]

I bet if the expensive FFL shops lowered their fees they would make more just with selling other items. Your shop at 25 bucks is a steal for a brick and mortar.

But if I had a shop I would want as many customers as possible coming in.

Expensive shops need to charge high fees, because they have trouble with this unfortunately. . . .thats OK, those of us that have it figured out like the repeat business and fresh flow of new customers to serve and win over to our style of selling

[kemasa]

There are some who charge really high fees because they don't want to do a transfer and don't realize that it would be better to just say that they don't do them.

[antiseen]

Anyone in the San Diego - north County area know of any shops with low fees? I'm in oceanside and the lowest transfer fee around here is 40 bucks.

If I found a shop that charged 25 bucks, I'd probably buy from them for everything.

[CrazyPhuD]

Not just shop around, find a store or FFL that you like. A lot of the customers we get from interstate transfers are repeat business. We know them, they know us. We remember who they are and their purchases and stories.

We get newbies all the time too, but we also see the same people over and over. Find a store that you trust, knows the laws, is efficient, friendly, and values your business. Once you have found that you will find out the fees you pay are worth it.

Repeat business also goes the other way too by having knowledgeable customers reduce some of the time FFLs have to do. For instance I always bring a single page photocopy of all my documents that I give to my FFL with my documents. That way they don't have to take the time to make a copy of everything with the rest of the paperwork.

In CA with the level of active hostility at state and local levels you want to spend the effort to keep good dealers in business. Build the relationship with your local dealer and people may find the price you pay isn't really much more than internet price + transfer fee.