A good and fair business will strive to share with their customers what can be expected when providing services. This policy page is our attempt to show what can be expected at Twisted Oak Gunsmithing (TOG). We will do our best to keep this page up to date so that the customer will have as few surprises as possible.
Fees
$60 /hour Normal Labor
We charge by the amount of time it should take to complete a service, not the actual time it takes. If we make a mistake or must learn on the job, the customer does NOT have to pay for this time. The customer does need to be aware that the same service on different firearms MAY be charged differently. This is due to the large variety of firearms that have been built over the last 120 years. Some will take differing amounts of time to disassemble/reassemble or have a unique design feature that requires a specialized technique or unique tool for the service to be performed.
$50 Fee for bringing a loaded firearm into the place of business.
This fee isto discourage reckless handling of a firearm and is one fee that we never want to charge. While we treat all guns as if they are loaded, a malfunctioning firearm with a chambered live round can accidentally discharge causing harm to our workers, yourself and other customers. All firearms will be checked for ammunition when they are brought in for service. This policy does not apply to holstered handguns that are part of the customer's personal defense. This fee applies firearms brought onto the premises to have a service performed. This fee will not be charged for a firearm with a live round being brought in for the cartridge to be removed..
$25 Dollar Transfer Fee
This fee is charged when TOG acts as a transfer agent between a third party and the customer. This is due to the record keeping involved and performing the Federal and State Background Check. There will be an additional $2 fee charged by the State of Virginia to perform the personal background check.
$30 minimum charge
A minimum of $30 will be charged when a firearm is brought in for service- also known as a Diagnostics Fee. This fee covers the time to disassemble and evaluate the firearm, diagnose issues, process the firearm into records as required by Federal and State Laws, plus other administrative work. If we do the actual repair, this diagnostic fee will be credited toward the first half hour of labor.
Evaluation Fee $1/minute (minimum of $5)
This fee will be applied when a customer brings in parts for installation or use in repairing the firearm if the parts are not new or not from a reputable manufacturer and the part cannot clearly be identified as usable by the smith for the service requested. (See Customer Provided Parts)
What to Expect
TOG operates by appointment only. Meeting with you by appointment only, including drop-offs and pick-ups, allows us to give you our full attention when you are here, and provides undisturbed time for our gunsmith to concentrate on his craft.
Please call during the times listed on our Hours of Operations page to set up your appointment.
Pickup-Up and Drop Off
In accordance with rules set forth by the ATF, the same person who drops off a firearm for service at TOG must be the same person to pick up the firearm from TOG. If the original person who dropped the gun off is not the same person (designee) who comes to pick-up the firearm, the designee must meet all the qualifications according to Federal and State Laws and go through the same paperwork and background check as if they were transferring or purchasing a new firearm and will be charged a Transfer Fee.
Guns Shipped to TOG
A firearm received via shipping must be returned to the same address that it was shipped from. A firearm cannot be shipped and then picked up in person, nor can a firearm be dropped off in person and then be returned via shipping unless the place it is being shipped to has a current valid FFL.
Quotes and Estimates
To provide an accurate estimate, the firearm must be physically examined by the gunsmith. A customer may make an appointment to deliver in person or ship the firearm with a written description of the requested service enclosed or may communicate the same information by email, text or phone. In most cases the firearm will be required to be left with TOG and will be charged a diagnostic fee (see minimum fee above). Firearms shipped to TOG will be charged shipping and handling cost to return it.
We will attempt to provide the most accurate estimate possible to the customer for each of the firearms on which we perform service. If at any time while servicing the gun, it is determined that final cost may exceed 25% of the original estimated cost, the customer will be contacted to check if they want TOG to proceed. If the customer declines, the firearm will be reassembled as close as possible to the state in which TOG received it. The minimum fee will still be assessed.
If at any time, the firearm is determined to be unsafe, all work will cease, and the customer will be contacted with an additional estimate to remedy the problem. If the customer accepts the new quote, it will be added to the original quote. (Please see Make the Gun Safe or Return section below.)
Outsourcing
At times, as a normal process of repair or modification, parts or the complete firearm itself may need to be outsourced to another gunsmith that can perform a service that TOG does not perform. The customer will be responsible for the outsource costs plus a fee for TOG handling the outsourcing
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Make Gun Safe or Return
If at any time TOG deems a gun unsafe, we will stop working on the gun and contact the customer to notify them of the safety issue. TOG will inform the customer if the firearm can be repaired. If possible, an estimate of the cost to repair the safety issue will be given. If the customer desires for TOG to fix the safety problem, it will be added to the original work order. If the customer doesn't want the safety issue repaired, the firearm will be returned as close as possible to the condition in which it was received by TOG and the Diagnostic Fee will be charged
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Estimated Time of Completed Service
TOG will attempt to provide an accurate estimated time for the completion for the requested services. Time estimates are based on number of other customers’ orders waiting to be completed, time to perform service, time to receive parts, and outsourcing. Any of these qualifiers may increase the estimated time of completion. TOG will take every step possible to complete the requested service on time.
Order of Service
The order that the firearms are received for service will be the order in which the work is performed. The work on a firearm may be put on hold if we are waiting for a part to arrive or similar reason. In that case, the next gun waiting on the list will be worked on until the reason that put the first gun on hold is resolved. At that point, the work will continue on the original firearm and the next in line gun will be put on hold until the first firearm is completed or placed on hold for a new reason.
Parts
For Repair
If during the process of repairing a firearm, a part is found damaged or worn, TOG will attempt the most cost-effective remedy for the customer, by:
The cost of repairing a part is based on labor (at Normal Labor fees) and materials required to fix the item. This option is often the most cost effective for both parties. Additional costs may be added if, for example, the part needs to be heat treated, blued or receive some other service.
Sometimes a part cannot be obtained and must be made in house. The cost of a fabricated part is based on time (Labor Fees) required to determine the proper dimensions for the part, the making of the part, materials and special tooling (if required).
Customer provided parts
We don't accept parts from customers to be installed on their firearm. This is due to liability concerns, and we would not be able to guarantee our work. TOG will order parts for customers if the manufacturer and exact model are specified and are part of the service order.
On rare occasion, to save money for the customer, you may be asked to research very hard to find parts. If TOG performs the research, the part’s price will be marked up in accordance with the amount of time it takes to find, order and process the part. After customer receives the part, it should be brought to TOG to be evaluated by the smith for compatibility and safety, (an evaluation fee will be charged). The part will be fitted to work in the firearm and charged accordingly. If the part that is found is compatible, and safe, but not an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) nor a reputable aftermarket manufacturer, any work to the firearm associated with these parts will not be guaranteed
Cash Deposit for Order Parts
A 50% cash deposit will be required for any part or parts that total more than $150. The deposit is required before the parts can be ordered.
Other
Transfer Agent
If the customer requests TOG to act as transfer agent, it is the responsibility of the customer to:
Not a firearm retailer
TOG does not purchase guns from a wholesaler to sell, nor will TOG purchase a firearm on behalf of the customer. The customer must purchase the gun themselves. TOG can then be used as a transfer agent if the customer so desires.
Payment Method
At this time TOG will only accept cash or checks as payment.
