What is your turnaround time to complete an incoming transfer? I have continuously watched my incoming orders be dropped off (via UPS tracking) on a Mon. morning, and I don’t hear from my dealer until Wed. at the earliest, sometimes later. Where the F is the bottleneck in the process? I have watched other dealers put guns on the books in the time it takes me to fill out the forms. When I have said something before, they say its because they have such large shipments come in daily…I call BS. I mean even if, I could record at least 30 guns in an 8 hour shift. Just curious.
There’s a lot more things going on that have priority over transfers, but to answer your question it depends.
I get the gun out of the box and inspect for damage. I make sure the gun is the gun the customer is expecting. Then I might head overt to get the log book and log it in. Couple minutes maybe. Then I have to set things aside, put the box somewhere, pack the gun back up. Get out the 4473, the state trigger lock form, find a pen. When I have time to perform the paperwork I will call the customer and let him know the gun has arrived and is ready.
Trouble these days is with the Internet ordering, instant tracking updates, instant email, everyone expects instant gratification. Sorry, but that’s not how it works. Gun dealers are like cops. If you are in a rush, we take our time. The gun business is not a high speed low drag business. It’s not good, it’s not bad, it just is.
If you want NASCAR tire change quick service, shop around.
My dude got my lowers in and called me and left a messege at my work, when I scooted out of the office that afternoon he was ready and expecting me. Within a couple hours of the delivery to the shop I had them in my car going home. But… this is a busy dealer with 4 employees normally on staff during evenings and 2 during the day when it’s slower. Maybe your not one the customers that stands and bullshits and and regularly stops by just to browse and BS? I try to stop once a week, often it ends with a couple of us in the basement testing silencers on .22 pistols or something goofy. Sometimes I get held till close and end up at the bar with them. Ya never know how a night at the gun shop is gonna go!
Go to your dealer when you see that your firearm has arrived. I know that the dealer has to log the weapon in but I figure the process will speed up if you are there in person. You can call this the squeaky wheel theory. The dealer will get tired of having you waiting around for your weapon and will takr care of you just to get you out of their presence.
Usually within a couple hours. When deliveries occur I’m usually loading ammo and I don’t stop for anything so it gets left until I can get to it. I don’t like keeping guns longer than I have to though, but I don’t like to be pushed to work faster than I do.
Or the dealer will make you wait longer for rushing him. Dealers have their own pace. Some fly balls out all day and some work at a steady slow pace.
shit what are you talking about? when I see the gun has been signed for from UPS I call and tell them I’m heading up there. I have never had my FFL tell me it’s going to take a few days…if he did he better have a good reason. If not then I would go to another FFL, they’re making 25-30 bucks for a few minutes work and they get to keep the box the gun came in. I know they reuse those boxes because my dealer initially asked if he would keep the box and I said no problem.
Use a little initiative and he doesn’t like it go elsewhere., but explain to him that you’re a hobbyist and are excited to pick up your gun. I always buy something when I come get a weapon even if it’s just a box of ammo in the same caliber as the weapon. I don’t let my FFL know that I have plenty of ammo at home and it helps them out as well.
When I get it in I call the customer and tell them it is in. I don’t wait to log anything in unless… I’m in the middle of something else. Then the ATF says I have 24 hours to log it in. I remember how excited I was to get a gun and try to keep that in mind. Your dealer may have more going on than you realize. Then again he may just hate doing the paperwork. That’s why we do it all on computer. It saves time and the ATF likes how easy it is to read. Got to keep big brother happy you know! :rolleyes:
Be thankful that your weapon arrived at the dealer. I do a lot of transfers and I’ve had to actually go through the process of figuring out that my local FFL sent somebody else’s FFL to do the transfer. :rolleyes:
Where I work if it’s available to pick up the next business day. So if it were delivered yesterday it would be available at 10am today. My boss doesn’t even begin to open boxes until late in the afternoon and into the night after we close. Occasionally we still get the over anxious customer who’s tracked his package and shows up literally 5 min after it was delivered to pick it up.
90% of my biz is consgnment and I just don’t d a ton of 4473’s…those who do are friends, family or good customers. You are correct, it takes no time at all to complete the paperwork for one gun when it comes in. In defense of the larger guys, they have a lot more on their plate than a transfer. You may be better of with a gunsmith or lower volume dealer if waiting is an issue. Before I became an ffl, I was dabling in some collector winchesters and it was pretty important to me to receive right after it touched down for inspection windows and I was worried about them getting coon fingered.
There is a 7 days window for aquisitions if the gun comes from the mfg…otherwise it’s 24 hours.
Just quoting what I remember from the BATFE / NSSF conference I went to…half the attendies said 1 day and the other half said 7 days when the poll was taken. I remember the atf rep quoting both and the 7 was tied to mfg’s and large disty’s too i think. Individuals and other ffl to ffl transfers were 24 hours.
I don’t receive large qty’s so I always get mine in the books the same day.
Update: They called last night and I picked up. Total 38.00. Time for recording gun, 12 minutes.
This has been helpful though because Ive decided to get my FFL license. Im going to turn the transfer process into Chick Fil-et. Same day pickup and cheaper fee. If anyone is interested in the process, I can document it since I know nothing about it and will start from ground up. I will sell nothing, and only receive to start off. Thanks for the comments.
That’s why we do it all on computer. It saves time and the ATF likes how easy it is to read. Got to keep big brother happy you know! :rolleyes: