Hard lesson....

[Jimmy10mm]

I meet FTF buyers/sellers in a retail store, during business hours, owned by a friend of mine. I point the person I'm dealing with to the store website, where they can get directions, address and phone #, and see that it is a reputable business. Makes all parties feel comfortable. I'm too paranoid to meet any stranger in a parking lot, or to invite them to my home address, even if it was only on the porch.

 

[Tom Servo]

It to me; "sounds legal enough" but I'm neither a ATF agent or a lawyer.

I can say; if I held a valid FFL or ran a gun shop, Id be a tad miffed if I found out customers or gun owners were doing private sales on my property w/o my consent or knowledge.

The phrase "sounds legal enough" has probably gotten all sorts of folks in trouble. There's no federal law saying an FTF transfer can't take place in an FFL's parking lot.

That said, if the FFL was directly involved with the transaction, it could appear that he was trying to business off the books. Other than that, if it's legal in your state, there are worse places than a gun store parking lot to do the transfer.

 

[Theohazard]

At the LGS where I used to work, we constantly had people trying to make gun deals out of their cars in our parking lot. I guess for them they just figured it made sense to meet at a gun store parking lot. But we didn't allow it; not because it was illegal, but because we just didn't want to be involved. More than once I had to go outside and politely but firmly ask people to leave our property to conduct their transaction.

 

[leadcounsel]

Jimmy10mm said: I meet FTF buyers/sellers in a retail store, during business hours, owned by a friend of mine. I point the person I'm dealing with to the store website, where they can get directions, address and phone #, and see that it is a reputable business.

Gosh, if I were your friend I would be uncomfortable with this... using his store front for you to buy/sell guns... sounds a lot like doing business as an FFL... dunno about doing that.

Skans said: I never said to invite the guy in for tea and crumpits! That's what garages (or porches) are for. If you have a reloading bench that you want to keep secret, that's what tarps are for. At least in my garage, I know where my hidden gun(s) is located. I have the advantage, because I know my own house, my garage, and my neighborhood.

Some guy coming into the garage of my house isn't going to set me up for a burglary, any more than paying some guy to cut down a dead tree in front of my house

Doing a transaction in a public parking lot with lots of witnesses, especially in front of a parking lot video camera, is beneficial because of both the deterrent effect, and the practical effect. They might score a couple hundred dollars, and it would be harder to get the drop on you in a public lot. Sure, maybe they want to kidnap you and take you to your home, which seems like a lot of work and risk.

However, a setup at your house would be simple. You're in your garage, waiting for the guy to arrive. Buyer drops his friend off with a handgun a block away. They know you have guns, probably gun safe, and other valuables. Buyer pulls in, comes in garage, and you two are busy with the sale. His friend walks in the garage with a handgun with the drop on you. They hit the garage door for privacy. What then? Now you're a captive. You don't have to invite him in for 'tea' because a .45 at your back can be quite persuading and he'll invite himself in, tie you up, force you to open the safe and turn over the valuables.

Suddenly a simple transaction for a few hundred dollars has turned into a home robbery where you will only be robbed if you are lucky. And there are no witnesses, unless some family member is also unlucky enough to be home.

Not only is your home less safe (less witnesses, not in public, probably no cameras, less chance of interference), but it's also more lucrative. Successful home invasion could score $10K, $20K, or more in guns, jewelry, gold/silver, electronics, cash, prescription narcotics/drugs, etc.

 

[Garycw]

I guess Ive been lucky, but I use my gut instinct. I've got a bad feeling before and canceled a meeting saying it was gone.
It's possible for things to go bad for the seller as well as for the buyer. Especially on higher end guns.
I've met in parking lots, day & night abandoned out of business gas stations, and occasionally at sellers residence. Ive never had anything but good experiences. Ofcourse I'm well armed , but I assume they are too. It's a judgement call, and go with your instincts. No gun or sale is worth your life!

 

[Theohazard]

I meet FTF buyers/sellers in a retail store, during business hours, owned by a friend of mine. I point the person I'm dealing with to the store website, where they can get directions, address and phone #, and see that it is a reputable business.

Gosh, if I were your friend I would be uncomfortable with this... using his store front for you to buy/sell guns... sounds a lot like doing business as an FFL... dunno about doing that.

I'm with leadcounsel; that sounds like a TERRIBLE idea, at least for your friend. Suppose you made a transaction to a guy who turned out to be prohibited from owning a firearm? Or suppose someone thought your friend was running an unlicensed gun dealership and reported him to the BATFE? Your friend is opening himself up to all sorts of potential legal issues.

If there's one thing I learned from running a small business, it's to do everything you can to limit your liability, even when you're not technically doing anything wrong. If your friend knows about this and still lets you do it, then he's being very foolish.

 

[Merad]

This is why I will only do FTF sales through a local gun forum. There are no guarantees of course but when the guy you're meeting has been active on the forum for 5 years, or they have positive feedback from a dozen previous transactions, I feel fairly secure that they're a sane non-criminal. Of course you still want to always stay alert and always meet in public places. Thankfully my experiences so far have been great.

 

[2ndsojourn]

I think selling FTF with a stranger has more risk that buying. IMO anyway.
But since I go by Cheapshooter's rule, I don't have much to fret about. The only FTF transaction I've done with someone I didn't know was swap some ammo with a local guy on Armslist. Met up in a parking lot of a local bar, then had a couple beers and made a new friend.

 

[jtmckinney]

I have to agree;

I think selling FTF with a stranger has more risk that buying. IMO anyway.

I had a friend (now dead) that around 35 years ago was purchasing what he thought was a hot TV from a person who approached him at a gas station. When he showed up with the cash the thief pulled a gun on him, took all his money and locked him in the trunk of his own car. He was releived the thief didn't shoot him before he closed the trunk. Spent about 3 hours in the trunk before someone heard him yelling and called the police. I remember telling him at the time he got what he deserved. That would be a long 3 hours.

Even with the above I have done it twice. Bought from one seller posted on this forum and another time from seller posted on a local club forum. Good experience both times with no problems.

Regards,
James

Edited for second experience I had forgotten about.