Bud's Guns in Florida?

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, All,

Merry Christmas, to you and yours, and may the New Year offer may wonderful things for your families and friends!!

I wonder who may have done business with Bud's Guns, in Florida? If any of you have bought from them, I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on how they do business, and what your guns were like, once received. I am wondering if it's better for me to buy a Ruger Bearcat locally, which I have seen and handled, and which I think is very nice in fit and finish, rather than order a gun that may, or may not be as nice, once it arrives. Thoughts, comments, suggestions, will all be gratefully appreciated! The local Bearcat is priced at $490, + $25 for a test + $30 for a background check. The one from Bud's is priced at $414, + $30 for a background check, but I have no idea what the local FFL guy will charge me for receiving the pistol and doing the deed. Thanks for anything you can send my way, about your own situations in ordering from Bud's Guns, or other such places. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[TiteGroups]

I live in FL, $25 for a test? Normally when you buy from a gunshop, you pay the price of the gun plus states sales tax and a $5 fee for the background check. If you buy a gun from an out of state FFL you pay for the gun, normally shipping, about $25, the receiving FFL about $25 for the transfer plus $5 for the background check. The one from Buds should be cheaper, $444 with their free shipping and cash discount compared to about $525 out the door including sales tax and backgound check from the dealer. Considerable difference there. You got to cover the cost of the local gun shops overhead, to me it isn't worth it. It's called creative destruction in economics and that's part of free market function. The new way replaces the old.

 

[REP1954]

I have bought 4 guns from Bud's in just over a year. All the guns were new guns and in excellent shape. Any time I'm looking at new guns they are one of the first places I check out.

 

[Sugar River]

Your question has me confused. Are you asking about a resident of FL buying from Buds Gun Shop in Lexington KY, or is there a Bud's guns in FL that I've never heard of?

Pete

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Your question has me confused. Are you asking about a resident of FL buying from Buds Gun Shop in Lexington KY...

I think that is it Pete, with the talk about FFL transfer and this, "Thanks for anything you can send my way, about your own situations in ordering from Bud's Guns, or other such places."

Bud's is a huge volume dealer. I have no experience with them but have heard both good and bad with regards to customer service. On the other hand I have heard only good things about Davidson's, http://www.galleryofguns.com/default.aspx another huge volume distributor. The biggest complaint is usually when a brand new gun comes with some defect or problem and the resulting hassle to get the problem solved. :shock:

...Jimbo

 

[Sugar River]

Well, Jim, if that's the case, I've bought several guns from Bud's. Never had a problem and their price is shipping included.

I use a dealer in Naples who charges $26.50 all inclusive for the transfer/background check.

By Florida law, the fee for a BG check is $5, period. So I don't know what the OP is talking about for a "$30 background check". Also never heard of a $25 test. What kind of test? IQ? Pregnancy?

Pete :lol:

 

[kstoneking]

By Florida law, the fee for a BG check is $5, period. So I don't know what the OP is talking about for a "$30 background check". Also never heard of a $25 test. What kind of test? IQ? Pregnancy?

Pete :lol:

I see that Doc Mark lists "Left Coast" as his location which I would assume means California, with all its various and sundry hurdles to lawful gun ownership. As a gun enthusiast, ya gotta love living in Florida, I know I do.

Kenny

 

[Sugar River]

I saw that too, but thought, just maybe he means the west coast of FL.

Who knows?

And yes, having spent 30 yrs in NJ, I am VERY grateful to be living in FL.

Pete

 

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, Gentlemen,

Many thanks for the information. I do, indeed, live in the very socialistic State of CA, unfortunately. All gun owners must take a Firearms Safety Test, or they cannot purchase a gun in this State. The card you get, after passing the test, is good for, I think, five years. Then, a $15 renewal fee will be required. The initial test costs $25. In CA, the required background check costs us $30. I know that it is far less in more common sense States, but CA is about as devoid of common sense as anything you can imagine, even in your worst nightmare!! I haven't bought a modern firearm for quite a few years, pre-dating the need for taking this "new" test. Hence, my need to pay the pound of flesh, to take and pass this test. Then, even though I've gone through the process many times on the past, used to have a top secret security clearance in the Military, and have never committed any type of crime in my life, I still have to have yet another background check, which costs $30 in CA. I was thinking that, to save a bit of coin, I'd order my Bearcat revolver from a dealer such as Buds, which was recommended here, actually. Then, I'd have them ship the pistol to a local small gun shop, where the transfer and background check paperwork would be done. But, I have no idea what the local FFL owner will charge me for such a transaction, and need to talk to him about it. Bud's price (which, by the way, I had thought was in Florida), was $414, shipping included, last time I checked. I am ready to do this deal, and so asked about your experiences with Bud's, or other such venues. I'll check Davidson's, too, and see how things look over there. Then, I'll check with my FFL guy in the next week, and see what he charges. If the dollars and cents don't add up to a good savings, I'll just drive down the mountain, and buy the Bearcat from another gun shop, which has one in stock, which I have already seen in the flesh, and handled. I liked that one quite a bit actually.

Thanks, again, Guys! I hope this is all a done deal, fairly soon! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Welcome aboard, good luck with your gun deal and all, and let us know how it all works out and how you like the gun. We are all hoping for a 'happy ending' and a 'good shooting' report.

...jimbo

 

[Lucky]

Doc,

I've ordered several guns of all types from Bud's and have never had anything to complain about. Their customer service has always been top notch and the prices are hard to beat. My friend and I were on a roll for a few years keeping Bud's in business until our local gun shop raised their transfer price to $47! That pretty much negated the low price from Bud's. Neither one of us ever had a problem with the guns that were shipped. They were always brand new as you would expect. My friend ordered a black rifle a few years ago that included a hard plastic case. The case had a cracked latch on it when it arrived but the rifle was unharmed. He called Bud's on the spot and they sent him a new hard case overnight...and told him not to bother sending the broken one back. The new one arrived unharmed and everyone was happy. If you do order from Bud's, ALWAYS inspect the gun before signing anything! Once you sign for it, it's yours no matter what. If it's damaged, it can be sent back at their cost. You should have no worries ordering from Bud's. Even if you're not shopping, it's always fun to look through their website.

Lucky

 

[Lucky]

Doc,

I've ordered several guns of all types from Bud's and have never had anything to complain about. Their customer service has always been top notch and the prices are hard to beat. My friend and I were on a roll for a few years keeping Bud's in business until our local gun shop raised their transfer price to $47! That pretty much negated the low price from Bud's. Neither one of us ever had a problem with the guns that were shipped. They were always brand new as you would expect. My friend ordered a black rifle a few years ago that included a hard plastic case. The case had a cracked latch on it when it arrived but the rifle was unharmed. He called Bud's on the spot and they sent him a new hard case overnight...and told him not to bother sending the broken one back. The new one arrived unharmed and everyone was happy. If you do order from Bud's, ALWAYS inspect the gun before signing anything! Once you sign for it, it's yours no matter what. If it's damaged, it can be sent back at their cost. You should have no worries ordering from Bud's. Even if you're not shopping, it's always fun to look through their website.

Lucky

 

[bisleyfan41]

IMO, buy the local gun.
You seem to really like the local Bearcat you actually held; no guarantees with the one you order. Actually handling the gun is peace of mind. Keep it simple; no need to complicate things and possibly end up disappointed.

 

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, Gentlemen,

Many thanks for all your comments on this! Much appreciated. I did see that Bud's is in Kentucky, indeed, and not Florida, as I at first thought. Also, they are currently out of stock on the little Bearcat revolvers, and so I'm very probably going to get the local one, IF it's still available. If that one is gone, then I'll just wait until another one comes in locally, and buy a gun that I can see before purchasing. Good advise, and well taken! I'll post a note when my Bearcat is safely living in it's new den, in our home! Thanks, again, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[mattsbox99]

I've bought a few guns from Bud's over the years. I've always been pleased with the service.

I'll keep MT though, no background check, no waiting period, no sales tax... just walk in and fill out the 4473 form, show my permit and out the door in 10 minutes and off to the range. I can even buy a gun and ammo at the same time...