Online sales of firearms are a very fast growing segment of the firearms industries.  Thousands of purchases are made every day and the majority of buyers are happy with their transactions.  However, there are some things to consider before committing to that purchase online.

Purchasing Online is Right for You IF:

• You know the exact firearm you want and have had a chance to shoot or at least handle the firearm.  This is the most important aspect of your purchase.  We estimate about 75% of the people that come into our store with a specific gun in mind end up buying something else.  Why is that?  Primarily because they get the chance to actually handle the firearm and see other alternatives side-by-side and in person.  Think of it like test driving a car.  Unfortunately, we do see people that realize after receiving the firearm that it isn’t what they thought it was or don’t like how it feels in their hand or how it operates.  The sad part is it’s usually too late at that point to back out on the purchase.  Even if you can send it back, there are going to be costs associated with the return such as FFL fees, shipping, and restocking fees.  By the way, don’t be that guy that soaks up a dealer’s time, knowledge, and resources just to make a decision on which gun to buy and then buy it elsewhere.  That’s just not right.
• You are very familiar with firearms and know the strengths and weaknesses of each firearm.  This is where an experienced sales person can really help guide you.  In our store, we never force a particular gun on anyone.  Instead, we know the questions to ask so that YOU arrive at the answer that is right for you and can explain the small differences of each gun.  We’ve seen people buy multiple guns online until finally stumbling into the gun that is right for them.  This is not only time consuming, but expensive.
• You are comfortable taking on any service issues or questions about the firearm once you receive it.  It is not uncommon for our staff to spend as much time as needed with a new owner going over the operation, cleaning procedures; etc. to make certain the customer is familiar with their new gun.  It is also nice to have an authorized dealer to stand behind you should you need warranty work or have other issues with your firearm.  Many times, authorized dealers can get priority service work done and in our store, we specialize in making any problems you have with your purchase go away with as little effort on your part as possible.
• You are looking for a specific used, rare or hard to find gun.  With tens of thousands of firearms available online, it is the perfect place to find that rare or hard to locate pre-owned gun.  In my opinion, this is where the various online outlets really shine.
• You take all costs into account.  The purchase price is only one cost you might be facing.  In addition to the purchase price, you could have shipping & handling fees, FFL transfer fees, and credit card fees.  Be sure you are taking all these into account if you are just looking for the “best deal”.

After considering all the points above, you are comfortable with an online purchase, go for it.  Find an FFL dealer willing to handle the transfer and they can guide you through the rest of the process.  With that said, it’s always a good idea to give your local gun store a chance at the sell.  There truly is something to be said about buying locally and supporting your community.  In-person gun sales are the life-blood of most locally owned retailers and many times, they will match or come very close to matching that online price.  So, give them a chance.

If you are not comfortable with every aspect of the buying decision, it might be best to buy from an experienced local retailer.  They can guide and direct you to the gun that is right for you.  And chances are you won’t spend much, if any, more than if you had gone it alone.  Even if you do spend a little more, all that knowledge, service, and support is easy to justify.

Good luck and happy shooting.