Glock wanting access to 4473s?

[Marine24]

Received this from Trop Gun Shop, who I have purchased from in the past. Odd that Glock is insisting on access to 4473s.

Trop Response to Glock Blue Label Program Termination


Trop Gun Shop regrets to inform our customers that we will no longer be participating in the Glock Blue Label program. Effective immediately, Glock terminated us from the program for refusing to furnish access to our customers’ private information for the purposes of auditing by Glock employees. While it is regrettable that we will no longer be able to offer the benefits of the Blue Label program here at Trop, we absolutely refuse to compromise the sensitive information of our customers by furnishing it to anyone without proper authority through standard legal practices.


To participate in the Glock Blue Label program a dealer must allow Glock access to audit “qualifying credentials” of its Blue Label customers. Typically these credentials are a form of identification verifying the individual is a member of one of the groups listed in the Blue Label program.


Recently a representative of Glock entered our establishment and demanded access to view our records related to all Blue Label sales, specifically our ATF Form 4473s, which contain very detailed, personal and identifying information of our customers. We refused the Glock representative access to this information.


During repeated correspondence Glock continued to demand access to the 4473s or we would be terminated from the Blue Label program. We attempted to reconcile the situation while maintaining our customers’ privacy and made every effort to comply with reasonable requests to audit the Blue Label sales to maintain the integrity of the program. However, Glock insisted that access to the 4473s and only access to the 4473s would be a sufficient level of compliance.


Our position was, and continues to be, that we will not surrender to Glock our Form 4473s and our customers’ identifying information under any circumstance. It is an untenable breach of our customers’ privacy and Trop Gun Shop will not submit to this unreasonable demand. As a result of our position, Glock immediately terminated our status as an authorized participant of the Blue Label program. Furthermore, Glock advised us that if we ever applied in the future, that request would be denied. While we are displeased that we can no longer support our qualifying customers through the Blue Label program, Trop Gun Shop remains committed to the security and privacy of all of our customers, and continues to offer its Law Enforcement / Military discount to those who qualify.


Regards,


Trop Gun Shop

[Monky]

Well... now that's interesting.

[kidicarus13]

Interesting but IMO Glock should be allowed to access information related to blue label Glocks for auditing purposes. If you don't want your information given to Glock, pay retail instead of a tad over $400.

Clarification: Info such as Post #4

[hurley842002]

Interesting but IMO Glock should be allowed to access information related to blue label Glocks for auditing purposes. If you don't want your information given to Glock, pay retail instead of a tad over $400.
Info as far as credentials, yes. Info such as social or address listed on 4473, no.

[Graves]

Interesting but IMO Glock should be allowed to access information related to blue label Glocks for auditing purposes. If you don't want your information given to Glock, pay retail instead of a tad over $400.

So should I be intidled to hand over the year/make/model /plate number of the vehicle we sat in on the private deal sale we made a while back? What if I had a photographic memory and had the info I saw on your ID that day to hand over to who ever demanded it? Is that okay? I get it that the blue labels are agency issue products, but Glock made them available to the public as well. You got your discounted item, but where do you draw the line.

I didn't keep records, I do remeber a few things, but as a "do on to others" type of guy, I would not hand off any of that info, kidi.

[Marine24]

If I remember the program correctly, Glock has a form that is completed to confirm Blue Label program qualification. It asks for address, telephone and e-mail information and seems that should be sufficient.

[Graves]

If I remember the program correctly, Glock has a form that is completed to confirm Blue Label program qualification. It asks for address, telephone and e-mail information and seems that should be sufficient.

I saw it that way.
I guess I'm jumping to conclusions when it comes to accessing personal info, but I'm also curious about why they're being asked for the info...is it normal for Glock to request this info from their blue label vendors? If not what prompeted it?

Sorry, Kid, I didnt really like the "that's what you get" vibe I got from your post.

[Skip]

Creepers and kudos to the shop!

If Glock thinks their program has been abused, this is the wrong way to resolve that. A rebate would be smart and let Glock control eligibility and verification.

[Monky]

Interesting but IMO Glock should be allowed to access information related to blue label Glocks for auditing purposes. If you don't want your information given to Glock, pay retail instead of a tad over $400.

How is the 4473 going to show them which was a blue label sale? I don't recall that box being on there and I certainly don't want them to have access to my info while they look for yours. Just as I'm sure you wouldn't want yours given if they're looking for mine. Isn't the 4473 a fed form? What makes them think they have a right to information I supply the Feds? There isn't a waiver on there stating this information will be supplied to any company requesting it..

If they have a separate qualification system that should suffice.


Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.

[BPTactical]

WTF?
Nothing on a 4473 that would denote if the purchaser is LE, Mil or any other such thing.
The only thing I can think of is where the dealer section "B" of the 4473 20a "Identification" and 20b "Alternate Documentation" may show a LE or MIL identification.
But I know plenty of LE and MIL used their private ID to purchase under the Blue Label program.
Absolutely NO reason a manufacturer would need info from a 4473.

Sounds like the dealer lacked integrity on the BL program and Glock called them on it.

[hollohas]

WTF?
Nothing on a 4473 that would denote if the purchaser is LE, Mil or any other such thing.
.

This was my first thought as well.

[Brian]

Glock has had a lot of problems over the last few years with their blue label program, including the well publicized OMB issue. It's no surprise they want and need to audit any dealers involved in this, and I fully support their right to audit. However, I agree that 4473s make no sense for this type of audit (and should probably not be provided to Glock), and I'm curious to hear the other side of the story. I have a feeling we're hearing a limited view of what happened, especially since this store is having to explain why they were dropped from the program, and why, in particular, their store was targeted for audit. I'm betting most blue label dealers file copies of the Military/LEO IDs and the forms with the 4473 anyway, maybe that's part of the issue... sounds like Glock needs to confirm what record keeping is required though either way. I know some blue label dealers have no problem letting Glock confirm purchase requirements by looking through the 4473s...

[dustdevil]

Not new. In fact here is a link to a rant from another site back in 2011.

http://www.m4carbine.net/archive/index.php/t-80244.html

If a store wants to take part in a sales program they need to understand and abide by the rules of the sales program. If they do not want to abide by the rules then don't take part in the program. The worst thing is complaining about the program.

If you have a new car dealership and don't want to abide by the rules set by the manufacturer you don't have to. You can sell used cars.

[Big E3]

I was unclear if Glock wanted all 4473's or just those involving Glock sales.

The Blue Label program is definitely operating on a thin margin at $398.20 for most small caliber guns. I'm sure they don't want a dealer buying from Glock at LE discount prices and selling to civilians at higher prices giving an unfair advantage to competition. Glock also has to keep general civilian dealers happy as well and justify the price they pay. Glock even tells BL dealers how much they can offer for used trade ins. The BL dealer that I know can not offer any new Glocks to the general public even at higher MSRP prices. These dealers have to jump though hoops to keep that BL contract even though they don't make much on each gun they sell. Photo copies of LE ID's are keep with the 4473 on each BL transaction. I'm thinking this shop may have been trying to sell Glocks at various prices and blurring the line between BL and civilian guns and possibly not being diligent in record keeping. I'm sure Glock was trying to determine from the 4473 if new Glocks were being sold at higher civilian prices or to civilians at lower LE prices. Glock has all the serial numbers of the guns that are shipped to any BL shop.

[Limited GM]

If memory serves, don't they ask the dealer to attack the second card Glock, sends to the form? Possibly they're just making sure the right people are getting the discounts.