...I buy an NFA item, pay for it along with shipping, have it transferred to my local NFA dealer, pay their transfer fee, and then, while waiting, the local NFA dealer burns down? I should get my stamp within a month or so.
When I got to see it last time I was home three weeks ago, it took one of the clerks about a half hour just to find it in the stockroom. Maybe it survived unscathed.
You had to pay the transfer fee up front? That sucks. Unfortunately, if the item is ruined, you start from square one. Gun store's insurance company should handle the cost of replacing the item, and your tax will be refunded.