selling guns online at auction help?

I am thinking of selling a few guns on an online firearms auction site. I am just wondering if I could get some info from some one who has done it.

So if it is a pistol it is required that I ship it next day air through FedEx express?

What payment forms should I take I have heard PayPal is a bad idea?
any info is greatly appreciated thank you in advance

If you ship it,it has to go overnight with a private contractor,which runs about $90.Some FFLs will ship for you for less.I always ask for a USPS money order.

Why not list them here first?
I prefer to give members a shot at mine first.
That way I know they will go to a good home.

One thing I have wondered is how do you do next day air if it is a 200 mile distance?
Such as Milwaukee to Stevens Point WI ? They take the money and I would be trucked 100%

i did post it on here first, it is currently up for sell on here with no interest so i am trying to get it out for more eyes to see.

thanks for the info i will possibly send it through my local FFL to help save the next guy a few bucks.

I've been buying and selling on GunBroker for about 12 years or so.

First, before listing your item do your research. Look at every comparable offered, and also check closed auctions to see what they are actually selling for (as opposed to the wishful thinking of some sellers).

Take good photos. Put those up with your ad to clearly show condition of your piece, including any defects, scratches, dents, etc. Keep a zip file of photos to send out on request to interested parties. Be critical of your own item, describing it openly and honestly. Most knowledgeable buyers will appreciate this and bid on yours before they will bid on others.

Set a realistic starting bid, the minimum you will consider accepting for your item. I also like to put in a "buy now" price toward the upper end of market value so that the guy who really wants what I have can buy it quick and clean.

Antiques and collectibles: Watch out for parts thieves. Some people will purchase your auction item to take what they need to restore another piece, reassemble yours with their old broken or missing parts, and demand a refund. Make it very clear that all sales are final, ask all questions prior to bidding, no returns or refunds, etc.

Shipping: Federal law allows you to ship to a FFL holder anywhere in the US. Many FFL holders will only accept shipments from other FFL holders. Make sure you know in advance what to expect, because transfer fees can be considerable, especially if there are several hands in the cookie jar. Long guns can be shipped via common carrier (UPS, FedEx, DSL, etc) using ground delivery (least expensive option). Most common carriers require handguns to be shipped "next day air", which is quite expensive.

Be prepared to provide an itemized bill of sale, notarized if asked for, along with a photocopy of your drivers license (sensitive information redacted). Some dealers will accept this in lieu of shipping via your local FFL holder.

Your local FFL can provide some other options for handguns. FFL to FFL shipments are allowed to use Priority Mail service. So even if you are paying your FFL dealer $25 or $30 to transfer the piece, and $12 or $15 for Priority Mail service, that is still a lot less than $70 or $90 for next-day air service by FedEx or UPS.

Regardless of how I ship a firearm I always insist on "signature delivery confirmation". I don't want a package left on someone's front porch or by the back door overnight.

Over the years I have kept records of dozens of such transactions. Those records will clearly demonstrate that I have not only complied with the requirements of the law, I have repeatedly exceeded the minimum requirements. In the event any question is ever raised I believe that I can demonstrate that I have gone out of my way to make sure every transaction was handled legally and responsibly.

Good advice above. I've bought and sold off of Gunbroker for a number of years as well and boils down to price.

Too often folks are trying to sell their weapons for what they have in it and they price their used firearms at or near retail. Unless the firearm is unique or difficult to get, it will sit if the price isn't right.

As Lobo mentioned, click on the advanced search button on Gunbroker and select the Completed Auction tab. Sort on bids and find the auctions completed with a sale. I typically average those to get an idea of the ballpark of where it needs to be priced.

Niche firearms like you have listed can be a blessing or curse since the buyer pool is small.

Check to see how many of your model are active on the auction sites, which will give you an idea of the interest and what your competition is.

You might also consider starting with a penny or no reserve auction with a low starting bid. People will bid, hoping to get a good deal and a bidding war often results. Adding $5 to an existing bid is easier than submitting one for $1000. Downside is you might not get the interest and sell for much lower than you want. Not for the faint of heart.

Paypal is not a good option for firearms. It is against their company policy and if you get caught, the funds can be held for a period of time. Folks have used Paypal gift to circumvent this policy, but buyer/seller beware.

Lastly consider including shipping in the auction. It will cost your bottom line, but another way to separate your auction from another.