new FFL need advice.

[mmaaka]

Hello. so while I'm still awaiting my CFL number from the DOJ. what would be a fair price to charge for TRANSFERS I know already for the DROS and PPT but I called so many FFLs and they charge from $100-$150 here in the bay area and valley. however I'm debating around $50-$75 and yet I get neg feedback from these cheap skates.

this is a question for you FFL's

no neg feed back please as like you at some point in your life you didn't know anything about this

[TKM]

If you can't match prices with Wesley I expect you will have a hard time.

https://www.tenpercentfirearms.com/about/

Google will keep people from even picking up the phone otherwise.

[apbrian112]

Realistically depends on how much you rely on transfers for business.
Since you're new it probably wouldn't hurt to be the "cheapest guy for transfers" just to get the word out that you're around. It'll probably help you build up your customer base.
Once you're no longer dependent on transfers for bringing customers in you'll be able to slowly bump up pricing.

Ultimately, it depends on what you value your time at.
Best of luck!

[mmaaka]

I'm home based and don't relay on anything for profit however I don't want to do this for free

[acespawnshop]

What’s your time worth?

[ugimports]

I'm home based and don't relay on anything for profit however I don't want to do this for free

As others say it depends what your time is worth. Also, depends on your business model. You said you don't really care about profit so I guess it just depends how little you want to make. You can be like the guys in free states and just charge $10-$25 if you want.

I'd at least want to buy a meal at McDs for the time it takes me to:
1) receive firearm
2) log it in
3) store firearm
4) recycle stuff
5) throw trash
6) do paperwork
7) make sure buyer has all the correct documents
8) photocopy any required documents
9) hold firearm from 10-30 days
10) maybe hold the firearm longer if there was a delay or buyer forgot
11) maybe re-do paperwork
12) make sure I have insurance to cover losses
13) meet buyer again to pick up firearm
14) do FSC unless they are exempt
15) file paperwork
16) file taxes
17) do ATF audit
18) do DOJ audit
19) store DOJ paperwork for 3+ years depending what it is
20) store ATF paperwork forever
21) administer FSC test

hmm...I'm probably missing some stuff..

now much of the above is amortized over all your customers in a year, but some of it is literally per customer..

and then there's the extra time you might actually spend with customers which could be 5 minutes or we've had some chatty patties that talk for 2 hours. I guess if you just like chatting about guns you can factor that in pro bono.

Good luck!

Ask more questions!

[mmaaka]

well I have been saying I'm doing it for $50 for first gun then $25 after.

[Dano3467]

Think back op..how much you were willing to pay.

I now pay $35, & think this is fair, considering all the other charges that come with this type of purchase, it can raise the cost to point that many will pass on it..me included, if I'm feeling extorted.

[kemasa]

How long do you want to work for free? When you consider the overhead of ALL the permits, licenses, insurance, etc., you are working for free until you make enough money to pay for all of that.

You need to look at what others charge in your area. If there is someone doing it for $20, what are the odds that people would want to use you if you charge $30? If everyone else is charging $100, then what is the point of your charging $20?

[kemasa]

I now pay $35, & think this is fair, considering all the other charges that come with this type of purchase, it can raise the cost to point that many will pass on it..me included, if I'm feeling extorted.

Why should other fees have an effect on what the fair cost of labor is for doing the transfer? Because CA charges $25 for the DROS and $25 for the FSC, then the FFL should get less money for their service even though there is more work due to the CA regulations, such as the FSC safety demo?

But you do have a point. There are many customers who claim that the FFL's time is worthless and claim that charging rates that are actually reasonable based on the time and effort required (see post above by ugimports) and claim it is extortion. Look up the definition of the word extortion.

Perhaps FFLs should make an offer to customers and charge them on a hourly rate based on ALL of the time needed to do the transfer. Remember it also takes time to track ALL the time. How much per hour would you be willing to pay? The problem is what isn't in the customer's face does take any time at all. Firearms magically arrive and it takes absolutely no time to open the box, not even the boxes which a whole roll of tape it used to seal it, unwrap the firearms that another roll of tape was used and be careful to not damage the firearm, record the firearm information, including for firearms which have accessories which block access to the serial number (such as shotgun round carriers which attach to the side of the receiver of the shotgun), then put the firearm away for safe storage which prevents damage, then get it back out when the customer arrives and put it back during the storage period and get it back again when the waiting period is over. As well, there are questions. Problem cases where the firearm arrives damaged or isn't what it was claimed to be takes no time to deal with either. And on and on it goes.

[Burbur]

A recurring theme I've seen over the years is kitchen table guys quitting their special order / transfer business because "it just isn't worth it." The words normally come after they get an ATF and CA DOJ audit within a few months of each other. Make sure to compensate yourself for long term paper management.

I figure we have at least 1 hour, up to 1.5 hours labor into a transfer. Don't think a transfer takes this long? How much time does your customer spend talking to you, asking you questions, looking for advice, or updates on recent changes to the law. I might just increase my assumption to 1.5-3 hours. Multiply this by your rate.

What is your rate? Depends on your overhead. Just you, working out of your house, nights and weekends, while holding a job higher than fry chef; better charge at least $30-$40 an hour, maybe more due to the Bay Area Cost of Living factor. If you have to rent commercial space, and have employees? That rate will quickly double.

I offer multi-gun discounts, because tacking on a second or third gun to a DROS doesn't double or triple the time investment. I also offer discounts to people who know the rules, what to bring, and are generally "easy" customers, but this is on a case by case and not advertised.

You are selling a service, and not a minimum wage service. How much does your plumber charge?

[mmaaka]

I appreciate the much info and it makes me feel what I charge is efficient. like I said to in the begging that I called multi shops and found nothing under 100 bucks it went from 100-150 and that was all the shops in my town and the few towns over. about 6 shops

[SkyHawk]

As a customer, a FFL that knows what they are doing is worth a lot more to me than an upstart. Too many things can go wrong in a transfer or DROS and I need a FFL who knows what they are doing backwards and forwards. I will pay more for experience.

IMO, you need to look at this beginning period as advertising and education. Most people pay for that, they don't get paid for that. I'd do whatever it took to get bodies and guns flowing through. It is the only way you are going to get your name out there and get exposure to all the stuff that can go sideways.

I also wouldn't make the first DROS I did an off roster PPT from my personal collection. That's just my opinion

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1522357

[kemasa]

As a customer, a FFL that knows what they are doing is worth a lot more to me than an upstart. Too many things can go wrong in a transfer or DROS and I need a FFL who knows what they are doing backwards and forwards. I will pay more for experience.

Unfortunately, it seems that most people have the Walmart mentality, all that matters is low cost.

[acespawnshop]

Unfortunately, it seems that most people have the Walmart mentality, all that matters is low cost.

I can hear it now, "good place when they first opened, then they raised their prices and blah blah blah...." Just pick a price you think is fair and go with it. Good luck.