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FFL Transfer fees

rameleni1rameleni1 Member Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭
edited August 2002 in General Discussion
Just curious. What is a "reasonable" amount for a transfer fee (FFL-FFL-me)? I called around today and was quoted $20.00 up to $50.00 for a transfer fee (incoming---if that makes any difference).
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  • rameleni1rameleni1 Member Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Seems around here $25-$35 is normal. I've heard others pay more or less. Just curious, what do you pay?

    Dealers, how much should this cost and why? Seems it only takes a few minutes. To me, I'm paying because you went to the trouble of getting the FFL, not how much time it takes per transfer. Curious.
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  • rameleni1rameleni1 Member Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have bought a few guns here at gunbroker. The thing that kills me is the transfer fees. I have to pay 50.00, plus shipping for ffl tranfer fees. I live in a Chicago suburb, and thats the going price. I could travel 100+ miles to save $25.00, but I don't feel its worth my time. There have been many Auctions of 100-200 dollars that I would have bid on. But add the other fees, and your not saving anything. Is there a member here that can do tranfer fees cheaper, out of state, and send the item to me? I don't want to break any laws, I'm just looking at a better, cheaper way of buying online. I have seen ffl's listing 10.00 for tranfers. Some say plus a percentage. Can the ffl's charge whatever they want to? Any help or info would be great.

    Rameleni1
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  • rameleni1rameleni1 Member Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is it normal if you have two guns sent to an FFL that you pay a transfer fee for each one? I am just checking boefore I go through with a buy. I was thinking that since I would be picking them up at the same time there was only one transfer fee.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    If the gun was shipped out of state, you would be in the same boat you are in now. Surely in such a populous area, there is a dealer who will do a transfer for a reasonable fee.

    BTW, I charge $15, but I can't help you, being in Texas.

    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have to pay Shipping, $30. Transfer Fee and $5. NICS Fee.

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    I look at the transfer fee as found money. How can you not?

    I didn't have to find the gun. I didn't have to make a deal to buy it. I didn't have to lay out any money for it. All I had to do is accept it from the UPS guy and call the buyer to come get it. The paperwork takes about 15 minutes tops.

    $15 for 15 minutes isn't bad pay.

    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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  • interstatepawnllcinterstatepawnllc Member Posts: 9,390
    edited November -1
    I agree with Nunn. $20.00 later and I probably have a lifetime customer.
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    I do mine through Lewisville Pawn shop in Lewisville, Texas. $10 complete. Danny White is a square dealer in my eyes. He kind of looks at it the way Nunn does.

    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Private sales in-state between locals are handled at any gun shop in town for a $10 fee. For some reason, they see mail order as competition that is more serious than local transfers, so they want a price that is basically right out of their imagination. They think they deserve a profit margin because they are "technically selling you the gun." Some insist on state sales tax too.

    The best advice I can give you is that you will often have better luck with the non-stocking dealer FFLers than with traditional shops in places where fees are jacked up. If you can find someone like an armorer or a maker of custom parts with an FFL, chances are the price may be lower because they consider it a small sideline. Just make sure everything is clear in advance, including their available business hours for you to pick up the gun when it arrives, and the types of shipping they will accept. I have a dealer here who "doesn't like" U.S. mail, for example, even though it's cheaper for me if the seller happens to be a dealer. Sellers can ship guns by mail at half the cost of UPS -- if they want to.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boy, if I were in your shoes, I'd just go ahead and get your own FFL, four transfers and you'd already payed for it. Not only that, but you could help friends out, and charge them something reasonable like dinner, ammo, or they pay shipping and you order yourself something with their order.

    $50 sound rediculous (sp), maybe you should talk to your dealer, or shop around for another one. Put it back on there plate, offer them the oppurtunity to make $10 on a transfer or you'll just find another dealer.

    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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  • AntiqueDrAntiqueDr Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I charge.... zero. Nothing. Nada. Nil. Zip.

    Doing a transfer doesnt cost me a dime and gets customers into the store (to buy ammo, drop off repair, buy other guns. etc).

    Transfers are the best free advertising I've ever done.

    We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Master Dealer for Kimber, Wilson Combat and Dan Wesson.Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    AntiqueDr --

    Too bad we don't all live near you.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • almagunsalmaguns Member Posts: 88 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    We charge $10 for long guns and $18 for handguns ($8 state fee) for doing the paperwork.Some times we do end up with a new customer.rameleni, we're about 3 hrs from Chicago and the fishing is great.
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  • grizzclawgrizzclaw Member Posts: 1,159 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Paula in New Philly Ohio charged me $10, got me in the store, and I bought another gun from her. It was good for both of us.

    Thanks, Grizztribefans@sssnet.com
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  • boeboeboeboe Member Posts: 3,331
    edited November -1
    Fifty is just too dang much. My friendly FFL doesn't charge me anything, but that's because we are old friends. Did you check the gunbroker directory of FFL's near you?

    To err is human, to moo is bovine.
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  • sandman2234sandman2234 Member Posts: 894 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had bought a couple of guns online, when a friend told me the best place in town was across town (about 20 miles each way) for 15 dollars. I politely told him about the guy I use for $10, which included the $8 dollar call in(sometimes). He shortly thereafter quit charging me for any of it, so I don't know if his rates have gone up any, but I doubt it. He says he gets to see some really interesting guns by doing it cheap. He is a heck of a nice guy, and very knowledgable about guns and everything else that I can think of.

    Have Gun, will travel
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  • Warpig883Warpig883 Member Posts: 6,459
    edited November -1
    The FFL I was using was charging $10 and went up to $20 because he said it was taking up too much of his time.

    Since then i have found two other FFLs who only charge $10.00 and they are both closer to me.




    I hope he has plenty of time on his hands now.

    moc.murofsmraerifeht.www
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  • WheelgunWheelgun Member Posts: 149 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boy do I feel guilty..... My dealer here in New Hampshire charges me... OK guys, are ya ready... not one red cent to receive a gun for me from an out of state FFL holder. But, I do give these guys a good bit of my money in exchange for some of the guns they have on display in their shop from time to time. Guess it's a win-win situation for both of us, huh?

    On the topic of background checks, I was under the impression that these were free everywhere in the U.S. What's up with that? These same guys don't charge me for that either. Am I living right or what?

    Wheelgun
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  • n4thethrilln4thethrill Member Posts: 366 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    man some of you guys are gitting ripped in my opinion Antiquedr has the right answer if it doesn't cost anything don't charge anything you will end up making more money off repeat customers

    my dealer when i approached him about the first transfer and asked him what he charged just laughed said it didn't cost him anything to recieve the the package and it's free to reg. so he doesn't charge anything one of the few good guys left

    you can be king or street sweeper but everyone is going to dance with the reaper
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  • pikeal1pikeal1 Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November -1
    I think if you were to talk to your local FFL you could probably cut a deal with him. Hell, im sure you buy ammo when you get the gun at the shop anyway. You could probably knock some sense into that guy. Just tell him you'd buy a lot more guns and have him receive them if he wouldn't charge so damn much.

    Alex
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  • rameleni1rameleni1 Member Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The thing that really makes me mad, is that I am repeat customer of the gun store that charges me 50.00. The owner knows me by name, and I have bought 5 guns there in the last 18 months. I just did a rough estimate of what I have spent there, 2000.00. That doesn't include the transfer fees.

    Rameleni1
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My FFL charges $10. I give him $15 because he is a good guy and has to pay for the phone call.

    A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand
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  • The firearms consultantThe firearms consultant Member Posts: 716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As an FFL in Kalifornia, I only charge 10.00. I believe that is all I can charge for the transfer. The customer pays 30.00 of which 20.00 is sent Sacramento for the back-ground check. UPS shipping on a handgun is what really drives the price up.

    I might not always tell you the truth, but I will never lie to you!
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    In the Ft. Wayne area we have several dealers willing to do this, some shops and some smaller guys. Prices are all over the place so I have trouble keeping them straight. They're all too high compared to what I'm hearing from you. The biggest legit shop in town is probably H&H, and they want a flat $30. A fellow with a smaller shop wants 10% plus sales tax. He figures since you can order anything you want from him, even if he doesn't carry an item you ought to come to him first. He always claims when you've bought from soembody else that he could've beat the deal, but when you go in to see him about the price of a gun, unless you have already got a price from somewhere else, he's higher, of course.

    Another guy who does custom black rifle work couldn't make up his mind, but finally decided he'll only work with CCW people, and charge $20 because $15 wasn't enough for his time, but he won't accept U.S. Mail, only FedEx or UPS, meaning of course $25 or more in shipping cost rather than $12 or $13.

    It's a jungle out there! Since even local private transactions now have a $10 transfer fee attached (unless you want to risk a no-papers sale) I don't imagine we'll see free transactions to get people into the shops. Frankly, they're not that smart.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • Evil ATFEvil ATF Member Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Pay for the phone call?

    It's never cost me a red cent to do a background check on someone.

    Is this a dealer scam, or a state by state thing?

    I'm in WA, BTW.

    Stand And Be Counted
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  • AlmagunaAlmaguna Member Posts: 62 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here in Wi. we have to do a state check on handguns as well as Fed. The Wi. Handgun Hotline charges $8 for each check. I would guess that other states have done the same.
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  • KonetKonet Member Posts: 72 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The best way is to get a friend who has a FFL my friend got one.

    We both love guns and we charge our friends or ppl who ask nicley we dont charge its all fun.
    man it like no work for money i mean no one should charge costs like nothing.
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  • Evil ATFEvil ATF Member Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A State check as well as the Fed check?

    That's outright stupidity, not to mention highway robbery.

    Maybe the Socialist Republic of Washington isn't as bad as I thought...

    Stand And Be Counted
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This is were I get my Ammo from (Winchester 9mm 115gr. Silvertips, no one else stocks them) and this is why I don't use them as my FFL.

    Paul Rukab
    St. Nicholas Jewelry and Gun
    12641 San Jose Blvd
    Jacksonville, FL 32223
    email: Click here to email me
    phone: 904-262-2266
    fax: 904-880-4868

    Hours: 10-5 Mon - Sat
    Transfer fee: 10% of item value, min $50

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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