FFL Transfer Nightmare

[papalondog]

Just completed the worst FFL transfer ever. I purchased some guns from a member a couple weeks ago. He was coming a substantial distance to my town on a Wednesday which is my FFL dealers day off. My dealer got called away at the last minute and the seller said even though it would cost more let's find another FFL so I won't have to make an extra trip.
We went to Capital Pawn in Albany. After about an hour of them entering information into the computer, including taking selfies of themselves holding the guns, they asked me how I was going to pay. Red flag should have warned me. I said don't I need to fill out the form? They wanted paid before I completed the form. After about an hour and a half, taking the rifles out of the cases 3 times because they needed to check something I asked if we were done. Of course the background check wasn't going through for about a week.
Then they told us the process. The seller has to take the guns back home. When we call that the guns are clear you both come back and we will complete the transaction. We explained that we wanted to leave the guns there. They said they weren't insured for that. We explained the travel situation and they could not change their policy. We wanted to cancel the the transaction which they said they would but we wouldn't get our money back because they had time involved.
Seller was very gracious and said he would drive back up. They called and all was cleared. Met back up. We stood at the counter for 15 or 20 minutes while employees walked right by us. Finally a lady on the other side of the store hollered and asked if we had been helped. They again needed all the guns to recheck serial numbers. They had entered one model numbers wrong and initially said we would have to redue the check.
They finally concluded that everything was good except they would have to run the one gun to be sure it wasn't stolen. Another 15 minutes.

Been to dozens of gun stores and done too many background checks, but never an experience like this. Any of ya'll done checks at a Capital Pawn? Just wondering if they are all like this...well over 2 hour process.
Rant over

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[Nosferatu]

Broken down tools too used to dealing with people and their broken down tools.

 

[HA556]

Any of ya'll done checks at a Capital Pawn?

Nope and doesn't sound like I ever will!

Sorry to hear about your dilemma.

 

[papalondog]

Doing a transfer at Ticklickers tomorrow. Been there many times. Excellent customer service.

 

[Xmark1]

Just completed the worst FFL transfer ever. I purchased some guns from a member a couple weeks ago. He was coming a substantial distance to my town on a Wednesday which is my FFL dealers day off. My dealer got called away at the last minute and the seller said even though it would cost more let's find another FFL so I won't have to make an extra trip.
We went to Capital Pawn in Albany. After about an hour of them entering information into the computer, including taking selfies of themselves holding the guns, they asked me how I was going to pay. Red flag should have warned me. I said don't I need to fill out the form? They wanted paid before I completed the form. After about an hour and a half, taking the rifles out of the cases 3 times because they needed to check something I asked if we were done. Of course the background check wasn't going through for about a week.
Then they told us the process. The seller has to take the guns back home. When we call that the guns are clear you both come back and we will complete the transaction. We explained that we wanted to leave the guns there. They said they weren't insured for that. We explained the travel situation and they could not change their policy. We wanted to cancel the the transaction which they said they would but we wouldn't get our money back because they had time involved.
Seller was very gracious and said he would drive back up. They called and all was cleared. Met back up. We stood at the counter for 15 or 20 minutes while employees walked right by us. Finally a lady on the other side of the store hollered and asked if we had been helped. They again needed all the guns to recheck serial numbers. They had entered one model numbers wrong and initially said we would have to redue the check.
They finally concluded that everything was good except they would have to run the one gun to be sure it wasn't stolen. Another 15 minutes.

Been to dozens of gun stores and done too many background checks, but never an experience like this. Any of ya'll done checks at a Capital Pawn? Just wondering if they are all like this...well over 2 hour process.
Rant over

IMHO, that was not a rant.
It was a legit story of a messed-up system and FFL.
Thanks for the warning/ information.

 

[TTSX]

Hardly sounds like a nightmare. More like a series of inconveniences

 

[DirectDrive]

This is what can happen when you have to pick an FFL on the spur of the moment.
Many FFL's will not hold firearms for private sales.
Good thing you had a decent seller.

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

We have an FFL review section here. I'd strongly suggest leaving a review so future members can hear about this obnoxious transfer hassle they put you through.

 

[papalondog]

Seller was awesome. I made a new friend

 

[NWF007]

Nop, I have all smooth transactions from most of my LGS here ..
In and out in 15 minutes if that..
BTW.. I have WCC LICENSE if that matters.. !!

 

[MountainBear]

Did one transaction there, won't do another. Wasn't impressed. I get that transfers aren't their bread and butter, but pretend you care and understand you are being paid to provide service. They did not. I'll go to Ticklicker or a kitchen table FFL local to me. No more capital pawn…

 

[WAYNO]

I have been at other FFL's that would not store a firearm, especially when background checks were taking weeks or months.

In each case, they were very up-front about it, and gave the customer plenty of warning to go elsewhere for the transfer if they weren't okay with the store policy.

 

[toast]

Sounds like a pretty cheap way to learn some potentially expensive lessons about what questions to ask and when in the process to ask them.

You came out ahead!

 

[wired]

My first marriage was a nightmare. That was just a minor set of inconveniences.

 

[RuckusReckus]

When I hear/see "pawn" in an ad, I go elsewhere.

 

[orygun]

Doing a transfer at Ticklickers tomorrow. Been there many times. Excellent customer service.

I did a transfer there. It got delayed. They held the gun. They were really nice guys to deal with.

When I hear/see "pawn" in an ad, I go elsewhere.

I've had enough positive experiences at pawn shops that understand how to do it, but it only takes one employee to make me sour on the idea of doing another transfer with them.
Some of the pawn shops that used to hold guns have abandoned that practice, though. It truly can be inconvenient.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Holy moly that's brutal. Looks like a candidate for top 3 worst gun places near Pdx:

1) the gun room
2) kieth's
3 capital pawn

 

[DirectDrive]

Looks like the moral of the story is to know your chosen FFLs policies and fees before jumping in with both feet.
And both parties of the sale need to be informed of those policies/fees.
With many FFLs not wanting to hold private sale firearms during the required "hold period" it can be very inconvenient to do an out of town sale.

 

[Bolt_308]

Doing a transfer at Ticklickers tomorrow. Been there many times. Excellent customer service.

Great meeting you today- and THAT is how a FFL private transfer should be handled by an FFL- always had very fast and effective service at Tick Lickers! What took them all of 5 minutes for us? Hope you got an instant approval and were able to take it home today!

 

[raftman]

Does sound ridiculously frustrating, especially considering the circumstances with the long drive and all. One thing that would help alleviate a significant portion of that in the future is asking about their holding policy ahead of time.

There are quite a few FFL's these days that won't hold a firearm if a private party transfer is delayed, and with our BGC queues being what they are, it's definitely worth planning for that possibility.