Hello All, I am a newbie here and to guns in general. I have a question regarding shipping laws in Howard County/Ellicott City.
I have never purchased a gun before. I went online to buy an air rifle from Bass Pro and checked the box to have the rifle shipped to the store so I could pick it up there (they did not have the rifle I wanted in stock at the Hanover store). I wanted to be able to have some input and also be covered by their return policy. After the automatic reply thanking me for my purchase, I received an email from Bass Pro recinding the order and refunding my credit card because they would not ship to "my" zip code. What?? I had asked them to ship to the store. I was very surprised (because I am very ignorant :-)) and called them to try to figure out what was wrong. The rep I talked to said they would not let me order online, even though it was being shipped to the store, because the billing address was flagged because of my zip code, therefore I could not purchase the rifle online. She could tell me nothing more than that. Long story short, by the time I called the (Hanover) store again, they had gotten this rifle back in stock and so I purchased it at the store (using my credit card). I told the story to guys behind the counter and they all were scratching their heads. Unfortunately, I will be returning the rifle since #1, it is way too loud for this neighborhood and #2, cocking effort is a little too much for me.
I have been reading and learning a little in the meanwhile and found a rifle that may be more appropriate for me and can ONLY purchase online from Pyramid Air. I see that it is stated that it is my responsiblity to know the shipping laws and had I not had that experience with Bass Pro, I would never have considered that there is an issue.
Can anyone direct me to a source of information about firearm shipping laws in Ho Co or Ellicott City? I have searched online using every term I can think of and not finding anything. I don't want to order anything again and be refused or denied shipping, don't want to break any laws, but how can I purchase the rifle I want if it is only available online?
Thanks so much for any direction/advice anyone might offer.
I have never purchased a gun before. I went online to buy an air rifle from Bass Pro and checked the box to have the rifle shipped to the store so I could pick it up there (they did not have the rifle I wanted in stock at the Hanover store). I wanted to be able to have some input and also be covered by their return policy. After the automatic reply thanking me for my purchase, I received an email from Bass Pro recinding the order and refunding my credit card because they would not ship to "my" zip code. What?? I had asked them to ship to the store. I was very surprised (because I am very ignorant :-)) and called them to try to figure out what was wrong. The rep I talked to said they would not let me order online, even though it was being shipped to the store, because the billing address was flagged because of my zip code, therefore I could not purchase the rifle online. She could tell me nothing more than that. Long story short, by the time I called the (Hanover) store again, they had gotten this rifle back in stock and so I purchased it at the store (using my credit card). I told the story to guys behind the counter and they all were scratching their heads. Unfortunately, I will be returning the rifle since #1, it is way too loud for this neighborhood and #2, cocking effort is a little too much for me.
I have been reading and learning a little in the meanwhile and found a rifle that may be more appropriate for me and can ONLY purchase online from Pyramid Air. I see that it is stated that it is my responsiblity to know the shipping laws and had I not had that experience with Bass Pro, I would never have considered that there is an issue.
Can anyone direct me to a source of information about firearm shipping laws in Ho Co or Ellicott City? I have searched online using every term I can think of and not finding anything. I don't want to order anything again and be refused or denied shipping, don't want to break any laws, but how can I purchase the rifle I want if it is only available online?
Thanks so much for any direction/advice anyone might offer.