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I bought a gun online. I found the exact AR-15 I was looking for in stock and ready to ship, whereas the maker had a 12 week waiting time. I ran into quite a few snags. I offer this as advice to make things go smoother for you. Line up a local FFL gun dealer (I prefer low volume gun shops I have bought shop guns from, so they know and trust me). The online dealer will need a FAX of your local dealer's FFL before the gun is shipped to your dealer. They cannot ship directly to you, of course. The online dealer did not have their FAX number listed online. I know businesses don't like SPAM FAX's, but their not having their FAX number listed online caused me hours and hours of aggravation. The online dealer also does not answer their phones, ever. When I ordered the rifle, I did not have the online dealer's FAX number, only the online dealer's phone number. My local shop could not reach them either.
I was finally able to get the online dealers FAX number via an email to the online dealer. I then had to call the local shop and give then the number. I had them read it back to me to make sure it was correct.
I ordered the rifle online (with my home address as the billing address and the local shop's name/address as the shipping address) and paid for it with a credit card. I got an immediate confirmation email, saying I would get another email when the rifle ships. I waited and thought things were going as planned.
The next day, I got an angry call from the online dealer saying he never got the FFL FAX from my local shop. I called the local shop and the dealer forgot to send the FAX! He said he would do it later in the day. I got hold of the shop manager (who I know) and asked her to send the FAX immediately.
I emailed and tried to call the online dealer to tell him the FAX was on the way. No response, so I called the local dealer again to confirm that the FAX had been sent (it had). Still no response from the online dealer, so I am assuming (correctly?) that things are Okay.
Once the rifle arrives at the local shop I will have to inspect the rifle, fill out the state and local forms, produce my ID and voter registration card (or other proof of citizenship when buying an assault weapon), and pay the $50 transfer fee, plus a $2 federal form fee.
Lessons learned: Get the FFL FAX lined up well ahead of time. Don't expect silence to mean things are going as planned. Don't rely on anyone to perform paper work in a timely fashion. Keep on top of people. Find an online dealer who will answer the phone.
I was finally able to get the online dealers FAX number via an email to the online dealer. I then had to call the local shop and give then the number. I had them read it back to me to make sure it was correct.
I ordered the rifle online (with my home address as the billing address and the local shop's name/address as the shipping address) and paid for it with a credit card. I got an immediate confirmation email, saying I would get another email when the rifle ships. I waited and thought things were going as planned.
The next day, I got an angry call from the online dealer saying he never got the FFL FAX from my local shop. I called the local shop and the dealer forgot to send the FAX! He said he would do it later in the day. I got hold of the shop manager (who I know) and asked her to send the FAX immediately.
I emailed and tried to call the online dealer to tell him the FAX was on the way. No response, so I called the local dealer again to confirm that the FAX had been sent (it had). Still no response from the online dealer, so I am assuming (correctly?) that things are Okay.
Once the rifle arrives at the local shop I will have to inspect the rifle, fill out the state and local forms, produce my ID and voter registration card (or other proof of citizenship when buying an assault weapon), and pay the $50 transfer fee, plus a $2 federal form fee.
Lessons learned: Get the FFL FAX lined up well ahead of time. Don't expect silence to mean things are going as planned. Don't rely on anyone to perform paper work in a timely fashion. Keep on top of people. Find an online dealer who will answer the phone.
