bladeracer wrote:jwai86 wrote:Fees for registration transfers are a fact of life when it comes to purchasing firearms from another state, but it's still a disappointing feeling when a potential bargain located interstate turns out to be more expensive than buying brand new locally after adding an extra $150 or so in shipping and interstate transfer fees.
Does anyone else have interesting stories about their purchasing decisions getting cramped by such costs?
Shipping should only be about $60 from Qld down to country Victoria, sometimes less.
Dealers may charge extra for an "interstate transfer" so that might be $50 perhaps.
Ordering a firearm from WA could be exorbitant.
Yes, add up the extras and you will often find it's cheaper to order from your own dealer, or at least near enough to not be worth ordering from elsewhere.
The issue comes up when you want something your dealer doesn't have or can't get.
Shipping a rifle interstate is fraught with danger & as a Club Armourer/Dealer can be far more expensive than you realise..
Problems start when you quote the purchaser $60 to send firearm from say Northern NSW to Victoria. You think to yourself "Yeah, $60 should cover it"
Then you find after you have securely boxed the rifle up & go to local Post Office & they run a tape over the box & it measures up at 110cm in length..
They then refuse to accept it as apparently Australia Post uses square wire crates 105cm x 105cm & if it dont fit into crate it dont go.
I have had local P O knock me back for box measuring 106cm--a lousy one centimetre & they will not accept it !!
So then you have no alternative but to send it road transport.
However carriers like TNT & others refuse to carry firearms as they say for security reasons driver has to stay with truck 24/7 !!
You try somebody like TOLL who will transport "Dangerous Goods" but you get a quote of $240 !!!
So you then try Star- Track which is owned by Australia Post & are renowned for very poor slack service & they still quote you $133
In the end you accept that you will have to go with Star Track & pay $133 & cop a $73 dollar loss on the sale.
I know because I have been there. Now if possible I remove stock from rifle prior to shipping.
However on some of the older rifles particularly military rifles its not that easy to remove stock & you have no alternative but to ship in one piece
Now prior to advising a purchaser of shipping costs I check first the length of rifle, if a carbine their not to bad.
I also check if it is necessary to remove stock or if it is too difficult that I have to ship in one piece.
These simple checks on rifle length & stock removal can save many headaches for dealers/sellers/buyers of rifles. ..