Direct from the manufacturer?

[xanderphillips]

Is it illegal for gun manufacturers to sell directly to the public (through FFLs), or do they just not want the hassle of dealing with individual sales and shipping? Just wondering...

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I do not understand. Many manufactureres do sell directly to the end user (Type 7s and 9s).

Are you talking about why you cannot pull up to like a drive up window and get a Ruger to go in Arizona or New Hampshire?

 

[xanderphillips]

I was speaking of online, and I guess I just had not looked hard enough. I didn't see Ruger, Walther, had a "Order" button that actually went to their store, not some third party gun sellers. Unless I'm missing it, that doesn't appear to be the case for most of them, Sig, Springfield, Colt, HK, Glock, CZ, S&W, KelTec, Hi-Point, Kahr, Beretta, Kimber, etc... So since Ruger and Walther DO sell direct to the public that sort of answers my original question as to if they CAN do it. It appears that most just choose NOT to do it. I guess it's good for the LGS industry and other third parties...

 

[mrortega]

In most industries it's beyond their business model to sell retail. They have enough to do just manufacturing the product and shoving it out the door to the wholesalers and retailers. Those folks are specialists at marketing: Distribution, advertising, minor warranty issues, etc.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I was speaking of online, and I guess I just had not looked hard enough.

Online? Like ordering a paperback book or something?

Have you heard of the Gun Control Act or Safe Streets Act of 1968?

You can still order on line just have to get it from an FFL.

Some manufacturers do sell retail.

I still do not understand your question. Could you please restate it?

 

[perry]

In most industries it's beyond their business model to sell retail. They have enough to do just manufacturing the product and shoving it out the door to the wholesalers and retailers. Those folks are specialists at marketing: Distribution, advertising, minor warranty issues, etc.

I think this is probably a big part of the issue. Most of the manufacturers aren't interested in selling direct to the public and prefer to go through wholesalers. Their marketing dollars are spent to create brand awareness for when your shopping their dealers, rather than to drive sales through their own websites. I bet that if they did sell direct that you'd pay regular MSRP and would still want to shop at dealers for a better price.

Doesn't Ruger even send you to Gallery of Guns or other shops to make the purchase?

Palmetto State Armory is one that comes to mind that sells direct to the public. I don't know their history, but they also sell lots of other brands so they have the infrastructure to deal with individuals in place to sell those other brands. It probably isn't a big deal for them to sell their lowers and rifles direct.

 

[ryknoll3]

Only way you could buy a gun direct from the manufacturer is to physically go there and fill out the 4473 and get the NICS check. It would have to be a long gun, unless the mfg was in your state. If it was a long gun, the state where the mfg resides would have to allow sales to your state of residence, and your state (Indiana does) would have to allow you to purchase from that state.

It's not worth it for most mfg's to do sales out of their shop. Some sell direct, but still need to go through an FFL. (PSA, BCM, Noveske, etc...)

 

[handgun]

Huh? What the why on Gods green earth would you want that?

 

[kalboy]

In most industries it's beyond their business model to sell retail. They have enough to do just manufacturing the product and shoving it out the door to the wholesalers and retailers. Those folks are specialists at marketing: Distribution, advertising, minor warranty issues, etc.

This would seem so. Of course they could sell direct thru local FFL dealers ( ie w/o wholesalers or distributers as middlemen) and I think that with time you'll see more of this. The GCA of 1968 has no impact whatever on selling guns factory direct, no mandate of a wholesaler or distributer . All you need to satisfy the law is an FFL dealer to receive and transfer the gun. This would be legal whether the gun came from Ruger directly or from Ruger via Davidsons or other wholesaler.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

The GCA of 1968 has no impact whatever on selling guns factory direct

Ummm, as long as both seller and buyer are in the same state, but if our OP wants to drive to the take out window of Ruger in Arizona from Indiana then the GCA controls. So, the GCA does have a big impact on selling guns factory direct . . . if that factory is outside the state of Indiana, unless our OP has an FFL.

 

[kalboy]

Ummm, as long as both seller and buyer are in the same state, but if our OP wants to drive to the take out window of Ruger in Arizona from Indiana then the GCA controls. So, the GCA does have a big impact on selling guns factory direct . . . if that factory is outside the state of Indiana, unless our OP has an FFL.

The OP said ,

"Is it illegal for gun manufacturers to sell directly to the public (through FFLs)," he wasn't asking if Ruger could ship a gun to his door. The GCA of 68 doesn't mandate wholesalers or any middleman other than the FFL at point of purchase.