DROS/4473 Processing time

[Tyke8319]

It might be interesting, considering the periodic grumblings of firearms buyers, to explore what it takes and the amount of time it takes to complete the "average" firearms registration process, to include the initial DROS/4473 as well as the delivery paperwork .
I guess we all know what it takes but if those who are interested in contributing their respective "time" allotment, it might be rather revealing to "customers".
I figure my average time to process the registration package is roughly 25 to sometimes 40 minutes (especially if the customer has nothing more than a P.O.Box for an address).

[ASD1]

Just the paperwork part dros-4473 30 min if the cust have ALL their info together and corect.

If they have a DL problem like wrong address or PO Box ADD 10 min

item need a CA Lock or Safe Affidavit ADD 10 min

Need a FSC ADD 20 min

Now we need to look at Transfer Cost

Swap doc's with FFL ADD 15 min

Log item in ADD 10 min

Chase missing Doc's ????

Explain / Walk a out of state FFL thru the CFLC site ADD 15 min

[wickeditr]

I've timed my last 3 purchases. Out in less than 15 minutes... I have my own checklist to remind myself of things to bring. I send this to buyer's for PPT to avoid SNAFUs. Maybe texting/emailing something similar to customers, transferors, and transferees will help you guys out. Some FFL's are sorted and some aren't. Seen it all...

[ASD1]

I've timed my last 3 purchases. Out in less than 15 min I have my own checklist .

You are the exception not the norm.

Most people do not have there stuff together

[taperxz]

If the buyer has everything including an FSC or qualifying exemption, 10 minutes.

[condor]

You are the exception not the norm.

Most people do not have there stuff together

I guess I'm an exception too.... Those times seem to be padded to the extreme, trying to rationalize a higher fee?? And if an FFL doesn't check for a physical address and required buyer info before even starting the process, the onus is on them.

[Tyke8319]

If the buyer has everything including an FSC or qualifying exemption, 10 minutes.

For me that's the exception. In my area most buyers have P.O. Boxes and some literally have no address per se! Local fire departments are consulted for numbers related to a particular residence. And DOJ has excepted them as has ATF.
That said, my registration times can be involved and protracted.

[taperxz]

For me that's the exception. In my area most buyers have P.O. Boxes and some literally have no address per se! Local fire departments are consulted for numbers related to a particular residence. And DOJ has excepted them as has ATF.
That said, my registration times can be involved and protracted.

You said the average sale. I tell them what they need. We get a boat load of PO boxes at one of our stores too.

I guess its how you phrase the question. Do people buy a gun and need to come back to start DROS since they don't have their ducks in a row? Sure. Once thats present though, its 10 minutes.

[kemasa]

It really doesn't matter. You can detail it all and the customers will still complain. They won't pay attention and don't care.

In addition, I don't think that FFLs really keep track of ALL the time that is required, in part because it can really vary. If you are doing just a transfer, it makes a different as to whether the seller has your FFL or not. Getting all the information to send your FFL can take time. When the firearm arrives, you need to unpack it, record all the information and perhaps clean up afterwards due to the packing material or whether the firearm is slimed with grease or whatever. The unpacking can take time due to how the box is sealed, one box was sealed with glue, then others used a ton of tape to wrap it and to carefully extract it took time. You then have to contact the customer and let them know it arrived, perhaps schedule a time, depending on how you operate, get ALL the paperwork together, which you could count on long it takes to keep making copies of all the required forms. When the person arrives, you need to go through everything and ensure that they filled it correctly, as well as get the firearm and return it when done, which depending on how it came can take a bit of time. Organize all the paperwork and file it during the waiting period. Then you need to get it out again when the customer comes back, log it out in the bound book and deal with anything that the customer doesn't want, such as all the packing material and boxes. Then should the time to have tape to securely package the firearm be counted? How about filling out the sales tax return, reviewing the paperwork to make sure that no mistake was made so that you don't pay the price during an inspection? Where do you count all the time for renewing permits and licenses? How about the time that inspections take? That isn't free time. Each transfer can cause the inspection to take longer.

And on and one.

[taperxz]

It really doesn't matter. You can detail it all and the customers will still complain. They won't pay attention and don't care.

In addition, I don't think that FFLs really keep track of ALL the time that is required, in part because it can really vary. If you are doing just a transfer, it makes a different as to whether the seller has your FFL or not. Getting all the information to send your FFL can take time. When the firearm arrives, you need to unpack it, record all the information and perhaps clean up afterwards due to the packing material or whether the firearm is slimed with grease or whatever. The unpacking can take time due to how the box is sealed, one box was sealed with glue, then others used a ton of tape to wrap it and to carefully extract it took time. You then have to contact the customer and let them know it arrived, perhaps schedule a time, depending on how you operate, get ALL the paperwork together, which you could count on long it takes to keep making copies of all the required forms. When the person arrives, you need to go through everything and ensure that they filled it correctly, as well as get the firearm and return it when done, which depending on how it came can take a bit of time. Organize all the paperwork and file it during the waiting period. Then you need to get it out again when the customer comes back, log it out in the bound book and deal with anything that the customer doesn't want, such as all the packing material and boxes. Then should the time to have tape to securely package the firearm be counted? How about filling out the sales tax return, reviewing the paperwork to make sure that no mistake was made so that you don't pay the price during an inspection? Where do you count all the time for renewing permits and licenses? How about the time that inspections take? That isn't free time. Each transfer can cause the inspection to take longer.

And on and one.

Maybe i misunderstood. I think he was asking what the average was to complete a standard DROS.

[code_blue]

It varies. A lot of it is based on the buyer. Sometimes it's DES timing out or failing. Sometimes it's whatever the FFL uses for their system. There are electronic bound books that generates 4473's electronically. That typically slows the process down especially if the buyer has to fill it out. Lots of folks are technologically challenged.

Don't get me started on PPT's.

[kemasa]

Maybe i misunderstood. I think he was asking what the average was to complete a standard DROS.

No, the complete transfer process.

Oh, I forgot if they customer has questions and/or talks about things, which takes more time :-). Not complaining, just mentioning.

[taperxz]

No, the complete transfer process.

Oh, I forgot if they customer has questions and/or talks about things, which takes more time :-). Not complaining, just mentioning.

[code_blue]

Customer questions and complaints about laws that we have zero control over, random customer pleads for "can you just let it go this one time?", time taken for safe handling for people who clearly do not understand the battery of arms for the firearm in question, language barriers, etc...

[Tyke8319]

Great points, guys. And, some efforts I had not considered. I agree. Anything and everything added together to create and complete a sale comprises the total amount of time in sending a gun out the door. I'm starting to think maybe I don't charge enough for DROS/4473 processing.