DON'T OPEN MY BOX!!!!!

[rbetts]

I just love the customer that has a gun shipped to your location out of the blue and then when he's here transferring it, chews you out for opening the box without him there. . . . . . .and then when explained why we need to open the box, isn't satisfied with your answer.

Here is why I, as an FFL, open your gun box when I receive it regardless of who you are.

1. FOR my safety- Sometimes sellers do not check to make sure their firearm is unloaded.
2. SO I can verify what is on the paperwork is what's in the box- Sometimes we get guns that are not meant to be shipped. Carelessness on the sellers part does happen and we do get guns that are not meant to be shipped
3. SO I can verify that the firearm is not an assault weapon- We get AW's in error all the time. Sometimes your seller forgets to make them compliant. Unfortunately, we can't either so we need to verify it's a legal firearm.
4. Because I need to verify the serial number and record it per ATF and DOJ regulations. This requires that I find the serial number on the gun and record it in a Bound book that is inspected by the ATF. If I get the number wrong or forget to do so, I have a violation that occurs during an audit. I lose my license if I get more than a couple of these. . . .
5. SO I can make sure that the firearm is not damaged during shipping.- Many a firearm has been packed poorly, broken at its weakest point during shipping, had scratches from loose items in the box etc. I get to take pictures and give you a call so that you will be in the know before you get here to do paperwork. . . .

Here is what I don't do with it.-
1. Show it to all my buddies that come in.-Wouldnt want to steal your thunder. (see #3 below)
2. Shoot it.- I have seen them all, and shooting them doesn't interest me in the least (See #3 below)
3. Throw it in a corner after I receive it. Imagine if I did this. Calguns, Yelp and Google reviews would have my *** in a sling and out of business in no time flat.
4. Wait until you decide to make an appointment to log it into our bound book. This happens the minute it gets off the truck. The ATF frowns on such shoddy practices. . . . (this means I open your box)

SO, as your partner in getting your gun here, kindly allow me to do my job, with a smile, and should you even think for a minute that your gun is mishandled here, Let's have a frank conversation about why that didn't happen.

Honestly, It's still your Christmas present, with only your eyes and feelings attached to it. My services have not soiled your baby. . . .PROMISE

[taperxz]

If they don't like it after it's explained, I always offer to tape it back up and send it back so they can start over. No, really, I will.

[Maltese Falcon]

If they don't like it after it's explained, I always offer to tape it back up and send it back so they can start over. No, really, I will.

Haha, good answer. That should quell any lingering attitude.

.

[rbetts]

"Oh but none of the other FFLs I use open the box!???"

[CreamyFettucini]

"Oh but none of the other FFLs I use open the box!???"

Then they can use that ffl instead

[Jeepergeo]

Seems pretty reasonable and perfectly explained. Though I could see one on the guys all pumped up on Monster and Low T supplements getting all bent even with the great explanation.

[Fern]

They probably told him not to come back.

[kemasa]

The simple answer is: Sorry, it doesn't work that way.

I once had a guy who wanted the firearm shipped in a locked case with no key supplied, he would bring the key. He also said that if I opened the box then I would owe him the full amount for the firearm. There were other issues as well, but the end result was that he was fired as a customer.

[Scratch705]

The simple answer is: Sorry, it doesn't work that way.

I once had a guy who wanted the firearm shipped in a locked case with no key supplied, he would bring the key. He also said that if I opened the box then I would owe him the full amount for the firearm. There were other issues as well, but the end result was that he was fired as a customer.

wow, what an idiot.

i would have returned that box at that buyer's expense if it arrived locked with no way to open it.

do some of these guys not understand how FFL's work or just business in general?

i mean i can understand wanting to be there for the "opening" but when the FFL has to jump through so many legal hoops imposed on them by state and federal agencies... i wouldn't even think to get mad if they opened the box up before i got there.

this reminds me of an incident at work where a customer has special ordered a wedding ring. they asked the associate for a picture of the ring in their excitement and the associate took the picture with the ring on one of their fingers (i guess not thinking anything of it, or using the many display nubs for the rings)

customer flips out about how the ring is now tainted and someone else wore it before her so she demands a new ring be made, and no person is to have contact with the ring. not sure if the customer thought we all can magically float the ring in the air while it is being created at the factory or the QC inspection person, or the S/O clerk that has to check in the item and process all the paperwork for it then another QC person to give it the last once over before it can be sent to the store.

either way, customers can be stupid is what i'm getting to.

[ugimports]

We've had a few customers want to be there for the "unboxing".. we allow them to do that if they can make an appointment the day of arrival. We've, fortunately, never had that happen with a random package showing up.

[MARKFP]

Kind of a reverse play here, my family has been using same FFL /LGS for30+ yrs., we understand the process very well. I show up after a call that my order has arrived and though it strange that the box was still sealed and asked: Didn't you guys check this out ?, they said no we'll let you have the glory, well upon opening the box I found the most rusty rifle I've ever seen !!! Well played prank ! Let the FFLs do their job and enjoy !

[Baboosh]

Had a customer ship in a SP-01 and while all purchases are special to people they are not really special to us. We deal with 1 of 1 guns, prototypes and guns that are $50, $75 and $100k guns. These guns we make arrangemnts with the buyers to be here for delivery and opening. So when an SP-01 gets sent in I am not exactly foaming at the mouth to finger it.

Well this guy shipped it in and was adament that only he can open his box and that no one is to touch his box. And since we deal with a lot of people via text we got this in text. Since I am a smart *** I thought it would fun to take out my SP-01 that has been well shot, dirty and has a few scratches and take sosme pics of me racking the slide and sent them to him letting him know his gun shoots great

He wasn't happy. Was even less happy when I said just kidding. Had a full on melt down like I sodomized his first born.

He has't been back

[AragornElessar86]

Had a customer ship in a SP-01 and while all purchases are special to people they are not really special to us. We deal with 1 of 1 guns, prototypes and guns that are $50, $75 and $100k guns. These guns we make arrangemnts with the buyers to be here for delivery and opening. So when an SP-01 gets sent in I am not exactly foaming at the mouth to finger it.

Well this guy shipped it in and was adament that only he can open his box and that no one is to touch his box. And since we deal with a lot of people via text we got this in text. Since I am a smart *** I thought it would fun to take out my SP-01 that has been well shot, dirty and has a few scratches and take sosme pics of me racking the slide and sent them to him letting him know his gun shoots great

He wasn't happy. Was even less happy when I said just kidding. Had a full on melt down like I sodomized his first born.

He has't been back

That's funny. I'd be steamed as all get out if you'd done that to me, but I like to think I'd get over it pretty quick and have a good laugh over it once you explained.

[sealocan]

"What's in the box !?!"


^ That's just one of the reasons why Brad Pitt would not be a good FFL.

... He's just too reluctant to open a box.

( Sorry Brad, or whatever your Calguns name is here, but you know it's true.)

I think people hear one or two Internet horror stories about things being broken/lost at gun stores and think that you're just sitting there breaking stuff and losing parts all day.

...On purpose.

Which does remind me of an "Internet story" about a supposedly wealthy man refusing to buy two ARs that he ordered, because the sales person had touched them.
He probably had some type of germ phobia (or strong desire to be the first to take their "caressing virginity")
and no one ever explained to him that human hands had made the guns and unless he cast the metal himself, he was going to be out of luck.

[audiophil2]

"What's in the box !?!"


^ That's just one of the reasons why Brad Pitt would not be a good FFL.

... He's just too reluctant to open a box.

( Sorry Brad, or whatever your Calguns name is here, but you know it's true.)

I think people hear one or two Internet horror stories about things being broken/lost at gun stores and think that you're just sitting there breaking stuff and losing parts all day.

...On purpose.

Which does remind me of an "Internet story" about a supposedly wealthy man refusing to buy two ARs that he ordered, because the sales person had touched them.
He probably had some type of germ phobia (or strong desire to be the first to take their "caressing virginity")
and no one ever explained to him that human hands had made the guns and unless he cast the metal himself, he was going to be out of luck.

i sold those 2 rock river psd pistols. consecutive serial numbers ending in 0 and 1. guy waited 8 months. turned them down instantly when i told them rock river touched them. he ordered 2 more and waited another 12 months. i had no problem since that was durimg the newtown panic and sold both to a guy in florida for twice what i sold them to the germaphobe. i have the pictures somewhere on my hard drive.