Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I was recently in Nova Firearms to make a purchase only to discover that they are now charging a "transfer fee" on in-shop purchases.
When I was given the total price, the owner told me that I have to also pay the $30 transfer even though I was buying a retail item in his store.

I questioned the fee and was told that other places charge $40, and that he ONLY charges $30. I can understand if I ordered a firearm from the Internet and had it shipped to his store for pick up.

I've never run across this before in my entire life. Does anyone feel that this is just plain unethical or am I missing something?

They have raised their prices by $30 while calling it something else. I think it's dishonest.

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I have to admit that I've never heard of a shop charging a transfer fee for a firearm that they have in stock. Which makes me think that there is more to the story here.

Can any other members confirm that this is true?.

I just looked at my receipt to find out that the transfer fee is not even listed. I'm guessing they rolled the price in to the back ground check, taxes, and price of the guns. My background check is listed at $17.50 which seems kind of high.

There were two other people in the shop who purchased ahead of me and both were quoted a $30 transfer fee, and they paid it with no questions asked. I guess they didn't know better than to at least inquire about it.

The cost is normally just put in the cost of the weapon and never discussed. They all do it. I deal with a guy who charges $25.00 per transfer. Maybe shop around for a better deal.

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It is a way of capturing more money but still being able to advertise your guns at a lower price. For example if the shop dropped every price in the store by $30 and started adding on a $30 fee then they were ethical. If they just decided they needed more profit and added a $30 fee but still advertised their prices the same while not mentioning their fee online or in store, I call that an unethical bait and switch.

So I guess for me it boils down to this. Do they have a sign posted saying there is a $30 transfer fee on ALL firearms purchases? If you look online right now does it mention a $30 transfer fee on ALL firearms. If not then they are doing the old bait and switch of advertising at one price and hitting you with a fee that is not an industry standard. If the fee was an industry norm then this would not be an issue.

Tell him to shove his " transfer fee" sideways// Long as people tolerate it he'll charge it just like the banks do

Sounds to me like it's a way to chisel an additional $30 and folks will think it's a government-mandated fee and not argue. Unethical? Probably not. Sleazy? Definitely. But I doubt it qualifies as bait and switch.

I've never paid a fee related to a background check or transfer of afirearm to the FFL I deal with. Of course, it's a small community and I may be one of his better customers.

I'd say that sort of stuff is more likely in a large community where the vast majority of a merchant's sales are to people he expects he will never see again.

If I choose to visit again, I will tell him to shove his fee sideways. Respectfully, of course.
I was polite enough to wait until his other customers left before I questioned him about the transfer fee because I wasn't trying to disrespect him in front of others.

I agree that it's a sneaky way to generate additional revenue from unsuspecting customers, but I will take my business elsewhere unless they decide to either drop their fee or at least advertise it on their website. I don't appreciate the way it was slipped in as a hidden fee on my purchase.

Thanks for all of your replies.

That gun shop is in a extremely high rent area. I cant even see how they would be able to sell enought firearms to pay the rent and all the overhead they have. Could have to do it to turn a larger profit to keep the lights on. Just sayin...

gungeek wrote:I just looked at my receipt to find out that the transfer fee is not even listed. I'm guessing they rolled the price in to the back ground check, taxes, and price of the guns. My background check is listed at $17.50 which seems kind of high.

I haven't bought from an FFL in awhile (God I love my C&R!) but I remember paying two or three dollars for the background check on a pistol last year.

Sounds like you got ripped off twice. Live and learn.

I fully understand and agree that this shop is in a high rent area. No argument there.
But, the cost of running your business needs to be taken in to account with the appropriate pricing of your products with full disclosure to your customers of all applicable fees, taxes, etc.

I do have a feeling of being ripped off as I know that a background check is generally around $2, and there is also no mention of the transfer fee (for retail items) on their website.

I just wanted to get some honest opinions from other members as to whether or not they have encountered this at other gun shops and how they feel about it. Thanks again for all of your replies. You said it best, "You live, you learn".

gungeek wrote:I fully understand and agree that this shop is in a high rent area. No argument there.
But, the cost of running your business needs to be taken in to account with the appropriate pricing of your products with full disclosure to your customers of all applicable fees, taxes, etc.

I do have a feeling of being ripped off as I know that a background check is generally around $2, and there is also no mention of the transfer fee (for retail items) on their website.

I just wanted to get some honest opinions from other members as to whether or not they have encountered this at other gun shops and how they feel about it. Thanks again for all of your replies. You said it best, "You live, you learn".

Whenever I make a purchase, the bottom line price is what really matters. Is his bottom line competitive with other shops in the area? If he sells you a gun for $450 + $30 FFL fee + $17.50 background fee ($497.50) and the guy up the road sells you a similar gun for $495 + $2.50 background fee ($497.50), you are still paying the same price. If you want to go up the road and pay $500 for the same rifle and that store won't charge you the extra fees and you think you are getting a better deal, go right ahead...