An FFL licensee can receive guns from anyone. According to ATFE rules anyway.
If your LGS(?) won't, then I wonder why?
Many FFL holders don't want to take the time to do the paperwork and NICS check.
So this is one way to discourage buyers.
Another is to charge more than others do to do so.
I'm a gunsmith, so have the same FFL as a dealer.
When I'm doing your transfer, I'm not working on guns.
My rate is $60 per hour. Darn cheap compared to many services.
Some folks charge $25 to do transfers. Power to them.
I'm not looking to do a lot of transfers, nor to avoid them, nor to lose money doing them.
There is paperwork and time involved that the buyer doesn't know about that takes time and must be done in addition to processing the transfer form 4473.
A gunsmith who is earning $60+/hr should not be doing FFL transfers unless he doesn't have any other work to do. An employee who makes $10/hr can easily be trained to do them. Anyone who justifies transfer charges on potential gunsmithing profits loss--even if they are a one-man/woman operations--shouldn't be doing transfers.
Some FFLs don't accept transfers from individuals or even 03 FFL (C&R) as they are simply trying to cover their asses in case something isn't done correctly on the sending end (or even their end!). There is no reason an 01 FFL shouldn't do so, but it is their choice.
A 4473 and background check shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes. $25 per = $100-150/hr. Sorry, but simple administrative paperwork and a phone call isn't worth that much money. Luckily I have a couple of FFLs I know who are reasonable when it comes to conducting transfers!