Question to you that have bought from the forum

[kadams]

I'm wanting to make a purchase from an unknown member. What is best way to prove the buyer is not a scam and best recoverable form of payment?

i apologize if this should be asked somewhere else.

thanks, for any replies

 

[ken158]

Look at the seller’s number of posts and read some of them and see if he gets argumentative with others or acts otherwise obnoxious. Ask him if he is on other forums or maybe gunbroker - ask for a pic of what you want to buy with a date in the photo. Get his number and call him. As far as payment, that is a tougher question. Go with your gut. I have heard of a seller sending an item to a dealer or otherwise uninterested party with return instructions or return payment.

 

[326MOD10]

[Suggestions above are good and here are a few more for you.

How long person has been on the Forum and if they have sold other items in the past.

Check Feedback if an established member.

If not then it could be buyer beware.

Did they post an item for sale or respond to a WTB post by you? If they responded to your ad be very careful. If so and they don't have much activity I would be suspicious.

You can reach out to a moderator if anything looks off and see if they can research person. They do an outstanding job of weeding out the scammers.

Never any guarantees though but I have bought and sold and so far no scammers.

 

[AlHunt]

I'm wanting to make a purchase from an unknown member. What is best way to prove the buyer is not a scam and best recoverable form of payment?

i apologize if this should be asked somewhere else.

thanks, for any replies

I probably wouldn't, unless it was something minor.

 

[scott024]

I would insist on speaking over the phone with them. Ask for a non-stock current photo via text message with something added to the picture like a couple quarters and a dime to ensue they actually have the firearm. Use google maps to look up the location of the mailing address. Maybe google their name or look them up on facebook/linkedin. Lots of scams out there, but it's pretty easy to sniff them out with a little due diligence.

 

[paplinker]

To the OP are you meaning the member is unknown to you,
or a pretty new member who does not have history?

I must admit I have different criteria buying something minor than I do buying a gun.

 

[stanmerrell]

You’ve received good advice already. A good friend once told me once that for business to happen you have to be willing to decide to trust someone. There’s lots of ways to buy guns. They all have an element of some risk. Don’t overthink it or you may miss out on something cool.

 

[6string]

Good question and good replies.

Fortunately, the S&W Forum has lots of outstanding, long term members who participate, and trade, on a regular basis.
You can meet some great people here and make fine deals.
Sometimes, you can even make a real friend!
Every deal has a buyer and a seller, and both want to have a beneficial experience.
Get to know a seller as best you can. How long have they been members? How often do they participate? Are they contributor-members? (sorry to sound crass, but if someone is paying to the site, then it stands to reason that they are personally invested, so to speak). Read their posts and see what else they have bought or sold. Start a brief conversation, (nothing that might take up a lot of their time), and see how they reply.

Finally, the administrators here keep an eagle eye out for scammers and will not hesitate to cut them off. They do a good job!

 

[Gunhohulk]

I’ve bought one gun and lots of accessories off the forum over the past several years. I generally check how long the person has been a member on the forum and post count/content. Most have a history of selling multiple items to different members that you can see from past posts and they are still in good standing. That’s my typical criteria. Also the effectiveness of their communication/timeliness of response will give me a feel. I haven’t had a transaction go bad yet. I think that the S&W forum here might be the most trustworthy place on the internet if you do your due diligence. Plus I cross my fingers on the higher dollar items…

 

[STCM(SW)]

All of the above pretty does it say for the most part ...

 

[Bald1]

I would insist on speaking over the phone with them. Ask for a non-stock current photo via text message with something added to the picture like a couple quarters and a dime to ensue they actually have the firearm. Use google maps to look up the location of the mailing address. Maybe google their name or look them up on facebook/linkedin. Lots of scams out there, but it's pretty easy to sniff them out with a little due diligence.

I have bought and sold several items including several guns. This is not an outrageous request. As a seller I would expect people to have questions.

 

[1911haulic]

I have bought four guns from four different sellers; one was face to face. One had very little forum time and post. All transactions were great and as represented.

I've have also bought several accessories, only disappointed on one purchase. I kept it and did not complain.

 

[tlawler]

The only issue I’ve ever had here on the forum is from a seller that sent the wrong (similar) item to me and another forum member. When I pointed it out to him, he claimed he was correct and I was wrong. I differed with him and at first he doubled down on it. He later admitted he was wrong, but by then, the other member and I had worked it out on our own and paid our own shipping to each other. They were rather small inexpensive items and the added shipping didn’t make it a deal breaker. Instead of leaving bad feedback, I just chose not to leave any and in the future won’t deal with him again.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve done quite a few deals on here, buying and selling both guns and accessories and other than the aforementioned transaction, never had an issue. Quite the contrary, everyone that has been here awhile knows that reputation is way more important than trying to put something over on someone for money.

With that being said, I am circumspect about who I deal with and avoid those with short history here or sporadic activity.

 

[cmansguns]

Chiming In...as a Forum SELLER

Hello Ken and Forum Members,

I have been a seller on this Forum for many years. I do not sell for profit every time, sometimes I lose interest and they go for less than I have in them and I am not a dealer. I do have a FFL but it is a 03 Curios & Relics, which allows me to ship directly to other valid C&R holders without going to their local 01 FFL.

I LIKE it when prospective buyers ask me for more photos, different light photos, ANY questions regarding provenance or accessories, etc. I always request that a prospective buyer forward their e-mail address to me so I can more effectively communicate AND provide basically unlimited photos. I would have to check my books for detail but I think I have sold some 30 plus handguns on this Forum in the 9 years since joining.

Forum rules require a seller to list a price, which I do. The rules do NOT require a seller to pay for shipping and insurance, which I always do so I control the "quality" of the shipment meaning I am the only one to touch and wipe down the firearm, protectively wrap it along with accessories, box, tools, etc. and then prepare the shipping label properly and last but not least, I always present a tracking number to the Buyer, and I follow up to see that the gun was delivered, on time and as agreed.

I'm pretty sure that I sold YOU the Model 17-3 last September.
I hope the deal was satisfactory to you, it was to me.

Some sellers accept Pay-Pal, Venmo or other items that I do not recognize. Me? I always prefer a USPS Money Order, but will also accept personal/business checks by other Forum Members.

I all my 50 plus years of buying and selling firearms I've certainly had a few deals that didn't go as well as I would have liked and even selling on this Forum I have had two (2) incidents that were my fault and had to be corrected: 1 was a sale of a Model 25-2 that had been heavily modified for competition and I failed to list that fact in my Forum add. When the Buyer complained I immediately sent him a money order for the full amount he paid. The modifications were all internal to the gun and I never took it apart, but that is not an excuse for a faulty listing. The 2nd incident was a K22 1948 Masterpiece that I sold and the Buyer after receipt notified me that he was "disappointed" with the cosmetic amount of bluing. My photographs evidently did not show what he thought was a lot of bluing loss, even though I had told him before buying to be sure because I thought it was a 65% and he thought he was buying 85%. This was a $900 to $1000 dollar handgun if it were truly 85% or better, whereas i sold it for $600 shipped and insured.

I list these two incidents because again...one was clearly my fault, whereas the other may well have been partially my fault for not pushing to be more clear. I am just saying that if you are really worried about buying from an "unknown" Member then please follow all above tips AND COMMUNICATE with the Seller.

I can't sell if I have a bad rep. Yep that is a period.

Hope some or all helps with your query.

 

[biku324]

I've sold two or three guns and some reloading gear here with no problem from any member. I always bother to thank members at 'Feedback.'

 

[Truckman]

I've bought several guns here and many other items...I've sold or given away some non-gun items...I have never sold a gun that required shipment, and I never will (I don't trust the shipping companies)...

I've had only one problem with a gun purchase...I agreed to buy a gun from an established member who wanted his payment by certified check before shipment...I sent one written by my bank of over 20 years experience...He claimed to have taken it to his bank who he said advised him not to deposit the check because it "looked suspicious"...I told him to just deposit it and wait for the check to clear before shipment...

He advised he would not do it because his bank didn't want it...At that point I told him to mail the check back so I could get my $1300 refunded...He said he had done so, but the check never arrived...I had to wait until a 90 day period had elapsed before my bank would void the check and redeposit the money in my account...Needless to say I've never tried doing business with that member again, although he still advertises items for sale...

I did not leave any feedback at all on him even though I feel it would have been warranted......Ben

 

[Patrick L]

Yes in all my years buying and selling here and other forums, I've only run into 1 "character." We're pretty sure he wasn't a scammer, just a dork who didn't know how to conduct himself in such dealings.

Everyone else had been absolutely top drawer.

 

[DoubleNickel]

If at any point you feel uncomfortable, STOP. Trust your gut

If the “seller” replied to a WTB ad, and claims “his friend” or someone other than him has the item you are looking for, it should immediately be considered a scam.

 

[toddimusnimski]

I like to read the feedback section to see if they have any history, either good or bad. It also helps to check how active they've been and what kind of posts they submit. You can tell pretty quick whether or not someone is here to learn and share with others. I'm soured on those who come across as know-it-alls, or who are condescending (that means to talk down to).

$$-wise, I'm always leery when a new member (or else a member with very few posts) asks for payment via Paypal Friends and Family. USPS money order is my preferred way to go.

Lots of GREAT, top-notch members here and I've had many good transactions. It is unfortunate that untrustworthy folks can be found anywhere. Trust your instincts and don't be in a rush to send payment if something feels off.

Todd

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Happily, I have never had a problem with anyone selling or buying on this Forum.

Plenty of good advice above.

And there are rules.............

https://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/