Founded in 2011, Wilde Built Tactical (WBT) has become San Diego’s leading source for California-legal firearms and tactical gear. Based in La Mesa, CA, WBT specializes in converting firearms to comply with California laws while offering a wide selection of rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
To better serve their growing online customer base and ensure compliance with complex firearm regulations, Wilde Built Tactical recognized the need to improve the FFL purchasing process. They partnered with IntuitSolutions to develop a solution designed to simplify FFL dealer selection, manage restricted products, and streamline shipping options.
The Challenge: Simplifying the FFL Purchase Process
Selling firearms and other regulated products online comes with a unique set of challenges. Ecommerce merchants selling guns must navigate restrictive state and federal regulations, ensuring compliance at every step while providing a seamless experience for customers.
For WBT, the ideal solution would streamline the FFL dealer selection process while also managing restricted products and special shipping requirements. It would also eliminate the need for multiple third-party apps, simplifying workflows and improving operational efficiency.
Key challenges included:
- Ensuring customers could easily select preferred FFL locations
- Integrating additional fees for background checks and selected products
- Providing flexible options for shipping or in-store pickup of non-FFL items
- Managing restricted SKUs for specific customer groups
The Solution: A Custom-Built FFL Experience for BigCommerce with Additional Checkout Customizations
To address these challenges, IntuitSolutions built a comprehensive, custom FFL checkout solution using the Ebizio Checkout app for BigCommerce. The solution included the following:
BigCommerce Checkout Application for FFL Dealer Search and Shipping
- Automatically prompts customers with FFL-required items to select a dealer pickup location via a modal popup during checkout
- Provides a radius search powered by Google Maps API, enabling customers to easily find and select their FFL locations nearby
- Highlights ‘preferred’ dealers, designated by the merchant, at the top of search results for quicker selection
Product Group Restrictions
Certain products, such as those restricted to law enforcement or other designated customer groups, require customer login to verify purchase eligibility, ensuring legal compliance
In-Store Pickup and Shipping Customizations
- For non-FFL items, customers can choose in-store pickup at checkout
- This option automatically fills in the store’s address in the shipping field and selects the appropriate shipping method (In-Store Pickup: Free)
Additional Product Fee Customizations
- Custom shipping fees are applied based on the product category, including handguns and long guns
- A background check fee is applied for in-store pickups
The Results: A Scalable BigCommerce Checkout Solution for Gun Merchants
With their new custom FFL checkout solution, Wilde Built Tactical has transformed what can be a complex purchasing process into a seamless, user-friendly experience.
By consolidating multiple functions into one integrated solution, they’ve removed the friction of third-party apps and manual workflows, allowing their business to scale more effectively. This tailored solution ensures compliance with regulations while positioning their business for long-term growth.
If you’re looking to streamline your own FFL processes or looking for another custom checkout solution, contact IntuitSolutions today. Our team specializes in creating custom FFL solutions that simplify operations, improve the customer experience, and drive more sales.
