I am not sure if this is the place to put this, but it is within the subject matter? I won a 64-5, K-Frame, RB, 3", .38 on a web site that you bid f/guns. Now I won and have done everything just as directed to do. Purchased from a individual not a dealer, but will be shipped from his dealer to mine, paid just as he asked for, provided the FLL to him f/dealer shipped to. Received payment f/pistol Wednesday. Now here is the kicker, said he would send Monday, now don't get me wrong, I am ole school. But in good taste and as a gentleman should the item not have been shipped the week the payment was received!!!!! I am amazed at how as the buyer you got to jump thru the sellers hoops, and after you do, this one decides to take his sweet time. Now here is what I would like to know, if for some reason he was no longer among us after this weekend, where would that leave me and my hard earned cash. Here in the South, we call that up **** creek w/o a paddle. This makes me not to want to purchase a pistol in this fashion, you could end up holding the bag!!!!!!!!!!!!!RH

while this probably not the place, I understand your concerns, but this happens. I have sold and not been able to ship for several days after receiving funds - remember, shipping a handgun is not like dropping your Christmas cards in your mailbox.


If you ship via UPS, you are supposed to go to their location for a firearm. Nearest one to me is about 15 miles.

An FFL can ship USPS to another FFL, but they may want to do that with delivery confirmation and signature - which means going to the PO to drop it off. Once again, depends on where it is, and they also need to keep their business running. Funds may get to me on a Wednesday, but I can't leave work on Thursday or Friday - so Monday it is.

That said, some years ago I shipped a gun to a FFL who operated out of his house, and he died while it was en route. Ultimately I got it back from his widow, who got it to me - I never asked if it made it to his books, but I had all sorts of worries. Don't know the technical legalities, but stuff happens, and will happen again. Just greatful it was not me that dropped dead!

Good luck

best

Richard

A lot of dealers won't ship until the check, money order or certified check clears. A lot of sellers have been burnt by accepting personal checks that bounce. These days even money orders and certified checks are easier to forge and sellers want to make sure they are legitimate before they ship. Under your hypothetical scenario, the seller could have died as soon as you mailed your payment. If you don't get your merchandize within a reasonable time after the seller receives payment, then I think you have cause to complain. My thoughts only. Your mileage may differ.

Sometimes these sellers just drag their feet on shipping.
I have found that to be the case not only on the gun auction sites but other items as well.
I'm not buying the excuses being posted. If I send you a Postal m/o for a firearm and you receive it on Wed. then get to the PO and cash it then take MY item to where it is going to be shipped. You're not doing me a favor by selling me your item.YOU should have packaged my item and have it ready to ship by the time my m/o and FFL copy arrive.
The BIG difference between buying face to face as compared to buying online is the seller doesn't have to look you in the eye and tell you "this may take a few days until I get around to giving it to you".

You would be much better served by dealing with the good folks on this forum.I have often mailed items to members before I've received payment. I've had members do the same for me.

One caveat on buying online,if you find a dealer who treats you right,remember him. There are some very good ones out there.

Sir: This is just another reason to buy online with a credit card...If you have a problem, just call the card company. They will get it right in a hurry, or, you will get a refund..They have a lot of Lawyers on staff...and it is all free to you...
I have walked away from a lot of stuff because seller won't take credit cards...but, I have never lost a dime on a deal useing credit cards...

Steve

RH;

This is one of the potential downsides of online auctions, the lack of a face-to-face relationship between you and the seller. Personally, I always read the seller's shipping and other policies very closely, and if posted also their feedback score and comments. Any more than a few negative comments keeps me from buying, no matter what the deal. As Steve mentioned, use of a credit card is a good idea, but be prepared to pay 3% extra.

It is annoying to wait 3 extra business days for shipping after they had your money in hand, but unfortunately it is somewhat typical in my experience. If you are happy with the gun, I'd leave feedback to that effect but also state how long it took to ship, sticking to the facts. Even if the shop doesn't change their ways, others will have the warning.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Something like that doesn't bother me, IF the seller states in the listing that he will ship within that time frame. Having sold for 12 years on ebay, I always try to get the item in the mail within 24 hrs of receiving payment.

__________________
Misty

Thanks for all the input guys and I did not want to sound like a baby. I have sold/bought on eBay w/a score of over 300 transactions, so I do have a good idea of how it works, when I sell a item, the moment the item is paid for it is shipped, period. It no longer belongs to me and I do not want anything, and I mean anything to happen to keep the individual from receiving his purchase. I am old enough to know nothing is absolute in this life, but for the record, payment was as requested sent certified mail w/in the same State, as a matter of fact the day after mailed the individual had the funds in his hands, you got to sign f/certified mail, protects both of you! I also looked at number of transactions and score, both were high w/no items of concern! Have communicated with him from day one, took him 2 days to inform of payment received? Then let me know he would delay shipping f/another 4 day by time of ship! I will not make any excuses, this is just poor selling from a seller! I guess since we are both in the same State, that means it is OK to ship whenever. There was no ship/handling time listed! As for Credit Cards, again nothing is absolute, just count yourself lucky, I have had problems with them too in the over 50 years I have walked this Earth, my preferred meathod, Pay-Pal, not one time have they failed me, heck you can't settle, they will take the funds, period! With all this said, to all who look to sell, do the buyer right, as stated, you are not doing him a favor, he is doing you a favor on purchasing an unseen gun on your word alone, and if for any reason the deal looks shady, then chances are it will be!!!!!!!!!!!!RH

I like to ship on Monday. If you ship any time after Wednesday you increase the chances of your package staying in your hometown shipping facility over the weekend increasing the odds of it "disappearing." I also don't like shipping to any FFL who has the word "guns, firearms,etc." in his address. That tells everyone what is in the box and makes it more tempting. If you're shipping FFL to FFL it is probably cheaper and safer to ship USPS priority mail.

This may be a slight sidetrack to the OP, but it really galls me the shipping some sellers charge. One seller on GB advertised "actual shipping" but when I asked how much, it was $10.00 higher than the actual cost. He didn't get my business.

Myron

Is the seller in your same state? If so, I don't believe there is any requirement to ship through a FFL. I do understand that some people are just more comfortable to always go through a dealer.

__________________
Old paratrooper in NC

Boy it just keeps getting better, came home today from church and was checking my e-mail and seen I had a e-mail from the fella I have been writing about. First I am informed he did not get the Money Order f/payment thru the fax machine???????? When did the postal system start sending thru a fax machine money orders? Now this is the same fella who told me Thursday he had received the payment! Then he proceeds to say to the effect, certified. Now I did not inform him this was the way I had mailed the money order to him, yet he replies, certified, I smell a rat! Now he wants me to check and see why the Postal Service has not delivered the payment yet (this will delay his ship of the gun), we live in the same state, now will make 6 days since sent to him straight from the Post Office! I informed him I would check w/USPS tomorrow, and if they say item was signed for, I will request a Postal Fraud investigation for theft thru Mail! I will also contact the State ATF and file a complaint about the way this guy is using a pistol to rip people off. Now remember, I got this guys address, e-mail and phone number. I will also contact the local Police Dept for this individuals location and inform them of such as well. You see, I will make a crusade of this guy if he wants to go this route. I work too hard for my money the Good Lord blesses me with to get ripped off. Oh yea, I have no problem looking him up either, 4 hour drive! Needless to say, by this point, just give me my money back. As for buying from anyone other than this site over the web, never more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!RH

Well I will say I was surprised to say the least when the fella called and explained that he had mixed up my purchase w/another's w/in NC. I will give the guy the benefit of the doubt, I want to believe if you are able to have handguns permitted, then you are at least a honest person. He explained what had happened and as a seller too, I have on occasion mixed things up too. So I will go with what the guy said because when I pull up the USPS Track site and run the number it comes back w/no results, so the guy just might be telling the truth! I will check tomarrow w/USPS and get them to tell me why something mailed six days ago to a location 3 hours from my home is still not delivered, then they want to go up on postage, LOL. We shall see!RH

+1. The less time the item spends in the hands of USPS/FedEx/UPS the better. I never ship guns late in the week, but I do explain to the buyer why I like to do that.

the OP has found just enough evidence to call fowl.
therefore my advice is to begin to lean on the puke.

early on in my business Ive learned to keep an account for my business dealings to cover shipping immediately.
Private sales will be subject to the sellers economic standing which at any given time may not be solvent enough to ship exactly at the time of sale.
As a result, the check has to clear before it can be shipped since the average Joe has no need to run shop as someone like myself. Thats how delays of up to three weeks in the worst case can happen.

I, however, believe that the OP is in for a ride in this round. Your seller probably has BHO stickers on his car

Well I guess since I started this I will finish, 1st the guy did goof by saying he had received the Postal Money Order, but after a totally screwed day @ my local Post Office, Hub Office in Charlotte and then contacting the Post Office for the seller's address, well lets just say my blood pressure has now exceeded the legal limit! Let me expound on the developments of this MONDAY: I found out the guy is telling the truth when he said afterwards, he had not received my funds thru the Post. Seems that a US Postal Money Order, mailed certified mail is lost w/in the US Postal System. Now look, I said that they said the last time the number was scanned was when the clerk accepted @ Post Office. After that, no one and I mean no one can verify where this number controlled, logged until/scan delivery is! This was the response I got today from Customer Service @ ea location, it is not our fault but, the next fella, not our fault, not until I contacted the Female clerk @ the Post Office where the item was going did I talk to someone who gave a fart about why a certified letter could not be accounted for in their system! But those who I talked too before did not help @ all except to absolve their office of responsibility!!!!! Now, the last clerk, the lady @ the receiving Post Office, said give it until Friday and then an investigation could be started as to why a certified letter was no accounted for while in the system? Now here is where my veins pop out of my neck, this was a Postal Money Order the fella required f/payment, now that it is lost I get to wait 90 days to be reimbursed over $400.00, I lose out on the sell and if the guy wants too, receive a strike against me @ the web site I won the gun on. HOW WAS YOUR MONDAY. So learn, even though you think sending it certified means it will not get lost, you are sadly mistaken. I have to keep remembering the mentality of the organization I am dealing with, in a nut shell, there is nothing you can do, oh yea, file a complaint, big deal, that does not mean anything!!!!!!!!! Oh to top the day a item I won came today from eBay, bought a set of grips, guy sent a belt, yea too small f/me as well.RH