There are many things foisted upon us by the powers that be, for both the dealer and the shooter, these are not our decisions to make. There are costs involved in sending a firearm from seller to buyer but unless all the costs (and that includes overheads) are the same, charging a standard fee will not fit every situation. A cost of shipping a very cheap rifle cannot often be absorbed by either RFD when it could be easier to lose some or all of the costs in the sale of a more expensive rifle. But the receiving RFD doesn't get this chance and then it would be down to any repeat custom the dealer might get and too many other things to list.Sim G wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:53 pm Firstly, this "service" is what was foisted upon us by the 97 Amendment. My first semi-auto, full rifle came direct to me, through the post, from the private seller. There was not the requirement for one or even two RFDs.
And I made it quite clear that there is not the expectation an RFD conduct this part of the business for free. Far from it. But has been seen by some of the replies to this thread there is a huge disparity in what is being charged around the country. Other RFDs have answered and set their stall out for all to see. And again, that is the point. A fee, fee range or even fee cap, allows that transparency. And this question has come about because of my recent experience. £60 to fill in an FAC and post a rifle...
You might think that fair someone else might think it's not. Again, it's also been pointed out here that the fees, at both ends, are actually a barrier to business and some people do in fact walk away purely because of the charges. As opposed to me "having all that convenience" does the opposite make good business sense...? And this instance, I had no choice to walk away. And this well established business knew I was at his mercy...
The repeat custom argument is something that every dealer in any trade should consider and every customer is free to chose whether they spend their money in Shop A or Shop B accordingly. Doesn't matter if it is a necessity (so is petrol/diesel, it seems, but there is no standard charge for that) it's a free market. If a dealer in your view takes the p*** then take your custom elsewhere, they'll soon change their ways if it becomes a problem for them.
I do think some dealers charge too much for the service, but that is their decision to make and not ours as their customer, a little haggling may be possible but in the end if it's not to the customers liking they hold the power to go elsewhere, the dealers are actually at the customers' mercy and unless the customer got the firearm shipped before finding out the costs involved they should walk away if they don't like it.