Pistol transfer ripoff !!

[dhuey]

I just had a pistol transfered at Braverman Arms in Pittsburgh. Thay charged us $40 bucks for the transfer what a ripoff !!! I've purchased several pistols in the last 3 months and every shop was $20 bucks. I mentioned that every other shop I went to was $20 bucks and they said oh well go there !! It's getting to be that used pistols aren't a good deal when you have to ad transfer fees and fuel and time costs for pick up. Never again will I go to Bravermans!!!

[Emptymag]

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but did you ask what the fee would be beforehand?

It's a business. They don't have to charge what other businesses charge.

Was this a face to face(both buyer and seller in the store)transfer, or was it a transfer via "mail"?


As a favor for another member here, I called a BUNCH of shops in the Pgh area, inquiring about transfer fees.
I was surprised to find that MANY shops charge more to do transfers that are being shipped to them.

And yes, I agree that $40 is way too much.
Was this before taxes? A few places quoted me $XX.00 "plus tax"... some just gave a price w/no mention of tax. I do recall Braverman's saying "After taxes, it will be $XX.00 (I don't recall the price)

By the way, the lowest price I found in Pgh was at "Island Firearms"(I think that's the name)on Neville Island. The fee was $25.

[XD45]

The prices for transfers in all of allegheny county are ridiculous, but compared to others bravermans isn't to far out there and no one around here does them for under $30 that I've found.

Bravermans has it's hits and misses but overall it's not a bad shop, staff leaves something to be desired but overall the prices are atleast fair if not quite awesome and they stand by what they sell in my experience.

[dhuey]

This was the shop that the seller found equal distance to both of us. $40 bucks for 10-15 mins worth of paperwork is just plain taking advantage of the consumer. So whats the advantage of buying a used pistol if it will cost so much to transfer?? I'll stick with local buys from now on and stay away from pistols. These gun shops that charge that much just for a transfer are not looking for new customers just a fast buck.

[reels18]

40 bucks is about the going rate here in Delaware County. I have seen it as high as 50 bucks. I feel many local dealers penalize you with high transfer fees because the gun was not bought from them.

[Ozone]

I've seen $50.00 in the area as well.

But..shops are entitled to charge whatever.

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

wow and I thought $20 was expensive for a transfer. Fortunately for me I am not located in Western PA. There are some shops I have seen doing transfers for $30 but I avoid them, I did a couple of transfers with AF Boyers who were charging $20 per transfer plus tax. Then I found a local gunsmith who does them for $10 per transfer regardless of however many firearms your doing. Look around for some hole in the wall places and you may just luck out.

[Pector55]

It is rediculous. I wouldn't have gone through with the transfer at that price. The more people just accept it, the more they will just do it. I asked Gander Mt. what they would charge for the transfer before I bought my Mossberg because I was on the edge as far as whether or not I wanted to spend the money. When they said $5, it sealed the deal. Had they said $40, I would have purchased elsewhere.

Shops can certainly charge what they want. We as consumers are entitled to determine "worth." To me, transfers are not worth much because although time is money, any monkey can fill out paperwork. They suffered no high opportunity cost which needs recovered.

Now that is over, tell us more about what you picked up. ;-)

[andrewjs18]

most ranges in Delaware County do run you $50. I know, I've been raped before.

I'm almost positive Target Master charged me $50 for a gun I bought in their store....

best bet is to find a private FFL.

[dhuey]

I had to go through with the transfer since I already drove over an hour to get there. Unfamilar teritory to me so I knew of no other place to go. I assume alot of shops are charging such high prices for the transfers to keep people buying there guns and not someone elses. I probably will not buy a used pistol again unless I almost steal it. That's probably another reason why it so hard to sell used pistols. Certain gun shops are just taking advantage of a this situation of having to transfer pistols.