Question for a Dealer: Form 4473

[TDDude]

I was complaining to a dealer I'm considering for doing my numerous (to me at least) transfers with about the cost of ffl transfers. It seems that everyone I've called lately has gone up to 35 per transfer. That seems like a lot of money to hand someone a yellow form and then make a copy of two pieces of plastic. Since I have a CHL, the dealer doesn't even have to make a phone call.

So, the dealer gets a ups package that he doesn't have to take the time to order or pay for, then the dealer makes a phone call to someone (sometimes), the firearm takes up safe space for a day or two, the dealer hands me a form, I hand them my two licenses, I fill out the form and I get my product.

The dealer I was talking to only charges 25 and told me some places charge 50.

However, he did tell me that he has to keep the information for 20 years which I did not know. Plus, the informatiuon has to stay in the paper form. Scanning and storing on a computer system won't do for when the ATF calls.

First off, is my description of the dealers work load in this accurate?

Second, is the 20 year bit accurate. If it is, I see little difference between this and gun registration. It seems all the ATF has to do is round up all 4473 forms and Viola, instant registration.

Granted, I'm coming from a customers viewpoint but I want to make sure I'm arguing from accurate information.

[Captain Matt]

27 CFR 178.129 requires a FFL to retain the 4473 for 20 years unless someone flunks the NICS check and can't get the gun. Then a FFL only has to keep the 4473 for 5 years. When a FFL goes out of business they have to give their records to the government. There's no exemption for Texas CHL holders. That sounds like registration to me.

[Mike1951]

The dealer must record receipt of the firearm into their 'bound book' or computer alternate as well as the disposal when you pick it up.

They had to take the time to send their FFL to your seller and spend time with you at pickup.

Having said that, try Martini Hardware on Lawndale.

They charge no more than $20. Truthfully, they have been charging $15 for the first transfer for a customer and $10 thereafter. But recently Cyndi told me they were going to $20. Don't know if it has happened yet.

[Donaldb]

Yes they started to charge 20 on the 1st of February.

donald

[RECIT]

I can see paying a fee for any type on transfer or paper trail. But its nice not to be gouged. I payed $45 for my last transfer, but I found an FFL on the FFL page here that will do it for $20. And he is closer than my previous FFL.

[ELB]

If you go to Gunbroker.com and use their FFL lookup (you put in your zip code) it will give you a list of FFLs that have registered with Gunbroker, and usually their transfer fees. Don't know about other parts of Texas, but there is a long list for the San Antonio area, and some of them are in the $20 range. The fees I see at full-up retail, brick-and-morter stores usually run 35-45 (my local favorite went up $5 on 1 mar), but some of the guys who only work by special order or other low-overhead operations seem to do it cheaper. You may have to drive to his house to do the transfer.

[mgood]

The dealer must record receipt of the firearm into their 'bound book' or computer alternate as well as the disposal when you pick it up.

They had to take the time to send their FFL to your seller and spend time with you at pickup.

Correct.
At the store where I work, in Hobbs, NM, we charge $45. We're the only place in Hobbs that does transfers. I'm not sure if the store in Lovington does them or not. If not, then it's along dang drive to Carlsbad or Roswell to pick up a gun, so people pay the $45.

I live in Texas though. I had a pistol transferred from a store in Hobbs to a dealer in Seminole, TX. They charged me $25. Another store, in Brownfield, TX, told me they also charge $25.

It's just time and paperwork for the dealer. Probably faxing an FFL to whoever you're buying the piece from, receiving it, unpacking, logging into our book, calling you (assuming either you or the person who shipped it gave us your number), doing the 4473 business, logging it out of our book . . . maybe 20-30 minutes we have in it. So $25-50 for a half-hour's work may seem like a lot. But it's something we're not otherwise making any money off of and it's a gun that a local customer is not buying from us. We could just say we don't have time to fool with it. But it gets people into the store who might not normally come in as well as providing a service to our regulars. And maybe we can sell them some ammo, cleaning products, or a case for their new gun. So it all works out.