I've been looking for a limited (500 pieces) edition Winchester for some time, and I finally located one for sale at an online site. The seller is eight hours away, so it looks like I'll have to have it shipped to me if I choose to buy it. I figure I could have it shipped to my LGS.

Here's my question: can anyone offer me some tips for making sure the seller is legitimate / handling the transaction? I don't simply want to send my hard-earned cash through the mail and watch it vanish. Since I've never done this before, any insights are greatly appreciated.

If this seller is going thru gunbroker or auction arms or some other site like guns america I would look for his number of sales and feed back first off if it's 98 or above and more than 50 sales I'd go for it however if it's an individual I really don't know what I would do. On the other hand if he is a member of this or any other forum then check him out thru the other members, in the end you will need to make your own decision and if I didn't feel comfortable then I would not do it.

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I Cor. 10:13 "1611KJV"

I've been told that if you pay with a Post Office money order, and he cashes it but does not send the item, that's "mail fraud" and you can sic the Postal Inspector on him. I don't know if that's true, but have heard it, often.

But, pretty much, that's what you are going to have to do. Send your hard-earned money, and hope that he is legit and sends the gun. No different, really, than sending money to Midway or Amazon, and hoping they send the merchandise. Just - scarier.

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I always take precautions

Sir,

I and many others here bought a number of guns online and had no problems, so it's maybe not quite as fearsome as it appears. The important thing is to do your "due diligence". As stated above, if the site is an auction(Gunbroker and Auction Arms are the major ones), check their number of feedback entries, then READ the feedback, beginning to end. What you want to look for in the feedback entries is the number of negative ones in relation to the total, what the negative respondents said, and how the seller responded to the negative entries, if at all. I'm a little leary if the seller doesn't respond to the negative entries, or if his/her responses indicate arrogance, contempt, or a generally disagreeable tone. I refuse to deal with people like that.

The next thing is to write down questions about the gun, email the seller requesting his/her phone number, and CALLING them at a mutually convenient time. Ask your questions, and listen carefully to the responses. If the party acts as though you're bothering him, gives vague, unhelpful answers, etc., this is another red flag.

One other thing: if the PICTURES of the gun are blurry, taken from a distance, or shot in low light, that is still another red flag. We can't expect professional photography skills of everyone selling a gun, but we can expect a good faith effort to provide the best possible representation of the gun in pictures, since that is the buyer's only means of evaluation of the piece when buying from a distance.

I hope this was somewhat helpful.

Best wishes,
Andy

Hi:
For the money involved, I would make a "Day Trip" and drive the eight hours.
The only good luck I have had in dealing is with Forum Members. Each time I have purchased "On Line" the firearm has been less than advertised. Even if the seller agrees to take the weapon back-you are still out the FFL and shipping charges.

I've bought quite a few guns online..and never really had a problem. Most times I paid either with a postal moneyorder or a cashiers check from my bank.

Don't believe the story about a postal moneyorder being something the post office will investigate if it is fraudulantly cashed...this is NOT true!...If your seller pulls a fraud on you and cashes the moneyorder and sends no gun...you are just screwed...the cops in his area will do nothing..the cops in your area will do nothing..the post office will do nothing...

A friend bought over a thousand dollars worth of ham radio gear from a particular seller..and the guy basicaly just kept the money and shipped nothing in return....nobody would so much as investigate to see if it was a crime or not...even called the state police in both states...no good.

That said...I've bought guns off Auction Arms and Gunbroker with few issues and no dishonesty from the sellers. I have had some issues..but these were settled among gentlemen with some communication.

I've purchased six pistols on line, & have had pretty much no troubles. You do have to watch who you are dealing with, as anyone can sell on these sites. I tend to look for, as mentioned above, positive feedback & number of sales, but also for sellers that have an actual store, rather than just an internet presence. Like I said, I've had no bad experiences, but my most recent purchase was the best so far. It was through Gun Auctions, which I believe is a division of the Cash America pawn shops. They post several pics of the firearm so that you can get a really good idea as to condition. They also state that the firearm pictured is the actual gun for sale. So your not just looking at pics from the manufacturer's website. That happens more often than you'd think! Once I had won the auction, I received notification the same day. I got them on the phone, did the transaction, & later the same day, they emailed me a tracking number. Since the gun was in Dallas, & I'm in Oklahoma, the gun was at my FFL by the third day, which was very cool. I've had to wait anywhere from five to ten days on most of the other sales. The gun was in better condition than it looked on line, so I'm totally pleased!

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

I only bought one gun on line and that was here from a forum member...smooth as silk transaction for my Detective Special. I would like to go the gunbroker route at some time for a few of my guns that I think would get a little bidding war, but I haven't worked up the courage yet.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I have bought quite a few on line, from a listing on GunBroker, Auction Arms, or a storefront dealer. I have had no problems, and most times the condition is as expected or better. Expect good pictures and don't hesitate to ask for more specific pictures if needed. If it is from an individual you can ask for references. Be sure to have an understanding if there is a non-firing inspection period, usually 3 days for a return if not as expected.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Gunbroker has a buyer protection plan, I think it's only good to $1000.00. I haven't researched it much as I've not had any problems buying there (after looking at the sellers feedback on higher priced items).

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Minimize the variables

If the purchase price is enough money to worry about, I second Jimmies idea, make the trip if possible. When I've bought on line, with the exception of this forum, I will only pay by credit card, that way I have some protection if the deal goes bad.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Trust, that's what it's all about. If you don't trust then don't send money. GB has been around for a long time and is still going strong so I imagine they don't have a high percentage of bad deals. Yes there are a few, but you can't keep the thieves out all the time.

I've only done 3 deals on GB, but all have been great. I agree with the previous people, check out the seller by looking at #transactions, feedback and other things for sale. Heck, email them through the site and ask to talk to someone because you have specific questions that can't be done via email (little white lie to see if they give you a tel #). Call them and see what your gut tells you as you talk to them.

Good luck on your decision.

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caveat emptor

I've bought many guns on line. It's always a concern if the guy is legit. I've never been burned. I've also sold several as well.

Here's what I do.

• Let your conscious be your guide. Is the price reasonable? If it's lower than expected, beware.
• Call them on the phone. Often you can gain comfort by hearing the seller's voice live.
• Is the seller a gun guy? This can be determined on the phone. If he's selling it as part of his uncle's estate, this could be a scam, but could be legit as well.
• Have them email you a pic. It doesn't matter how many pics there are on line, have them send you another of your choosing. If they can't, that could be a cause for concern. If they can send you one in a few moments, at least you'll know he has the gun in his possession.
• Using an FFL as a shipper is a good idea. Every FFL can be verified through the BATFE website.
• Ask for a copy of their driver's license. A legitimate seller has no reason not to include this. I once turned down a deal because the seller refused to send a copy of his license. Probably just him being paranoid, but better safe than sorry for me.

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Freedom isn't free.

I will admit also, that I have bought quite a few guns online from this site, and from gun stores as well. By and large I have had no real problems, knock on wood, however, sometimes the firearm can look good in the pictures, but does not act like a good firearm mechanically. Case in point, I bought a Colt Officers Model Match which gives me 20% light hits because the Main spring has been re-adjusted for a lighter pull. I have experienced this before with other Pythons, so no big deal, except now I have to disassemble it and work on it myself.

OP said seller was eight hours away, but not if they are in his same state.
If a different state, seller will need to ship to an FFL. If the seller is not an FFL himself, make sure your local FFL will accept a shipment from a non-dealer.

If he's in another state, you don't have the option of picking it up directly from the seller unless he is an FFL, and then only if it's a long arm. If it's a private seller, and you want to pick it up in person, he will have to take it to an FFL to have it transferred to you

That depends on the state.

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Freedom isn't free.

Thanks for the responses so far. They've been helpful.

Two points of clarity.

1. This is a classified on Armslist, not Gunbroker (in which case I would absolutely be reading his feedback).

2. I am in Missouri; he is in Ohio.

This sounds like a good idea, even though it will cost me a little extra. Has anyone tried it?

Over the past 15 years I have bought numerous firearms over the internet from both GunsAmerica and Gunbroker. It is almost axiomatic that If you buy enough, you will eventually get burned. Out of around 30 firearms, I have been dissatisfied with about four. Good feedback is of course desirable, but does not assure that you will be satisfied with your purchase. Numerous good photos are also desirable, but in some cases do not assure you of condition. I once bought a 3-screw Ruger on Gunbroker, and when I received the gun, I could not believe it was the one in the pictures with the add. It was indeed the same gun, but the true condition was not represented in the photos.

I now buy very rarely over the internet. When I do, I never ever buy from an individual. My experience with individual sellers has not been good. I never buy anything when the return policy indicates "no return".

If you absolutely must have the gun and can find it nowhere else, take a chance, you probably will be OK.

I believe that only in Texas and Alaska can you drive for 8 hours and remain in the same state.

Sir,

I am in Ohio; if he's nearby I might be able to check it out for you. What town is the dealer in?

Andy

I greatly appreciate the offer. The seller is in Wooster. (He, by the way, appears not to be an FFL dealer.)

No, it doesn't. Private transactions between residents of different states are illegal. Please note that my comments started with "If he's in another state,"

Yeah, I just read on the ATF site that I would have to go through an FFL. Not a big deal, but that definitely rules out a road trip.

"A person not licensed under the GCA and not prohibited from acquiring firearms may purchase a firearm from an out-of-State source and obtain the firearm if an arrangement is made with a licensed dealer in the purchaser’s State of residence for the purchaser to obtain the firearm from the dealer." [18 U.S.C. 922(a)(3) and 922(b)(3)]

Florida, too.

CA and Kansas too. Probably Montana as well.

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Freedom isn't free.

Hmm. That's about 3 hours away. I'm afraid I can't help -was worth a shot anyway. There's a dealer 6 miles away and he uses Armslist regularly -thought it might perhaps be him.

Best wishes,
Andy

Thanks for the offer, anyway. It was generous of you.