Shipping fees can be frustrating

[racerguy00]

I found a pretty unique Finn m91 built on an antique receiver in another state. And its within my budget. The seller decides he is willing to ship and 'looks into it'. He says he has to let his local shop ship it and they will only ship to another FFL, even a C&R wouldn't work, and even though it's an antique.

Sooo, $30 fee for his shop's paperwork, $25 min shipping, plus $35 min for any of my local shops to get it. All the shops that are close that I've talked to won't make an exception on the paperwork since it's an antique. Once its through the door it automatically goes into their books. Stinks

[qz2026]

On principle, I would have told him to bag it....

[Celt]

That's rough. Some people just won't bend. I had a Turk with three bandoleers in my state, too far to drive and he just would not ship at all, then says for an extra 100$s, he'll meet me half way....had to let that one go.

[BubbaDX]

That sucks. I have not run into this yet and hope I never do (knock on wood). I hope you get it squared away. That's $90 additional to the cost of the M91. I understand people being cautious, but come on.

[desdem12]

Just ridiculous if you ask me. No excuse for punishing people like that. That is an extra 100 dollars and totally unnecessary. I am sure I could get one of my shops to not charge on the antique issue but I wonder if they have to log antiques in their shop that they get in walk ins? I bet not.

[racerguy00]

They've started logging in anything that's not a muzzle loader. Not a state law or anything. The one worker I talk to says they do it to cover their ass when dealing with the ATF. I saw a cadet trapdoor come in on trade and it was logged in. The other shop took in a Vetterli, same thing.

[TheWatchman]

I basically refuse to buy beyond driving distance (100 mile radius). Yeah, it sometimes limits what I can get but the savings and no-hassle transaction is well worth it. Another option is Internet companies that offer free shipping on firearms. You save on S&H but still pay the local transfer fee, downside is that you can't inspect your particular purchase until it gets to the FFL.

[FINNADDICT]

Tell him to keep it. Get a refund. Check out some of the funbroker sites. M91's show up all the time.

On another note related to shipping...

I had to deal recently with the USPS location that I have been shipping from for years. I took a rifle there and it was boxed and ready for mailing. You know how they ask if you have anything hazardous, flammable, batteries and such? I said no, just fragile and the box had four fragile labels on each side. She then asked what it was and I told her I am not saying pointing and tapping my finger on my FFL for file license right in front of her. She had the audacity to yell out in front of all the customers and other employees "is there a gun in here?". I repossessed it and ask her if she was out of her freaking mind DISCLOSING what was in the box. I went to another USPS location and sent it from there with no issues. Matter of fact, they didn't even want a copy of my FFL. IDIOTS

[desdem12]

How is logging antiques covering their ass? These are non weapons according to the atf..? Says so in there books everywhere. What ever I guess.

[FINNADDICT]

How is logging antiques covering their ass? These are non weapons according to the atf..? Says so in there books everywhere. What ever I guess.

They do it because they do not know the regulations and they do not understand their own policies either. It's the $$$ that they see in that type of transfer too. Too many out there trying to take us for suckers.

[sreyemj]

He says he has to let his local shop ship it and they will only ship to another FFL, even a C&R wouldn't work, and even though it's an antique.

All the shops that are close that I've talked to won't make an exception on the paperwork since it's an antique. Once its through the door it automatically goes into their books. Stinks

Typical response for idiots that don't know what they are doing. If you don't know the regulations regarding the transfer of firearms antique or otherwise you really can't error on the side of caution because you don't know the laws. The best way to deal with seller like that is to explain that if they want to sell their rifle in a lawful manner then they need to take 5 min to look up the regulations and follow laws rather than the guidance of FFLs who obviously isn't familiar with laws regarding transfer of antique firearms.

"Erring on the side of ignorance" is literally the worst possible way to deal with federal firearms laws. Logging everything because you don't know any better is a sorry excuse for a licensed dealer. Unfortunately I have run into similar situations were the seller would not budge. At that point it is best to move one, plenty of other rifles out there!

[bunkysdad]

On priciple alone, I would likely be too ticked off to do business. Each transaction can be different. If the M1891 was priced low enough to help absorb the costs, and I could control my anger I might go ahead and do it if I really wanted the rifle, but when I am looking at auctions if the seller states that he won't ship properly whatever the reason might be I move on.

[racerguy00]

Des and I have discussed sellers like this at length. It gets to be very frustrating. Local sellers can be just as bad. In PA there is no registration or transfer required for ANY longarm in a FTF transaction. A lot of owners insist there is and refuse to sell without going to a dealer to 'transfer' it. The most extreme case of this I saw first hand involved a seller and buyer showing up at a shop to transfer a $75 bolt action 22. The clerk told them it wasnt needed and in fact served no purpose if he did go through with the paperwork so he wouldnt do it for them. The seller decided to keep rhe rifle if he didn't have the transfer 'officially documented'. ???

[bunkysdad]

Idiot liberals scared to death. Like all the fools that turn in rare rifles on police buy back programs because they are scared rhat they might fall into the wrong hands.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I do only what the law absolutely requires, otherwise to hell with them. I see this sort of crap all the time on GB, people wanting an FFL for an antique made before 1898.

[Gunowner99]

Hate those fees, really jacks up the price.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Then there is powder and primers, you are dealing with haz mat fees on top of all the rest.

[Titanium Hammer]

Idiot liberals scared to death. Like all the fools that turn in rare rifles on police buy back programs because they are scared rhat they might fall into the wrong hands.

+1

[Longcolt44]

The last 1893 Turk Mauser I bought the seller required my C&R even though I bought it off GB but I picked it up locally. I really wanted it so I didn't argue. If he had insisted on going through an 01 FFL he would still have it. Actually in Ohio as a FTF transfer it required no paperwork at all, antique or not.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I see that all the time on GB Chuck, Sellers, and most are FFL dealers, still insisting on a FFL transfer even for rifles not requiring them. The Fed tells me that a rifle made before 1898 is not a firearm, so why should I go to special trouble to buy a wood and metal stick?