Is this now becoming common?

[hill billy]

I am trying to sell a firearm here to another member. I am an exempt FFL which means I can only sell through other dealers but the dealer we wanted to use refuses to provide me their CFLC number or FFL info until after the customer goes in and pays the transfer fee up front. This sounds incredibly stupid and I told him that we would go someone where else. I live close enough to this shop that I want to print out the papers, drop the gun and paperwork off to them and he can then buy the gun at his leisure. What am I missing here?

[dvs762]

Sounds weird..I've never done that..

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[ElvenSoul]

Inform the DOJ of this bizarre behavior. Bet it stops asap!

[ugimports]

Inform the DOJ of this bizarre behavior. Bet it stops asap!

The other dealer is not required to process the transfer if they don't want to.

[ugimports]

I am trying to sell a firearm here to another member. I am an exempt FFL which means I can only sell through other dealers but the dealer we wanted to use refuses to provide me their CFLC number or FFL info until after the customer goes in and pays the transfer fee up front. This sounds incredibly stupid and I told him that we would go someone where else. I live close enough to this shop that I want to print out the papers, drop the gun and paperwork off to them and he can then buy the gun at his leisure. What am I missing here?

How many FFLs have you seen this at? If it's only that one I would say that it is not common in your area..

[hill billy]

How many FFLs have you seen this at? If it's only that one I would say that it is not common in your area..

None, ever. I spoke to the head of this place yesterday after this post and this person explained that it was due to fact that they had so many abandoned guns that they then had to turn over to LASD. I think this is hogwash. Person also said that if the customer had just contacted them first, this whole thing would have been made better. Also hogwash, as the customer did, and I spoke to four different people before I got an answer. This particular range has made two very public and very wrong mis-steps in my opinion and I had vowed to never darken their door again, guess I need to stick by that.

[BONECUTTER]

I've seen it before. Even with like certain Gander Mountains in other states. It's just a store policy....Maybe they think if they get the customer in the store they can make a sale of their stock first.

[kemasa]

If they get the money first, then they know that they are going to be paid, but it also ensures that they know who the customer is.

I am not sure as to why they would have to turn the firearms over to the police instead of selling them for storage.

Past problems can result in strange policies to those who have not had the problems. I don't get their policy, but I also don't doubt that there is a reason for it.

[Baboosh]

So you are a dealer with no access to the DROS system and you sell firearms and accessories here in the private sales section, not commercially like we all pay to do, and now you want the dealers you have to get to complete your sales do it on your terms?

Entitled much?

[Burbur]

So you are a dealer with no access to the DROS system and you sell firearms and accessories here in the private sales section, not commercially like we all pay to do, and now you want the dealers you have to get to complete your sales do it on your terms?

Entitled much?

This, kind of.

I would be more up front about it, if it were someone coming to me asking to do the transfer. Unless you are providing something truly unique, I am not here to do the paperwork you are not willing to do yourself. We are all free to accept or decline these types of transfers.

Threatening them with the loss of your business, then taking it to a public forum; I'm sure you wouldn't be missed.

[kemasa]

I don't believe that an exempt FFL can conduct business as a dealer, it is supposed to be for gunsmiths and others who are not actually dealers, so in acting like a dealer, there could be a problem.

[Two Out Rally]

I'm not sure why any dealer would refuse an opportunity to get additional traffic (i.e. potential customers) through their doors. Seems very short sighted. Foot traffic in the store is important. I know transfers are money losers and they add liability, but who cares. You have to take a longer term approach to monetizing that traffic. Every customer interaction is an opportunity to create a relationship and return customer. Just seems like a wasted opportunity to me.

[Baboosh]

I'm not sure why any dealer would refuse an opportunity to get additional traffic (i.e. potential customers) through their doors. Seems very short sighted. Foot traffic in the store is important. I know transfers are money losers and they add liability, but who cares. You have to take a longer term approach to monetizing that traffic. Every customer interaction is an opportunity to create a relationship and return customer. Just seems like a wasted opportunity to me.

It's not about just money. Dealers need to move inventory. I'd rather make $30 selling a gun than $50 doing a transfer.

If we don't move inventory we have less buying power.

If we have less buying power we can't compete with other sellers

If we can't compete with other dealers we may as well just be a transfer dealer.

[Two Out Rally]

I'm a dealer with a store front in San Diego. Believe me, I know the struggles of moving inventory and the encroachment of internet sales in our space. But in this case, as described by the OP, this customer wasn't going to come into that shop unless a transfer was taking place. He was buying online or on Calguns or somewhere other than the shop. This shop owner had a chance to get a potential customer he otherwise would not have had and he blew it. I will take that customer coming into my store 10 times out of 10. I don't care why he's there or who sent him. That's an opportunity to win that customer so that maybe next time he comes to that dealer before buying online. I'm just not sure why the dealer would turn away an opportunity. Customers have more and more buying options every day and that isn't going to change. The internet isn't going to go away. We dealers have to embrace every opportunity to turn an internet shopper into a local shopper.

I see dealers around here every day grumble at internet buyers and get pissy with them and push them to the back of the line. Same treatment for PPT transactions. I just think that is crazy. Why not go overboard trying to impress that customer with the things you can provide that the internet can't match? Every transfer/ PPT is an opportunity. I'll take everyone I can get.
There is another shop right down the street from us that openly mocks "transfer trolls" on their FB page. I have told him to just send all of them down to our place. I can't tell you how many are regular customers now. No offense. I guess I just see it differently than you.

[Baboosh]

That is not what this thread is about. We welcome and price transfers very low for the exact reasons you mentioned. 90% of the time they stop transferring in items as we can usually save them money or match the overall price.

This is about another dealer, that is local, selling and using your FFL to do the paperwork because he can't.

I help local FFLs all the time, I have no problem with it. But it is a I help you and you help me solution. Not a I'll be your paperwork ***** relationship.