Buying guns on-line...(Noob has questions!)

[RDCL]

I am NOT currently shopping for a gun, but it is only recently that I became aware of all the fantastic info to be found on the internet in regards to the shooting sports....AND...the ability to purchase.
Yes, I'm still a bit of a computer "newb". What I'm getting at, is that I have to say I'm rather shocked at the amount of folks who are willing to purchase any firearm that they cannot examine in person....in their OWN HANDS...before they send off their money!
I myself can't even THINK about sending out cash/cc info to a complete stranger/legitimate dealer for anything with out seeing it in person. I'm used to the old fashioned way of going to shops & shows to purchase and I suppose I'll never change, but you guys that purchase "blindly" online.....are you not taking a tremendous risk?.....even if the seller is honest, there might be some issue about the gun you paid for that could only have been spotted had you the chance to examine it personally.

This site and others have "For Sale/Buy" forums....so how does a gun owner without a FFL purchase anyway? Must they contact/pay their local gunshop with a FFL to handle any on-line transaction? Just curious about all this because you never know......I might someday see a deal at THR that I cannot resist


Russ

 

[Macmac]

The seller sends thru a FFL to your FLL, but I agree with you I am too old school to do that sight un-seen.

You pay one or both FFL dealers depending on the terms.

What confuses me is the fact that it is accepted to send money one way or another first. Why not send the item first?

Who says a seller will send the item at all?

Being a Buck Skinner, someone who plays in the old ways pre 1840, one of the things I did was make Trade Silver, of real silver. Often times I sent the item and expected to be paid upon inspection. So far I have never had a piece returned, or been burned. So I don't understand pay first.

 

[rbernie]

Items for sale are usually rated for condition via a standard guide established by the NRA a long time ago. The seller advertises the item and it's condition and puts up pictures. That does not completely avoid surprises, but it works surprisingly well most times.

The laws covering in-state and inter-state transfer of fireams obviously apply to all 'Internet' sales.