Online gun sale strange requests

[LostintheOzone]

I sell a few guns online, maybe one or two a year. Presently I'm trying to sell a few long guns to clean out the safe. I use the same listing site that Cabelas does. I know a lot of people here use this forum and other sites to sell guns online so I'm going to run this by the members. I'm seeing something I've never seen before in an inquiry to a listing.

I get an inquiry from someone who claims they don't understand the method of payment although it is clearly stated in the add as cashiers check or postal money order. I went over that with them and then another strange claim. They don't understand how we could transfer a firearm without using an FFL. I never said I could transfer a firearm without an FFL ( He's in the east and I'm in WA) so that came off as odd to me. So I went over that and clearly stated he had to use an FFL and I had to ship it to his FFL. I also said I would use an FFL on my end if he required that. So his last email was he would try to find an FFL but I haven't heard back in several days.

I'm suspicious to say the least. Is this guy a complete idiot or is someone trying to suck me into an illegal transfer. I'm just about to cut this guy off as I have some other suspicious that I would rather not post here.

Anyone else ever see anything like this?

 

[BC38]

Does it matter? Whether he is an idiot or a sting, RUN, RUN AWAY!

I wouldn't be interested in dealing with either.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My experience in life is, (excluding some undeveloped people) There is nobody so stupid they can't understand money! I think you were being stalked by a thief of some sort! Whatever happens, stick to your guns!

Ivan

 

[ace22]

I sell a gun online once in a blue moon, actually not even that often as we have a blue moon coming up in a few days and i won't be selling a gun.

when i place an add i always specify it will be shipped from my ffl to the buyer's ffl in my ad as part of the terms.
if you're not specifying that in your ads it's time to edit them to say so.

 

[Bill Bates]

As someone that works for a firearms dealer that advertises used guns online; nothing surprises. More times than I can count on my fingers and toes I've have had to explain the "process" to buy a firearm. Some people want to argue about the transfer needing to go through an FFL. Apparently a lot of people believe that old BS about the fictitious "internet sales loophole". They really think they can buy a firearm online and have it sent right to their home without ever doing paper work and having a background check run.

 

[BC38]

As someone that works for a firearms dealer that advertises used guns online; nothing surprises. More times than I can count on my fingers and toes I've have had to explain the "process" to buy a firearm. Some people want to argue about the transfer needing to go through an FFL. Apparently a lot of people believe that old BS about the fictitious "internet sales loophole". They really think they can buy a firearm online and have it sent right to their home without ever doing paper work and having a background check run.

Is that any wonder? What is the Goebbels quote?
Something like "if you repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth".
The anti-second-amendment crowd has been telling the "gunshow loophole" and "online loophole" lie so long and so often that I'd be willing to bet that over half the people believe it.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I sell a gun online once in a blue moon, actually not even that often as we have a blue moon coming up in a few days and i won't be selling a gun.

when i place an add i always specify it will be shipped from my ffl to the buyer's ffl in my ad as part of the terms.
if you're not specifying that in your ads it's time to edit them to say so.

It was specified individual (non-FFL) to FFL. It's not a pistol. I use an FFL on this end because shipping is less expensive.

 

[LVSteve]

As an import from the UK, I had to learn US federal and NV state gun law from scratch. Since getting up to speed, it has become clear that I know a bit more (OK, sometimes FAR more ) than many gun owners I meet who were born here. A bit scary, I think.

 

[Arik]

I sell a few guns online, maybe one or two a year. Presently I'm trying to sell a few long guns to clean out the safe. I use the same listing site that Cabelas does. I know a lot of people here use this forum and other sites to sell guns online so I'm going to run this by the members. I'm seeing something I've never seen before in an inquiry to a listing.

I get an inquiry from someone who claims they don't understand the method of payment although it is clearly stated in the add as cashiers check or postal money order. I went over that with them and then another strange claim. They don't understand how we could transfer a firearm without using an FFL. I never said I could transfer a firearm without an FFL ( He's in the east and I'm in WA) so that came off as odd to me. So I went over that and clearly stated he had to use an FFL and I had to ship it to his FFL. I also said I would use an FFL on my end if he required that. So his last email was he would try to find an FFL but I haven't heard back in several days.

I'm suspicious to say the least. Is this guy a complete idiot or is someone trying to suck me into an illegal transfer. I'm just about to cut this guy off as I have some other suspicious that I would rather not post here.

Anyone else ever see anything like this?

Cut him off. There's nothing to over think. First time you may assume miscommunication depending on what was said. Afterwards bye!

Anything like this? Yea often and not with just firearms. My descriptions of transfer are simple. I make sure to list it in simple plain English. After that see ya! Not my problem!!! You want to think about and not say anything? Your problem!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Arik]

As an import from the UK, I had to learn US federal and NV state gun law from scratch. Since getting up to speed, it has become clear that I know a bit more (OK, sometimes FAR more ) than many gun owners I meet who were born here. A bit scary, I think.

That's an understatement

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Jessie]

All good advice here, but, I wouldn't look to the internet for advice on it myself.
Simply, if it doesn't feel right, walk away.
Ironic, huh?

 

[Arik]

All good advice here, but, I wouldn't look to the internet for advice on it myself.
Simply, if it doesn't feel right, walk away.
Ironic, huh?

That ^ .
Don't dwell on it. If it doesn't feel right walk away.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Jim1392]

Any gun I've ever sold on any gun site I put in the listing FFL to FFL only. When I get any request other then my FFL's information I just say "thanks, but no thanks". My sale my rules. If you don't want it someone else will.

 

[BigBoy99]

May have been a BATF agent looking for something to do on his lunch break?

 

[hittman77]

If your instructions are clear, and I believe they are, his stupid questions don't deserve an answer. You've made the terms clear and have no obligation to "train" him on whatever it is he doesn't know or is hinting about.

 

[LostintheOzone]

May have been a BATF agent looking for something to do on his lunch break?

That's what I'm thinking from the numerous leading questions. I guess they have a job to do and trolling the internet is probably one of them.

Anyway he's gone which doesn't surprise me.

 

[hemiram]

I've had some buyers, after they won the auction, ask me some of the most insane questions. I had a decent S&W 5906 that I was selling just because I had found a much prettier one. So I put it on GB and the bids came up and it was sold, in the case, with 3 mags and a set of slightly worn extra grips tossed in, for $400. Not bad, it's nearly mint replacement was $369. So the first indication the guy was "off" was he asks me, "Does it shoot?". I told him, "Of course it shoots!". He then asks me if there is anything wrong with it. Nope, it shoots fine and eats anything. So he sends me a USPS money order, and I thought everything was cool. I cash the MO, it goes through, and ship the gun through my FFL. It gets to his FFL two days later, and he emails me, "It's a nice gun, but I really wanted a .40!". I wrote back, "Then why didn't you buy a 4006 instead?". He said he thought a 5906 was a .40. I didn't reply to him again. I said in the title of the auction "S&W 5906 9MM with 3 mags", and said in the description it was a 9mm twice. I don't know what was wrong with the guy, who is still on GB, BTW.

 

[fordson]

As I’m getting older, I’m thinning out my collection. I’m using GB, probably monthly. All my sales are FFL to FFL only, restricted sales to some states, just don’t want the hassle. I was selling a 44 mag and received an enquire from a buyer as to why I had to use an FFL, could I not just mail them the gun, did I have to use two day air, was PayPal ok for payment. All of this over a series of emails. To say I was suspicious is an understatement. They won the auction with the highest bid and I was VERY leery to complete the transaction and told them I’d need thier FFL info before the gun would transfer. They came back stating that thier child had an accident and could not complete the buy. This was someone new to GB.
I’m convinced that they were some anti gun shill trying to prove how easy it is to buy guns illegally on line.
Excuse me while I readjust my tin hat.......

 

[federali]

Run, Don't Walk.

I would be especially suspicious of anyone probing a proposed gun sale in an aparent attempt to circumvent existing gun laws. That person could be barred from owning firearms for any number of reasons or indeed it could be a federal agent trying to build some stats for his agency.

For the record, regarding federal law, you may ship a gun directly to an FFL but that FFL has the prerogative of whether or not he'll accept the transfer.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I would suspect that there are a lot of people trolling the auction forums attempting to circumvent the law in an effort to "prove" that there is rampant illegality going on regarding gun sales over the net without going through FFL's. To tell the truth, I go through more hoops doing a transaction on line than I do in person.
Were it not for price savings and lack of availability of what I want, I would much rather go into a gun store point to what I want-slap da money down on the counter-fill out da sheet-do the check, pay for the gun and leave usually within about 15 minutes. Doing internet is a pain-long distance transaction hoping you are not getting scammed, buying a gun without physical inspection, arranging for an FFL, arranging for the FFL to send their information to the shipper, tracking hoping it doesn't get lost or damaged in transit, yada yada yada.....

Now what would be really sweet is to be able to buy guns on the internet like people think we buy them. Find what you want on Amazon with Prime shipping. Click and pay and two days later there it is!