Did I get hosed or are form 3s taking 150+ days?

[MedBro]

I bought an m11 from Ruben Mendiola (dealernfa.com) in mid January and haven't heard any progress on the form 3 from him... worse yet he won't reply to my emails. That's the part that's setting off my BS detector; form 3s aren't taking 5 months for anyone here, are they?


Has anyone here bought a mac from him this year? I heard he had a great reputation but this purchase has been a disaster from the start and this is just icing on the cake. I'm thinking he didn't file the paperwork, which honestly is just disappointing more than anything.


At least I can tame my excitement over getting a Max31k, since it looks like I won't get my gun for another 4 months minimum :dunno

 

[Mr Natural]

The thing to do now is have the receiving C3 dealer (whether that's you or someone else) telephone the NFA branch and check on the status of the transfer. Its a simple process taking only a few minutes. You will need the serial number of the gun to check the transfer. If you and the receiving C3 dealer did not receive the gun's serial number, or more properly an informational copy of the F3 as filed, then someone was remiss on your end.

If he won't answer emails, telephone him, followed by registered mail demanding response.

 

[MedBro]

Thank you! I really don't know enough about that side of the MG world to know what to do (but if someone came to me with a gunshot wound, I would! ), so I appreciate your reply.

 

[okgunrunner]

I bought mine the last part of December and it took right at two months to get to my dealer.

 

[LawBob]

if you call the nf branch, the messages say 6mos for transfers...

 

[medphys]

Did he have it in stock when you bought it? Occasionally, those guys sell guns that they don't own yet. Could be that the current owner is dragging his feet.

Your dealer should know if the F3 has been submitted at least, however.

 

[ATCDoktor]

I bought an M11A1 from Ruben on the 23rd of February 2015 and the form 3 cleared in 25 days.

My dealer received the gun on 31 March 2015.

You need to call him.

 

[LawBob]

I bought an m11 from Ruben Mendiola (dealernfa.com) in mid January and haven't heard any progress on the form 3 from him... worse yet he won't reply to my emails. That's the part that's setting off my BS detector; form 3s aren't taking 5 months for anyone here, are they?


Has anyone here bought a mac from him this year? I heard he had a great reputation but this purchase has been a disaster from the start and this is just icing on the cake. I'm thinking he didn't file the paperwork, which honestly is just disappointing more than anything.


At least I can tame my excitement over getting a Max31k, since it looks like I won't get my gun for another 4 months minimum :dunno

I know that he was sick recently. No excuses for non-contact, but I was in a deal situation and have lost contact as well...my guess is that lack of communication is related to illness.

 

[Vegas SMG]

I recently sold a Lanchester to one of our members. The F-3 to F-3 to his dealer is going on two months which I'm told is the new normal. There's really no excuse for that kind of a time line on a tax free, dealer to dealer transfer.

 

[Throwsstones]

I had a form 3 take 6 months last year on a M10. My was an incompetent FFL.

 

[cajun 22]

I purchased an M11/9 from John Thedford in early November. F3 transfer took 8 weeks. That included Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Good Luck

 

[Davises]

I bought a Mac from Rueben I late December, form 3 cleared in about a month. Bought from him last year as well, fast service...no problems. i would call him as I have never had bad service from him, and that's why I don't mind paying a premium for one of his guns. He is the best in the biz (imho) and I'm sure he isn't jerking you around intentionally.

 

[bender-bending]

Yep call him. He answers his phone almost immediately. I purchased a Sten from him in April. The form 3 took about 3 weeks. As far as talking to to him through emails....he always seemed flakey, but as soon as I would get on the phone with him, I Understood why he has such a respected reputation in this industry. Like others have said, he's been sick for a while, and my transfer with him, had a few discrepancies, but he took care of them. I actually had to call my FFL and it turned out the Sten had been sitting there for about 2 weeks. Rueben had never sent me a shipped email, so I didnt know to check and my FFL didnt have my phone number with the order, so luckily I called them.....So OP call him, and he might tell you he shipped it out a while ago. Then call your FFL.

Also, Rueben is not a broker. Anything he lists for sale, he has in his possession.

 

[MedBro]

Called him, he told me to send him an email... we'll see where this goes :dunno

Thanks so much for the replies!

 

[kf4zra]

not sure if form 3 times are the same speed for cans vs mgs, but i bought a can just under 3 weeks ago, and the f3 cleared 2 days ago.

 

[davecz]

Bought one from him couple years ago an D had no problems and great communication. Kept me updated when form 3 cleared and shipping.

Seams strange on this one

 

[robertmcm]

We are getting form 3s in from 2-7 weeks right now. Had a batch come in from the last week of May to the middle of April all last week. I'm no old timer, but 5 months is quite odd. On the other hand, Ruben answers his phone 7 days a week.

 

[purple_duckk]

I bought in early Nov, got it transferred to my local CIII dealer and put in my form 4 Feb 16th. So mine took about 90 days.

I put in my form 4 immediately but It didn't go pending until June 2nd. It's probably been maddening but you might have drawn the short straw like me, just with a form 3 instead of 4. Ask him to send you the tracking number he mailed the form on, then you can make sure he sent it out when he said he did.

 

[MedBro]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone!

I received an email this morning from Ruben after calling last night, and he tells me: 1) the ATF doesn't have it in its system and 2) he faxed it in February a month after I paid him.

You can fax in a form 3? I don't know enough to know if that's not legit. I assume it probably is though. As for it not being in the system, I understand that every bureaucracy has that kind of problem (especially the hospital system I work in), but in my job Its my responsibility to follow up in a timely manner and if he doesn't do the same there's 0 difference between them losing it and him not sending it in. Eg, when a CT doesn't get read in a timely fashion I don't expect the patient to have to remind me to call the radiologist. Anyways, this undoubtedly means I'm not getting my gun until November at the absolute earliest when I should've gotten it within a few weeks from now. There's nothing to gain by throwing a fit like a 12 year old or anything, of course. I'm just really bummed. For what it's worth, Ruben has been very polite and quickly fixed the previous problems with my purchase (he sold me a gun that he had already sold to someone else).

 

[Tall Pine]

Yes, certain "approved" FFLs can fax in Form 3. I'd imagine Ruben has that status.

Ruben's whole story sounds fishy, very poor customer service. How does it take 1 month to send out a fax after payment, and then why does it take you to follow up with him about it 2 months after the Form 3 should have been approved. I'd be pissed as hell and wouldn't cut Ruben any slack. You paid him a healthy premium and that should come with superb customer service. He failed you miserably and I'd let him know it if I were you. Maybe he can take care of you on any future purchase if you use him again.

Bummer that it happened, good luck to you.