In the past, I’ve ordered a couple of guns on-line and when they arrive at the FFL they include a copy of the invoice which shows the purchase price. Once when I went to pick-up a gun the guys at the LGS gave me a hard time about the cost of the gun. Whether they were right or wrong it is none of their business how I spend my money.
Hard time how? to low? to high? you're right it's none of their concern how much/little you paid for the gun.
So, does the FFL have to know the cost of the gun for record keeping purposes? I sort of assume they do, but was just curious if I could request the seller to not ship the pricing info. with the gun.
I can't say honestly 1 way or the other but I do not think so.
Their income is based on the service they provide not the cost of the gun.
FFL's will charge based on # of guns on a form or even type of guns, but that's their own price structure I use to have a dealer that would transfer "per form", I would kick them a extra few bucks If I bought more though.
It sounds like lazy clerk work.
Just throw all the paper work in the package and let the guys at the other end sort it out.
Not sure if CDNN still does this but they use to provide a paper invoice addressed to the buyer with the gun.
I personally didn't care the FFL seen the pricing and it was nice to have.
On the other hand I just bought a gun from Iowagun.com and while CS was friendly and shipping was fast they did not provide any paperwork with the gun to my FFL (actually first time using the FFL)
The FFL claims no paper work for me was included with the gun.
This was quite annoying as the dealer did not provide any sort of paper work for their end and I had nothing (including the online invoice) from iowagun that had my guns serial number on it.
If anything I would REQUEST a paper invoice with the gun in the future.
In some states the FFL needs a copy of the invoice as the basis for calculating your state sales tax.
Here in WA at the shop where I work, we need a copy of the invoice for every gun transferred to our shop from another dealer. That way we can accurately calculate the required tax. WA state law requires us to collect tax on the full amount the customer paid, including shipping.
SO at first this did not sound right to me, But I thought I should google around before opening my mouth and sure enough I think you both are right.
When we buy online typically we think of them as tax free.. small ticket items generally are not enforced..small ticket being anything other then say vehicles, and such.
Now I knew that the sales tax is actually a combination of taxes and the reason we can get away with "tax free" internet purchases is because (usually) the collection burden is for the business in your state with physical presences including warehouses to collect on behalf of the state from you.
However if the business does not have a presence they do not collect the sales tax (for their home state) and the burden shifts to the buyer to pay the tax (use tax) to their state in good faith, but again enforcement is usually nill because any individual transaction is usually to small to track and collect.
However it appears both of you are right especially in this instance because the goods have to be moved thru a physical business within the buyers state (the ffl) some states place this burden on them to collect the tax on the states behalf as if they're the ones selling the goods/gun.
I do not know all the states but it appears CA is at least one of them.
So I guess you learn something new every day.
I think it's especially messed up having to pay taxes on shipping though.
