Trading guns...

[sipowicz]

Just curious...how does it work? If you make a deal, how do you make sure the other guy ships? Does his FFL on his end hold the gun until you tell him the other one arrived at your FFL? I would only trade on a trusted forum such as this, but I still want to take precautions...

 

[ladder13]

Dave, I've traded a couple times, here on this forum, and never had an issue. I have one happening right now as a matter of fact, this week.
I call the guy/gal, we speak, we mutually agree to ship as close to each other as possible. I try to disclose even the most minor detail,to help to eliminate a surprise. The guns get delivered, we go on our merry way.
I will only trade with people who've been here awhile or those belonging to SWCA. That way, I sic the big ape on em' if things turn sour.

Oh, we exchange copies of FFL's beforehand with all contact info of the FFL.
Having the guns arrive at exactly the same time is difficult at best. One FFL may ship UPS, one may ship USPS. One FFL might have the gun laying in his shop for 3 days before he gets a chance to ship....yada yada

 

[SW_shooter]

The only thing I've ever traded is cash for a gun. I would assume it's similar in that you are taking a leap of faith that the other party is as honest as you are.

 

[Alpo]

How is "trading" different than "buying"?

I got a gun you want. You buy it. You send me money, before my gun arrives at your FFL's don't you? You trusted me that I would actually send the gun, and you stuck the check in the mail.

So okay, instead of buying it, you are going to trade for it. You send me your gun before mine shows up at your FFL's. You trust that I will actually send you my gun, and you ship yours off to me.

What's the difference?

I can rip you off just as easily, keeping your money and not sending the gun, as I can keeping your gun and not sending mine to you. And actually, if I keep your money, you're kinda hosed, but if I keep your gun you can get the ATF involved, since your gun had to come to me through an FFL.

I'm not a huge "buying online" guy. I've bought, maybe a dozen, all told. Three off auction sites, four or five from legitimate gun dealers, and four or five from classifieds on a bulletin board. In every instance, I sent the money and trusted the seller to send the gun.

I've traded three, online. All three times, after PMs, Emails or phone calls, where we agreed, "Yep, we gonna make this trade", I've boxed up the guns and gone down to FedEx and sent 'em, just like I'd sent money before, trusting that the other guy would send his to me.

Haven't lost out yet.

 

[Brian41]

I traded just once with a forum member here. It was on the honor system and I shipped mine to his FFL. His was late coming which did make me nervous but he blamed his FFL being slow to ship and my gun got here.
I think with trades a lot of trust is involved and I wouldn't do it in many places besides here.

 

[sipowicz]

Ive only traded whisey for guns but i guess it works the same way.

 

[A10]

Funny, I've only traded guns for whiskey........

 

[rags]

Ive only traded whisey for guns but i guess it works the same way.

Horses too.

 

[rimfired]

Water for my horses, whiskey for my men, beer for the women, where will it end?

And just what are you doing trading guns?
You live where?

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have traded several times on this forum and sold a few outright, only had one problem. I sold a S&W #10 snubbie to a man in Alabama and UPS gave the gun the Grand Tour of the United States. It took about ten days to go from Atlanta, GA to Eufala, AL. For a trade, speak to the FFL the trader will use, and suggest he do the same. My LGS sends everything out by slow boat, no Overnight shipping. But if you phone them and ask about having them ship you a gun, they will assume you are dealing with me, LOL!!

I have had a few promises of "the check is in the mail" and never heard from the buyer again. That is O.K., I things happen beyond our control at times.

Other than a couple of holsters I bought that turned out to be trimmed down by a previous owner, I have never been taken or abused by folks here. One of those holster sellers offered to take his back when I sent photos of it, another denied trimming it, and the third told me he never noticed it. I believe him, it took me a weekend of wearing it to notice.

I have had multiple problems on a well known non-center fire forum. Not only with buyers not following simple instructions but two who decided they would not pay my price and sent less money and told me to cover the shipping.

 

[BearBio]

I prefer trading over sales for tax reasons. The only time I got burned was on a fly rod off of E-Bay.

My FFL is slow on sending things out and terrible about notifying me. Fortunately, the owner and manager have me on speed dial.

Also, I pretty much only trade for "weird" stuff (collectibles, old military, etc). They have told me that, a few times, they thought of "losing" my guns (like the pristine four-digit Blackhawk in 41 mag.)

 

[Mickey D]

Whatcha got Sip? Whatcha want?

 

[golfrj1]

Whatcha got Sip? Whatcha want?

You two Can't trade!! Remember the List.. heh,heh..