Friendly FFL for Transfers?

[Bailey Guns]

Where did that come from?

I thought the first line of my response was pretty well self-explanatory.

It was pretty much initiated by this (which is a constantly recurring theme on gun forums) and which, like I said, rubs me the wrong way:

I'm looking for a Friendly FFL for Transferring some Out of State Buys and, possibly, negotiating some purchases... if the price is right.

Like I said...maybe I'm just being over-sensitive. On the other hand, maybe it's warranted.

Up to you to decide.

[BPTactical]

Maybe I'm being a little over-sensitive. Maybe I'm reading more into this post than I really should. But posts like this really rub me the wrong way.

I've been in the biz for about 10 years. I've never charged more than $25 (it was only $20 for the longest time) for a transfer. That $20 - $25 included:

• Paperwork - faxing FFL to other dealers with attendant long distance charges
• Maintaining paperwork according to BATFE rules
• Phone calls on behalf of transferee
• Time spent on background check
• Physically receiving the gun
• Disposing of all the trash/excess packing material with attendant costs of time and money
• Cleaning up the mess because so many morons don't know how to pack stuff
• Dealing with idiot customers (transferees) who think it's my fault or my responsibility that the item wasn't received when they thought it should be
• Dealing with idiot customers who thought they shouldn't have to pay for the transfer because the gun wasn't what they expected
• Dealing with idiot customers who thought I was responsible for refunding their money or shipping the gun back to the seller because it wasn't what they thought it should be
• Dealing with idiot customers who thought it was my responsibility to be their warranty station for an online purchase
• Receiving guns (way too often, I might add) with no return address, no documentation as to whom it's for, no way to contact the sender, no way to properly log it into the books without much time/resources spent on emails, phone calls, etc...

I'll be honest. I really get tired of people who seem to think it's all on the FFL to be the "good" guy. Most dealers have overhead to take care of and the price for a transfer usually doesn't cover much of the cost when time is included.

Transfers are a service. They're done for the benefit of the customer...not the FFL. I guarantee you the small price charged for transfers is oftentimes not worth it. Of course, there are exceptions.

Many of my customers understand all of the above because they have an inkling of what it's like to run/operate/manage a business. The best customers, what I'll call the "friendly" customers, don't piss and moan about a measly $25 when they know they're already getting a good deal on an online purchase. They're thankful they have someone nearby and readily available to complete the transfer for them and understand there's a bottom line to be concerned about. I've always bent over backwards to deliver this customer the best service possible. And when they come back and actually buy something from my store, I keep that in mind and their transfer charges usually drop to $0 - $10.

They don't have the attitude of "maybe I'll do you the favor of doing business with you in the future if you'll fore-go your pittance of a service fee for this transfer". Which, in reality means, "Fat chance, dude. I can get a cheaper price from an online dealer and reluctantly pay your $25 fee. But first I'll string you along a little bit and make a few phone calls to you and have you waste your time looking up a price and/or delivery time for my special order just to make you feel good." This is the customer that doesn't understand their $25, while a nice token, isn't really going to "save" the company from bankruptcy.

So, my suggestion to those of you looking for a "friendly" FFL to do your transfers, is to look at how you want to be treated and then put yourself into the dealer's shoes. They like to be treated nicely, too.

The $20 - $25 transfer fee you pay today could be one of the best professional relationship investments you make in the long run.

THIS!
X10,000

Excellent post Bailey! You have succinctly defined why I have no desire to conduct retail/transfers and sales.
I am perfectly happy working on firearms as opposed to selling and or transferring firearms. I know I am losing money by not doing so but to me at this stage of the business it just is not worth the aggravation for the low return.
Sorta like doing an action job on a Taurus, too much time for too little return.

If I want to make money selling anything it will be womens lingerie and yes, I will offer custom fittings

[Bailey Guns]

Forgot to mention...

My perspective was written after receiving a phone call yesterday from a guy who's waiting on a transfer to come in. Just the tone of his call left me with a bad taste in my mouth. The gun isn't here and he's calling me to find out why with a real attitude in his voice on the message. Since I didn't ship the gun I suggested maybe he should call the dealer that did ship the gun to find out why.

This is the type of thing I'm talking about. Sometimes, $25 ain't worth the brain damage.

[Bailey Guns]

Sorta like doing an action job on a Taurus, too much time for too little return.

I don't know why...well, yeah, I do...but this made me laugh out loud!



Thanks, BP. I was hoping someone would understand.

[Monky]

Perhaps the OP meant an FFL who understands that the customer got a better deal and isn't going to harass him about not 'supporting the local guy'. Dealing with a piss poor attitude from the operators of said store about the transfer..

I'm all for supporting the local guy.. I understand what it takes to run a business. I also understand that in order to have repeat customers you can't treat people with disrespect, or talk down to them. It is your choice to deal with the idiots of the world by having a store that sells to the general populace.. if you don't want people using you for a transfer try to turn them into customers.. instead of posting a rant on the internet about the BS you deal with.

I did a transfer at a store.. and I'm not kidding you I saved $200 after the transfer cost than if I had purchased from them, and even got the item w/ trijicon sights on it. All I heard when I went to do the xfer 'why didn't you just buy it here', 'we don't HAVE to do xfers'. I have neither purchased an item from them since then nor used them for an xfer.

Perhaps the OP has dealt with this same thing.

[Bailey Guns]

Treating people with disrespect and "talking down to them" is a two-way street, my friend. If you expect a certain level of customer service don't go into the customer/businessman relationship with that same piss-poor attitude.

I run my business outta my house now. For the previous 8 years I had a very successful storefront. Everyone always got the best price I could manage and still cover the bills.

Here's a true story:

Customer calls me one day telling me he's got a screaming deal online on a certain gun. Then he says, "I'm just calling to see if you can beat that price. I doubt it 'cause businesses in Bailey always just want to rip people off. If you can beat the price I'll do ya a favor and buy it from you."

"OK," I think to myself. "This guys a jerk but he is offering me the chance to earn his business."

"What gun is it and what're you paying for the gun and shipping? Don't forget to add the transfer fee."

He tells me and I don't remember what it was. It was a rifle from one of the Italian makers...Uberti, maybe. Total cost delivered including transfer fee was something like $1386 if I recall correctly. I told him I'd call him back.

So, I look up the gun. $775 dealer cost, with about $15 shipping. Now, normally, I would've quoted the guy about 10% over that cost with a few (2 - 3) points added in for credit card fees. It was under $900 out the door.

But, I remembered the conversation we had and decided to do exactly what he wanted. I gave him a quote of $1375 out the door...tax, title, license,dealer prep and delivery included.

He was happy and said, "Order it up. Here's my CC info." Of course, I was happy, too.

Moral of the story? I dunno. Maybe it's just that sometimes you get out of a relationship what you put into it.

And BTW...I never said I minded doing transfers. As a matter of fact, I love doing transfers for the majority of customers who understand a business relationship. What bothered me was doing transfers for people who thought I was their whipping boy and their $20 or $25 was the last few bucks I needed to keep me out of the poor house or buy that new Mercedes. I've probably done as many transfers at $0 as I have at $20 or $25.

[Lex_Luthor]

Freedom First Firearms
110 West 70th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80221
303-428-4700

I'm going to have to check out this store, it's only a few blocks from where I live.

[TFOGGER]

I feel for ya, Bailey. I am also in a business with intense online competition. There's always some whore out there that's willing to make $4 on a tire and $2 on the shipping. That is why I charge more to mount tires bought somewhere else. I already have the lowest local price 99% of the time, and by far the least expensive labor, and guys want to nickel and dime me over a $3 dollar difference in price. Then they want to call me and get free mechanical advice, when the bike doesn't run right after they misinstall the parts they bought online. And I have to be nice, because if I'm a d!ck, they'll plaster it all over a bazillion online forums....rrrrr.......need more caffeine......

[Bailey Guns]

Bingo, TFOGGER. Then that same person will be the first one to bitch when there isn't a decent place nearby to get his bike serviced or his tires mounted.

[Byte Stryke]

Perhaps the OP meant an FFL who understands that the customer got a better deal and isn't going to harass him about not 'supporting the local guy'. Dealing with a piss poor attitude from the operators of said store about the transfer..

I'm all for supporting the local guy.. I understand what it takes to run a business. I also understand that in order to have repeat customers you can't treat people with disrespect, or talk down to them. It is your choice to deal with the idiots of the world by having a store that sells to the general populace.. if you don't want people using you for a transfer try to turn them into customers.. instead of posting a rant on the internet about the BS you deal with.

I did a transfer at a store.. and I'm not kidding you I saved $200 after the transfer cost than if I had purchased from them, and even got the item w/ trijicon sights on it. All I heard when I went to do the xfer 'why didn't you just buy it here', 'we don't HAVE to do xfers'. I have neither purchased an item from them since then nor used them for an xfer.

Perhaps the OP has dealt with this same thing.

+1

been here, been subjected to this.

I Wasn't the guy calling the FFL Receiver. Call me crazy, but I Called the Seller, got a tracking number and called the Carrier.
Get this... it worked!

Retailer transfers are horrible because the employees dont actually give a shit if you come back or not. They are hourly cogs that may or may not be there in 6 months. They are simply aggravated that they aren't getting a commission percentage from selling you the same weapon at an exaggerated price.

I Fully sympathize with Bailey Guns, most people placed into customer mode are selfish, stupid and short sighted.