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FFLs receiving from private party

CJ6

Silver $$ Contributor
Question.....What is the biggest obstacle for an FFL receiving from an individual (interstate)
Reason.... I'm trying to buy a firearm from an individual from out of state and I' m having a hard time finding an FFL to receive it and transfer.
I've been to 5 shops and called a couple of the chain stores as well.
 
Gargoyle said:
It's an FFL club thing that makes no sense. An FFL can accept from a private party. Most FFLs that are stupid claim some "hot gun" excuse. I have an FFL, that ain't how it works.
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This is the answer I've been getting or store/company policy. For some reason most have said they quit about 10 years ago...weird....
 
My freind at a pawn shop does transfers in Texas, check one of those in your area.

FYI I wanted to sell a lower via an FFL but all I got was FTF offers. I'm in west Texas and shipping to an FFL was best for me within state so kind of the opposite for me. FFLs willing to take it but buyers didn't want to go through FFL.
 
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Gargoyle said:
It's an FFL club thing that makes no sense. An FFL can accept from a private party. Most FFLs that are stupid claim some "hot gun" excuse. I have an FFL, that ain't how it works.
Click to expand...
I believe Gargoyle absolutely nailed it because my FFL says the exact same thing and I am in the supposedly "gun unfriendly" state of New York. My FFL almost exclusively does nothing but gun transfers and he will work with anybody to make a deal happen. He is even registered in California so transfers there are no problem either. The last 2 rifles I sold went to Kentucky and Michigan and both had to be FFL to FFL transfers. Working with my FFL made both deals happen but really alot of unnecessary foolishness. I think what bugs me the most is when I see "no sales to New York" in a for sale post. This makes me laugh because my FFL and I will go out of our way to make a deal happen anywhere in this country. I will admit I am luckier than most and when my FFL packs it in I will be screwed in a big way!
 
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Some FFLs just don't want to deal with the hassle of accepting from individuals. Not really people here, but think about the average yahoo out there. I'm sure they've gotten things that just can't be described - terrible packaging, missing information, damaged/inoperable guns, etc. And they don't want to deal with the hassle of it all.

Luckily, I have a couple of FFLs that are very easy to work with. Especially in this craphole state of MA.
 
I used to accept transfers in from the individual. It became too much of a problem. No documentation as to where it came from, would have to chase that down so I could complete my book. Sometimes, had to argue with the seller to get a photo copy of their ID. Had several show up that the buyer examined and wanted to return to the seller. I could send it back to another FFL in the sellers state, but if the seller wasn't/isn't licensed I can't send it directly back to him,,,,,, let alone having to re-pack and create the shipment to send it back. Several arguments over needing to send it to another FFL only, and couldn't just send it back to the unlicensed seller. It might sound to some like any of that might only take a few minutes, but it doesn't. And all for a grand total of $25 for the transfer when everything did go right. Then, there's the guy that takes up 1/2hr or an hour of my time that wants to chat and tell me how accurate his POS is! My time's worth more than that!
 
shortgrass said:
...Had several show up that the buyer examined and wanted to return to the seller. I could send it back to another FFL in the sellers state, but if the seller wasn't/isn't licensed I can't send it directly back to him,,,,,, let alone having to re-pack and create the shipment to send it back. Several arguments over needing to send it to another FFL only, and couldn't just send it back to the unlicensed seller...
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This is the biggest reason friends that are FFLs (also when I was working at an LGS) site as why they won't do it for the average guy. They want a relative 'easy' recourse if the new buyer fails background or doesn't ultimately want the gun. Can do and want to do it are very different things and being a FFL sucks enough most don't need any extra hassle when they're only making a few buck on a PPT anyway.
 
Do I have to use a physical address to send a rifle to a Gunsmith for repairs or can I use a P O Box for an address?
 
Edd said:
Do I have to use a physical address to send a rifle to a Gunsmith for repairs or can I use a P O Box for an address?
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P.O. Box is unacceptable on form 4473 and 'bound books'. "Repair" acquisition/disposition book is the same as the "Sales" book.
 
So how difficult would it be for the seller to simply send it through his local FFL to the buyers FFL? Might cost a bit more or one could chalk it up to the price of doing business.

It just seems to me that for whatever reason some are complicating this more than need be.
 
Depends on the sending FFL. Some are great and are actually cheaper than sending it yourself. I had one FFL locally that would send for $10. Too bad they are no longer in business… it wasnt because of their cheap prices but because the owner partners didn’t get along after a while
 
A lot of stores won't do transfers because they want you to buy what they have in stock, or order from them. The FFL I deal with now makes most of his profit doing transfers for people.
 
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