Buying new: Online w/FFL Transfer or have dealer order?

[SIGMan Freud 93]

Hey all. The last time I bought handguns, the internet was in it's infancy. You learned about new handguns from magazines and catalogues and you had to shop around different dealers for stock or have them order something for out of stock items.

 

Fast forward to 2016 and everything imaginable is available online, including in-stock inventory. I imagine a good part of any FFL's business is transfers. So let me ask you this - if I'm looking for a particular model that is not in stock locally, is there any advantage to having the shop order directly from the manufacturer vs. buying from a big online site and just doing a transfer?

 

I checked with two LGS authorized dealers and was told they didn't have the gun in stock but could get the model I was looking for in a week or so, but would have to be paid in full at time of order. The online dealers have multiple quantities in stock, and obviously would require full payment before shipping to the FFL. Either way, I'm kinda buying sight-unseen, which is OK given the circumstances.

 

So is it six-of-one, half-dozen of another? I would like to support the local guys as much as possible (I image they make more on a direct sale with markup than with a transfer). Just curious if there's any advantage one way or the other? Thanks.

[djg0770 481]

but would have to be paid in full at time of order.

 

DANGER Will Robinson!

[DeletePLS 178]

if you buy direct from dealer you won't be paying a transfer fee which can be anywhere from 25$ to 60$.  Also if there was a problem with the gun or questions the dealer would be more inclined to help you since he was the one that sold you it and not some internet company.

[DeletePLS 178]

DANGER Will Robinson!

 

Dan this would be pretty standard for a gun the dealer wouldn't normally stock.

[Candyman87 10]

Either way you'll be waiting about a week. That being said:

 

If there's a problem with the gun, your dealer should take care of it before you take possession. Internet dealer may not be so inclined.

[maintenanceguy 510]

Most dealers will do either.  I've done it both ways.

 

I've bought something odd online that my local dealer couldn't get and had it transfered and paid the transfer fee.

I've also had a dealer order something odd.   Both work.

 

I have taken the online add into the dealer to show them what I want and asked if they can get close to the price.  The FFL's I deal with are honest with me - that's why I use them.  Usually, they can order the gun for less than I can buy it online and pay the transfer fee.  Sometimes they've said the online price is below they're usual price but they'll match the online price.  Sometimes they can't do it and they just tell me they can't match the price.

[PD2K 115]

IMHO either online or local is fine.

 

If price is the same, please support the locals.

[Candyman87 10]

IMHO either online or local is fine.

 

If price is the same, please support the locals.

Agreed. Where possible, support the locals. Only time I'm paying for transfers from the Internet is used guns and/or models they can't get.

[T Bill 649]

Find an FFL whose transfer fees are reasonable and will work with you for everything.  It's you best bet.

[Heavyopp 167]

My local FFL doesn't care either way --  He'll flat out show me his prices -- If he can beat online he will, if he can't he suggests I order it

 

I don't know about this problem with a gun thing -- Once it's transferred to you it should be between you and the manufacturer -- the dealer isn't going to fix a warranty issue - he's just sending it to the manufacturer and you can do that

 

You can always refuse a transfer from an online vendor - Use a good vendor who will accept returns -- grab a gun most of the time for me but I've bought used a few times too

 

Don't forget about sales tax...

[kirk2022 43]

I buy local 95% of the time. But I do have A local FFL that works from his house that I have the ocassional transfer shipped to.

Recent example online. I was looking for A Remington 1100 Competition Synthetic.

priced it at 3 shops, lowest price was 1149.00.

I bought it online, paid transfer and NICS at  FFL.  Total out of pocket was $963.00 and I had it in hand in 3 days.

 

That to me is my reason for some online buys.

[45Doll 5,874]

I don't know about this problem with a gun thing -- Once it's transferred to you it should be between you and the manufacturer -- the dealer isn't going to fix a warranty issue - he's just sending it to the manufacturer and you can do that.

I've ordered and bought primarily from one local FFL, with the same exceptions noted above. I had two instances where handguns had to be returned to the factory. In both cases they handled it all for me.

 

Also, my FFL does not charge me for safe time on handguns they ordered for me and have to hold. You know, while I'm waiting 5 months for the damn permits?

[SIGMan Freud 93]

Yeah, all things being equal about timing, I'd go local, even if it cost a little more. The situation I want to avoid is paying and placing an order to the distributor/manufacturer through the dealer and being told the thing is back-ordered X weeks or indefinitely, while knowing an online vendor has 12 in stock. 

[Heavyopp 167]

 

 

Also, my FFL does not charge me for safe time on handguns they ordered for me and have to hold. You know, while I'm waiting 5 months for the damn permits?

 

 

My FFL does his too -- and he's in walking distance from home

[fatty 241]

The question is how much more are you willing to spend locally vs online?  It's hard to beat online deals most of the time.

 

If you're a GFH member, a transfer is only 20 bucks...  

[Heavyopp 167]

 

 

If you're a GFH member, a transfer is only 20 bucks...  

 

 

Is that $15 nics then $20 for a total of $35 or a straight $20 - either way a good price    

 

of course add sales tax 

[fatty 241]

it's $20 total - cannot be beat being a GFH member

[Kevin125 4,772]

My pref is ordering local.  It also depends on your LGS.  If you like how they do business, it seems to me like a safe bet.  I bought 3 long guns last year exactly that way.   Ordered on a Saturday, guns arrived Thursday, picked up the very next Saturday.

 

But a lot of people have no issues with online.  It's just not my choice.

[gleninjersey 2,139]

Have the FFL order it for you. I couldn't find CZ P01 locally. At first FFL couldn't find it. Then he text me back little while later and was like, "I can have it here in 48-72 hours".

[jrfly3006 42]

I've done both...but got my last 1911 from Buds online. Every local dealer told me upfront they couldn't come close to the price, including NICS, Xfer and sales tax. I feel I'm still helping out my LGS by sending them the xfer anyway. So local if I can but sometimes the online deal is too hard to beat.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Rob0115 1,105]

If you have a problem with the firearms the LGS may tell you you're on your own to deal with the place you purchased. Unless it's a smoking deal I buy local even if it's a little more.

[carl_g 568]

Depending on the price of the gun, wouldn't the transfer fee vs. tax paid when buying it directly from a FFL be a wash?

[Redlines 202]

There is a place around here that thinks it is ok to charge $100 for a transfer.

[Redlines 202]

There is a place around here that thinks it is ok to charge $100 for a transfer.

[Old Glock guy 1,127]

Hey, I thought Obama said that if you buy guns online there are no background checks involved?

 

But seriously, I've made a number of purchases online recently and done the $20 transfer at GFH.  I tried to support an LGS recently, when their price was only a little more than something I had looked at online.  But by the time I paid a substantial fee for the NICS check and sales tax, it ended up being around $100 more than the online price.  Not even to mention a nearly hour and a half round trip to them, vs. my 15 minute drive to GFH.  Another example of the old adage about no good deed going unpunished.

[Darrenf 422]

Down here in South Jersey my last two purchases have been at Buck Tails in Mays Landing. With both of them he offered to just do a transfer but ended up matching the best price I found on GunBroker anyway. Great place.

[Rob0115 1,105]

There is a place around here that thinks it is ok to charge $100 for a transfer.

It is ok. You don't have to use them. And I wouldn't.

[mipafox 438]

I'm willing to give the dealer some extra cash to get it for me. But they usually decline and tell me just to buy online and have it shipped unless they are an authorized dealer of the product. No idea why. They get the FFL discount and the transfer fee, and I'll pay a small premium. It's either not worth the hassle or they don't want the cash flow pinch laying out the money.

[Old School 611]

Support your LGS.  If you don't, especially in NJ, They'll just disappear.   

[InFamous 311]

Hey, I thought Obama said that if you buy guns online there are no background checks involved?

 

But seriously, I've made a number of purchases online recently and done the $20 transfer at GFH.  I tried to support an LGS recently, when their price was only a little more than something I had looked at online.  But by the time I paid a substantial fee for the NICS check and sales tax, it ended up being around $100 more than the online price.  Not even to mention a nearly hour and a half round trip to them, vs. my 15 minute drive to GFH.  Another example of the old adage about no good deed going unpunished.

Pretty much this. I've bought 3 pistols and 2 rifles online instead of through my LGS because even with shipping, transfer, etc...they were still close to or over $100 cheaper then I could get locally. Only one of the rifles didn't apply to that and I should have purchased locally even if they had to order it because it would have been the same price. I am also very patient and look for the best deal possible. 

 

Support your LGS.  If you don't, especially in NJ, They'll just disappear.   

Fair enough, and I love my two LGS that I do transfers through. You also can think this way...the $25 transfer they're making to literally do 5mins of paperwork is MORE money then they'll get trying to match the internet price for me to "pay just a little more" then online.