Anyone done business with this place, especially FFL transfers from the mainland. Any info is appreciated..

Well I made a big mistake using these guys for firearm transfer….

Well I made a big mistake using these guys for firearm transfer….

Please elaborate.     

I used them before.  My experience was good, but had to check with him first, couple times he's off island for work.

Please elaborate.     

I will at a later time…good or bad……   

I used them before.  My experience was good, but had to check with him first, couple times he's off island for work.

Contacted him prior to my purchase and got his permission to ship to him….

Contacted him prior to my purchase and got his permission to ship to him….

ok here is what has transpired so far.. all contact with him was done via phone, text and email.
1. Asked FFL if his FFL was still valid and if it was ok to ship to him for transfer. His answer was yes and yes (checked to see if his FFL was n fact void and it was). He told me to provide the tracking number one I got it (FEDEX) which I did.
2. Shipment was delayed by a day and I informed him about it. He said via text, I have to make an appointment for the transfer after it arrives. I had to use his email address, phone and text message before he got back to me.
3. Got notice from shipped that the firearm was in Honolulu and was on the truck to be delivered. Got notification of delivery and who signs for it. Tried contacting him numerous times via text, phone and email over the course of 3 days and nothing was responded to.
4. I knew where his place of business is and went there to see if he was in (I assume his business is still in operations but no one was there. I noticed a FEDEX tag on his door which said it was delivered to the business next door. I asked a young lady next door if he is still in business and IF my package was in fact delivered to them by FEDEX. She told me he was still in business and they always take his packages when he’s not in. We found the carton with my firearm and she tried to give it to me but. Explained to her she cannot since it has to go to the FFL holder but asked her to keep it under lock and key until he picks it up.

So far that’s what’s been happening. If I don’t hear anything from him by the end of next week, I’ll be contacting BATFE here letting them know what’s going on and what I can do. As for FEDEX they are not allowed to drop it off at any other address or place of business. They are required to attempt delivery 3 times and if no response are required to return it to the shipper.
That’s about it for now. Hopefully this will iron itself out but I do not recommend using HSG as an FFL transfer dealer. He is very irresponsible as far as I’m concerned. 

ok here is what has transpired so far.. all contact with him was done via phone, text and email.
1. Asked FFL if his FFL was still valid and if it was ok to ship to him for transfer. His answer was yes and yes (checked to see if his FFL was n fact void ** and it was). He told me to provide the tracking number one I got it (FEDEX) which I did.

** I assume you meant valid, not void.

2. Shipment was delayed by a day and I informed him about it. He said via text, I have to make an appointment for the transfer after it arrives. I had to use his email address, phone and text message before he got back to me.

3. Got notice from shipped that the firearm was in Honolulu and was on the truck to be delivered. Got notification of delivery and who signs for it. Tried contacting him numerous times via text, phone and email over the course of 3 days and nothing was responded to.

That's a problem, given the normal inspection period for shipped firearms averages 3-5 days after delivery.

4. I knew where his place of business is and went there to see if he was in (I assume his business is still in operations but no one was there. I noticed a FEDEX tag on his door which said it was delivered to the business next door. I asked a young lady next door if he is still in business and IF my package was in fact delivered to them by FEDEX. She told me he was still in business and they always take his packages when he’s not in. We found the carton with my firearm and she tried to give it to me but. Explained to her she cannot since it has to go to the FFL holder but asked her to keep it under lock and key until he picks it up.

So far that’s what’s been happening. If I don’t hear anything from him by the end of next week, I’ll be contacting BATFE here letting them know what’s going on and what I can do. As for FEDEX they are not allowed to drop it off at any other address or place of business. They are required to attempt delivery 3 times and if no response are required to return it to the shipper.

That’s about it for now. Hopefully this will iron itself out but I do not recommend using HSG as an FFL transfer dealer. He is very irresponsible as far as I’m concerned. 

The very rare times I complained to an FFL about not getting a notice of transfer delivery from them within a day or two, they waived the FFL fee completely.

Worst case would be if the neighboring business accepted delivery and the firearm got lost (stolen) waiting on the FFL to take possession.  If the neighbor doesn't have adequate secure storage for firearms, it becomes an argument over whether she should have been accepting any firearm shipments at all unless she had access to place them in the FFL's secure storage. it seems risky to have a non-FFL who isn't named on the shipping label taking custody of FFL customers' guns.

Next worst case is if there's a problem with the firearm -- wrong firearm, not in the condition as described, damaged, etc.  If you exceed the inspection period, it would be up to the seller and FFL to hash out the reasons so the seller agrees to a return since it's not your fault.  It's stressful regardless.

Lack of communication is an obvious problem, but I'd be more concerned with someone not in the FFL process receiving shipments.  If the FFL can't be there, he should have the items held at the shipper's warehouse until he drives there to take possession or can plan to be there the next day for redelivery.  Since you were informing him of the shipment status, he has no reason for not letting you know he wasn't planning to be there to accept delivery.

I get that UPS, FedEx and USPS have no set schedule -- they get there when they get there ..... maybe.  That's just the nature of doing business and using commercial shippers. 

As for contacting BATFE, first thought is that you might have paid for the firearm, but the seller it the one who transferred the firearm to the FFL and took your money.  Maybe contact the seller who might also be an FFL (?) and see if they are interested in filing a complaint.  At the moment, you're just out the money, but the FFLs are the ones being tracked by the feds before it's transferred to you.  Just a thought.

Sorri bout the typo..
The shipper was buds guns, I have insurance on the firearm but it’s only for shipping. Also bought an extended warranty form buds but that’s no help
Yup I might be our of 1k I paid for the gun…..
Guess it’s a wait and see….

Sorri bout the typo..
The shipper was buds guns, I have insurance on the firearm but it’s only for shipping. Also bought an extended warranty form buds but that’s no help
Yup I might be our of 1k I paid for the gun…..
Guess it’s a wait and see….

Then I'd give Bud's a heads-up.  Don't know if they will do anything to expedite your delivery, but at least you let them know delivery to you was delayed in case you ask for a refund under the inspection clause.

I suspect Bud's takes FFL complaints seriously.  If HSG gets enough complaints filed on them, Bud's had the right to refuse to use them to transfer firearms they sell.  There's no law that requires sellers to use any and all FFLs for third party transfers.

Could it be that the owner is sick or has a medical emergency? Smaller mom n pop places often run with little other staff if any.

I've never heard of this FFL before.  I only FFL'd something once a few years ago to Danger Close.  He is a smaller store, but has people working to handle things if the owner (David) isn't available for what ever reason and it's an emergency.  He also post if he will be out of town and the shop will be closed.

Just my $0.02 to not report it to the AFT unless it's something huge.  I look at i this way, most gun laws are unconstitutional.

Is there a reason why you chose this FFL over other well known shops?  Like I said above, I've never heard of this "store" before.

ok here is what has transpired so far.. all contact with him was done via phone, text and email.
1. Asked FFL if his FFL was still valid and if it was ok to ship to him for transfer. His answer was yes and yes (checked to see if his FFL was n fact void and it was). He told me to provide the tracking number one I got it (FEDEX) which I did.
2. Shipment was delayed by a day and I informed him about it. He said via text, I have to make an appointment for the transfer after it arrives. I had to use his email address, phone and text message before he got back to me.
3. Got notice from shipped that the firearm was in Honolulu and was on the truck to be delivered. Got notification of delivery and who signs for it. Tried contacting him numerous times via text, phone and email over the course of 3 days and nothing was responded to.
4. I knew where his place of business is and went there to see if he was in (I assume his business is still in operations but no one was there. I noticed a FEDEX tag on his door which said it was delivered to the business next door. I asked a young lady next door if he is still in business and IF my package was in fact delivered to them by FEDEX. She told me he was still in business and they always take his packages when he’s not in. We found the carton with my firearm and she tried to give it to me but. Explained to her she cannot since it has to go to the FFL holder but asked her to keep it under lock and key until he picks it up.

So far that’s what’s been happening. If I don’t hear anything from him by the end of next week, I’ll be contacting BATFE here letting them know what’s going on and what I can do. As for FEDEX they are not allowed to drop it off at any other address or place of business. They are required to attempt delivery 3 times and if no response are required to return it to the shipper.
That’s about it for now. Hopefully this will iron itself out but I do not recommend using HSG as an FFL transfer dealer. He is very irresponsible as far as I’m concerned. 

Wow.  Hoping everything works out for you.

Could it be that the owner is sick or has a medical emergency? Smaller mom n pop places often run with little other staff if any..

All the more reason for the owner to communicate with customers.  Being left in the dark with your $1K firearm sitting with a non-FFL neighbor for who-knows-how-long is far from ideal.

Well the owner finally contacted me. He has the firearm in hand and is working to get it signed over to me asap.
Thanks for all the advice and support. This is my last boom boom so I won’t be going thru this again.

Well the owner finally contacted me. He has the firearm in hand and is working to get it signed over to me asap.
Thanks for all the advice and support. This is my last boom boom so I won’t be going thru this again.

I hope he decided to not charge you for his service (or lack thereof). 

The transfer fee is purely for his time to fill out transfer paperwork and forward it to HPD.  He caused you to spend YOUR time trying to track him and your shipment down. 

Just saying ...

All the more reason for the owner to communicate with customers.  Being left in the dark with your $1K firearm sitting with a non-FFL neighbor for who-knows-how-long is far from ideal.

100% agree.  What's so hard in sending a 5 second text.........

You are all correct but after all is said and done as long as I get my shotgun NLT middle of next week, I’m good. I’ll leave the door open for him to either reduce or waive the fee but am willing to pay in full if necessary. Old saying two wrongs don’t make a right seems appropriate. 

You are all correct but after all is said and done as long as I get my shotgun NLT middle of next week, I’m good. I’ll leave the door open for him to either reduce or waive the fee but am willing to pay in full if necessary. Old saying two wrongs don’t make a right seems appropriate. 

Bad publicity can kill a business, especially a small business having to compete with larger companies.

if he's smart, he already knows this and will waive the fee entirely. 

How dod you say you found him to use for transfers?  If it was on Yelp!, you know what to do next ....

Bad publicity can kill a business, especially a small business having to compete with larger companies.

if he's smart, he already knows this and will waive the fee entirely. 

How dod you say you found him to use for transfers?  If it was on Yelp!, you know what to do next ....

Bought the shotgun from Buds Gun Shop online. HSG was one of four FFLs that have registered with Buds as active and valid. HSG transfer fee was the cheapest so I selected them. Hindsight being 20/20 should have gone with HGS. Fee was higher but I would have had my gun already. 

Bought the shotgun from Buds Gun Shop online. HSG was one of four FFLs that have registered with Buds as active and valid. HSG transfer fee was the cheapest so I selected them. Hindsight being 20/20 should have gone with HGS. Fee was higher but I would have had my gun already. 

I haven't used OGC in awhile, but they have been my choice for transfers.  Looking at their webpage, it appears they may have updated their fees:

The FFL fee per transfer is $40/Firearm,

Active Duty Military or LE members with valid credentials pay $25/Firearm.

https://ogctactical.3dcartstores.com/FFL-Transfer-Request_c_62.html

I asked if former military also qualified for the $25 transfers, and they asked me to bring them my DD214 to document my service.  Once they had that on file, all my transfers were $25.  I have no idea if that's their policy, or if they were just making an exception since i was a regular customer.  I know one time I was told i'm the kind of customer they like -- doesn't complain about the gun prices, purchases ammo by the case, and buys a firearm a few times a year.

There were 2 occasions where they didn't notify me of the transfer delivery (they require up to a day after delivery to log it in and call).  Both times, they offered to waive the fee.  That's how they kept me using them.

As they tell it, the time it takes to have employees receive the package, log it in, do the paperwork for HPD, notify the buyer, and store it securely costs more than they receive in most cases.  $40 barely covers it.  If they spend 1-1/2 hours doing a single transfer, $25 means they are probably losing money, but they do it as a way to show appreciation for military and LE.

I'm sure a smaller shop or individual working from their home as an FFL would cost less in labor, so they might be making a profit on transfers.

There are shops that charge much more, but $25 is more than reasonable IMO.