BREAK TOPS ARE OUT!!!

[grayelky]

Coinchop wrote:

   

quote:

   

   You can see where their values are at.

   Maybe they are just trying to break even on the amount of paper work the State puts them through (in addition to what the ATF requires).

   I have just recently gone up to $25.00, from $20.00. (I am one of the cheapest in my area.) A time study by my bookkeeper has shown I loose money on most transfers, and break even on the rest.

[cedarview kid]

Pardon my ignorance, but how do you lose money on a transfer?

[backporch22]

i think he means price per hour. to keep doors open.

[backporch22]

Let me redo that last post.  It takes my FFL and me about 30 mins. to do transfer and payment, 25 dollars.  Thats 50 dollars per hour.  It depends on what a person figures his time is worth.

[cedarview kid]

Gotcha. Thanks!

[45flint]

Well, called in my order today for my topbreak. This gun cannot be resisted at any price.  It will only be my second NAA.  My first was a 4" Earl with both cylinders.  Doubt I will will worry about a LR for the top-break even if I can add later.  I will use the top break to carry and the mag makes the most sense for that.  The 4" Earl shoots the LR the best anyway and its my "target" NAA with that barrel length. I can see myself putting boot grips on the top-break however.  Mini Schofield, got to love that.  

   Steve

[cedarview kid]

Nice, 45flint. Congrats for joining the crew! One of the first things I'm gonna do when I get mine is add a boot grip. That's my favorite NAA grip. (No, my favorite grip is NOT the pink rubber one, but I have one of those, too.)

[grayelky]

Backporch22 wrote:

   

quote:

   

   It takes my FFL and me about 30 mins. to do transfer

   How does the gun get there? Do you make a 3-20 minute phone call, or stop by for a 20 minute visit? Does he get to take 5-7 minutes to fax his FFL or does he have to mail it? What about those times it takes 3 tries to get it to go through on the fax machine? Once the gun arrives, how long does it take to open it, unpack, check it over, log it in his book and then call to let you know it is in. I doubt you are one of those who will call as the UPS truck clears the driveway wanting to know if your gun is in yet, as you just got email notification the package had been delivered. Add another 5 minute phone call to the list. You also are not likely to be one of the ones who will buy it from Bud's because it is so cheap, then expect your dealer to go over the gun and explain how it works, and what he should do in case he has a problem with his gun. And let's don't forget the time needed to log it back out of the log book to you, and file the paper work, which he has to keep for 20 years.

   

   That is part of how you can lose money transferring a gun for $25.00. We won't go into what happens when a firearm comes from an individual. I am almost to the point I am going to stop accepting from anyone but an FFL holder.

   

   My regular guys, who buy a lot of stuff on gunbroker.com and understand how things flow, rarely pay $25.00. They usually pay $20.00, and if multiple guns, as little as $10.00 per gun.

   

   Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize for getting off topic.

[wyn]

Boo-Hoo!!!

[coopercdrkey]

Grayelky-  Some of us get it.

[sirbarkalot]

I get it too.  Not everything you do will be fabulously profitable.  I think the idea is to get a customer base that supports you and will buy ammo, primers, holster, and guns from you in the long term.

   

   My FFL dealer is VERY good to me, but then I do things for him too.  Just today I drove over to his shop and delivered a set of grips and put them on his gun for a Ruger old model 30 carbine that he dropped a shelf on and broke both grips.  I found the grips, obtained them for him, took them over while he was busy doing something else and put em on.  I also do all his personal action work and repairs for him at no cost and when I work on a customer's gun for him, we split the repair bill so we both make money.  One hand has gotta wash the other or it does not work.

   

   My auto mechanic has a sign in his shop that says "the only thing I can do on your car for NOTHING, is NOTHING"

   

   If you have to raise your receive cost to 35 dollars, do it.  I would rather know what it is going to cost and have a good clean transaction than have it be cheap but a pain in the back side.

   

   Barky

[chopprs]

Hmmm.......I do stuff for free everyday for good customers. Maybe that is why they keep coming back, because I pretend that I actually care?!?!?!?

   

   When I want something from my local FFL/Gunshop I just call them on the phone and tell them. They call me back the same day or the next day and tell me when it will be there. $15 for a transfer, and they always give me great prices on gun purchases. Never, ever retail or even close to it. No deposit, I just call and pay when I pick it up. I don't even have to go get the paperwork, they fax it to the Town Hall for me.  Maybe I am lucky or maybe I am just a good bullzhitt-r!

   

   Just curious though, I have never had a dealer go over a gun and show me how it works. I guess I just assumed that if someone doesn't know how a gun works, well they should not be holding it, right?

[sirbarkalot]

And all for that is why I have accepted your offer to stay at your house and eat your food when I am up that way next month!  Cause you are such a warm and fuzzy guy, and do free things for your customers in between throwing them out........

   

   Barky

[chopprs]

Sir Barkawoofmeister is more than welcome to come and stay with me at any time he wishes. He can eat my food and drink my beer. I will even let him use some of my ammo........?!?!?!

   Warm and Fuzzy I am not but I can pretend to be polite when I have to!

[backporch22]

Grayelky, HOW RIGHT YOU ARE.  Time is Time and Time is Money.  I tell my FLL, in your spare time.  He does not have a storefront which makes a big difference.

[grayelky]

quote:

   

   Just curious though, I have never had a dealer go over a gun and show me how it works. I guess I just assumed that if someone doesn't know how a gun works, well they should not be holding it, right?

The majority on this board are likely the owners of more than one gun. I have had quite a few walk into my shop who have never been around guns and don't really want one, but are more afraid of having to dial 9-1-1, and the feeling of helplessness while they wait on the police to arrive- be it 30 seconds or 10 minutes. The INTERNET has made computer savvy people more attuned to getting the best possible price. Some overlook the value of knowledge, and the fact the guy on the web site cares only about their money, and not their well being. While I have a VERY strong urge to tell the kind person in front of me to contact his dealer for the info he so desperately needs, or to mention if he had spent the other $20-$30 I charge, then he would be entitled to my time, but I don't. No one leaves my shop until they understand how it works. More than one time I have spent 30-45 minutes on a $20.00 transfer, AFTER all of the paper work has been completed, explaining how to load the magazine and rack the slide. Most of those ask about a class so they can learn how to shoot. ALL of them leave with information on the class. You see, the gun I am trying to sell is the next one they buy.

[chopprs]

Gray, it seems like you are a good dude but I think we sell different stuff. I guess I have had guns for so long that I forgot hat some peeps may be clueless. I have taught I don't know how many people to shoot and I can not remember one that did not know how to operate his weapon although many, many of them are REALLY stupid with them.

    I do not have a sign on my building and I only do work for peeps that are reffered to me by an existing customer. I used to spend my entire day answering questions from dolts that walked out and bought nothing, or went and bought it on the internet and then brought it back to me and asked me to install it because they could not figure it out.....

   I can be a real prik sometimes. I have thrown people out along with the guy that brought him to me. I figure, I can only do so much. Why should I work for unnapreciative jerks when there are nice guys waiting, right? I am in a really tough business though. I deal with 90 pound goomers that wanna pretend they are tough guys so they buy a Harley as well as eight foot monsters with tattoos on their faces. They ALL act like five year olds most of the time...LOLOL!!!

[mrmadhat]

can I go to NY so you can teach me how to be a tough goober? lol sound like fun.. Im only 6' tall with tattoos on my arms legs and head though, will that help me look tougher? lol

[grayelky]

Chopprs-

   Sounds like you have been in business for a few years. I have had my shop open only about a year and a half. Give me a few years so I can get a solid, regular clientèle, and I will likely chunk out some of the ones I put up with now.

   

   I too have been dealing with guns for a long time. My first .22 rifle was about 12, (revolver was at 20), and I still have both of them - 47 years or so ago. Heck, I've had my NAA Mini 22 lr since 1977.

[sirbarkalot]

Chopprs, you are just a big harmless fuzzball and you know it..............

   

   You don't need to worry.  I don't plan to ever darken the border of the State of NY ever again.

   

   Barky

[backporch22]

Grayelky, I have had two susscessful business's in the last 28 years.  I understand what you are saying about customers.  My early post was off base about time.  Get your customer base, drop the yellow pages,and take care of who takes care of you.

[grayelky]

Backporch22-

   The customer base thing is why I do the transfers. I have picked up several customers and one or 2 friends because of it. Don't do yellow pages. I actually take care of my customers. Regulars rarely pay what ever the sticker happens to be on ammo, and when they make the transfer easy on me, I make it easy on them. I am quite pleased with the progress my shop has made thus far. Heck, I am the best gun shop in my town.

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   Okay, the only one, but don't tell anyone that part.

[backporch22]

Good attitude.

[45flint]

32 days

[45flint]

30 days but who is counting.

[cedarview kid]

30 days? That long? D'oh. ;)

[45flint]

soon to be 29

[jaydeeman]

Sandy or TWIMC:

   Guess what?  Yep, I and many others are anxious for up-to-date news on the Break Top.  Please advise the forum if the 1st shipment departed on time plus any additional info you deem important.  I've ordered mine and just can't seem to wait and try mine out.  Thanks in advance.

   Jaydeeman

[Sandy]

First pieces not scheduled to leave factory until 10/15.

[cedarview kid]

For some reason, i also originally thought the first shipment would be made 9/15 instead of 10/15. We gotta hang on for another month. We... can... do... this....

[jaydeeman]

Sandy..

   I made a mistake as usual and jotted down the ship date as 9/15 in error.  Sorry to all!!!

   Still can't wait but will anyway.  NAA all the way!!!

   Jaydeeman

[45flint]

It will be interesting to see how high in the serial number count we get.

[45flint]

How many think we will see 500 in the first month?

[cedarview kid]

Well, that would be 250 to 400 buyers or so, depending how many multiple orders are made. That's a lot. I'm guessing maybe not, but hoping (for NAA's sake) maybe yes.

   

   I'm hoping to get an early serial, since I ordered the second day they were available.

[Uncle_Lee]

I'm hoping for the mid 300s. Like 336 & 337.