Does trading guns online ever work out really well

[bushmaster1313]

I made one really nice trade with an FFL dealer at a gunshow. He wanted my first year four digit Winchester 88 in .308 that beat me up silly and I wanted the 1934 solid frame Winchester 97 riot gun that was otherwise priced out of my range.

On the other hand, I would think it unproductive to fish for a worthwhile trade on the internet. That's why we have money. I sell to the person who wants what I have the most and then I buy from the person who will sell me what I want for the least.

It also gets complicated as to who ships first and expensive if the person who gets the first shipment doesn't like it.

Anyone have luck trading online?

 

[Targets Guy]

Only when I trade money for the gun.

 

[CS45Fan]

Its worked for me. But like everything else, you are better off selling it outright. The problem is unless you have something unique, the gun market (like the automobile market) is saturated with new and used deals. So you have to low ball everyone else to make a sale and throw in some extras (like mags) as well.

With that said, I've made a few even swaps (no money exchanged) on both new and used firearms and am satisfied if I can pull that off. Then you need to factor in FFL transfer and shipping your firearm on a trade. Bottom line if trading with an FFL you have to expect that he\she needs to make something off of your trade.

My thought is if it cost me $100 to get into a new firearm, am happy

CS45Fan

 

[sigp220.45]

I've made trades on this forum and on Facebook, and I've been happy with all of them.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I have bought guns on this forum that I would never had a chance to obtain otherwise.

Here are a couple:

Model 41 7 3/8" made in 1959. It has the muzzle break and cocking indicator.

Model 686-5 with 7" barrel. This was a special order and only 30 were made with fluted cylinder. Another 30 were made with a 7 shot unfluted cylinder.

I have also bought some unusual guns on gunbroker.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I traded one gun online.

It was pricey to pay the FFL fees and shipping, but I ended up with a grail gun I'd been wanting for a while.

I'd trade online again if I had anything else I was willing to part with. As of now, I don't.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have made nine trades on-line, six of them on this forum. One involved cash from me, one I got cash. Each of us paid our own shipping and FFL fees. In the last few years most of my LGS have charged a $35.00-$50.00 transaction fee, so my trading has slowed down. I have been pleased with every handgun I ever swapped for. Two trades for long guns off another forum were unpleasant, but got resolved eventually.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

ONLINE TRANSACTIONS

Well, I am old enough to believe people tell the truth-- I guess that is not always the case these days, but one should be, or try to be realistic. I of recent saw a photo of a revolver and while I figured from the photos it wasn't in pristine condition it looked good enough for my offer. Yeah, I took a chance but it turned out not only was the gun in much better condition than expected, it shot very well. I was a happy camper- On the other hand if you are unhappy with a deal or have a bad feeling, just walk away-- I just had a customer walk away from a deal on a pair of Ivory stocks. They had never beed final fitted to a gun and I never did so in all the years I have had them. They were a perfect fit, just a tad long-- remember when all stocks were numbered to the gun?? This was for a reason, as most of us know. Those of us that do this, know how to make adjustments when needed. Of course, if one thinks they cannot afford to play in the big leagues such excuses are an easy way out. Now me, I am funny about this. For some reason, many people feel if you are selling something you are desperate-- I can assure you that has never been the case with myself. I once had a security company that professed to need some 20 holsters. I gave them my best offer-- didn't hear back for a couple weeks-- while they went checking around-- finally they came back and I explained I just couldn't help them. It was their right to look around, but my point is-- they should of looked around BEFORE coming to me. Had they done so they would of known my price could not have been beaten. I am sure they ended up paying half again as much as they might have. I also wouldn't do any other business with them after that. Do your home work BEFORE you get into any deals- online, or elsewhere. JMHO of course.

 

[Alpo]

"Who ships first"?

You mean you would expect me to send you my gun, so you can look at it and decide if you want to make the trade, before sending me yours?

If you were buying my gun, would you expect me to send it to you, so you can check it out and see if it is worth it, before sending me the money?

I've done trades three times. Rifle for pistol, rifle for rifle and pistol for pistol. All three times, when we agreed, "Yeah, let's do it", I packed the gun up, went down and shipped, expecting that the other guy was doing the same thing. And all three times the other gun arrived in three days or less, which was not time enough for my gun to have gotten to him, and then he deciding the trade was worthwhile, and shipping his. The other guy, apparently, also shipped as soon as we agreed on the trade.

I can't see any other way to do it.

However, all three trades were done on gun forums, to people I knew (as well as you can know someone on a forum) for years. I "trusted" them to be honest. I don't know if I'd blindly send my gun to someone from gunslist or gunbroker, or wherever.

But then again, I blindly send my money to them, hoping that they are honest and will, in fact, send me the gun.

 

[kraynky]

"Who ships first"?

You mean you would expect me to send you my gun, so you can look at it and decide if you want to make the trade, before sending me yours?

If you were buying my gun, would you expect me to send it to you, so you can check it out and see if it is worth it, before sending me the money?

I've done trades three times. Rifle for pistol, rifle for rifle and pistol for pistol. All three times, when we agreed, "Yeah, let's do it", I packed the gun up, went down and shipped, expecting that the other guy was doing the same thing. And all three times the other gun arrived in three days or less, which was not time enough for my gun to have gotten to him, and then he deciding the trade was worthwhile, and shipping his. The other guy, apparently, also shipped as soon as we agreed on the trade.

I can't see any other way to do it.

However, all three trades were done on gun forums, to people I knew (as well as you can know someone on a forum) for years. I "trusted" them to be honest. I don't know if I'd blindly send my gun to someone from gunslist or gunbroker, or wherever.

But then again, I blindly send my money to them, hoping that they are honest and will, in fact, send me the gun.

You have to still have faith in your fellow man, and you need to know that you can trust your instincts. I have also bought and traded with fellow members of this and other forums. So far I have had success with those I chose to swap/trade with through contact made on sites such as Armslist.

I have also backed away from a few there, when my short hairs started vibrating. I always insist on phone contact before making a deal. I feel like I can gain or lose a lot of confidence in someone by talking with them. I sent a rifle across the country to a fellow that sent me his rifle, and we are both happy with the trade. I decided against a couple of trade/purchases after one phone call. So far everything has worked out as it should. And I consider it to be the result of both good luck and good instincts. Most of your "true gun guys" are good trustworthy folks.

Just pay attention to your short hairs.

 

[Targets Guy]

My Lgs charges me $15.00 for FFL fees. I'm very happy with that.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

DO IT

Lets do it- to me means do it-- if you don't feel you can trust the other person then don't. Lets do it to me means just that- get it shipped NOW-- if you have another idea, then get it ironed out FIRST-- Guess I have been lucky- so far-- I have had more than once people ship me stuff before I could even get to the PO--- to this day I have never had a problem, except with tire kickers wasting my time. Believe me, I quite understand caution, but believe it or not, everyone isn't out to screw you-- When you sell stuff you have to expect to spend time taking phots and sending them and e-mails, but there is a limit.

 

[PatriotX]

I've traded with collectors of coins, knives, cameras, and guns.

The gun community, in my experience, is among the best.

 

[deadin]

Trading on the internet?? I have enough trouble trying to trade face to face. It used to be you could count on being able to trade 2 $50 cats for a $100 dog, but not anymore. It seems that everyone wants full retail for their gun, but only will offer wholesale for yours. Finding parity seems almost impossible.
I would guess that part of the problem is finding two people that each have what the other wants.
Example: Say I have a Browning Medalist that I would like to trade for a 1879 German Reichsrevolver. Book-wise and on the internet they seem to retail for similar prices, with the Browning a little higher (Condition also being a factor), but finding that combination is almost impossible.

I can't even imagine trying to trade with someone I have no idea who they are.