NFA wait times and BS thread

That sounds like an absolute nightmare. I went with silencershop for all of my suppressor purchases and will continue to do so. They are fast and efficient to say the least. The longest it’s taken to have any of my stamp‘a cashed has been 4 weeks, they update everything online and send emails as well. Sorry to hear about your troubles, shame on that shop for their poor customer service, you should’ve already had you new can in your hands already.

 

The guy I know that works with the ATF was very upset about this. He called the field agent for the area that I purchased my can, he to was very surprised, said that store is normally on point, all I's dotted and T’s crossed. He’s never had a problem with this store before.
I do believe that my paperwork was actually mailed in, not done electronically. I’ve already swallowed the pill that I’m not getting it this year. The agent did say wait times are far longer on mailed in forms, so who knows when or if I’ll ever get it.

 

This is a major bummer, I hope the shop somehow makes it right, the d60 is a nice gesture. The ATF and NFA process is already slow and a huge pain, but then to have a third party delay it more. Ouch!

 

Man this is awful. I suggest handling all of your paperwork yourself if that's possible. I did this with all of my cans. Silencerco has a great guide that is really easy to follow. I basically had it filled out and just needed the dealer to sign and enter his FFL info along with the SN. I was then able to take my paperwork and mail it myself. This prevents those issues you ran into. The down side is any error is on you. I learned fairly quickly that the dealer I went to knew less about the process than I did even though he owned and sold suppressors. No one will care as much about getting it done right as you will. Just a tip for next time. Hope you get approval soon!

 

Good info, I looked into doing it all online through silencershop but decided not to and go to a reputable business in my area that “sells them all the time”.... The fact that they are a thriving gun store, busiest in the area, sells more volume of guns and cans, actually ended up backfiring in my face. I talked with another store whom doesn’t sell nowhere near the volume of the store I chose and decided not to go with him. In my mind, normal business is going to be the fastest, easiest because it’s repetitive. Turns out I’m just another face that walks into the store, and very easily overlooked. The store is also open seven days a week, and I filled out the form 4 on a Sunday afternoon, thinking it will be mailed out first thing the next day. Ended up being put in the safe overnight, and forgotten about...for three months. If I hadn’t called them it would still be in that safe today... think about that! Looking back, I made more mistakes than they did. You’re exactly right though, if you want something done right, do it yourself. The D60 was nice, but I told the manager I would have much rather had everything go as planned instead. I’m not looking to get anything free, I even offered them the difference between the turbo and turbo k after that mix up, they wouldn’t accept the money.

The story of my life...all of my life I’ve been dealing with this same issue, if somethings going to go wrong, it’s going to be with my stuff. Lol

 

NIGHTMARE UPDATE! I went to the bank and had them make 110% sure that the check had not cleared, it hadn’t. I then drove to the gun store, and explained to them the whole situation, he remembered me. He also agreed with me that the check should have cleared the bank months and months ago. He “says” he personally mailed my form 4. Now he’s telling me the postal service has lost the package or the ATF has lost the paperwork. He reaches under the counter and hands me fingerprint cards...and states “all we can do now is start from scratch...“ hmmmm what the hell!?!
Now he’s telling me to stop payment on the check and he’s going to pay the tax stamp fee. I left the gun store in a state of mind that I do not want to go back to. I’ve checked online and at other stores and the can that I have already purchased isn’t available anywhere. So at this point in time I have a decision to make, do I keep dealing with this gun store or get a refund and literally start all over? He claims that his business is not equipped to file electronically. I don’t believe that either.

After I calmed down I thought about everything and weighed my options. The # 1 reason I decided to go this route is because they actually have the can I ordered and paid for in the store.
I sent the manager and owner of the gun store a very polite, but nasty at the same time, email of how I would continue this transaction. I went today and got fingerprints, passport photos, and stopped payment on the first check for the tax stamp and got a fresh check. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the manager of the gun store to sit down and fill out the form 4 in it’s entirety, put it in an express mail envelope, and I will personally deliver the package to the postmaster myself. I refused for them to pay for the tax stamp because “my” check will be the only proof I have that the ball is rolling, other than the tracking number. I demanded this all be completed before Friday afternoon or I wanted a 100% refund. This is all a bunch of bull shit, but there’s nothing else that I know to do about it. I’m still going to have to depend on this gun store to notify me when my tax stamp comes in, which I’m not happy about. I’m thinking very seriously about including this complete story in with the form 4. Suggesting that this store needs to be audited and ask if they can notify me by email when my paperwork is complete. I’m at a loss of patience and everything, 9 months and the store can’t prove to me that my paperwork was ever submitted. My plan has that part covered this time.
Does anybody have any suggestions? Anything I’m leaving out that I should do?
Thanks for reading, I had to vent!

 

What a flipping nightmare, I would be beyond livid (for a short time anyway).
Before I read your plan my thought was to scrap it entirely with that store, F them. After reading your plan I believe you have a solid plan and if you’re comfortable with it I would do it, if nothing else try it again while being signed up for in stock notifications from SilencerShop just in case you don’t see your check clear.
I would definitely talk to your local ATF office if for no other reason than to give them a heads up that something is goofy, they could potentially help you out after hearing your story and investigating.
I would ask for a $200 discount on the suppressor, same cost as the stamp but you would still use your check for the stamp, if the owner balls at that I would run.

 

Use Silencerco's online guide to fill out the forms before you even go to the store. Just have them fill in the FFL info and serial number. Double check it's done correctly. This will minimize the time you're at the store. Personally, unless you're willing to form 3 the item to another dealer keep your cool. They will still have possession of your property for the next 8+ months. I wouldn't send in anything extra to the ATF. I imagine those packets are only handled by admin folks who can't do anything. Sucks you've had this experience but that's where you are.

BTW there is no e-file for form 4s yet. Only for form 1 if you want to manufacture your own suppressor or SBR.

Also, if you have the serial number and dealer name you can check up on the status of your form 4 by calling the ATF. I've done this for mine and I generally know when the stamp is in route to the dealer and give them a heads up.

 

Thanks for the info! That helps a lot. I won’t add anything in with the paperwork, it’s not going to change anything, and if it did it could delay my tax stamp. You’re right, it is what it is, and I am where I am. Just trying to move forward. I wanted all of this behind me before the election, but I’ve already swallowed the pill that I won’t be getting it this year. I knew that the last time they said my paperwork was mailed. I just have a hard time believing that I have had a stroke of bad luck three times in a row on the same item. I don’t think they are being honest with me, but it could theoretically happen I suppose. I’ve kept my cool with them, even though I’m very upset about the whole ordeal. They have been extremely over the top nice to me, but I just can’t seem to get any results.

 

I’m not looking for any handouts, or anything free. I don’t mind one bit paying for what I get. I simply want to -get- what I pay for. I would much rather had this transaction go through without any hiccups than get anything for free. I’ve tried my best to give these guys the benefit of doubt. I can’t help but have doubts about it now. I’m trying to remove doubt this time, and try again.

 

Where are you located? I see Eastern NC. I'd like to check out that Turbo when you do get it.

 

I live in a small town in Duplin county. The nearest large city would probably be Wilmington. I didn’t have any time last night to fill out the form 4 online, and I’m at work right now so I guess I’ll just fill everything out today like scheduled. We will see how it goes. With the luck I’ve been having the original form 4 is going to show up at the ATF with a check in it that’s been voided before the new package arrives to them... Lol, oh I hope that doesn’t happen. I guess there’s still lots of things that can still go wrong, that will screw everything up. I’ll prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. If anything else happens though, I don’t think I’m going to keep trying after this. I’ve been all of my life without a suppressor, I can make it the rest of the way, it’s not a -need- item in the first place.

 

I actually go to a range really close to you. Let me know if you want to meet up sometime.

 

Sounds good, I most of the time don’t go to a range. I just walk out my back door and set targets up. That’s an advantage of living in the middle of nowhere, a disadvantage among many is 3mbps is the fastest internet that I can get.... what range do you go to? I think a new one was opened over a year ago or so on the holly shelter game land area. I’ve not been to it, but I’ve heard it’s nice.

 

Someday.. I will have this..

 

I'll DM you.

I know! I have to drive 50 mins to this place.

 

Ahhhhh chiiitttt

 

Everything went as planned today. Form 4 is in the mail with a tracking number. Guys at the store have still been super nice, I at least feel satisfied that the paperwork was correct and is on the way. That’s actually more than I could say up until today, and be positive about it.

 

There is a NFA sub on reddit where people post approvals and their standardized wait time from pending (check cashed) to approval. It looks like a lot of stamps coming back right now took roughly 140-170 days. I'd start calling the ATF to check status around that point.