Think twice before purchasing from Palmetto State Armory!

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Squirt239

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    11   0   0
    Jun 7, 2010
    1,087
    113
    North of Brownsburg
    UPDATE

    So I can be nice, contrary to popular belief...

    Email I received from customer:

    Hi,

    I spoke to you a little over a week ago about a mistake regarding an order from Palmetto State Armory that I tried to send to you for an FFL Transfer without realizing that you could not perform said transfers. I know you said that you'd have to ship it back, but I've also received messages from Palmetto State issuing me some return documents and instructions on how to go about the return. That message said that if the package was still at the FFL, I would be responsible for getting those documents to you so that you could complete the return. I never heard anything about that from you, so I'm not sure if you were able to complete the return anyway or if you do in fact need those attachments. I don't think I'm able to attach anything in this message format, but if you do need what PSA sent me, please let me know and I'd be happy to find a way to get them to you. Thank you and happy 4th!

    MY RESPONSE:

    As of yesterday, the firearm is still in my possession.

    So, here's the deal...

    You can either figure out the return with Palmetto, or you can pay me for my time and travel to send this back, or you can compensate me for the transfer and my time on the phone and dealing with Palmetto...

    I'm not trying to be difficult, but I'm not driving around town to deliver a firearm I didn't order to be sent back to a company I didn't want to send it to me in the first place.

    Please understand my position...

    Respectfully,



    Brett Havlin
     

    Squirt239

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    11   0   0
    Jun 7, 2010
    1,087
    113
    North of Brownsburg
    UPDATE PART 2:

    Customer:

    Hi,

    I completely understand. I apologize again for the mistake on my end, wish PSA didn't have such terrible customer service. I'd obviously not like to be $600 in the hole from this, so if I were to compensate you for dropping the package off, how much would I be looking at?

    My response:
    Apology accepted...please know I am NOT trying to be difficult or disrespectful.

    And quite frankly, I'd be 100% upset with PSA. Their customer service is lackluster at best.

    Tell you what...I'll do the transfer for you...I'll charge you $50, which is an hours labor in the shop.

    Handshake, and a good joke and we will call it even.

    Otherwise, we will be dealing with Palmetto until the cows come home.

    Please, schedule an appointment at my website www.IndyGunsmith.com for pick up. Under serial number, just put FFL Transfer.

    Respectfully,



    Brett Havlin
     

    223 Gunner

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    199   0   0
    Jan 7, 2009
    4,411
    47
    Red Sector A
    As has been my life experience when helping others....... No good deed goes unpunished.

    This is referring to your original post about doing a transfer for a friend for a PSA item, and now on PSA's FFL list.
     

    Cameramonkey

    www.thechosen.tv
    Staff member
    Moderator
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    35   0   0
    May 12, 2013
    31,688
    77
    Camby area
    UPDATE PART 3:

    Customer picked up firearm yesterday afternoon.

    Side note, I got a phone call today asking for a transfer...

    Apparently I'm still on their list.
    I dont think he got your number from them. See post 21.

    EDIT:Unless your transfer of this rifle somehow triggered their system, but I dont know how that would work since you're only dealing with NICS, not them. Unless the customer contacting them somehow put you back in after I checked.
     
    Last edited:

    Gravyman

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    9   0   0
    Jun 21, 2022
    215
    28
    Fishers
    Kind of a long story, so follow along...

    A few years back, I decided there was a good deal on some firearms at PSA. Having a FFL, I advised some of my friends of the deal, ordered a few, and did the background checks here in the shop. Apparently, that put me on PSA's "preferred FFL" list. Now, I DON'T DO FFL TRANSFERS. I hate the hassle of them, don't care to do them. My shop, my choice. But, I will help out a close friend or brother on certain deals.

    Flash forward a couple years and a firearm shows up on my porch. Weird...I don't remember ordering anything...I opened up the package and there was a firearm in there from PSA. The person who bought it never called, contacted, etc., and was not one of my customers. I called PSA, advised them of the situation. That's when they advised me I was on their "preferred FFL" list. I advised them that I only do gunsmithing, and to remove me from said list. They obliged, and sent me a return label for the firearm in question.

    Flash forward to June 15th of this year. A firearm shows up on my doorstep. Weird...I don't remember ordering anything...again...I opened up the package and there was a firearm in there from PSA....again. The person who bought it never called, contacted, etc., and was not one of my customers....again. I called PSA, advised them of the situation...again. That's when they advised me I was on their "preferred FFL" list....again. I told the gentleman that was NOT the case, and that I don't do FFL transfers. He apologized, sent me a RMA, and stated he would remove me from the list, and that UPS would pick up the firearm. Ok...great!

    June 23rd, firearm is still not picked up. I called PSA and advised them of the situation. They told me they "don't do pick ups" because of their "contract with UPS." Strange, that's not what the guy told me on the 15th. So what do you want me to do? "You would need to deliver that package to a hub." Um...no. This is not my problem. YOU did not remove me from the list, YOUR customer never called, messaged, emailed, smoke signaled ASKING for a transfer...so no. NOT my problem. Lady on the phone says, "Well my supervisor says..." I said, let me speak with the supervisor. "I'm sorry, sir. We don't do that. I can send a ticket and he might call you back." Might?!? Needless to say, I was not very pleasant with lady, as it was very clear she did not care what was going on, nor was going to do anything to help. So I hung up, and called back.

    June 23rd, second call. Spoke to lady named Myrah. She stated the information I was given previously was INCORRECT, and they would schedule the pick up for me. Great! She said, "I understand your frustration, and I'm very sorry for the hassle. Your time is valuable, and I can only imagine how frustrating this can be." Thank you...so when will they pick it up? "If they don't pick it up today, they will pick it up tomorrow (Friday) or (Saturday)." Ok...thank you!

    June 27th firearm is still not picked up. I called PSA at 0900 when they open. The answering service said they are answering calls in 1 min 30 sec. 13 minutes later, half asleep woman answers the phone. I advised, again, of the situation. She said, "ok let me get message my supervisor of the situation." Ok. 27 minutes later (I timed it), I said, "Are you still there?!?" She said, "Yeah, I'm just waiting on a response from my supervisor." I said, ok, well, I have things/work to do, what's the issue here? Her response, "Well we don't do pick ups. So I need to have the supervisor tell me what to do." Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. Ok....deep breath...."Ma'am....I was just told on the 23rd by Myrah that was not the case and that I should expect a pick up." Her response, "Well I don't see that." Um.........wut?!? "Yeah, I don't see that." Are there any notes about this?!? "Nope. The supervisor should be calling you at some point, but I'm not sure when."

    So, here we are almost two weeks later, still no pick up.

    Now, COULD I drive 35 min one way to drop off the gun at a hub? Yes. But, fuel is $5/gallon, my time is $50/hour in the shop, and quite frankly, NOT MY FAULT. I can't send the bill to the purchaser of the firearm...I'd never get the money. I can't send the bill to PSA....I'd never get the money. So basically, I'm stuck.

    What say you INGO?

    What would YOU do in this situation???
    I've had 90% positive psa experience with just a few issues over the last several years. Every time they have rectified the situation though. Although it does take time which is irritating
     

    paintball_addiction

    Sharpshooter
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    179   0   0
    Sep 9, 2009
    442
    28
    SW of Indy
    UPDATE PART 3:

    Customer picked up firearm yesterday afternoon.

    Side note, I got a phone call today asking for a transfer...

    Apparently I'm still on their list.
    Just update your website with a stupidly high transfer fee that compensates for your time. $250? At that point, it's the fault of the person who transferred to you without first doing the research.
     

    Hohn

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jul 5, 2012
    4,444
    63
    USA
    THIS. Just because you receive a package doesn't make it automatically yours.

    Now if you've contacted the owner/responsible party and they're refusing to come get it from you, then after a certain period of time that might change things, but I'm pretty sure that depends on a lot of different factors.
    Exactly right. Personally, I’d leave it outside in the exact location they left it and let it rust, rot or whatever. Not your problem and don’t even touch it to let someone try to make it your problem.
     

    Ingomike

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    May 26, 2018
    28,174
    113
    North Central
    Why does the buyer need to be punished?
    He bought a gun online, and the website showed this guy as an FFL.

    What did he do wrong?

    People are so rude nowadays.
    He should have bought from a reputable LGS, not an online company that uses buying power, abuses the transfer system, AND the LGS to complete the sale.

    People are so rude and inconsiderate nowadays…
     

    danielson

    Master
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 20, 2013
    3,252
    63
    Napoleon
    He should have bought from a reputable LGS, not an online company that uses buying power, abuses the transfer system, AND the LGS to complete the sale.

    People are so rude and inconsiderate nowadays…
    I have spent THOUSANDS at PSA through the years.
    Never had a problem.

    Sometimes you have to wait abit, but I don't have a "I want it now" mentality.

    The problem with local gunshops is location.

    When I lived in Indy, I bought most of my stuff locally.
    Now I live 30 mins from the nearest LGS and he never has anything.

    You can try and imply that I am being rude, but anyone can read my post, and then yours, and realize your the one with issues.

    People who take out their aggression on the innocent because they cannot take it out on the intended party, are weak and sad individuals..
     
    Last edited:

    DadSmith

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Oct 21, 2018
    22,197
    113
    Ripley County
    Why does the buyer need to be punished?
    He bought a gun online, and the website showed this guy as an FFL.

    What did he do wrong?

    People are so rude nowadays.
    I have always told people especially friends and family to call the FFL you want to ship it to and get an OK.
    I still do with my local FFLs even though they say just order it and send it to them because they know me. I like to give them a heads up at least and tell them what I'm about to order. Sometimes they have what I want in stock and I buy it from them instead.
    It's a win for me and the FFLs I use.
     

    WebSnyper

    Maximum Effort
    Rating - 100%
    56   0   0
    Jul 3, 2010
    15,419
    113
    127.0.0.1
    I have always told people especially friends and family to call the FFL you want to ship it to and get an OK.
    I still do with my local FFLs even though they say just order it and send it to them because they know me. I like to give them a heads up at least and tell them what I'm about to order. Sometimes they have what I want in stock and I buy it from them instead.
    It's a win for me and the FFLs I use.
    Agreed.

    I've also used USDS on the southside for transfers, and driven past quite a few other shops to get there as they have their transfer policy stated extremely clearly and a copy of their FFL on their transfers page ( https://usds.biz/transfers ) . I'm sure some other FFLs state their transfer policies and services clearly as well, while others I'm sure do not. Always good to check with the FFL in advance rather than picking them off a list of an online retailer and hoping that info is correct.

    When working with an FFL on a transfer, there should be no assumptions made by the customer as some FFLs are willing and actually encourage doing transfers from online purchases, while others don't want to do them as it's not favorable for their business model.

    There is no obligation for an FFL to offer transfer services for items not purchased from them.
     
    Last edited:

    Leadeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 19, 2009
    36,696
    113
    .
    I would send a letter to PSA, whatever they are, certified RR outlining your frustrations and stating that you want off this list. Just keep whatever they sent you next time.
     

    cg21

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    May 5, 2012
    4,549
    113
    I think psa (and other online shops) should need to verify with the shops that they add to their drop down menus as transfer options. No way is this the persons fault who is just sitting at home ordering from a reputable website. To be annoyed with psa I understand but I don’t see how anyone could be mad at the customer. LGS vs online is a completely different discussion.
     

    xwing

    Expert
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Apr 11, 2012
    1,127
    113
    Greene County
    UPDATE PART 3:

    Customer picked up firearm yesterday afternoon.

    Side note, I got a phone call today asking for a transfer...

    Apparently I'm still on their list.

    Glad to hear a happy ending. It was very nice of you to be reasonable to the customer who made the mistake; hopefully he was grateful.

    :eek: that PSA can't seem to take you off their list though. At least the customer this time was smart enough to call ahead. I've bought many guns online (gunbroker, buds guns, etc...) but always check with a local FFL before ordering.
     
    Top Bottom