LOL, this thread hasn't had an update in a while, but figured I'd throw this out there.
Went to the Danver's store this week, not a single associate on duty in the Lodge had any clue on how to sell a gun. Unfortunately, they had a gun I really wanted that is on backorder EVERYWHERE, so my hand was forced.
By the time we finished the 4473, there were more cross outs, initials, and dates next to line items than unmolested line items. Over and over I was walking one of the associates through the 4473 because he was reading the instructions on it to make sure he didn't miss anything.
Couple things I noticed that really annoyed me:
1. Every time they put down and picked up the gun they were racking the bolt hard, even if they had never left line of sight from the gun. It was as if it was going to load itself and fire.
2. During the course of filling out the paperwork, they must have picked up and put down the gun 10 times, between 2 associates.
3. When the associate was filling out the paperwork on the 4473, he wrote the serial number down from the BOX, not the gun. I had to ask him to check the serial number on the firearm in the box wasn't the right box.
4. It took over half an hour to do the call-in, which they did in the back room. When he came out, the verification code was in the wrong box, which resulted in more cross outs and initials and dates.
5. I wrote MA on the 4473, they made me cross it out, initial it, and rewrite Massachusetts, as if there was another state with the initials MA
6. I wrote the date as 11/5/10, the same as I filled out the date on every other 4473 I've filled out, and they made me cross it out, initial it, and rewrite it as 11/05/2010. Next time I'm writing 2010/11/05 and telling them I write my date using the international standards.
7. I was asked three times about putting my social security number down on the 4473, each time refusing and listening to them tell me how it helps with the call ins. I refused to put it down, as it says optional, and my call in went fine as usual. My social security number doesn't need to be on any paperwork.
8. They wouldn't process the 4473 paperwork unless I gave them my phone number. I've never had to give a phone number before, and I was pretty PO'd about having to do so. There is absolutely no need for my phone number on paperwork. The ATF has my phone numbers and finger prints on file, if there is an issue they can find me.
9. It took 3 successful attempts to process my fingerprint to finally get the form to proceed and the paperwork to print. I probably have 3 guns with the same serial number in my name now.
10. While doing the online FA-10, they once AGAIN filled in the serial number while one associate read it off the box and another typed it in. I had to ask after they printed the paperwork for me to verify the serial number on the gun matched what was on the paperwork.
Overall it took almost 2 hours to purchase a gun from the time I decided to buy it. One associate just had no clue, the other, I can't think of his name but he mentioned he JUST got his license from Peabody and I know he reads this forum is pretty good. They should him practice and actually get training as he seemed to be the most knowledgeable. The store manager ended up finishing the transaction as the cashiers cannot process the gun transaction at the register(ridiculous).
This store needs some serious help in the Lodge, or the ATF is going to nail them to a cross come audit time, none of which is my concern but I feel bad for the associates. Like I said my paperwork had more crossouts and initials than good data written in it.
There were other things that irritated me in the nearly 2 hours I spent buying my gun, but ultimately I have it now and it's what i wanted. I just hope the whole transaction was processed correctly.