Important INFO
- Thread starter chuck
- Start date
Help Support Ruger Forum:
This week I ran across a local FFL on a local firearms forum. I always ask about cost of transfers just to see if these if a better deal out there. I choked when he told me $50 + $10 for the BG check. When I told him not to expect to see me in his new shop, he launched into a big rant about the cost of over head and the time it takes to do transfers, employee issues, etc, ect. Probably the same deal with the coffee places. I guess as long as someone is willing to bend over and pay the price, they will just keep charging it. In my case I gave him the simple reply that I guess we will never meet in person, because when a guy charges gouger prices on a simple paperwork job, I pretty much have to assume his retail prices will mirror it.
Many, many years ago I worked part-time at a 7-11 store. When coffee was sold you actually were buying the CUP. Bring that cup back empty and just fill it up free. Of course we never told anyone. We were there to make money.
Aqualung
Blackhawk
chuck said:
Granted, but ...
How about factoring in the following:
Filters?
Shipping, delivery and processing of coffee order?
Cumulative cost of equipment, including maintenance?
Supporting labor to provide the coffee to the customer (cleaning of coffee maker, cups, etc.)?
Wait staff?
Disposal of old coffee so customers don't complain about "stale" coffee?
Sugar, artificial sweetener and/or creamer?
So, even if you pay $3 for a cup of coffee at a diner, it's usually free refills after that
Now, the Starbucks and "coffee shop" thing is a totally different story.
Aqualung
I don't understand why some FFLs charge so much for doing a transfer. Many will fall back on the "Well I'm not making anything on the sale of the gun" speil. Hogwash! The profit on most guns really isn't that high unless it is a hard to get model where people will pay most anything to get one (or you have a well established store with a lot of traffic). My daughter, who is in a retail business (manager of a Barnes & Noble university book store) discussed this with me and she agrees with me:
If the FFL is a brick and mortar business, what is the most important thing for his business. Ding, Ding, Ding, you are correct! GET PEOPLE IN THE DOOR. If you charge too much for transfers, people will not use you. So, they won't come in the door AND they will tell all their friends and their friends won't go there either.
Charge a small but fair amount to do the transfer, then when they are done with the paperwork, start the questions - Do you need a holster/carrying case? Do you need ammo? Do you need a cleaning kit? Do you need any accessories for that brand new upland game gun? Do you need.....? Firearms profit isn't always that great, but accessories - there's where the money is at. However, you can't sell accessories if people don't come into your store.
So charge your $50/$60/$70/$100 transfer fee and watch your profits walk out your door and tell at least 10 other people how they got screwed (and with the internet now, it could be 1000 people they tell) and then the FFL wonders why he doesn't make any money or get any repeat business.
I do transfers, $20 per firearm and I give a discount if a person does more than one gun at the same time (I have several who order and have me store the items until they can get in to do the transfers, usually 3-5 at a time). I also give a free transfer for every ten a person does with me (and believe it or not, I've given a fair amount of free transfers to people). I'm not a brick and mortar, I'm home based, but if I'm fair with people it comes back with repeat business and a lot of people refer their friends to me. I also have examples of my gunsmithing and Cerakoting work to be able to show people so that is in the back of their minds if they need work done.
Oops! Sorry I got off track, this was about coffee prices
If the FFL is a brick and mortar business, what is the most important thing for his business. Ding, Ding, Ding, you are correct! GET PEOPLE IN THE DOOR. If you charge too much for transfers, people will not use you. So, they won't come in the door AND they will tell all their friends and their friends won't go there either.
Charge a small but fair amount to do the transfer, then when they are done with the paperwork, start the questions - Do you need a holster/carrying case? Do you need ammo? Do you need a cleaning kit? Do you need any accessories for that brand new upland game gun? Do you need.....? Firearms profit isn't always that great, but accessories - there's where the money is at. However, you can't sell accessories if people don't come into your store.
So charge your $50/$60/$70/$100 transfer fee and watch your profits walk out your door and tell at least 10 other people how they got screwed (and with the internet now, it could be 1000 people they tell) and then the FFL wonders why he doesn't make any money or get any repeat business.
I do transfers, $20 per firearm and I give a discount if a person does more than one gun at the same time (I have several who order and have me store the items until they can get in to do the transfers, usually 3-5 at a time). I also give a free transfer for every ten a person does with me (and believe it or not, I've given a fair amount of free transfers to people). I'm not a brick and mortar, I'm home based, but if I'm fair with people it comes back with repeat business and a lot of people refer their friends to me. I also have examples of my gunsmithing and Cerakoting work to be able to show people so that is in the back of their minds if they need work done.
Oops! Sorry I got off track, this was about coffee prices
Just about every day on my way home from work I stop & get a cup of coffee at the local Huddle House. I know I am over paying for the coffee. A lot of times I am sleepy from driving (feel fine when I leave work but something about the drive home makes me tired). I often use the facilities while I am there. If certain regulars are there I will hang out for a few minutes, chit chat with them & the waitresses. If not I don't hang around long usually. It gives me a short in between break between work & the kids. I actually look at as an entertainment cost of sorts & I get an often much needed caffeine boost before getting home.
As for transfers there is an old man that runs (I think owns) the True Value hardware store in Jackson. He will do a transfer for $10. He is also a gun guy & enjoys discussing them. I use him & if I am down that way & happen to need anything from a hardware store I stop by & buy it there just because I like him.
As for transfers there is an old man that runs (I think owns) the True Value hardware store in Jackson. He will do a transfer for $10. He is also a gun guy & enjoys discussing them. I use him & if I am down that way & happen to need anything from a hardware store I stop by & buy it there just because I like him.
pete44ru
Hunter
.
While there are certainly price-gougers everywhere, I've found that the wide price differences between various non-gougers to be their individual history.
IME, sellers (beit coffee or firearms) that are long-established in older, self-owned premises' are most likely to have lower prices for anything (coffee, guns, or firearm transfers) because their overhead (costs) are much lower than like sellers ensconced in spanky-new leased establishments, or in areas where municipal demands raise the cost of doing business over other areas.
OTOH, some BUYERS fail to take into consideration how much those costs of doing business effects the prices charged for whatever, and even other buyers seem to want things at low/no cost to themselves (like HOT coffee, sweetener, cream (whatever) & firearms transfers).
I just feel bad for those folks located in an area where's there's not much choice in vendors of their favorite poison, and the seller's there happen to set charges higher than they'd like.
FWIW, within 20 miles of my home, FFL transfer charges run from a flat $20 to a flat $50 to a fee equal to a percentage of the value of the firearm being transferred (10%-15%).
Choices, choices, choices.
.
While there are certainly price-gougers everywhere, I've found that the wide price differences between various non-gougers to be their individual history.
IME, sellers (beit coffee or firearms) that are long-established in older, self-owned premises' are most likely to have lower prices for anything (coffee, guns, or firearm transfers) because their overhead (costs) are much lower than like sellers ensconced in spanky-new leased establishments, or in areas where municipal demands raise the cost of doing business over other areas.
OTOH, some BUYERS fail to take into consideration how much those costs of doing business effects the prices charged for whatever, and even other buyers seem to want things at low/no cost to themselves (like HOT coffee, sweetener, cream (whatever) & firearms transfers).
I just feel bad for those folks located in an area where's there's not much choice in vendors of their favorite poison, and the seller's there happen to set charges higher than they'd like.
FWIW, within 20 miles of my home, FFL transfer charges run from a flat $20 to a flat $50 to a fee equal to a percentage of the value of the firearm being transferred (10%-15%).
Choices, choices, choices.
.
Enigma
Hunter
When I lived in Maryland, I used a local (a 5 minute drive) 'virtual' gun shop for all my transfers. That's essentially all the guy did, besides his real job. He didn't stock any guns, and operated out of his home. I was really surprised that the Maryland State Police would issue him a Handgun License because of that. At any rate, he charged $20 for transfers. The brick-and-mortar gunshops absolutely HATED him because of that. People would drive what I considered an excessive distance to utilize his services just because of the $20 transfer fee - a 'spend $20 for the transfer and $30 in gas' kind of thing. He showed me one of the letters that he had received from the state dealer's association urging him to 'get on board,' and raise his transfer fee to the 'approved' $75 that EVERYONE else charged! And the brick-and-mortar gun shops wondered why they couldn't stay in business!
And yes, in this instance, the $75 transfer fee was indicitative of the pricing of everything in the gun shops. Handguns especially, were priced WAY higher than what they were worth.
And yes, in this instance, the $75 transfer fee was indicitative of the pricing of everything in the gun shops. Handguns especially, were priced WAY higher than what they were worth.
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
Most of the stuff we consume isn't hardly worth anything and most of the cost is packaging and all the assorted other stuff that goes with it. How much is a bottle of water or a Coke worth? btw I almost never buy coffee out except maybe at Micky-D's.
I like coffee at the restaurant. When I meet up with a few pals tomorrow, as we always do on Saturday mornings, we'll talk over coffee, eat, talk some more over more coffee.
I know it's a big markup, so's soda. As long as I can sit there and have as much as I want, I really don't care.
If we hang around longer that a " normal turn-over time, we'll just leave a bigger tip.
Transfers?
I found a nicely stocked gun store that charges 10.00 transfers.
It's about 35 minutes west of me which makes it a nice country drive, especially in the summer when the MG is on the road.
They also have a great handgun wall display with retractable cords attached to the guns. About 350- 400 on the wall, both revolvers and semi's. Go right up and handle, no " may I see that one, please?" to the counter jockeys. And yes, any nut could chamber a round and cause mischief. I hope that never happens.
The last guy I used charged 45.00, and the guy before him, who lost closed his shop
due to expired lease, was 26.00, but very little inventory to browse.
The new shop gets a lot of my ammo purchases. Gotta support the good places.
I know it's a big markup, so's soda. As long as I can sit there and have as much as I want, I really don't care.
If we hang around longer that a " normal turn-over time, we'll just leave a bigger tip.
Transfers?
I found a nicely stocked gun store that charges 10.00 transfers.
It's about 35 minutes west of me which makes it a nice country drive, especially in the summer when the MG is on the road.
They also have a great handgun wall display with retractable cords attached to the guns. About 350- 400 on the wall, both revolvers and semi's. Go right up and handle, no " may I see that one, please?" to the counter jockeys. And yes, any nut could chamber a round and cause mischief. I hope that never happens.
The last guy I used charged 45.00, and the guy before him, who lost closed his shop
due to expired lease, was 26.00, but very little inventory to browse.
The new shop gets a lot of my ammo purchases. Gotta support the good places.
Enigma said:
A while back I was thinking about applying for a Class 1 FFL just to offer cheap transfers, and to be able to ship USPS on my own sales. The town I work in passed a " No new gun stores in the downtown business district" ordinance some years back.
My glass shop is within the downtown area. I ran the idea past the Police chief and he had no problems with a transfer service but made it clear that new gun sales would change the dynamics of the business and the village would need to vote a variance for that as it would then be considered a " gun shop". No chance of that happening.
I considered the service as an insured LLC , for a while, then the whole idea just faded away.
toysoldier
Hunter
Jimbo357mag said:
Same here. Ironically, that's the one place where I can be assured of a really good cup of coffee. As for transfers, the local pawn shop owner offers them for $20. With my CCL, It doesn't take ten minutes. I've also found good buys on guns and other items. I drop in once or twice a month to see if he has anything I like more than he does.
Conservative
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2017
- Messages
- 508
On coffee: I thought coffee like Folgers or what have you was ok, until the day I had a cup made from fresh ground whole beans. I was blown away at the flavor difference. I thought paying more money for fresh whole ground beans was some sort of yuppie nonsense. I was wrong.
For years now, we buy fresh whole beans, grind it up in the morning and drink coffee that's really, really good.
p.s. a lot of FFL guys here in Texas only charge $10.00 per transaction.
I don't drink coffee outside the house. It's usually dreadful.
For years now, we buy fresh whole beans, grind it up in the morning and drink coffee that's really, really good.
p.s. a lot of FFL guys here in Texas only charge $10.00 per transaction.
I don't drink coffee outside the house. It's usually dreadful.
I paid $2.69 for 2 cups at a restaurant yesterday. I'll ask for water w/ lemon from now on.
Paladin
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2013
- Messages
- 103
Chuck is complaining here about the high cost of restaurant coffee and everyone always complains about the high price of gasoline.
However, there is an under-the-radar price-gouging product that will really ruffle your feathers. It is the price of inkjet printer ink. If you interpolate the cost of a 40 ML ink cartridge to the price you're paying per gallon, it comes to $3,600.00 per gallon. That's right! And, that doesn't even include the $288.00 paid for sales tax at 8%. With sales tax, that comes to $3,888.00 per gallon! Curiously, no one seems to have a problem with that.
Now you know why inkjet printers are so inexpensive. The manufacturers sell them cheap and make a killing by gouging us on the ink.
Regarding firearm transfers, my guy charges $20.00 and HE drives 44 miles round trip to meet me at a McDonald's restaurant that is half a mile from my house to do the transfer. Now, that is service. Not only that, but I usually end up eating half of his french fries.
However, there is an under-the-radar price-gouging product that will really ruffle your feathers. It is the price of inkjet printer ink. If you interpolate the cost of a 40 ML ink cartridge to the price you're paying per gallon, it comes to $3,600.00 per gallon. That's right! And, that doesn't even include the $288.00 paid for sales tax at 8%. With sales tax, that comes to $3,888.00 per gallon! Curiously, no one seems to have a problem with that.
Now you know why inkjet printers are so inexpensive. The manufacturers sell them cheap and make a killing by gouging us on the ink.
Regarding firearm transfers, my guy charges $20.00 and HE drives 44 miles round trip to meet me at a McDonald's restaurant that is half a mile from my house to do the transfer. Now, that is service. Not only that, but I usually end up eating half of his french fries.
Rarely by coffee to go, I bring my own! ps
Ask both the gun shop owner as well as the restaurant's how much they pay in insurance as well as taxes.....
I work for myself and have no employees.... insurance for my business is over 4k... last year I paid over 9k in health insurance and I've cost neither company one penny in the last 35 years.... there is you true rip off.
I work for myself and have no employees.... insurance for my business is over 4k... last year I paid over 9k in health insurance and I've cost neither company one penny in the last 35 years.... there is you true rip off.
Sturgis270
Single-Sixer
I had a real eye opener recently when we went to see a movie. Large bucket of popcorn, 2 large sodas and the youngster wanted the pretzel bites w/cheese sauce. $27. I could buy a really good steak for that price.
Back to the coffee issue, I'm at that place in life where if I'm out running errands and feel like a cup of coffee I'll stop at one of the few local spots I know have good coffee and grab a cup. Retirement is a time to enjoy life!
Back to the coffee issue, I'm at that place in life where if I'm out running errands and feel like a cup of coffee I'll stop at one of the few local spots I know have good coffee and grab a cup. Retirement is a time to enjoy life!
SR1911SHOOTER
Blackhawk
My FFL gives me about every 3rd transfer free, same for the range fee.
CAN'T COMPLAIN!
Blackie
CAN'T COMPLAIN!
Blackie
Similar threads
