Lou's Sporting Goods

Review: I approached [redacted], owner/operator of Lou's Sporting Goods in [redacted] to request a firearm transfer for a firearm recently purchased from a private seller who is a resident of [redacted]. Upon completion of the necessary paperwork and background checks by ** State Police, Lou contacted me to inform me that I could pick up the firearm. Lou then charged me over $300 on top of what I paid for the firearm:- 10% of the sale price (transfer fee)- 6% MD state sales tax- 3% credit card fee (I did not have enough cash on hand to pay for the exorbitant fees and had to charge it to my credit card)- $15 for the background check fee. This was my first time purchasing a USED firearm from a PRIVATE seller and Lou took advantage of me. From previously purchasing NEW firearms at gun stores, I knew there was a small fee for the background check and knew that a shop would not do a transfer for free, but it is unheard of to charge this much for a simple transfer. After the incident, I contacted several other local shops offering transfer services and none of them had ever heard of being required to charge ** state sales tax or such a high fee. Most shops charge anywhere from $30-$60 TOTAL for an in-state transfer. I also contacted the ** State Police and they confirmed with me that there is no such thing as charging ** sales tax on a firearm transfer. I have ALSO contacted the [redacted] Comptroller's Office, whom Lou stated as having been directed by them to charge ** sales tax for the transfer, and they are currently investigating the incident, but have informed me that it is the SELLER of the firearm who is supposed to charge sales tax, NOT the shop doing the transfer paperwork. Lou's Sporting Goods/[redacted] is taking advantage of other people for personal profit and disguising it as being required to do so by a state/government agency.Desired Settlement: I was charged an exact amount of $300.25 for the transfer and wish to be refunded $200. This leaves Lou with $100.25 of my money, which is more than enough to cover the $10 [redacted] State Police fee that they charge for a background check.

Business

Response:

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