quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
There are a bunch of cost and operational issues people overlook.

First, figure out what it costs for the shop to be open for you to come into to do a transfer. Rent, utilities, insurance, storage (yes, the 4473s are held for 20 years, so there is a cost associated with storage), salary, the lot. Then divide that by the number of minutes the shop is open. That gives a per minute operational cost. Figure handling a transfer takes about 30 minutes, if you are efficient (10 minutes before, 10 minutes while you are there, and 10 minutes after you leave). Include the costs for BATFE audits of the records too. That gives you an idea of what the shop should be charging.

If you think it is easier or takes less time, by all means, enlighten us on what is involved and how shops can speed things up and save money on transfers.

If you want a means to measure the actual cost for a gun in stock at a local shop, takes Bud's price, add 5%, plus $20 S&H, then add another 20% to cover the operational costs of having it there for you to fondle. While you can get it from Bud's for cost plus 5%, plus $20 plus the transfer fee, the dealer has to cover the cost of having it in stock (they shelled out money to have it to sell) and the staff time to show it to potential buyers (most of whom fondle but don't buy).

Then there is another cost issue: sales tax. Most people erroneously believe there is no sales tax on goods bought out of state. In Virginia, you are still liable for the sales tax on all goods bought outside the Commonwealth. Most don't pay it. The local gun shop, however, has no choice but to include that 6% on your invoice.

Then if the shop comes in at less than the actual cost for a transfer, decide if you will help defray that loss by purchasing something from their retail stock.

If they charge considerably more, or won't do them at all, ask yourself why. Might it be they had some awful experience like an incoming handgun transfer from a non-licensee who decided to ship a $2K collectible Luger via the USPS and the box and gun were damaged en route and thus discovered by the Postal Inspection Service. It only takes a few bad experiences like that to make a shop stop accepting transfers at all or from non-licensees.

People often think the gun business is lucrative. If you came to me and asked me to open a gun shop for you, I'd first do everything in my power to steer you to a better means of making money, like the craps table.

I'd write more on this topic, but I am confident that I'll be lambasted by people that are not licensees. Since I have other things to do, like wash the cats and express their anal glands, I go do that instead of responding to my critics.

quote:

I really don't care if they appreciate it or not. If they say they do transfers but give me a hard time about it, then I just won't come back. I do so much of shopping online that if a brick and mortar store can't provide good customer service, then I'm just done with them.

This is capitalism, keep up or die.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

I really don't care if they appreciate it or not. If they say they do transfers but give me a hard time about it, then I just won't come back. I do so much of shopping online that if a brick and mortar store can't provide good customer service, then I'm just done with them.

This is capitalism, keep up or die.

So just out of curiosity.....

When all the brick and mortars in your area die (because they refuse to support your online buying habits), who's going to handle your transfers?

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmnut:
I have LGS that will do transfers for $25. Buy from him for $25 over his cost. Has to order. Makes no difference to him. $25 profit either way.

quote:

Originally posted by matai:

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

I really don't care if they appreciate it or not. If they say they do transfers but give me a hard time about it, then I just won't come back. I do so much of shopping online that if a brick and mortar store can't provide good customer service, then I'm just done with them.

This is capitalism, keep up or die.

So just out of curiosity.....

When all the brick and mortars in your area die (because they refuse to support your online buying habits), who's going to handle your transfers?

I don't think that will happen, I believe in capitalism.

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:

quote:

Originally posted by matai:

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

I really don't care if they appreciate it or not. If they say they do transfers but give me a hard time about it, then I just won't come back. I do so much of shopping online that if a brick and mortar store can't provide good customer service, then I'm just done with them.

This is capitalism, keep up or die.

So just out of curiosity.....

When all the brick and mortars in your area die (because they refuse to support your online buying habits), who's going to handle your transfers?

I don't think that will happen, I believe in capitalism.

Whether you believe it or not we are heading that way. B&M is costly and firearm profits are low so the B&M’s will close leaving home based only. The home based will realize they have a monopoly and will raise transfer fees then you’ll be mad at them. This is capitalism....

quote:

And that's the end result of we don't choose to only buy from brick and mortar? Even if it not economically efficient? You really think that's where we'll all end up, buying online, doing transfers at someone's house for high fees?

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

And that's the end result of we don't choose to only buy from brick and mortar? Even if it not economically efficient? You really think that's where we'll all end up, buying online, doing transfers at someone's house for high fees?

I don't, and here's why. At least around here, home based FFLs are somewhat frowned upon, unless you're in an unincorporated area.

Cities don't want "businesses" in the subdivisions. They want "businesses" to do what businesses are supposed to do: Have a commercial location, and collect/pay taxes. And seeing that FFLs rank not far behind liquor stores and nightclubs on the scale of desirability, cities also tend to want to limit the number and locations of those who are interested.

So it's my belief that home based FFLs will not replace brick and mortar locations. When they're gone, they'll be gone.

And it's not just FFLs. What do you think your local city/county/state is going to do when they finally get off their ass about the taxes they're loosing? In your "no local business utopia", who's going to pay the bills?