FFL Not Contacting Buyer

iron_road · Jul 7, 2024

Hello guys, I don't know your experience with Guns dot com but they deal with a variety of firearms that vary from new to used.

I got a pistol for a good deal and delivered to a preferred FFL as per the website that is local in my town. That being said it is an FFL that I've never heard of or dealt with before.

It got delivered on Friday the 5th of July which doesn't concern me. What concerns me is they have yet to contact me. Granted the 4th of July landed on a Thursday so it kind of made the perfect setup for folks who wanted to put in for PTO for a long holiday to do so. That being said, I made at least three calls, left two voice mails. The first to inform the pistol was on the way on Monday the 1st, the last the ask when they will be available to come by and pick it up and yet nothing.

I haven't dealt with stubborn FFLs before, I hope that's not going to be the case. But I would like to ask what should I do if they fail to contact me in the next couple of days or weeks?

TTSX · Jul 7, 2024

They might be closed until Tuesday. You picked an extended weekend, just be patient. Obviously, if they took delivery but won't let you know your property is available, I'd go see them in person. Could be they have a different phone number. Last step is file a police report and get your money back at a minimum

MDDM · Jul 7, 2024

Did you get a hold of anyone when you called to let them know it was on it's way? Chances are they are just busy over the holiday weekend, but it's always a good idea to make sure they are okay with you sending it BEFORE you confirm the order. I've found more than a few websites still listing out of business FFL's on their site as acceptable dealers.

oremike · Jul 7, 2024

This was a 4 day weekend for most and then gun stores are generally closed on Monday. Did you stop by the store and read any closed for the holiday back open on Tuesday signs on the door?
And before you get too wound up the background check waiting period doesn't start until the form 4473 is fulled out and summited. Que has been running about 2000 people and they process about 400/day.

huntpotter · Jul 7, 2024

Is it a storefront? Or a home FFL?

The opinions might be different, depending on who you are dealing with. A lot of home FFL's will have specific times they can make an appointment. Where a storefront will have regular hours that you can just walk in.

iron_road · Jul 7, 2024

MDDM said:
Did you get a hold of anyone when you called to let them know it was on it's way? Chances are they are just busy over the holiday weekend, but it's always a good idea to make sure they are okay with you sending it BEFORE you confirm the order. I've found more than a few websites still listing out of business FFL's on their site as acceptable dealers.

Interesting, I don't know if their FFL is active or not but they're still listed as an FFL. And oddly enough they're not a gun store, when you punch in the address they seem to be simply an FFL operating out of their house.

iron_road · Jul 7, 2024

huntpotter said:
Is it a storefront? Or a home FFL?

The opinions might be different, depending on who you are dealing with. A lot of home FFL's will have specific times they can make an appointment. Where a storefront will have regular hours that you can just walk in.

Home FFL

iron_road · Jul 7, 2024

oremike said:
This was a 4 day weekend for most and then gun stores are generally closed on Monday. Did you stop by the store and read any closed for the holiday back open on Tuesday signs on the door?
And before you get too wound up the background check waiting period doesn't start until the form 4473 is fulled out and summited. Que has been running about 2000 people and they process about 400/day.

That's the thing they're not the typical gun store. You run by the address and it's a regular residential house. And I'm not worried how long the 4473 takes I am no stranger to delays.

WAYNO · Jul 7, 2024

iron_road said:
Hello guys, I don't know your experience with Guns dot com but they deal with a variety of firearms that vary from new to used.

I got a pistol for a good deal and delivered to a preferred FFL as per the website that is local in my town. That being said it is an FFL that I've never heard of or dealt with before.

It got delivered on Friday the 5th of July which doesn't concern me. What concerns me is they have yet to contact me. Granted the 4th of July landed on a Thursday so it kind of made the perfect setup for folks who wanted to put in for PTO for a long holiday to do so. That being said, I made at least three calls, left two voice mails. The first to inform the pistol was on the way on Monday the 1st, the last the ask when they will be available to come by and pick it up and yet nothing.

I haven't dealt with stubborn FFLs before, I hope that's not going to be the case. But I would like to ask what should I do if they fail to contact me in the next couple of days or weeks?

This is the nature of many FFL's. They are swamped, and followups and phone answering puts them that much further behind. And none of us always knows the FFL's schedule or how his schedule was affected by a holiday. When I am ignored by an FFL long enough, which really does happen a lot, my next step is paying him a visit. Then my business does become his immediate priority, and someone else is then placed on ignore.

MDDM · Jul 7, 2024

iron_road said:
Interesting, I don't know if their FFL is active or not but they're still listed as an FFL. And oddly enough they're not a gun store, when you punch in the address they seem to be simply an FFL operating out of their house.

Theoretically, it should still be active. The transferor is supposed to verify the status of their FFL license before they ship. That doesn't necessarily mean they are still in business though.

iron_road · Jul 7, 2024

WAYNO said:
This is the nature of many FFL's. They are swamped, and followups and phone answering puts them that much further behind. And none of us always knows the FFL's schedule or how his schedule was affected by a holiday. When I am ignored by an FFL long enough, which really does happen a lot, my next step is paying him a visit. Then my business does become his immediate priority, and someone else is then placed on ignore.

That's the more interesting thing about my county is there about oh I want to say 20ish FFLs within city limits, and of the 20 there are two big ones that people most prefer and of those two only one manufactures firearms.

VinnieBoomBah · Jul 7, 2024

Some (most?) FFL's will not open packages without the buyer present, so if your contact info isn't on the shipping label they may not have a way to contact you. From my personal experience when you call it can be very helpful to have the tracking number and the name of the person / shop that you bought the gun from

Stomper · Jul 7, 2024

Don't panic yet, give it at least until the 9th or 10th. Several years ago I had a 2 or 3 Essential Arms stripped AR lowers shipped from the manufacturer to a home-based FFL near me… he said he didn't see them in his pile of incoming, I called the Essential Arms and they said they showed as received by the FFL.

Ultimately it turned out the FFL was looking for RIFLE receivers instead of "other" as they were stripped lowers and not completed rifle lowers, which took him a day to realize my stripped lowers were sitting on one of his shelves already.

The FFL was a nice guy but a bit of a dunce.

iron_road · Jul 7, 2024

I am certainly thankful for the reassurance in this thread however. I know its a bit early to panic.

WAYNO · Jul 7, 2024

I have a few FFL's I use the most. Some answer the phone, some do not. And most don't respond to an email.

Very recently, a firearm was sent to one of my most trusted FFL's. I thought the delivery to me was excessively overdue, so I called him, and that day, he answered the phone. His answer was, sorry, he has dozens of packages he hasn't even yet opened, and he hopes I will trust him to do his best. 3-days later, he called me and said, "come get your gun".

We might think, gee he should have more help. And when he does, his transfer prices will have to go up to pay for additional employees. It's a lose-lose for everybody.

When Oregonian's elected the officials and passed the gun laws, their rationalization was, "it's common sense". Until they are put in a cue, or are required to get permission from their nanny to buy a gun. Folks got what they allowed.

whidbeycaliber · Jul 7, 2024

iron_road said:
Hello guys, I don't know your experience with Guns dot com but they deal with a variety of firearms that vary from new to used.

I got a pistol for a good deal and delivered to a preferred FFL as per the website that is local in my town. That being said it is an FFL that I've never heard of or dealt with before.

It got delivered on Friday the 5th of July which doesn't concern me. What concerns me is they have yet to contact me. Granted the 4th of July landed on a Thursday so it kind of made the perfect setup for folks who wanted to put in for PTO for a long holiday to do so. That being said, I made at least three calls, left two voice mails. The first to inform the pistol was on the way on Monday the 1st, the last the ask when they will be available to come by and pick it up and yet nothing.

I haven't dealt with stubborn FFLs before, I hope that's not going to be the case. But I would like to ask what should I do if they fail to contact me in the next couple of days or weeks?

I would say send them an email as well. You should have their email address. I am a home based FFL and it can get difficult to run a one man operation. It's always good to check with them first so they know it's inbound. Websites usually have a disclaimer to do that when you select them upon checkout. I would just give them a call on Monday.
When I receive firearms, if I have a bunch of them, I don't always get a call out the same day. We have to receive them, log them, try to figure out who they go to, coordinate transfer times at the same time we may be conducting transfers. It can be a lot to deal with. I wouldn't stress about it tonight, I'm sure you'll have resolution in the morning.

oremike · Jul 7, 2024

iron_road said:
That's the thing they're not the typical gun store. You run by the address and it's a regular residential house. And I'm not worried how long the 4473 takes I am no stranger to delays.

So he was most likely enjoying the long weekend and might even have a day job to boot. If it was delivered to him hes got it and will get it to you. He has to. That's kind of the bond of having an FFL.

Nosferatu · Jul 7, 2024

I bet you get a phone call if you set their house on fire.

iron_road · Jul 7, 2024

whidbeycaliber said:
I would say send them an email as well. You should have their email address. I am a home based FFL and it can get difficult to run a one man operation. It's always good to check with them first so they know it's inbound. Websites usually have a disclaimer to do that when you select them upon checkout. I would just give them a call on Monday.
When I receive firearms, if I have a bunch of them, I don't always get a call out the same day. We have to receive them, log them, try to figure out who they go to, coordinate transfer times at the same time we may be conducting transfers. It can be a lot to deal with. I wouldn't stress about it tonight, I'm sure you'll have resolution in the morning.

Unfortunately they don't have an email listed just a phone number which is tied to another business they are running.