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| True Tales Of The FFL - "And The Bidding Begins At |
by DesertRat66 |
2006-11-19 12:55:59 |
$400.00"...
One of the funniest aspects of the gun business are the many unauthorized purchase agents every gun dealer has and the resulting "mystery packages."
A good one arrived today. One NIB HK USP45.
(image)
Basically these are guys who feel that because they have a Shotgun News, a phone and a credit card that they are entitled to FFL "dealer" prices. Nevermind that technicality about those prices requiring a "FFL" to place the order.
Here is their basic MO.
1. They find a gun advertised by a wholesaler in Shotgun News that they would like. They call to order it on "their" credit card (occassioanlly trying to bust the b**ls of major whoelsalers in an attempt to buy below the FFL price).
2. When the wholesaler/distributor asks for their FFL, they run down their laundry list of local gunshops/dealers knowing that most will be "on file" with the major wholesalers. Currently the more reputable wholesalers/distributors will request the FFL number (or an assigned account number) to prevent this and will not accept credit card payment from anyone other than the approved buyers on the account.
3. Then they track the shipment with the tracking number until it is delivered. After which they show up out of the blue to pick up "their gun." They hope in the basic confusion (and this is why they prefer large gunshops) that the dealer or employee will simply assume it is an "approved" transfer and will charge some token fee to cover the background check and FDLE fees, or even better will assume it was a pre paid special order.
What they are hoping for is some confused person who basically says something like 'Well yeah we checked that one in today and you don't seem to owe us anything so let me get the 4473 started and call you in..." and BINGO one gun bought AT dealer price without the hassle and cost of actually being a FFL.
Well here is my MO.
1. I personally check in every single delivery. I don't care if I end up logging in guns at 2am.
2. I keep separate files for orders "I" placed and "approved" transfers from the many collectors who are my customers.
3. As soon as I check in a gun I immediately match it with the order I placed or the approved request for "transfer."
And if I don't have either of those. Then the gun is an unrequested delivery that I may sell since it was ordered on MY FFL.
When they ask where "their gun" is I give them a confused reply like "Oh yeah, we didn't know what the h*ll that was. That supplier keeps sending us stuff we didn't order and we complained so we figured he sent us that gun to smooth things over and it sold pretty fast actually."
Or "No it can't be YOUR GUN because we don't have a record of ordering anything for you. Do you have a copy of the special order form?" So we'll have to look into what became of it because I DON'T know.
Rather than get p*ssed off at these guys (because there are simply too many and you will have a heart attack) you have to see them as a source of potential entertainment.
Keeping in mind that they are actively attempting to undermine your business and operate on your FFL without your approval they should be treated accordingly. That means doing everything they DON'T want you to do. Mostly keep them from pulling the "FFL Scam" off successfully. It is kinda like replying to the Nigerian Scam with bogus bank account information and making them go through the motions for NOTHING.
And when I'm done driving them crazy with "Oh I think we sold that" or "I think some guy named Fred picked it up already" I will give them 2 options:
1. They may purchase the item at full retail (I normally don't sell that high but these guys have earned it).
2. I can turn over the entire matter of them trying to make purchases on my FFL to FDLE and ATF (again not something I normally do but these guys have earned it).
Now sure as s4 some guy who see's the above as an acceptable practice is gonna come along and cry about how I should just transfer the gun, be happys to make $25.00 (or less) and stop whinning about my customers. But these ARE NOT my customers, these are scam artists who are trying to undermine my business and operate on MY LICENSE.
And these same guys, if someone came along and tried to scam product from THEIR business, would be the first ones to cry foul and call the cops to report the "theft."
Ahhh the gun biz, you won't get rich but it does entertain.
Note FDLE = Florida Department of Law Enforcement I think. |
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[ Reply ] |
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One question: FFL? | by McNutcase | 2005-03-08 11:26:46 |
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Federal (n/t) | by PsychoI3oy | 2005-03-08 11:27:05 |
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Doh. Brain defective. (n/t) | by McNutcase | 2005-03-08 11:28:05 |
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No, that would be BDFL. | by Esteis | 2005-03-08 12:20:55 |
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Sadly they exist | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-08 12:51:02 |
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only full retial? | by Nightwind | 2005-03-08 11:39:38 |
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Because full retail includes all of that | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-08 11:57:03 |
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few places add FAEIFLA... | by Nightwind | 2005-03-08 12:22:33 |
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Option 1 question | by tallastro | 2005-03-08 15:10:14 |
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