The Firing Line....

OK, so I sold a couple surplus handguns and did the transfer through The Firing line. They hit me up for the State's $6 right off the bat, we did the transfer and then laid on the transfer fee for two handguns was $30 a piece, $60 total. That's just shy of 10% of the sale, and the only skin they had in it was a few minutes of paperwork, and both guns went on the same form. Plus, the buyer stayed and shot the guns so they collected a range fee and probably sold some ammo too. I was looking at a Springfield 1911, with newly gotten cash in hand (a dangerous situation for me), that I was going to buy until the transfer fee amount came up.

I find $30 a transfer high for what they do to get it. We are stuck with the stupid private transfer law in CO, and charging outrageous fees for something we have to do takes advantage of law abiding citizens, 'gun people', the very people they who keep them in business. All the counter guy could say when I complained, is "some are higher, some are lower, we are right in the middle', and told me one of the big box stores charged $50. I thought it was interesting that the best defense he could come up with is comparing their shop with a big box store. I suppose that's only fair, since their new gun prices seem to be in line with what the big box stores charge.

That, and their percentage for consignments is 20%, which I think is pretty high as well.

I get it's a free market system and they can choose to charge whatever they want, just like we can choose to spend our money wherever we want.

Are their fees pretty typical for what shops charge in the Denver Metro area?

I've done all lf my transfers with Noah at Ark Tactical for the past few years, but I recently moved from Littleton to Aurora, within walking distance to The Firing Line.

I will make the drive to Ark Tactical to do all of my transactions and purchases from now on, and probably should have done it yesterday too. Those guys make you feel like family and I like doing business with them.

The Firing Line got me once, but they won't get me again.

If you want to keep your ffl, you can keep your ffl.

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Originally Posted by Cofaler

OK, so I sold a couple surplus handguns and did the transfer through The Firing line. They hit me up for the State's $6 right off the bat, we did the transfer and then laid on the transfer fee for two handguns was $30 a piece, $60 total. That's just shy of 10% of the sale, and the only skin they had in it was a few minutes of paperwork, and both guns went on the same form. Plus, the buyer stayed and shot the guns so they collected a range fee and probably sold some ammo too. I was looking at a Springfield 1911, with newly gotten cash in hand (a dangerous situation for me), that I was going to buy until the transfer fee amount came up.

I find $30 a transfer high for what they do to get it. We are stuck with the stupid private transfer law in CO, and charging outrageous fees for something we have to do takes advantage of law abiding citizens, 'gun people', the very people they who keep them in business. All the counter guy could say when I complained, is "some are higher, some are lower, we are right in the middle', and told me one of the big box stores charged $50. I thought it was interesting that the best defense he could come up with is comparing their shop with a big box store. I suppose that's only fair, since their new gun prices seem to be in line with what the big box stores charge.

That, and their percentage for consignments is 20%, which I think is pretty high as well.

I get it's a free market system and they can choose to charge whatever they want, just like we can choose to spend our money wherever we want.

Are their fees pretty typical for what shops charge in the Denver Metro area?

I've done all lf my transfers with Noah at Ark Tactical for the past few years, but I recently moved from Littleton to Aurora, within walking distance to The Firing Line.

I will make the drive to Ark Tactical to do all of my transactions and purchases from now on, and probably should have done it yesterday too. Those guys make you feel like family and I like doing business with them.

The Firing Line got me once, but they won't get me again.

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Did you ask how much they charged before hand? If not that's on you.

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Originally Posted by Great-Kazoo

Did you ask how much they charged before hand? If not that's on you.

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Pretty much what I was thinking...

I used to shoot there a bunch, they're all pretty good people. I charge way more for work that I don't want to do too. If you'er willing to pay me twice the typical rate for some bullshit work that I don't want to do in the first place I'll take the cash. That's on the customer in my opinion. They probably consider the transfer a pain in the ass so they charge more.

I have gone there a lot before just to look at their variety of guns, specifically they're 1911's. I've always known their transfer fees to be high compared to others the past few years, especially for form 4's. Another reason why I use Danger Lee. He beats all prices and is close to me.

Thirty bucks isn't so bad. As I recall, during the height of The Panic, they charged at least $80 for incoming shipment transfers. I just found some much better deals and still use them. Try Rapid Fire Bunker. I just completed a deal there with another board member and it only cost me $21.

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Originally Posted by Cofaler

OK, so I sold a couple surplus handguns and did the transfer through The Firing line. They hit me up for the State's $6 right off the bat, we did the transfer and then laid on the transfer fee for two handguns was $30 a piece, $60 total. That's just shy of 10% of the sale, and the only skin they had in it was a few minutes of paperwork, and both guns went on the same form. Plus, the buyer stayed and shot the guns so they collected a range fee and probably sold some ammo too. I was looking at a Springfield 1911, with newly gotten cash in hand (a dangerous situation for me), that I was going to buy until the transfer fee amount came up.

I find $30 a transfer high for what they do to get it. We are stuck with the stupid private transfer law in CO, and charging outrageous fees for something we have to do takes advantage of law abiding citizens, 'gun people', the very people they who keep them in business. All the counter guy could say when I complained, is "some are higher, some are lower, we are right in the middle', and told me one of the big box stores charged $50. I thought it was interesting that the best defense he could come up with is comparing their shop with a big box store. I suppose that's only fair, since their new gun prices seem to be in line with what the big box stores charge.

That, and their percentage for consignments is 20%, which I think is pretty high as well.

I get it's a free market system and they can choose to charge whatever they want, just like we can choose to spend our money wherever we want.

Are their fees pretty typical for what shops charge in the Denver Metro area?

I've done all lf my transfers with Noah at Ark Tactical for the past few years, but I recently moved from Littleton to Aurora, within walking distance to The Firing Line.

I will make the drive to Ark Tactical to do all of my transactions and purchases from now on, and probably should have done it yesterday too. Those guys make you feel like family and I like doing business with them.

The Firing Line got me once, but they won't get me again.

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LMFAO not true at all

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Originally Posted by Wiggity

LMFAO not true at all

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What part?

I personally live about 10 min away from FL and would still rather take the drive to Ark. that's my own opinion and in no way reflects the view's of the other staff or the site as a whole.

I've never really been impressed with Firing Line for whatever reason for going there. I'm not bashing them, didn't hate it either, I just don't like the vibe there.

Not to bring up an old subject- but I was the mgr who dealt with this customer, who turned on a dime from quiet to loud and super shitty when he was told the transfer fee ($30) on top of the state fee. I did my best to explain to him that our fees were right in the middle as far as the Denver metro transfer fees are structured. Like anything else on the face of the earth, if you are inquisitive, ask questions and are a good shopper, you can find better prices, and you will also find higher. That being said, our prices for guns are some of the lowest in town, the range (with no time limit) is the most affordable in town, and there is as much if not more expertise behind the counter than other stores. If his behavior at FL is indicative of other situations where he doesn't get his way because he did no due diligence- we would be happy to suggest other options. As far as the customer who bought his guns, he was as appalled as we were at the op's behavior- (as were other customers), so we gave him free range time that day.

Only problem I've had there was they wouldn't let me shoot an M1 carbine in the range.

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Originally Posted by Otterbatcat

I've never really been impressed with Firing Line for whatever reason for going there. I'm not bashing them, didn't hate it either, I just don't like the vibe there.

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Could it be the sound of dueling banjos as soon as you walk in the door?

Been in there a few times over the years, while in the metro area. Never an issue with staff or prices on items i had an interest in.

Close to home. About the cheapest range fee in town, and as mentioned above, add the fact that it's "shoot as long as you want".

I've been involved in a couple of firearm purchases there, and had no issues. I've never done a transfer there, private party or shipped-in, so I can't speak to that specifically.

BUT, I will say that it does irritate me that most FFL's (even some of our beloved IP's) multiply the transfer fee by the number of serial numbers processed, even though they are on the same form. That kind of stings when you are picking up 3-5 stripped lowers.

It's a handgun caliber only range. 15 yards. Rifle calibers blow everyone else on the range away, even more so than say.... .44 Mag. During the panic, the transfer fees were raised to $50. Then we lowered them again when things calmed down. The problem during the panic was storage space, the volume, and the fact that naturally we would rather sell a gun than process a transfer. I remember that during the panic, 5280 actually had to rope off the center of their store because they had no place else to keep the huge number of transfers that were coming in. Our backrooms were full to bursting. I would also suggest that the cost of a transfer does not cover the cost of processing it, especially when you consider the number of people who do their compare, contrast, handling and Q&A at a brick and mortar, then go to their computer to buy the gun. What's wrong with dueling banjos? That's good music thet rat thar.

Need to stop in and check the place out. The wife gave me permission to do some weekend shooting

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Originally Posted by streetglideok

Need to stop in and check the place out. The wife gave me permission to do some weekend shooting

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Make sure they let you shoot by yourself if not you will need to drag someone along. Ssome places do not allow it due to suicide risk.

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Originally Posted by USMC88-93

Make sure they let you shoot by yourself if not you will need to drag someone along. Ssome places do not allow it due to suicide risk.

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Was there yesterday by myself. Only when renting guns does this apply.

I was there a few weeks ago as well, and had a good experience. I got there first thing on a Saturday morning and there was already a line of people at the door waiting on the range. They have two sides to their range, a public side and a members side. We filled up the public side pretty quickly, and I didn't notice how the members side was doing. The staff was attentive and helped me with questions and showed me how to clear a jam (went home and promptly performed my first cleaning and oiling.) Their targeting system isn't as advanced as what is available at the Centennial Gun Club, as far as I can tell. Just a simple forward/back movement to set distance. I like that it is unlimited time on the range, but I wonder if that bites them too with people camping out for hours. Anyway, I had a good experience there and plan to go back for handgun practice as it is close and I think during off hours I would probably get right in.

-John

At least they will do a transfer, both FFL to FFL and private individual to their FFL. Lots of FFL wont do transfers, so I give Firing Line a pass on this. I occasionally find a treasure on GB and with the Firing line I have a way to get it.

$6 state fee is non-negotiable, and is going up to $15 in Feb or March of this year last I heard. $30 transfer is not bad, would like to see a reduction if doing multiples on one form, but it's about in the middle. IF I was transferring more than 2 items I'd probably find a better deal.

Brick and mortar cost $ to operate and in all reality their prices aren't too bad for new, I consider their 20% consignment high though, should be 12-15%.

Bottom line, I continue to do business there and at other stores.

This thread delivers.

I have no issue with shooters who shop around for the best deal. I shop at both Safeway and King Soopers depending on what's on sale- or if one has what I need and the other doesn't. I consider myself a good shopper and hold no grudge against others who make the same effort. Like any brick and mortar, there are advantages and disadvantages to each store. Long before I started working at FL, I was a member of their range. I lived in west Lakewood at the time. I joined because of cheap range fees, unlimited time, and a great and ever-changing selection of used guns. All of those strengths still apply. We have people who come in regularly who bemoan the prices at Centennial. At the same time, We send customers regularly down to Bowers because to me- they ARE the AR specialists in the Denver Metro area. That is their gig and they are good at it. Likewise, I think the best range in the Denver metro area is Bristlecone. At FL, we just ask that you include us in your list of places worth stopping by. We'll try to make it worth your while!

I've not done any transfers through FL, but I have purchased several guns from them, including my first AR, at what I consider to be fair prices. I've only used the range a couple times, mainly because up until the massive influx of people moving here, I chose to hit the forest, and now I'm not near the FL. The staff their were always very friendly and helpful (especially sneakered and the guy with the accent). My only complaint, and it's no fault of the FL, are the thugs that wander in from the surrounding area, but I guess that comes with the location.

A government license is not a free market.