Is it just me or has the FFL fees gone up dramatically?

[Jimbo47]

My FFL has gone up almost double on what he charged before, and this makes buying receivers not worth it when you can spend about a 100 dollar bill more and some change and have a complete new rifle.

Noticed the receivers aren't moving very good lately in the classifieds also with some people having to reduce the price.

[MSP Ret]

anywhere within 75 miles or so of me I have to pay $40 and up. That is why I do not buy most of the receivers I see for sale here. The cost of $40 to $65 (old prices) increases the cost of a receiver over 50% and is just another way to control guns sales as far as I am concerned. Another scam is FFL's who make one call to NCIC to check out a buyer and then charge that same inflated FFL fee for each of the receivers or guns you buy/transfer. You buy 3 guns/receivers from one seller, the FFL makes one call and charges you 3 or 4 times for the same call. In effect one receiver, one call = $50. Three receivers, one call = $150. Years ago I had a young Trooper who worked for me that was getting very interested in guns and shooting, he came to me one day describing the problems he was encountering in ordering a firearm and finally ended up with the statement, "You know LT, they are are making criminals out of all of us". I always remember his frustration about trying to buy guns and supplies legally and recall that when I was young and undercover buying drugs on the street in and around Boston I would get the occasional chance to buy a gun and usually did. Never once did the seller ask to see my permit to carry or check me out through the Feds to sell me the gun....<><....

[Jimbo47]

I've only got one extra barrel, and thought about getting a receiver to have a complete gun, but looks like I might just continue to swap barrels with my present receiver instead.

[Hofs01]

thank goodness my FFL is still 10 dollars in or out!

[quickdtoo]

Mine's still $20 for one or three, doesn't matter. 

Tim

[Spanky]

My dealer went up from $25 to $35 for transfers.

Most of the frames on here are going for $100+
Add in $35 for the FFL and you have most of the cost of a whole used Handi.

My same dealer has used Handi's for $159.


The fees stink!!




Spanky

[mechanic]

Spanky,

I wish I could find used Handi's here in that range.  Most used go for $225.00>.  New for $279.00>.
Ben

[One Eye]

The fees stink!!

Spanky

I suspect the current fees will look like a bargain in the very near future.  Guns will not be banned, as they know that would cause social revolution.  Instead, they will simply price most of us out of shooting.  Result = de facto ban.

Dan

[MSP Ret]

The fee's FFL's charge are up to them, they can do it for free if they want. It's 100% profit for just thier time, even the one call they have to make is toll free....<><....

I do agree on the defacto gun ban. nobama has said he wants to increase taxes on ammunition 500%. He also wants to stop sales of guns within 5 miles of a school, that is a 5 mile RADIUS, as the crow flies. Think about it, there are not many places outside of a 5 mile radius of ANY school, public or private. Again, a defacto gun sales ban. As I understand it that is the part of his and biden's gun ban plan that is supposed to lead to closing 95% of gun dealers. Even the sport shop I often visit in north central Maine, just below the enterance to Baxter State Park may have to close and go out of business because it is within 5 miles of a school. The shop would not be able to survive on just it's boating, fishing and camping sales, it must be a full service sporting goods shop to make it financially. Thinking that sporting shops in rural northern Maine may be forced to go out of business because of the likes of nobama, biden, pelosi, kennedy and kerry makes me sick. I am very worried about the future of this country....

[Spanky]

Spanky,

I wish I could find used Handi's here in that range.  Most used go for $225.00>.  New for $279.00>.
Ben

My dealer sells the standard Handi's for $239
He was selling a new 45 LC rifle for $329

I have seen a few used Handi's on the racks for as low as $129
Not junks either...  Good used guns with slight wear.

It's a family owned business that's been open for over 60 years.
Good guys to deal with.

The transfer fees still suck though!!
But at least he's willing to do it.





Spanky

[Troyboy]

25 to 30 is fair in my book. The shop has to turn a profit any it can. The margins on guns is so slim the have to get it elsewhere. Their not the enemy they are struggling same as you and me. Spend some money with them and keep them in buisness.

[JDMANN]

I feel I must defend my fellow dealers.  What has NOT gone up in price in the last two years?  Is it wrong for the dealer to increase his charges?  I think not.  Remember, if he loses money, he closes his doors.  Now, no more local hometown dealer to handle your transfers.  I do feel that charging for three receivers each is a little much (if each were received and recorded on one form 4473 in one transaction).  Unfortunately, there will almost certainly be a larger number of dealers going out of business during the next four years.  Under Clinton, over 40% of dealers went out due to the tighter restrictions.

[Jimbo47]

The gun shop I deal with are great people, and fast friendly service, and when Walmart cut back on their stores carrying guns and ammo they ended up getting more business.

Since the election you can go in there any day of the week and it's crowded, and you will have to stand around a while to get waited on.

They are doing really well for now, so I can see why they might increase the fee to take advantage and maybe slow the traffic a little in order to keep up with all the demand, so I guess you have to look at the big picture.

My mini rant in starting this thread I guess was me trying to justify buying another receiver and having to spend that extra fee that made it a less desireable deal.

Hopefully we will make it through this, but there is going to be a lot of uncertainty and anguish, but the other shoe hasn't dropped yet, but it will, and soon, and that is going to be more of a concern to have to worry about than paying a few dollars more for the FFL.

[torpedoman]

mine tried that and i pointed out to him it was only one transfer  and if i got a lot all he had to do was add another sheet not make a bunch of calls.

[Guy Pike]

The three shops I deal with charge nothing. If they did they would have no sales at all. As it is none of them are in it to make a living so the fact that they collectively have sold three rifles in six months hasn't shut them down. They gave me fair prices on those three though! No one is panic buying around here. In fact most are pissed off because 22lr is more than 50 cents a box.

[vincewarde]

In effect, many gun dealers view sales here, or on Gunbroker, as lost sales.  Some dealers here (People's Republic of Kalifornia) are charging $100.00 for mail order sales, while only charging $35.00 to do the same thing on local private sales (I believe that the fee on private transfers is set by law).

In addition, now all dealers shipping to California must confirm the California FFLs license on a California state website, or by phone.  They then get a confirmation number to prove that the actually checked, which they must provide to the California FFL.  The gun industry AND the NRA here in California said nothing about this and the bill passed before most of us knew about it.  Result?  Lots more "NO SALES TO CALIFORNIA" notices on Gunbroker.com!  While such a system as merit in a day and age when FFLs can be so easily forged, why do I get the feeling that the gun industry did oppose this because they foresaw this result and the NRA didn't oppose because they wanted to stay on the good side of the gun industry?

BTW out the door prices on basic Handi's are currently about $330.00-350.00.  Why?  No discount outlets, high sales taxes and state background check fees.

In addition to all of this, handguns not currently on the state "approved" list cannot be sold by dealers or brought in from out of state (unless you move here) - because they have not passed the state's "safety test".  They may only be sold privately within the state.  Of course, police officers may buy and carry these "unsafe" guns.  As a result, lots of nice handguns just are never submitted for testing and are never sold here.  And even here in a very "gun friendly" county, getting a carry permit requires a credible threat to your safety.

I can hardly wait to retire and get out of this state!