Buying guns online????? help please...

[ParChaser]

I am looking on one of the forums and several of the auction sites and have a delima. I want to buy a gun but the seller wants certified bank money order or US postal money order. HOW do I protect myself from a seller running off with my money and keeping (not shipping) the firearm?

 

[thereisnospoon]

Do your homework

First, I see your rather new posting, as am I. I had similar questions when I started, but learned that 99% percent of the people on THR and other sites are as good as they come.

However, I also learned that there are a few poeple who earn the bad rep they get after ripping a few people off. So the short answer is, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! The burden is on you to research your buyer/seller and make sure they are legit. And as always, remeber that if something sounds TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE it probably is...

Hope that helps

 

[Mr_Moore]

Not me.

There is no way Im poneying up money for a gun with no insurance. I think there is a mechanism with pay pal where your money does not get released until you get the item. I may be thinking of ebay.

I say this because I gave a contractor (who had done work for me previously with no problem) a lot of money ($4575.00) for materials and he took off with it.

As my local DA pressed criminal charges, the "contractor" is now on house arrest and paying me back.

I was lucky. Normally it would have been a civil case and I would have been stuck trying to collect.

Anyway, burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me. I want assurance now.

 

[Dan Morris]

I've bought a jillion on Auction Arms, I just check sellers feedback. So far,
I've had no problems on any transaction. Prepay is normal. If a dealer, try to do it by credit card instead of MO. This way, you have legal dispute options.If the guy shows negative feedback, email the complaining party and like wise, a couple of the positive ones.
I avoid PayPal like the plague!
I may have been lucky but this is my opinion.
Dan

 

[45Broomhandle]

Think about it...

Chaser, if you noticed, each seller on those online gun auction sites has a "view feedback" link by their name. That is where prospective buyers - like yourself - can check out what kind of seller you are dealing with. If all previous reports are good toward the seller, then you can pretty well be assured you'll receive your purchase. I've only listed 3 guns for sale so far and I will accept no other payment than CERTIFIED FUNDS. Too much hassle waiting on personal checks to clear. When I was selling dozens of items each week on eBay I HATED having to go into my bank and ask if any checks had bounced. Then I changed to CF only and never had another problem. If a buyer can afford to spend a couple hundred bucks or more for a gun, they can certainly afford a few cents for a money order fee! 45Broomhandle

 

[Hook686]

My only thought is that if you don't want to play the sellers game ... then don't. No one forces you to buy anything, or from anyone in particular. If in doubt buy elsewhere. I've bought on line for several years, only been burned a couple times on ebay for less than $75 total, so no biggie. It can happen, so be sure you are comfortable with the contract before you put up the monies.

Hook686

 

[Standing Wolf]

It's always worth one's while to call the seller. If he sounds at all flaky, cancel the deal. It's your money.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

Chaser,

I'm farily new in this gun thing (actually laid dormant for about 3 decades - but that's a another story) - anyway, I have bought a few guns by mail, and have not gotten burned yet.

However...besides feedback, as one reader suggested. I think the safest way is to use visa/MC or, a check that is tied to a Visa/MC account. On two occaisions, even though the seller wanted only certified/money order, I explained that I have an account that is tied to a credit line - guaranteed funds. On both occaisions, the dealer said "fine - just need to wait for the check to hit your bank". In my case it really is a credit line, but in other cases paper checks can usually be obtained that tie to a Visa/MC account. In either case, if the goods do not come thru, you contact the your Visa card co. or bank, and they do a dispute resolution.

Hope that helps.

- w

 

[EddieCoyle]

Use a postal money order. Save every email. If they cheat you when you pay with a postal MO, the offense is mail fraud and the PO now (with the advent of eBay, etc) takes this very seriously. Send the check via registered mail. They can still screw you, but it would be small potatoes compared to what will happen to them.

 

[ParChaser]

Thanks to all who have replied and I needed this info bad because there is an auction that ends in 20 minutes that is to good to pass up and the seller hasn't responded to my email yet. He only has had 1 other sales transaction and it was positive feedback. Eddy your response was what I was looking for. Anyone have any other comments or suggestions please still post.

 

[ParChaser]

Well I won the auction and am taking a big risk. I will let you know how the transaction goes. Could be a reallybig mistake if the seller screws me or my 1st HK rifle and a good deal if the guy comes through. I will let everyone know in a week or so.

 

[hotpig]

Use a postal money order. Save every email. If they cheat you when you pay with a postal MO, the offense is mail fraud and the PO now (with the advent of eBay, etc) takes this very seriously. Send the check via registered mail. They can still screw you, but it would be small potatoes compared to what will happen to them.

It does not help any to use a PO money order,cash,check or Western Union. The offence is the same. The Postal Inspectors do not give special consideration because one of their money orders was used.

Paypal does not offer any help since you used their service fraudulently to make a gun purchase. If you used a credit card tied to Paypal you might get someplace with them.

If you are working with the Postal Inspectors you have to be very patient and very meticulous with the paperwork. This can take months so most people just give up. A few hundred dollars is not worth the hassle and time involved.

If you dot your eyes and cross your "T's the Inspectors could follow up and threaten the seller. I have seen this happen twice with Ebay sellers. One time was 1500.00 the other was 750.00. The lady that did the 1500.00 paid back most of the money under threats by the Postal Inspectors about cutting off her mail service. The other just drug on so long that it was forgotten about.

Check the feedbacks before you buy. Also note what the feedback was for. In both cases above the persons had over 40 positive feedback with no negative or neutrals. When you actually looked at the feedback they had purchased a bunch of nickel and dime stuff just to get their feedback looking good.

 

[EddieCoyle]

Paypal does not offer any help since you used their service fraudulently to make a gun purchase. If you used a credit card tied to Paypal you might get someplace with them.

If you are working with the Postal Inspectors you have to be very patient and very meticulous with the paperwork. This can take months so most people just give up. A few hundred dollars is not worth the hassle and time involved.

Right about PayPal. Buying guns with their service is against their rules. If they find out, they'll freeze your account. If you get cheated when using them to buy a gun, good luck - you're on your own.

On the other hand, Postal Inspectors are polite, thorough, and relentless. If you keep all of the paperwork and correspondence, they will help you. It typically takes 60 days for them to get involved, but when they do, watch out.

I had a bad experience on eBay and the postal inspectors got me my money back.

 

[losangeles]

Where possible, I make my payments by Amex. They're known to be good about protecting the consumer. With Visa and MC, it varies a great deal depending on the issuing bank.

 

[hotpig]

Too many cases, not enough Inspectors.

 

[BBBS]

If you ever have a dipute with Pay-pal, good luck. I will NEVER use paypal again. And it was not for a firearm. But a set of grips.

 

[solareclipse]

i don't want to sound cheap but some sellers will allow you to slip the 3% charge on CC/PP through, others demand it. Depends.

Now because technically PP/ebay has gone all left wing liberal they don't want to be near guns many sellers simply discard it as an option. truth be told, 95% of them still accept it with or without the 3% charge, they just don't formally list it in the auctions.

And if you are uneasy about money orders just press on for a personal check and tell the seller you are willing to wait till it clears.

I've filed pp disputes before with excellent results. Only reason i even got the products from deadbeat sellers.

 

[hotpig]

It is tons easier to get money back from Paypal is you are the buyer. Sellers do not have the protection that buyers have. You can do well scamming on Ebay with Paypal assistance.

Buy a relatively inexpensive item like extra mags or a DVD. Since it is not a big purchase the seller will not be alarmed that you do not want to spend extra money on a tracking number or Insurance. For example it only costs .65 to mail a DVD without a tracking number.

Pay with paypal and when the item arrives claim that you never received it. The burdon of proof is on the Seller. Since the seller has no tracking number your payment is removed from his account and put back in yours. You just got a freebie, thank you Paypal .