BillBloggins
Member
I have had nothing but success selling guns on Armslist, have 4 sales that went off without a hitch. Until today.
I think the best way to ensure a smooth transaction is to completely and honestly describe what you are selling, provide good pictures, and ask a fair selling price. When a response comes in on your gun answer all the questions forthrightly while at the same time keeping your ears attuned to any BS that might be coming from the potential buyer. If all seems good to go arrange a face to face meeting during daylight in a safe area, and make any arrangements up front so there are no surprises (like bill of sale, state ID/CCW, no trades, or whatever you think is important). This should be enough to make everyone comfortable and head off at the pass any surprises when you arrive in person. If anything seems off, roll off and wait for another offer.
So I did all these things, just as I have in the past. The buyer seemed like an OK sort on the phone, we completely covered the gun and I felt good about meeting up.
Well, it went pear-shaped from the get go. He was leery about showing ID at the the outset, which I found odd as we had discussed this and I had mine ready to go right off the bat. Finally showed some ID and I produced the gun, a 1911, Para. Out of left field I started getting snide comments like the beavertail was off, I must be lying about the round count, the grips were weird, etc. This gun is bone stock and in great shape. He basically started negging the gun and indirectly was calling me a liar.
I was not pleased- I had posted good descriptive pictures of the gun, I had spent time covering details prior to the face to face meeting, and now I was getting the old 'ah, your gun is crap' routine. He then stated he would be taking a pass. My impression here was he was using this as a tactic for a price drop.
What got me PO'ed was that it was apparent he knew little about 1911's, but he did think he could try and drive me through a tough sell. My thoughts going in were that he would examine the gun through typical function checks (and it was apparent he did not know what to look for in a 1911), it would be as I had described, we would conclude the sale, it would proceed as my prior sales through Armslist had went. I felt my integrity was being questioned, I wrapped up our meeting and left- but I admit I was not happy about this greasy experience and wasted time.
So if I can offer any advice it would be to qualify all you can online and on the phone. And next time I will not drive half an hour to meet up with someone who could turn out to be a flake, they can meet me a block from my residence. I recognize people can change their minds and i also recognize there are shifty pieces of crap out there that operate like the worst used-car salesmen stereotypes. It is on us to minimize our exposure.
I think the best way to ensure a smooth transaction is to completely and honestly describe what you are selling, provide good pictures, and ask a fair selling price. When a response comes in on your gun answer all the questions forthrightly while at the same time keeping your ears attuned to any BS that might be coming from the potential buyer. If all seems good to go arrange a face to face meeting during daylight in a safe area, and make any arrangements up front so there are no surprises (like bill of sale, state ID/CCW, no trades, or whatever you think is important). This should be enough to make everyone comfortable and head off at the pass any surprises when you arrive in person. If anything seems off, roll off and wait for another offer.
So I did all these things, just as I have in the past. The buyer seemed like an OK sort on the phone, we completely covered the gun and I felt good about meeting up.
Well, it went pear-shaped from the get go. He was leery about showing ID at the the outset, which I found odd as we had discussed this and I had mine ready to go right off the bat. Finally showed some ID and I produced the gun, a 1911, Para. Out of left field I started getting snide comments like the beavertail was off, I must be lying about the round count, the grips were weird, etc. This gun is bone stock and in great shape. He basically started negging the gun and indirectly was calling me a liar.
I was not pleased- I had posted good descriptive pictures of the gun, I had spent time covering details prior to the face to face meeting, and now I was getting the old 'ah, your gun is crap' routine. He then stated he would be taking a pass. My impression here was he was using this as a tactic for a price drop.
What got me PO'ed was that it was apparent he knew little about 1911's, but he did think he could try and drive me through a tough sell. My thoughts going in were that he would examine the gun through typical function checks (and it was apparent he did not know what to look for in a 1911), it would be as I had described, we would conclude the sale, it would proceed as my prior sales through Armslist had went. I felt my integrity was being questioned, I wrapped up our meeting and left- but I admit I was not happy about this greasy experience and wasted time.
So if I can offer any advice it would be to qualify all you can online and on the phone. And next time I will not drive half an hour to meet up with someone who could turn out to be a flake, they can meet me a block from my residence. I recognize people can change their minds and i also recognize there are shifty pieces of crap out there that operate like the worst used-car salesmen stereotypes. It is on us to minimize our exposure.