Buying a gun on the forum

[Michael Schinl]

Hi all,

Im a prospective first time gun buyer in CA got an intresting offer for a 327 2" on this forum. My challenge now is that the seller is requesting payment in andvance before shipping it to tve bass pro in my area while I would feel more confident making the payment after it actually arrives ar the FFL. What would be a good practise here?

Thank you!

 

[EllDee]

Pretty much standard to pay before it is shipped. If he ships it to the gun store and you refuse it, where does that leave the seller?

You need to do your due diligence on the seller before paying. How long has he been a member? Maybe ask in the lounge if others have bought from him, etc. If you are uncomfortable with the seller, look elsewhere.

 

[326MOD10]

You also should make sure the handgun you are buying is allowed to be imported into California.

Was this a handgun listed in the for sale section or did someone reach out to you to sell it?

If someone reached out to you I would definitely vette that seller because fraudsters, while usually caught quickly, will reach out via email directly to members who post they want to buy something.

If you think it is a sketchy offer reach out to a Moderator so they can check and ban the person if they are a fraudster.

 

[Onomea]

Michael, I see that you posted in the Classifieds that you were looking for that particular gun. Like 326MOD10 says, we have had a problem with fraudsters. Our moderators can help you determine the status of the seller.

And as EllDee says, how long someone has been a member here is one useful yardstick for gauging reliability.

Finally, yes, it is standard to pay for a gun prior to the seller shipping it.

 

[sndbggr1484]

Here's what is listed on Ca. Roster

Smith & Wesson 327 SKU 170245A / Alloy; Titanium; Stainless Steel Revolver 2" .357 Magnum 01/01/26

 

[Sevens]

I’ve been doing gun buys and sells through forums for maybe a decade and a half. It is normal and typical for the money to arrive at the seller before the gun even ships.

However, there is another option if you cannot get comfortable with how it’s normally done. It’s called an Escrow Service.

A third party FFL will handle it. The seller ships his gun to the Escrow, the buyer sends his money to the Escrow, and the Escrow then sends each to the expected party.

You’ll be paying for this service and the gun travels twice and time and money is eaten up in the process.

https://jdmopsllc.wixsite.com/mysite-1

Chicken Dinner Arms is happy to provide this service, contact them for more information.

 

[pawngal]

A WTB ad is on the forum, be very aware that is a fertile field for scammers.
Is the seller a regular member here?
Have you received pictures of the actual gun?
The OP said "an interesting offer", if it is way below retail it is a scam.
What form of payment was requested?
Is the "seller" knowledgable about shipping to CA?
Lots of questions to consider.
Yes, if eveything checks out OK, it is normal to pay before the gun is shipped.

One more question for the OP, are you certain that BassPro will accept the gun for transfer?

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I have both sold and bought quite a few guns here over the years . If you're buying , you send the money and when the seller gets it , he sends the gun . But , how long as the seller been here ? How many likes and liked ? How many posts ? Does he have feedback in that section . Saying that , I have NEVER had a problem with a deal here . I've even bought 2 guns from members with very little time here , a 49 and a 6590 , both nib . Sometimes you can read a person and decide if you want to deal or not , a gut check .

 

[G-Mac]

My challenge now is that the seller is requesting payment in andvance before shipping it to the bass pro in my area while I would feel more confident making the payment after it actually arrives at the FFL.

Not trying to be rude but sometimes I think this forum needs a "laugh" emoji. Money talks and BS walks.

 

[Jon651]

Hi all,

Im a prospective first time gun buyer in CA got an intresting offer for a 327 2" on this forum. My challenge now is that the seller is requesting payment in andvance before shipping it to tve bass pro in my area while I would feel more confident making the payment after it actually arrives ar the FFL. What would be a good practise here?

Thank you!

As a purchaser of several firearms from fellow forum members, here are a few tips for you:

1. Check the "Feedback" section of the forum and search for the person who you are interested in purchasing from. See what others here have to say first.
2. Check the posting history of the person who you are interested in buying from and see if they are long-time members and posters. The longer someone has been here and the more they are involved in the forum gives me a bit more confidence in dealing with them.
3. Contact the seller prior to making any deals. If you are uncomfortable with sending money prior to shipping then you can look into online escrow services where they hold the funds while you inspect the item, and will release them to the seller when you approve of the item. FYI - I've never felt the need to use an online escrow service with any member here whom I've bought a firearm from.

 

[SWFan27]

Here's what is listed on Ca. Roster

Smith & Wesson 327 SKU 170245A / Alloy; Titanium; Stainless Steel Revolver 2" .357 Magnum 01/01/26

What dash number is that SKU? California has removed a lot of the older models from the approved list. Most older revolvers coming into California now need to be a Curio Relic which is 50 years old or older.

 

[chief38]

Michael, I see that you posted in the Classifieds that you were looking for that particular gun. Like 326MOD10 says, we have had a problem with fraudsters. Our moderators can help you determine the status of the seller.

And as EllDee says, how long someone has been a member here is one useful yardstick for gauging reliability.

Finally, yes, it is standard to pay for a gun prior to the seller shipping it.

You took the words right out of my mouth! Perfectly stated - and all spelling is correct - I think! LOL.

 

[dockmurgw]

Look at this on the flip side for a minute...OP is a "prospective first time gun buyer", has only 3 posts in the forum. If I was a seller, that would be a red flag for me.

 

[Tom S.]

Look at this on the flip side for a minute...OP is a "prospective first time gun buyer", has only 3 posts in the forum. If I was a seller, that would be a red flag for me.

Why would it be a red flag? He has to send the money to you first and you will be sending the gun to a licensed dealer. What is the risk on your end?

To the OP, if you wish to PM me the info (member name) of who contacted you, I will see what I can find out. This is not a guaranty of the person's character, unless of course I can verify 100% that they are a scammer.

Note to all: When we do discover a scammer, we place a warning in the WTB section (as that is where nearly all attempts to scam take place). These warnings are easy to find.

 

[peyton]

heck, I bought a 631 from a member on this forum who had made only a single post. Seller was big into CAS shooting and he gave me the phone number of the gun shop he dealt with.
Gunshop owner knew the seller very well and assured me he was good to go!
Paid for the 631 and it arrived to my FFL a week later

 

[tomhenry]

Michael, I see that you posted in the Classifieds that you were looking for that particular gun.

Yeah, I would never pay for a gun under those circumstances. I've bought off the S&W forum before, but the member placed the ad, I got his phone number, called, talked, confirmed the address.....

But if I were to ever place a WTB, it would almost have to be a local FTF transaction. I have even specified that on occasion.

 

[Heinz]

Michael. Paying for the gun first is normal but it is up to you to vetting the seller. At this moment there are 320 members signed in on the forum, There are over 4200 "guests"
W anted to buy add is risky especially if you are not dealing with someone who does not have a couple of years on the forum as a member and a history of valid sales. In the classified section there is a section where you can rate vendors. I would expect a good seller to have a couple of very good ratings or be careful. Jon651 and Tom Henry above both give solid advice