Buying a gun from a stranger

I left something out of the above. Once you've worked out the details of the deal send the fella an email detailing the points (price, inspection time, etc.) and make sure they reply and agree. This gives you a record that you both can refer to. Also it's a legal record by now anyone trying a scam would have backed out.

Like I said a seller also needs protection. A fella can claim he sent the money to you and you cheated him by not mailing his goods. A fella could claim he never received the item you sent and demand his money back. A fella could receive an item and 3 weeks later say it's not what he wanted and demand his money back, etc.

So a few layers of protection help everyone. They are also normal business methods.

tipoc
 
I've bid and won six guns on Gunbroker. All were better than advertised. I pay by Postal Money Order...if the seller defaults, the offense is a federal crime...wire fraud! I send it registered mail, signature and delivery confirmation required...worth the expense. When they send the gun, I want it insured for replacement cost. I buy only through an FFL, on my end and on the seller's...one more level of security, plus it's the law. Sellers in my experience, will not send a gun, COD. I do note the delivery terms, inspection times, and shipping costs. These items may have an effect on whether I bid or not, but always affect the amount of my max bid.

I ask questions via email, sometimes via phone. etc. I've never lucked into a 'bargain', and to be honest, I'm not looking for one...I understand that the seller must make a profit, and I want that particular gun, it's best if we are both satisfied with the deal, that we're both trying to do the right thing. I'd do the same if they were family, then deserve no less.

That said, by far, I prefer to buy locally at gun shows where I can get a feeling about the dealer, see and examine the gun and make a decision. Gunbroker, however, allows me access to types and models that may never show up here. Our shows in Louisville, Ky, two a yr, are 1200 table affairs...really big shows. But still, what I'm looking for may never show up...hence...gunbroker.

JMHO, Rodfac
 
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+1 to Rodfac.

I'll add never, ever buy a gun where the pictures are so poor and fuzzy you can't make out detail unless you are willing to take that risk (or your're buying for parts, etc.). The risk is that the guys version of "great condition" is your version of scratched and beat up.

tipoc
 
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Once you've worked out the details of the deal send the fella an email detailing the points
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Good communication is a must, I save all PMs and emails until after the deal is done, and both parties are satisfied. That way you have printable records if needed.
 
Ditto on the buying from other forum members (esp. on other forums I frequent more than TFL). BUT - I scan their previous posts first and make sure they have a sufficient number of posts to at least hopefully 'gauge' their character. I have turned down offers to buy something from me from forum members that just signed on to the forum (1 or 2 posts), or from members that only have been on for a short while and have posted 'gung ho' shootout type posts (those worry me). I won't buy from online auction sales anymore for same reasons as other posters, couple times burned, that takes care of that sh.. er 'stuff' right there. I don't usually hesitate to buy or sell at gun shows, although I have been taken twice at those as well (I learned well though, now I do a real close check out of any potential purchases - something you cannot do with online auctions).
 
These days the Internet can make a lot of things look real....and its sad....but its just too risky.

By the same token - I think there are some good honest people out there.
 
Besides being into guns I'm also big into Ebay both buying and selling. In almost 3500 Ebay transactions and over 50 online gun transactions I've been burnt twice for a total of $300 which is less than 1% of the total of the transactions and a LOT less than what I have saved in the others.

Guessing the least amount I ever saved on a gun transaction was $100 and up to $400 so also WAY ahead there. Selling wise I've been on both ends because there is always a chance that your item goes for less than you hoped (I don't believe in reserves-set my minimum and let it go). To offset that there is always the time where you put an old pc of junk out there for $50 and it sells for $450 YEEEHAAAAA.

Just be carefull and do your research. Also kind of disagree with not dealing with someone with few posts. My 2 best deals where with people new to a forum. There you need to talk to them via phone etc, get all the information you can both actual (like name address, phones etc.) and online (like what other forums etc). The best one was the scariest - no permanent address, just changed his name (and weird new name besides) and only had a cell phone. Talked him into using an escrow company to hold the money and we split the costs. Not going to give details but ended up with a like new nickel CZ 75B MRI with trigger job etc that is like new and after selling the extras that came with it I've got less than $350 into it including Crimson Trace grips.

Work at it and you will likely be just fine and get some great deals.
 
I really appreciate everyone's thoughts on this subject. Has anyone arranged for the FFL to get a gun and the FFL would forward the money order once the buyer was satisfied? Basically the FFL acts as an unbiased third party thus insuring the buyer and seller is protectd.
 
Zetti1,

Think about what you are asking for a bit. You are asking Amazon.com, or Dell computers to send you a book or item and if you like it you will pay for it and you'll even give the money to a third party to hold while you think it over. Wow a generous guy!

The seller can sell to anyone they want to, why sell to someone who does not extend them the normal courtousies and conduct business in a normal fashion?

If it was me I'd be suspicious of a fella wanting me to send a gun out to them without sending me money for it. I'd be more suspicious when they said "but hey my friend (a third party) will hold the money for us". Why the extra guy all of a sudden? At worst the whole thing sounds hinky. At best the buyer sounds like a fella who's really, really worried about losing their money and being cheated and fellas like that are often pains in the behind to do business with because they trust no one and suspect everything. Such folks are often quick to accuse as well. So if the seller has a choice they will go do business with someone else.

People here have given you some good advice. But if you are very worried about it maybe now is not the time for you to buy a gun from a forum member or an online auction. Maybe you should keep an eye on how business is conducted here and on some other forums (whether it's a gun or a holster or a tool being sold) and see how it goes. Start by buying something of less value than a gun and work out the details there. Buying or selling a gun should not cause you a lot of worry.

tipoc
 
I really appreciate your input. I have purchased guns from members of various forums with no problems albeit not a lot. Of course I am always cautious when the deal seems too good to be true. At my age, my radar has served me well. Of course you don’t have to be from the school of hard knocks to know that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. I personally like to buy from the LGS as long as it does not cost me a lot more, but when a good deal on a forum presents itself, it is hard to pass on it. Thanks again for you input and everyone who took the time to respond. This forum has a lot of good members willing to share.
 
"Buying a used gun from a dealer doesn't exempt a gun from being used in a crime."

True, but the dealer records will show when the gun came into your possession, a critical point if there are questions.

From what I have seen and heard, cases of just taking the money and not delivering the goods are rare. Much more common is the situation where the item is not as advertised - the "100%" gun with one side a mass of rust, the "perfect, like new" revolver with a bent frame, the 1911 type with a broken hammer and sear, the "perfect" Model 29 with a bulged barrel, the "new condition" Colt M1903 with hammer marks from driving the safety into the frame, the "rare" Colt that somehow turned into a common one during shipping.

What does the buyer do? Spend thousands of dollars to sue the seller in another state over a $500 sale? Most of the time, the buyer rants, rages, threatens, and eventually gives up in the face of a bland "screw you, sue me" attitude on the part of the seller.

No, the good guys don't always win.

Jim
 
i have sold three rifles on this forum and i am sure that the buyers would vouch it was good for both of us. my advice?.... stick to your own playground. fwiw, bobn
 
Meeting in the parking lot of a gun store is a good idea.
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In some states it's illegal to do a private sale in the gun store parking lot...
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For some reason the Wal-Mart parking lots seem to be a favorite of all us locals around here. (I think that it's just easy to find and pretty central to anywhere in town) :)
 
It's a trick. Get an axe
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i sold quite a few guns on GB to users there... always got paid..and never stiffed anyone for their payment... I only bought one gun... from a liscensed dealer tho..on GB. and didnt get taken... I usually try to get some kind of feedback on the seller... If i cant find any feedback... I usually will NOT buy from them....
 
Taken from a non-gun forum, but great advice none the less.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200007

I get about 2 or 3 requests a month from people asking me to help them track down someone who has ripped them off on a transaction on eBay, HC, Bassgear, etc. I'm more than happy to help out, but the one thing I have noticed is that a lot of people don't protect themselves as much as they could. Here's a little checklist to go through that I posted over on the Dudepit that can help you guys avoid a lot of grief when doing a deal with someone you don't know.

In the future, I hope everyone here checks out people before they do business with them. A lot of you guys here buy and sell a lot of gear, and if you know the person...great. But if not make sure you get a home phone# a work phone # a cell phone# home address etc. check out the info too. Call the person. If you think they gave you a cell# as a home or work # - check it out here:
www.fonefinder.net/

It will tell you if it's a land line or a cell and what city it goes to.

Reverse the phone#s and addresses they gave you to see where they go. Argali is really good for this. You can also reverse the address.

Just go to www.argali.com and download their program.

If you think the address is a mail drop you can check that out as well at http://www.finaid.com/scholarships/maildropsearch.phtml

If you want to find out who owns the address they give you to send payment to you can also go to
http://www.netronline.com/public_records.htm

Select the state and county of the address. A lot of them have online databases, but you can call the tax assessor as well and find out who owns that property.

These are just a few of the free online resouces you can use to protect yourself and verify the information the seller gives you is accurate.

Ask for references from other people they have done business with. If I'm shelling out $100 for an effect pedal or $3000 for a bass, I want to know if the person is honest or not,

Make sure the info they give you checks out before you give up any of your hard earned cash. An honest seller won't be offended in the least when you ask them for this info.
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Good stuff, Balog; thanks!

I've never been burned, either buying or selling. If I have any questions at all, I make sure I get a phone number and have a conversation with the other party. You can learn a lot that way. And as Balog's links show, with some basic info, you can find a lot more thanks to internet sources. I'm one who is willing to give a new seller a chance -- as long as I can get good background info and have an extended conversation.
 
Face to face isn't always a winner either. Sold one ftf and the gun winds up being used in a robbery in NJ. He had a CCW and a driver license to match. He told LE he had no recollection of buying the gun. How it got from FLA to NJ is beyond me. Go figure.
 
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