Yeah I get that part. I wasn't exactly being literal in my question. I just dont see how they called and mailed letters to the transferring dealer, and those went unanswered, and yet it was still marked approved with no further notification from ATF. "How did this fall through the cracks?" I guess would have been a more apropriate way, but I don't expect ATF to give me an answer to that, should I ever ask them. What if OP never questioned it, cashed the check and went about his life? He thinks he is legal owner of a controlled item.

@PalmettoStateArmory

You must hire a competent person to oversee your NFA items. This person must be responsible for receiving communications from the ATF and contacting customers about those communications. This person is a resource for all stores and customers regarding compliance.

This person cannot be a store manager. Previously you told OP you would reach out to the store manager.

The guy who manages labor, P&L, staffing, bathroom cleanliness, parking lot repair, etc is not capable of reliably managing NFA as well.

At this point, I’d like to leave PSA out of the equation. They’re an hour+ drive for me, and I don’t want to muddy the waters by transferring anything else around. I’ll just keep it locked in my safe, with copies of the approved transfer till I get a new approved form. I’m confident that should problems arise, copies of my comms with the atf should keep me out of trouble.

On the topic of compensation from PSA, I honestly don’t even know what I’d ask for. I bought the can FROM them, so the only fees were the can and the stamp. I will note, that I was promised some “things” in the transfer that vanished when pick up happened. End cap and a QD mount that suddenly disappeared. But I’ve since purchased those things. And while a deep discount on my next two cans would be nice, I can’t really feel confident buying from them after this. So... I’m not asking for anything.

This. 100%. Have an NFA tracker of some sort. A real position, with accountability and responsibility. I shouldn’t have to hunt down people and fight for nearly a MONTH to be called back to tell you to check your mail. Unacceptable.

I feel for PSA having to hire anyone who is affordable from the current available pool of labor.

Me either, a beneficiary is NOT a responsible person!! Only the Trustee or co-Trustee's are "responsible persons"
I would talk to a supervisor at the NFA branch.

Well I think I can match your chinese fire drill with atf.  I have had an FFL & Class 3 for many years.  The last time I renewed (about 3 yrs ago)I got my  check back about 90 days later - No explanation And no FFL.  No reply to inquiries!

For the next 2 years I continued to get renewal notices for the Class 3, which I sent renewal checks and got the new lisc.  Then last June I didn't get a renewal for the Class 3.

About a month ago I get a check for $90 for the long since expired FFL for 2012-15.  
No one seems to be able to tell me what the hell is going on!   Mostly I just get No response.
Sarge

Does anyone think my check from 2004 is still good?

Should I try and cash it?

Is it safe to leave the cave?

Exactly, what would you call "affordable"? I would argue that for something like NFA (really anything to do with the ATF and an FFL),  the only thing you can "afford" is to pay someone who knows WTF they are doing, or get out of that business.

I was thinking the same thing. If you can't find good labor, you aren't paying enough. If you can't afford to pay them enough, your business model is poor.

Talk to Ted. Can't recall his email. My first application was rejected due to a minor error. He had it approved within a couple days.

I wanted to come back and update...

The dealer reached out after to me, and. No kidding, made a very generous gesture in an effort to ease my pain. I was, and am, very grateful for that generosity, and am back on team palmetto state. Hopefully the future customers of their NFA side don’t see the growing pains that I seem to have discovered.

Awesome!!!