$47 private party transfers at Paradise Sales in Colo Spgs! Lost a customer for life

A while back, I sold a revolver to a member. As he was coming down to Colo Spgs from Denver, we met at Paradise Sales (just off I-25 in CS). It took them nearly an hour to complete the paperwork, prior to submitting it. I had a pleasant conversation with my buyer, but would have appreciated a little more timely processing. When we finally finished up, they hit me for $40 plus $7 for the state. When I asked about the high price, I got lectured on how long the process takes. Everyone else seems to be able to do it for less than $40 and an hour of my time. I always try to support the small shops, even when they are a little more expensive than the big box gun shops. Paradise Sales is the exception. Their $47 transfer just cost them a customer, for life. The few hundred I spent in there per year, isn't going to make much difference, but I assume I'm not the only one. I literally drive past their shop twice a day, but I will never give them another cent.

Don't ask the cost of the transfer prior to doing the transfer? Interesting...

You guys are lucky I don't have a shop. I'd do the transfer for free and just charge the $7 CBI fee. I figure it would be a good way to bring new people into the shop and maybe make a few more sales.

$20 transfer fee shops abound, why patronize someone that charges more?

And I agree that you should have verified the fee beforehand. Sounds like you paid fees, so the only inconvenience to the buyer was his time, no small thing in and of itself for some folks.

Even twenty bucks is too much. The way the stupid law was written it stated the dealer could charge a fee not to exceed $10 plus the CBI fee. The CBI fee was lowered to $7.

In my eyes, according to state law, you shouldn't pay more than $17 for a private party transfer.

If someone is charging more than the $10 then they are in violation of state law as far as I'm concerned.

That's why many dealers don't even offer the service. It just isn't worth their time.

I am so sick of this BS BGC law. I buy and sell from private parties fairly often. It's bad enough that I have to do the BCG but the fees are really pissing me off. There is only one place in the Springs that I know of that will do the check for $17 total. Unfortunately the owner is such a douche I won't go there any more. Everyone else is $25-$50 (or won't do them period).
Yes, I know it takes some of the dealers time but from what I have seen it is very little and $10 is more then appropriate for the time spent. And $10 is better then making nothing while you are just sitting around your shop in my opinion.

"an hour to complete the paperwork, prior to submitting "

WOW, just WOW. Did they do it in calligraphy?

BTW, I charge the state allowed 10 dollars for the background, the 7 buck state fee, and 10 dollars for my expenses not associated with the background check. It's still not worth it.

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Originally Posted by Alpha2

"an hour to complete the paperwork, prior to submitting "

WOW, just WOW. Did they do it in calligraphy?

BTW, I charge the state allowed 10 dollars for the background, the 7 buck state fee, and 10 dollars for my expenses not associated with the background check. It's still not worth it.

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Understandable. However there are those who appreciate you taking time from your day to assist us.

Wow. That's why I use Bill Stark. Last transfer I did (with a member here for a Marlin .30-30) cost $15.

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Originally Posted by Alpha2

"an hour to complete the paperwork, prior to submitting "

WOW, just WOW. Did they do it in calligraphy?

BTW, I charge the state allowed 10 dollars for the background, the 7 buck state fee, and 10 dollars for my expenses not associated with the background check. It's still not worth it.

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Shop fees. Understandable. $27 is still not $47. $40 fee is outrageous and downright anti-2A. We all argue about a business/owner's right not to be regulated by the gov, but if you're going to offer a service, shouldn't you at least try to be reasonable and competitive? (not directed at you Alpha2)

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Originally Posted by brutal

..... but if you're going to offer a service, shouldn't you at least try to be reasonable and competitive?

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Only if your intention is to increase your market coverage.

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Originally Posted by hurley842002

Don't ask the cost of the transfer prior to doing the transfer? Interesting...

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I made the mistake of assuming that a reputable shop would be in the same ballpark as state mandated cost. You know what happens when you assume... Regardless, I think a $30 fee on top of a $10 service is just profiteering on a stupid law and bad customer service.

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Originally Posted by Camperdavid

I made the mistake of assuming that a reputable shop would be in the same ballpark as state mandated cost. You know what happens when you assume... Regardless, I think a $30 fee on top of a $10 service is just profiteering on a stupid law and bad customer service.

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That's why one inquires what the fee is, BEFORE using their shop.

When a shop charges more than $20, I always assume it's because they're trying to not get people to do the transfer there. If anyone bites, great, they make a good profit. If not, they're happier that way. However, with CO laws changing and forcing all law abiding people to do this, I almost feel it's just wrong to gouge on this. I ended up purchasing another firearm during my last transfer so you never know what a $20 transfer will get you. However, I feel this was probably part of the big picture. It discourages private party sales when the cost gets up to $50 for a transfer.

If I were a shop, which I'm not, I might offer free transfer with the purchase of any $10+ item. If you're going to charge for it, might as well move inventory at the same time and let the customer feel like they are getting at least something for their money. I don't know how realistic that might be with real numbers and real inventory though.

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Originally Posted by Irving

If I were a shop, which I'm not, I might offer free transfer with the purchase of any $10+ item. If you're going to charge for it, might as well move inventory at the same time and let the customer feel like they are getting at least something for their money. I don't know how realistic that might be with real numbers and real inventory though.

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Seems very realistic, Damage factory does it.

While I occasionally enjoy browsing at Paradise, I've never purchased a firearm from them. And this type of treatment cements my commitment to never spend my 💰 there,

sent via electronic leash

Plus the guy that's always in a shirt and tie, is more than a little pompous.

sent via electronic leash

Is there special paperwork for the private transfers? I've not done any. My last BGC was pretty much instant. Took about 5 minutes.

Did a transfer, with a member, last year with Pre Paired(sp). It's in Lafayette. 10 minutes on the computer cost $40. Not the seller's fault, it was a central location. That transaction has cost PP at least $500-&700 in profits and some bad press. They had a decent selection and I had some time to look around but after I got the bill, all I wanted to do was leave. Lesson learned.