Posted: 4/16/2009 1:00:16 AM EDT
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Just wanted to blow off some steam about my ex-dealer who finally pissed me off to the point that I wont ever use him again!!!!! Let me know your thoughts on this one.....
First, a little background..... I had a large firearms collection and over time, it grew, and/or was depleted due to bills or me just selling items off (all legally) to afford higher value items, etc. BTW, all sales of the guns in my collection were at a loss for me v.s what I paid for them. Anyway, I have been doing transfers through various dealers over the years and for the past 2 years approx. I have been using a dealer who lives close to me. He is a retired guy who runs his shop out of his house and is very low volume. He had his FFL for about 12 yrs. During the last two years I did alot of business with this guy, and sent alot of business his way from friends. He did appreciate this and called me on various occasions to ask me questions about firearms, etc. He also asked me at various times about doing business and procedure issues(I used to work for an FFL). Recently, I purchased a lower receiver from out of state and had this FFL lined up for the transfer. He sent his FFL copy to the seller and the lower was shipped to him for transfer. While the lower was in route, the dealer calls me all pissed off about this lower coming from an unlicensed person. I had to quote the GCA to my FFL to attempt to get him to understand that this is pefectly legal and that he had done this for me a number of times prior with no issue. He finally clamed down but stated that this was not his personal business practice and would not do it again. This was never told to me previously. Further, he stated that when this lower comes in, that he would return it to the seller and refuse transfer. I ended the call by telling him that he needs to do what he needs to do. After the above call, I got really pissed and called my attorney about this situation. Apparently, he then made contact with the FFL a short tme later and the situation was resolved. He did transfer the lower to me and nothing more was said. Now, thinking that everything is all good and that he is now "educated". I used him for a transfer of a Colt 6920. In fact, I purchased this gun by trading in a number of lower grade items for it ( all originally transferred through this FFL). I know I lost money on the deal, but was happy due to having the 6920. Anyway, the dealer had no issue with this and called me when it came in to do the transfer. When I arrived at the dealers today, we did the transfer and while doing so, he preaches to me about how he isnt making any money on these transfers (he charges $50.00 per transfer and I pay it just to keep him in business), and how he isnt going to transfer anymore items in this manner. He further states that he will only do business if I would buy direct from him so that he could get his 10% mark up profit. He goes on and on about this and after completing the 4473 and giving him his $50.00, I advised him that we are done from this point on. He replied that he figured as much. Now I know he is in business to make a profit, but having been in the business prior, I also know he is full of BS. Yes, he can establish whatever policy he wants as his own business practice, but the way this guy went about it is piss poor!! Not to mention that he is not very well educated in firearms law either (as are many FFLs). I just had to rant a bit about this guy. No, I'm not using him anymore either. It just pisses me off and confirms to me yet again that some folks who have FFLs definately should not be allowed to have them. 
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| The gun climate is different right now, than any other time I ever remember. I have had my FFL for 24 years, and I can remember more times than not, I wished I could have made $50 on each and every transaction. If the old man is ignorant to the rules & regs of holding an FFL, he is probably ignorant to a lot of common business practices as well. Move on, there are numerous other license holders that would be happy to have your business. |