Buying from state to state

[tubbydoc]

anyone have recommendations on how to do an efficient private deal from state to state that makes all the buyer and seller comfortable and avoids scams?

I've done one private deal where I was the buyer and the seller was someone I trusted. I paid half upfront and the seller then sent the pistol to a ffl in her state and then shipped it to a ffl in my state. I then paid the other half. Since we trusted each other there wasn't a contract or bill of sale. The FFL took care of it.

Do you recommend making a contract/bill of sale? Would buyers and sellers be open to releasing their names and addresses to each other? Or should the process be that the seller delivers the pistol to a ffl and then the buyer pays full amount before the ffl ships it out? Thoughts?

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[Richo877]

should the process be that the seller delivers the pistol to a ffl and then the buyer pays full amount before the ffl ships it out?

This is certainty an option. This site uses a feedback feature that helps members buy and sell with confidence in the other members. Most of the time, the risk is on the buyer. If you want to buy something anywhere online, you have pay for it before it will ship. These transactions are no different, so it helps to see feedback that let's you know you're dealing with someone reputable. I've done several online transactions through different forums and sites, and ultimately, you have to trust your seller regardless of where you buy, because there's always somewhat of a risk.

 

[thinsley]

I use the feedback portion of this site quite a bit. I'd say the deal where you paid half and then half was pretty click. IF the seller is up for that. Not always the case I'd assume. It's a risk for sure. I've been lucky so far!

 

[Richo877]

IF the seller is up for that

I know personally, I wouldn't ship one of my guns without full payment.

 

[drstrangelove]

There is only one way to do it safely. Have their local FFL broker the deal. You send money to FFL plus their fee and shipping cost. FFL exchanges the payment funds for the gun… seller walks away paid. FFL ships gun to your FFL, pay them their transfer fee, and u get your gun. No trust is involved. Yes it's more expensive but no scam can apply… unless you are given a bogus FFL… ATF EZ check negates that.

I always get a FaceTime video inspection, action check, etc prior to sealing the deal. I always get photo ID pics of seller.

And you know what? I've never been burned.

 

[Jay Walk]

NEVER pay anyone prior to the buyer background check clearing, at that point you hand the seller the cash and the seller hands you the firearm.

I know personally, I wouldn't ship one of my guns without full payment.

Would you ship money without a firearm?

 

[Richo877]

NEVER pay anyone prior to the buyer background check clearing, at that point you hand the seller the cash and the seller hands you the firearm.


Would you ship money without a firearm?

As a buyer, yes I've bought online through various outlets. That being said:

ultimately, you have to trust your seller regardless of where you buy, because there's always somewhat of a risk.

That's why you shop reputable places and rely on reputation. Don't gamble with more than you can afford to lose. Not everyone is honest, and those that aren't will eventually get what they've got coming when they burn the wrong bridge.

 

[Jay Walk]

OP asked about a "Private deal" not purchasing online.

 

[Richo877]

OP asked about a "Private deal" not purchasing online.

For a private party remotely off of an online forum, yeah I have. Same answer.

If someone somehow randomly called you up to ask to buy your gun... maybe not. Family or friends, all different answers...

 

[solv3nt]

Don't gamble with more than you can afford to lose. Not everyone is honest, and those that aren't will eventually get what they've got coming when they burn the wrong bridge.

^ This. If the value is greater than you can walk away from, don't do it. Everybody's number is different.

 

[TTSX]

^ This. If the value is greater than you can walk away from, don't do it. Everybody's number is different.

I'm poor

 

[Jay Walk]

For a private party remotely off of an online forum, yeah I have. Same answer.

If someone somehow randomly called you up to ask to buy your gun... maybe not. Family or friends, all different answers...

So, you'll give them cash with no gun but no gun before you get the cash.
Got it.

Not starting sheet here but doesn't make sense.

 

[Richo877]

So, you'll give them cash with no gun but no gun before you get the cash.
Got it.

Not starting sheet here but doesn't make sense.

I guess not, just as a buyer you assume the risk. You're requesting the purchase of a product, and in business principles that means you pay before you get to have it. You don't get to tell Amazon you're only going to pay half and you'll pay the other half when the package shows up. Private party sales are subject to people's personal stipulations to split or share the risk. To me, business is business and buyers assume the risk. That's why I check website legitimacy before buying from a site, and that's why I look at seller's feedback other places.

 

[Jay Walk]

I know personally, I wouldn't ship one of my guns without full payment.

Me neither, because that is not sharing the risk.

I played risk with GB once.
Once.

 

[L84Cabo]

There's a reason people don't want to ship. It's because so much can go wrong. You ship your gun off to what you think is a trusted buyer, but it turns out he can't pass the background check that he swore he could. Now your gun is sitting at an FFL two states away and SOMEBODY has to pay to ship it back. Who is that somebody going to be?

Or the buyer has a change of heart while the gun is in transit. Except instead of saying that, he says that the gun wasn't consistent with the pictures you sent and that YOU misrepresented the condition of the gun. Now your gun is sitting at an FFL two states away and SOMEBODY has to pay to ship it back.

If I'm selling a gun and sending it to another state, I expect to be PAID IN FULL before I ship the gun. This includes whatever amount of time is necessary for the payment method to fully clear the bank. 100% of the risk is going to be on the buyer. And you need to have some discussion up front about how you will handle things if the buyer a) can't pass the background check, and b) who pays to ship the gun back, and c) some type of compensation for your time and trouble if a or b happens.