advice on ffl transfer

[Harold]

Hello,

I have purchased a pistol over the Internet today from out of state and it is being shipped to my local dealer for transfer. This is my first time to buy a gun this way.

The seller (out of state) told me that they don't give a receipt for the firearm purchase due to laws in Texas ... that I'm "actually" purchasing from my local dealer. My local dealer says that's not the case, that they only provide a receipt for the transfer and the out of state seller needs to provide the receipt for the firearm.

I guess the only reason it matters is that I need the receipt to get the $50 mail in rebate (hate rebates but also hate being one of the people who don't send them in thus encouraging the practice). The price is good enough to still be less than anything else I found even without the extra $50 but this "run around" just bothers me.

So for those of you who do this transfer stuff, who is really supposed to give me a receipt (hopefully that shows the pistol's serial #) for the gun purchase?

thanks,
Harold

[hoytinak]

I've order several online and had them transfered. Every one of them came with a receipt from the out of state seller in the box with it. Which out of state dealer did you use?

[KBCraig]

As far as the rebate is concerned, you bought it from the out of state dealer -- that's who you paid, right?

As far as ATF is concerned, you bought it from your local dealer, the one who conducted the transfer.

[QB]

I've purchased many guns from out of state dealers. EVERY purchase came with a receipt from the dealer. I'd say something is up if a dealer refuses to issue a receipt....sounds like cooking the books to me.

While you do have a valid record of transfer, I would want a receipt/bill of sale from the dealer and would pursue it further.....but that's just me.

[ELB]

Ditto. I purchased a handgun from Oklahoma, with a credit card, and got an email showing the transaction, i.e. a receipt. My local FFL gave me a receipt too -- for the $20 I paid him for the transfer. I would view your merchant with certain amount of scepticism....

elb

[Harold]

Ok thanks guys for the info. I thought I was going in circles.

I wanted to buy local but none of the dealers around here that I called could find a distributor with the model I wanted in stock (even s&w top gun dealers).

I did my homework, the out of state dealer is in Kentucky, http://www.whittakerguns.com/. And they are listed as a top gun dealer themselves on s&w's site via the dealer locator. Plus, I checked them out at BBB and there are no complaints against them.

Now I was at first suspicious of what seemed like a great price - I was almost expecting a bait and switch when I called. The deal: a brand new m&p 9mm, 17rd mags, w/ factory night sights ($469.99 pre rebate "while they last" cash price reflecting 2% discount from credit card price). I paid with a credit card ($9 extra in this case) for convenience and a quicker ship. So my final total cost should be $474 (470-50rebate+9cc+20shipping+25transfer) plus receipt of 2 extra mags as part of the rebate, no other price I've seen even comes close to that.

Anyway, thanks again for the feedback, I really appreciate it. If no receipt comes with the gun I'll call them and I'm sure it will get worked out somehow.

Harold