Online Gun shops?

[bluedog46]

Buds usually has good prices but charges 3% for Credit transactions and also had a security breech last year were credit card info was stolen. I bought one gun from them and my wife likes it ( springfield xd).

You can find lots of good deals at cdnn firearms ( never bought a gun but some mags) and also at centerfiresystems.com

I woud never begrudge a local store of $10-$30, but on an ar or something its pushing $100. I dont know about everyone else, but the hope and change has not been good for me.

[SCBaldr]

I have done three transactions with Budsgunshop.com so far. Two of them, I have gotten the guns for and the third I made yesterday, so I haven't gotten that one yet. Each time, I used the e-check because it gets me the cash price and its pretty trouble free. The guns are always as advertised and get to your dealer about 6 business days after you do the e-check.

When I make the decision to buy from buds, its usually a based on a calculation that I make.
What is the markup of the local shop? I have found it to be anywhere from 5-12% depending on the shop and the gun.
What is the price of the gun? This will tell you how much sales tax you'll have to pay.
How much does the dealer charge for a pics check? Some don't charge at all for it, the highest I've ever seen was $12 for pics.

I'll use the latest gun that I ordered off Buds as an example.
There was a Smith and Wesson 386 XL in Tanner's for $760. The involuntary contribution to the governor comes out to $45.60. Tanner's doesn't charge for PICS, (not that I recall) so that brings the OTD total to $805.60.

Buds had one for $700 even. They're based in Kentucky, so the interstate commerce clause applies, ergo no sales tax. All that is left is $7 of insurance and $20 of transfer. That brings the Buds total to $727. If the difference was $20, I would prefer to have the gun in my hand that day. Anything over that and I can wait.

Since I pay $20 for transfers. The threshold at which I will prefer to buy locally is the point at which sales tax becomes less expensive than transfers. At a rate of 6%, that means a $333.30 gun will mean $20 of sales tax. In short, If its less than $330, I'll buy locally. If its much more than $380, it makes no financial sense to buy locally if there is a significant difference in base price.

There is also the fact that I hate funding the Philadelphia Parking Authority. (Yes, it is a state, not a city run agency) I'll do almost anything I can to de-fund the savage parking masters. I would rather give a local dealer a disproportionate amount of money for the actual work being done to transfer a gun than involuntarily giving my money to the state.

Besides, Local shops rarely touch buds prices. IMO, welcome to competitive commerce. If the local shops don't want to stay competitive price wise, then all I'm paying their markups for is convenience. And thats not worth much.

Thats just my $0.02.

[Pector55]

I buy quite a bit from Buds. I typically see something I want, throw it on 90 day layaway, go set up 4 payments in Quicken (20% down, then 3 payments) and I'm done. I forget about it until my FFL calls and it's like a surprise gift.

I did use my Amex this past week but that was for a bolt gun for hunting and I wanted it ASAP. I had been checking with Dicks and Gander and a few other places but they didn't have exactly what I wanted.

In total, I've purchased 12 firearms from Buds. They range from a <$200 .22 revolver to a >$1000 MSAR 556. I've not had one problem.

[Huascar82]

Thank you for the suggestions, check all sites listed but non seem to have the sr9c other then gun broker and buds. I'll keep looking and probably contact the sites and see if they can get it and what prices. Lay away may be a good idea too.


*Never Mind reread SCBaldr's post****
What should I expect to pay at a local shop over the normal taxes and license transfer? Like if I was to go into tanners and pay 410 + tax for the gun, what's expected over that? License transfer and background check? What's that normally?

[pa350z]

I'll throw my two cents in for Davidson's Guns (Gun Genie). Picked up a NIB and I mean in the box, S&W MP 15. Paid the down with a credit card and picked up the new unit in the box not opened at Boyers in Slatington PA and paid cash for the remainder. What I liked was the quick service and a weapon not FF by anyone.

[Xringshooter]

...They're based in Kentucky, so the interstate commerce clause applies, ergo no sales tax....

Not to rain on anyones parade, but if you buy something from out of state and the seller does not collect PA sales tax, YOU are liable for the tax. In this case it is called a Use Tax. It is the same rate as the PA sales tax AND any local sales tax.

From the PA Dept of Revenue:
Use Tax

If YOU or your business buys items that are subject to sales tax – for which the seller does not charge and collect the tax on the invoice (or receipt) – you are personally responsible for remitting the tax directly to the PA Department of Revenue. This tax is called use tax.

Purchases made over the Internet, through toll-free numbers (800, 888 and 877), from mail order catalogs and from out-of-state locations are examples of purchases that would be subject to use tax if sales tax was not paid. The tax rate is the same as the sales tax, 6 percent state, plus 1 percent local tax for residents of Allegheny County or 2 percent local tax for residents of Philadelphia.

Non-recurring use tax liabilities can be reported on a Use Tax Return, PA-1, and full remittance is due on or before the 20th day of the month after the month in which the purchase was made.

Any business that incurs use tax liabilities on a regular basis is encouraged to register for a use tax account number by completing the PA Enterprise Registration Form, PA-100. Businesses currently registered for the collection of sales tax are required to report and remit use tax liabilities when filing sales tax returns.

For more info go here: http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/porta.../use_tax/16068

The above said, I don't know of anyone that thas been prosecuted for not paying the tax, and I'm not sure how they would find out, but it is the law in PA.


Now, back to the buying from a site or a LGS. Many times, if you go to your LGS, and they have the gun you want, and you have researched your total cost if you buy from the site, you can talk to them and say "I can get it for this amount from a site on the web, could you maybe do a bit better on your price as I would rather give my business to my local gun shop if possible". Many will work with you as they should know that if they treat you right you'll be back to buy other things from them (ammo, accessories, etc) and that's where they make a pretty good profit. If they get all huffy and won't deal with you, then that is probably a place you won't want to do any business with anyway.

Oh, BTW, www.impactguns.com and www.gilbertsguns.com are a couple more online gun retailers, and I'm sure there are others also.

[awdxtc]

I'll second www.summitgunbroker.com his prices are really good.

[NinjaofTashy]

Impactguns is pretty good. Their stock can be a bit flimsy; their layaway program works.