Authorize.Net and online firearms sales

Update: As of January 2014 Authorize.Net is now allowing licensed, online gun/ FFL dealers, pepper spray sites, and ammunition websites to be set up on the Authorize.Net payment gateway but – you must make sure it is paired with an FFL friendly merchant account on the back end.

A payment gateway, paired with a low-risk, FFL averse credit card processor WILL NOT WORK.  For more information click here, or better yet contact us for advice and recommendations.

Our original post on Authorize.Net prohibiting FFL dealers is below and was first published in 2013

As many in the Federal Firearms Licensee and ammunition world already know Authorize.Net has very clear terms and conditions that prohibit the sale of firearms or similar items. (SEE UPDATE ABOVE)

Over the past few months, I have spoken to online gun dealers who are still set up with Authorize.Net and are hoping to “get away with it for a while”.  While I realize the value in “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” I also see the wisdom in “fix it now, if you know it is going to break soon”. Authorize.Net is the 800 lb gorilla in the payment gateway world. I have set e-commerce merchants up with Authorize.net more than any other gateway, and I have been very, very happy with them, but there are simply certain business types they do not want, and firearms dealers are one of them. The good news is that there are many other options for FFL dealers, there is no reason for them to try and fit their square FFL peg in Auth.Net’s round hole.

If you would like to talk about a gun friendly FFL credit card processing and payment gateway recommendation through one of the nation’s leaders in shooting sports merchant accounts including built-in support for Gun Broker and Gun Auction please drop us a line via our contact us page.