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Posted: 2/25/2020 8:04:35 PM EDT
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First time suppressor buyer, getting ready to settle in for the long wait.
First though I'd like a more detailed explanation of the Silencer Shop ordering process than their web site explains. This is for a suppressor ordered on their web site for pick up at a local "powered by Silencer Shop" dealer. Here's what I've put together so far, please help me fill in the blanks: 1) Order placed 2) Information Gathered (must do fingerprints at Kiosk, everything else can be uploaded on web site/app). 3) SilencerCo submits a Form 3 electronically to ATF 4) SilencerCo receives back approved Form 3 from ATF 5) SilencerCo ships suppressor to local dealer So who sends the Form 4 to ATF and when? Is it SilencerShop after/about same time as they ship the item to the local dealer now that Form 3 is approved? Is it the local dealer that sends in the Form 4 after they receive the item from Silencer Shop? What other nuances am I missing? Thanks |
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You got it right.
SS will send your F4. Watch your "My Orders" page for updates. The last update youll see will be when your stamp gets cashed. I call ATF a month after that to make sure everything is kosher and pending. Enjoy the wait... I have three cans in NFA jail right now. Hoping to get the first back in May. |
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1. Place order on SS site
2. Your order enters an information gathering phase. Fingerprints can be taken at one of their kiosks. Everything else can be uploaded to their site. 3. SS submits electronic form 3 to ATF 4. Once form 3 is approved (1-2 days), SS mails form 4 5. Several days or weeks after form 4 is mailed, SS ships the suppressor to your local dealer 6. SS will let you know when your $200 tax stamp has been cashed by the ATF. This will be your last interaction with SS. 6. Wait 7. ATF mails approved stamp to your local dealer. Your local dealer will let you know when it’s received. SS won’t know when it’s approved. 8. Go to local dealer, pick up suppressor |
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Quoted:
1. Place order on SS site 2. Your order enters an information gathering phase. Fingerprints can be taken at one of their kiosks. Everything else can be uploaded to their site. 3. SS submits electronic form 3 to ATF 4. Once form 3 is approved (1-2 days), SS mails form 4 5. Several days or weeks after form 4 is mailed, SS ships the suppressor to your local dealer 6. SS will let you know when your $200 tax stamp has been cashed by the ATF. This will be your last interaction with SS. 6. Wait 7. ATF mails approved stamp to your local dealer. Your local dealer will let you know when it’s received. SS won’t know when it’s approved. 8. Go to local dealer, pick up suppressor |
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Quoted:
You got it right. SS will send your F4. Watch your "My Orders" page for updates. The last update youll see will be when your stamp gets cashed. I call ATF a month after that to make sure everything is kosher and pending. Enjoy the wait... I have three cans in NFA jail right now. Hoping to get the first back in May. |
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Quoted: My last SS order turn around time was under 3 months from time the stamp was cashed to the approved form 4 at my SOT(picked it up early February) on a single shot trust 
I have a SS order in right now on a single shot trust. 3 months would be a pleasant surprise! Have you gone through the process of adding a trustee to the single shot trust after getting your approval? |
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Quoted: @Jmo371
I have a SS order in right now on a single shot trust. 3 months would be a pleasant surprise! Have you gone through the process of adding a trustee to the single shot trust after getting your approval? |
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Yes, you can mail the fingerprint cards to SS, and they will scan and keep them for future use, just as if you use a kiosk. Quoted:
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So what if you live in a state with zero kiosks? Is there a way to mail the physical print cards to SS or the ATF? |
| I bought from Gunprodeals and shipped to a dealer close to me with a range that uses SS but doesn't have a kiosk. Once it arrived there they called me once they put it on file with my SS account (email). I paid SS for the stamp and SST, drove to a dealer with the kiosk, did my prints, and before I even made it home SS had the form 4 ready for me to docusign. Easy as can be. Went to the range to shoot it yesterday. |
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Quoted: My last SS order turn around time was under 3 months from time the stamp was cashed to the approved form 4 at my SOT(picked it up early February) on a single shot trust |
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So I'm been digging into and found some more details, building on what cashewnut wrote (striking out where I found out something different, bold where I inserted something, #5 and #6 added entirely).
I'm monitoring my order in real time, some of this might be relatively recent process changes by Silencer Shop, sounds like they did a major overhaul of their software/process implementation in the past year or so. The details in #5 I added are a good example of why I wanted to understand -- if it sticks around in "Shipped to Dealer" but still not having any Form 4s mailed, then now I know it could actually be the local dealer holding it up if he is not completing his step in the process timely. Can't go harass someone if you don't even know its their step! 1. Place order on SS site 2. Your order enters an information gathering phase. Fingerprints can be taken at one of their kiosks. Everything else can be uploaded to their site. 3. SS submits electronic form 3 to ATF 4. Shortly after Form 3 is approved (1-2 days), Silencer Shop Fedex's the silencer to your local dealer, usually next couple days after Form 3 approval 5. Silencer Shop's system monitors Fedex status, once it is Delivered to local dealer, that triggers Silencer Shop to move Form 4 to their Print Queue. Local Dealer must confirm Serial #s and eSign his copy of Form 4. 6. Silencer Shop Prints and Mails Form 4 to ATF (to be determined how long it takes from Suppressor Delivered to Local Dealer to Form 4 Mailed to ATF) 7. SS will let you know when your $200 tax stamp has been cashed by the ATF. This will be your last interaction with SS. 8. Wait 9. ATF mails approved stamp to your local dealer. Your local dealer will let you know when it’s received. SS won’t know when it’s approved. 10. Go to local dealer, pick up suppressor |
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Quoted:
....... a good example of why I wanted to understand -- if it sticks around in "Shipped to Dealer" but still not having any Form 4s mailed, then now I know it could actually be the local dealer holding it up if he is not completing his step in the process timely. Can't go harass someone if you don't even know its their step!......... 1. Your Silencer Shop account will show you the progress and status of your transaction. It will tell you what is missing, what info is needed, what needs to be done and what has been done. 2. Your dealer gets an email Docusign for your Form 4. Be sure to send him multiple emails and texts to remind him to sign the Form 4. Phone calls help as well. Dealers actually love these reminders because it makes our day better. 3. When your stamp does arrive, it's mailed to your dealer.....the dealer that now hates and despises you for harassing him over the last eight months. 
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Oh crap I live in & transferring to a dealer in Plano. I’m in trouble now! No but really, I am in Plano so if you see a Turbo K get delivered tomorrow get the form 4 done fast pppplease :) 
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Is it better to file the F4 as an individual or utilize a single shot trust? I would like a general consensus. 90% of my customers using a trust choose the Single Shot. In my experience, there is no appreciable difference in the approval time of Single Shot vs individual. My fastest ten Form 4's were all Single Shots. |
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Agree Single Shot Trust is the best for 99% of people. Benefits of trust for $25 with paperwork simplicity of individual. Update on silencer shop order process: Dealer received can fedex, web site showed that. Then web site briefly went to “waiting dealer form 4 signature” Called dealer to ask, they said they generally get emails for them to eSign form 4 as soon as the can shops to them (vs when it’s received) so it is probably already done. it moved past awaiting signature a coupe hours later. So either dealer checked after getting off phone with me and eSigned, or it might have just been silencer shop process of running batch jobs every couple hours to check for “next process step” automations. Next went to “form 4 mailed” so that’s goodness, I didn’t get any intermediate “queued for printing” or anything and they’re saying they are mailing the form 4 to ATF same day as dealer received dorm 3 can fedex so you can’t ask for any better. I had read somewhere they queue a bunch for mailing to ATF and mail in bulk, which didn’t make any sense to me. With them processing the majority of NFA items in the country they could do a daily banker box mailing to ATF and it appears to me they are. So now I can settle in for a year long nap or go get a form 1 if I get impatient |
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Anyone see major price increases overnight at SilencerShop? Had two Griffin cans in cart and they increased in price over $200, about the amount of the mount promotion. Trash Panda increased by $50 or so. Does the local dealer have input on pricing? |
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Local dealer sets the price |
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And Im guessing silencershops software won’t let dealer set it below MAP, so switch around to different dealers in the area and you’ll probably find a bunch with the same (MAP) price. That is if you’re in a major metro area so there’s a number of dealers competing. Quoted:
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Local dealer sets the price |
| What's the difference between a silencer shop powered dealer and a "bronze" powered dealer? Nothing on site explains differences. I could of sworn I overheard an employee in a LGS with a kiosk say that there was an additonal store fee. When looking on site it said bronze powered at this location. |
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What's the difference between a silencer shop powered dealer and a "bronze" powered dealer? Quoted:
What's the difference between a silencer shop powered dealer and a "bronze" powered dealer? Nothing on site explains differences. It is explained to dealers. I could of sworn I overheard an employee in a LGS with a kiosk say that there was an additonal store fee. When looking on site it said bronze powered at this location. Dealers that buy inventory direct from Silencer Shop get Bronze, Silver, Gold, Elite "badges" next to their name depending on how many they purchase over the year. When a customer searches dealers in their area, Elite appears before Gold, Gold before Silver, etc. It isn't a reflection of price as each Powered By dealer sets his own pricing. |
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When a customer searches dealers in their area, Elite appears before Gold, Gold before Silver, etc. It isn't a reflection of price as each Powered By dealer sets his own pricing. |
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Which results in pissed off customers who thought they were searching by proximity. For example, I punch in YOUR Zip Code, FOUR dealers NOT in your Zip Code appear before you. Some 20 to almost 30 miles away. Quoted:
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When a customer searches dealers in their area, Elite appears before Gold, Gold before Silver, etc. It isn't a reflection of price as each Powered By dealer sets his own pricing. The original search results were by distance from your zip code, then price, then positive reviews. Silencer Shop begged dealers to send customers to their website where they would pick a silencer, pick a dealer, then checkout, after F3 approval shipping the silencer to the dealer. Do that now and the dealer gets dinged an additional 3% "marketing fee", which rubs me more than a bit raw. SS relied on their PB dealers to push traffic to their website, now if the customer buys off the website it doesn't count toward the dealer loyalty program. It's not the 3% charge that bothered me as much as the surprise at finding out on that first invoice that they were keeping an additional 3%. The website sales don't count to the "loyalty" program, so now SS is just another distributor to me. Mine is worse, I am only one in my Zip Code, and am listed on second page, and before me they list a dealer 50 miles away! Dealer search is a clusterphuck. So if buying do a good search, or you may driving way out of your way. But there are numbskulls in Waxahachie that will drive an hour plus each way to save $30 because its a good deal. 
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As clearly stated on the Silencer Shop website, there are no additional fees after you checkout. If your Powered By Dealer attempts to charge an additional fee, notify SS. Quoted:
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I could of sworn I overheard an employee in a LGS with a kiosk say that there was an additonal store fee. 
Edit:This is a "Silver" dealer, and I haven't bought any suppressors there. |
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Quoted: So I was curious about this after being in a LGS today, when I saw this sign: https://i.imgur.com/QnQ2hu8.jpg Edit:This is a "Silver" dealer, and I haven't bought any suppressors there. )
Examples: Ex 1 Buy a silencer direct from your Powered By Dealer inventory (obtained from SS) or via the Silencer Shop website.....no additional fees. EVER. Ex 2 Buy a silencer from another PB Dealer, but you go to a different PB Dealer to scan prints?.....up to $40 at the dealer with kiosk. Ex 3 Buy a silencer from GunBroker, the EE, an online retailer, etc and you want to scan prints and have Silencer Shop submit your Form 4? Your PB Dealer can charge whatever transfer fee he wishes and no more than $40 to scan your prints. I've had guys show up wanting to scan the whole family's prints and get pissed at me....even though he wasn't buying the silencer from me. |
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Quoted:
Powered By Dealers that have a kiosk are allowed to charge up to $40 to scan prints at their kiosk for NON Silencer Shop purchases or for Silencer Shop purchases that will be delivered to another Powered By dealer. (that kiosk ain't free! )
Examples: Ex 1 Buy a silencer direct from your Powered By Dealer inventory (obtained from SS) or via the Silencer Shop website.....no additional fees. EVER. Ex 2 Buy a silencer from another PB Dealer, but you go to a different PB Dealer to scan prints?.....up to $40 at the dealer with kiosk. Ex 3 Buy a silencer from GunBroker, the EE, an online retailer, etc and you want to scan prints and have Silencer Shop submit your Form 4? Your PB Dealer can charge whatever transfer fee he wishes and no more than $40 to scan your prints. I've had guys show up wanting to scan the whole family's prints and get pissed at me....even though he wasn't buying the silencer from me. Quoted:
Quoted: So I was curious about this after being in a LGS today, when I saw this sign: https://i.imgur.com/QnQ2hu8.jpg Edit:This is a "Silver" dealer, and I haven't bought any suppressors there. )
Examples: Ex 1 Buy a silencer direct from your Powered By Dealer inventory (obtained from SS) or via the Silencer Shop website.....no additional fees. EVER. Ex 2 Buy a silencer from another PB Dealer, but you go to a different PB Dealer to scan prints?.....up to $40 at the dealer with kiosk. Ex 3 Buy a silencer from GunBroker, the EE, an online retailer, etc and you want to scan prints and have Silencer Shop submit your Form 4? Your PB Dealer can charge whatever transfer fee he wishes and no more than $40 to scan your prints. I've had guys show up wanting to scan the whole family's prints and get pissed at me....even though he wasn't buying the silencer from me. |
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Good info in here Im about to do the same, buy my first can and have a powered by dealer 10 miles from me. The questions about the extra fees are helpful. So I got this right? I go online purchase can with one shot trust. Use my powered by dealer. Go there to do fingerprints. No extra charge . Comeback and get can, have to fill out 4473 and wait another whatever days, come pick it up. No fees, correct? |
| Just got my first - 9 months flat. I just went to my SS Kiosk Dealer and told him which one I wanted. He recommended to do an 'Individual' if I was the only shooter (I am). He said in my case, a Trust has no advantage, as if I died, there is a process for my wife to become the new owner (it's been 9 months - is it a Form 5? - I forget what he said). I also don't recall any fees, and the price I paid, was the same as on SS's website. Anyway, just more info for ya. |
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Quoted:
Good info in here Im about to do the same, buy my first can and have a powered by dealer 10 miles from me. The questions about the extra fees are helpful. So I got this right? I go online purchase can with one shot trust. Use my powered by dealer. Go there to do fingerprints. No extra charge . Comeback and get can, have to fill out 4473 and wait another whatever days, come pick it up. No fees, correct? |
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Quoted:
Just got my first - 9 months flat. I just went to my SS Kiosk Dealer and told him which one I wanted. He recommended to do an 'Individual' if I was the only shooter (I am). He said in my case, a Trust has no advantage, as if I died, there is a process for my wife to become the new owner (it's been 9 months - is it a Form 5? - I forget what he said). I also don't recall any fees, and the price I paid, was the same as on SS's website. Anyway, just more info for ya. |
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He's wrong. Quoted:
Quoted:
Just got my first - 9 months flat. I just went to my SS Kiosk Dealer and told him which one I wanted. He recommended to do an 'Individual' if I was the only shooter (I am). He said in my case, a Trust has no advantage, as if I died, there is a process for my wife to become the new owner (it's been 9 months - is it a Form 5? - I forget what he said). I also don't recall any fees, and the price I paid, was the same as on SS's website. Anyway, just more info for ya. |
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Quoted: So I was curious about this after being in a LGS today, when I saw this sign: https://i.imgur.com/QnQ2hu8.jpg Edit:This is a "Silver" dealer, and I haven't bought any suppressors there. |
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Quoted:
Good info in here Im about to do the same, buy my first can and have a powered by dealer 10 miles from me. The questions about the extra fees are helpful. So I got this right? I go online purchase can with one shot trust. Use my powered by dealer. Go there to do fingerprints. No extra charge . Comeback and get can, have to fill out 4473 and wait another whatever days, come pick it up. No fees, correct? I've 2 SS cans, 3rd still in jail. When dealer gets stamp, they call you. Go to dealer, do 4473 but it does not get called in. You leave with can, no extra fees. |
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Mine charged me $25 and said. "That's what SS charges me" Quoted:
Quoted: So I was curious about this after being in a LGS today, when I saw this sign: https://i.imgur.com/QnQ2hu8.jpg Edit:This is a "Silver" dealer, and I haven't bought any suppressors there. As I wrote above, silencer purchases from sellers other than Silencer Shop, that are processed by Silencer Shop may incur a fee. |
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If you bought your silencer from Silencer Shop he should not have charged anything extra. As I wrote above, silencer purchases from sellers other than Silencer Shop, that are processed by Silencer Shop may incur a fee. |
| Take what SS says about when they say the check is cashed with a grain of salt. I bought mine end of Oct and when i checked at the beginning of Nov it showed check was cashed in 12 days and i was suprised it was so fast and was happy as hell. This past week i called the ATF just to make sure everything was in the system and they told me they received it on Dec 8 and that it was pending. I was wondering why 1 month between cashing and receiving. I went back to SS website to make note of the day again and it had switched to Dec 3rd. So all this time i was thinking it had been 4 months when it was actually 3 months. Somewhere between Nov 15 and now they changed the date in their system. Not a big deal but still a bit irritating. |
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Funny you should post this, we just created this blog article with an accompanying video: How to Buy a Silencer in 9 Steps
It breaks down and simplifies the major steps towards buying a silencer from Silencer Shop. |
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Quoted:
He's wrong. Quoted:
He's wrong. The second scenario is that you purchased your silencer as an individual. If this is your situation, it may be a good idea to have your will drawn up so you can declare who the silencer will be passed on to. After your death, there can be a free transfer to the beneficiary of the silencer. Your beneficiary will fill out similar paperwork you completed – ATF Form 5 (which is a form for a tax-free transfer), fingerprint cards, certification of compliance form- and submit the forms for the same background check you had. Once the forms are approved, the silencer can be transferred to the new owner. In the interim period, while the forms are being processed, the silencer is held by the executor of the will. |
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