Friend in PA uses a shop that charges $25 flat rate for as many items he transfers at one time. He’s done 10 stripped lowers and 4 rifles and it was $25
Yes, we are groomed to accept the gouge here
PA PICS fee is $2.00.
Friend in PA uses a shop that charges $25 flat rate for as many items he transfers at one time. He’s done 10 stripped lowers and 4 rifles and it was $25
Yes, we are groomed to accept the gouge here
PA PICS fee is $2.00.
And 30-60 minutes of your life on a Saturday at a gun show in PA
Thanks, I like their model and might make the drive! They're about 45 minutes from me though.
45 minutes to and from = 1.5hrs. You need to make two trips for a handgun, so you're looking at 3hrs on the road, a solid $20 in gas, and quite possible a Bay Bridge toll.
Go for it.
Ya, I get it. Makes a lot more sense for non-regulated firearms. Also makes sense to support businesses that aren't price gouging, regardless of the added inconvenience to me. So you're right, I'll likely go for it.
I know it has been mentioned multiple times already, but overhead is much higher in Maryland- especially in the Baltimore and DC metro areas. Centerville MD commercial real estate is likely less than half of what it would be in, say, Montgomery County. The extra $10-$20 charged there isn't gouging, rather having a much higher cost of doing business.
And 30-60 minutes of your life on a Saturday at a gun show in PA
I don't understand what you mean by margins. What is a LGS having to pay in order to do an FFL transfer? Obviously daily operating costs (and I get it, cost of living/operating higher in MD). But it takes 10 minutes to help me fill out a 4473. It takes what, 10 minutes to catalog the gun when LGS receives it? So $60 for 20 minutes of work? Seems like easy money to me.
You sound like some of my former clients. How could it take 2 hours to draft a one page letter at $245 an hour? There is a lot more to running a gun shop than just helping a person fill out a Form 4473. Not only that, but in your $60 calculation for the 20 minutes of work, $10 of that $60 actually goes to MSP. The LGS does not get to keep the $10 MSP fee.
So, if the LGS was busy doing transfers all day long, and I mean non-stop, then that would be $150 an hour. After that, overhead, etc. needs to be subtracted out.
Mind you, that is if the LGS is doing transfers all day long, non-stop.
If you would have actually read my post, you would have noticed I said $60 FFL fee plus $10 fee to MSP. So really $70. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! Don’t forget about the bore lock! Which you know, even though the firearm I was transferring was old enough to be exempt from the internal lock, the FFL “forgot about that” when they did the MSP form (so they said) so charged me another $5 to “rent” a bore lock, I.e. placed it on top the box and let me walk out then hand it back to them at the door.
So really it was $75 to transfer ONE gun.
If you would have actually read my post, you would have noticed I said $60 FFL fee plus $10 fee to MSP. So really $70. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! Don’t forget about the bore lock! Which you know, even though the firearm I was transferring was old enough to be exempt from the internal lock, the FFL “forgot about that” when they did the MSP form (so they said) so charged me another $5 to “rent” a bore lock, I.e. placed it on top the box and let me walk out then hand it back to them at the door.
So really it was $75 to transfer ONE gun.
You went to the wrong FFL. I know of several that will loan, not rent, you a tampon. Most I deal with will let you bring your own.
You need to establish a relationship with a decent FLL.....
I didn't see or even look, but what FFL did you go to?
There is always another solution. Rent a storefront somewhere and apply for an FFL. You can have any hours you want to work around your schedule and transfer things for yourself for free! Plus you can start raking in all that transfer gravy money.
I haven't named them and don't plan on it. Overall as a gun store goes, they were friendly and mostly helpful. I just think their fees were high. And maybe I'm a little extra annoyed because the first day I walked in and asked about FFL transfer fees, they said "$50 cash"... OK cool. So I initiate the transfer. Handgun arrives at their store. They call me, I go to start paperwork. Then they tell me "Oh actually it's $60 cash since it's a handgun, it's $50 for long guns".... hmmm.... OK WHATEVER..... then "oh BTW, you got to pay $10 to MSP, don't blame us"... YA OK.... then 7 days later I go to pick up, and it's "oh wait, where is your bore lock?" I tell them I don't need an internal bore lock the gun is a mid 1980s, I have my own supplied cable lock. They tell me "oh no that won't work, you MUST have a bore lock, we will sell you one for $30, or you can rent one for $5, cash only".... I'm like, I literally don't have any cash, I came here all prepared for my own pickup. They go, "oh well there is an ATM outside around the building"... ya thanks guys.
Two lessons learned, a cable lock wont cut it. There are certain locks that are approved. The Omega bore lock (tampon) bring one.
Second. Find a new FFL.