Gun safety when selling on line

MoreIsLess

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I am selling one of my guns to someone I met on a gun trading website. What safety advice can anyone give me to be safe and ensure I don't become a crime victim and get robbed or shot or other.
 
Are you talking about doing a face to face sale to that person you just met?
 
I am selling one of my guns to someone I met on a gun trading website. What safety advice can anyone give me to be safe and ensure I don't become a crime victim and get robbed or shot or other.
Many police departments in the DFW area have "Safe Exchange Zones" for online sales. These are located in PD parking lots and have video cameras.
 
Meet in a parking lot like at Lowe's and have a friend in another vehicle close by watching and ready. If possible have him block the other vehicle from leaving if it comes down to it. Have 911 on speed dial.
 
I've done that a few times but in today's world I'm not as comfortable with it as I used to be. It's not so much that I'm worried about being robbed as I am of unknowingly selling to someone who is prohibited from owning a gun who then commits a crime with it. For the last few years I've sold guns to a local gun shop owner who has given me relatively fair deals. He has to sell at a profit and I know I could probably do better selling myself, but I'm more comfortable doing it that way even if I get a little less for them.

A lot depends on the gun. I'd be more likely to go through with a private sale if I'm selling a bolt action hunting rifle than I would a pistol or AR.

But bring a friend and meet in a public place. Never your home. I've used large parking lots like Walmart or Home Depot where I can park away from most customers and prying eyes. Nothing illegal about doing it here, but it's best not to scare Walmart customers if they see guns coming out. Some place like a Cabela's would be a good meeting spot since seeing a gun in the parking lot wouldn't be unusual.
 
Tell the buyer, the firearm needs to be transferred to him thru a FFL dealer, at buyers cost.
I tend to agree. Arrange to meet at an FFL dealer, and transfer the gun through the dealer's books with the required background check. The dealer will charge a fee.

In Virginia, a cheaper alternative would be to meet at a gun show. The State Police have a table at every Virginia gun show, and will perform the background check for a mere $2 fee. (Of course, you would both have to pay to get into the show.)
 
Police or sheriff’s station is a safe place, but it’s advisable to call them ahead of time and get the OK from them.

I’ve done a few FTF transactions that were initiated online, thankfully without incident. All were done in public parking lots in daylight hours, and I parked near the obvious security cameras.
 
Most cities now have a place by the police department where you can complete internet business exchanges in person.

Ours has two parking spaces by the front door of the PD for that purpose.
 
MoreIsLess: If you are old enough to have a really developed "Inner Voice", you are used to trusting it, and know that you only should meet in a daytime store parking lot near some vehicle traffic, you'll be fine.

I sold about 15 guns FTF/ face-to-face in west TN using Armslist, several years ago: handguns, a Yugo Mauser, Enfield etc.
Note: 6 of the deals were with the same guy in the front parking lot of a large store in Jackson TN because it was routine and simple to meet there. Also, I sold ammo to about four other people, one of whom was a retired T-38 IP at Columbus AFB
(he prev. flew C-141s), so we immed. were on the same wavelength.

One important factor also is to have a phone chat with any unfamiliar guy👍. That can reveal any attempts at deception and whether the person sounds relaxed, etc. All of the "Vibes" were quite normal.
If you haven't been around enough (decades) in many types of settings and / or don't have the self-confidence, then use an FFL---- or---- meet by a Police/Sherriff's Dept.

If you encounter somebody from a "culture" different from yours (ie "Whats Ya Bottum Dollah'?" "Whut??...") might be a person to avoid unless by an LEO Station--but they will likely be a "no show".
I chatted with a guy whose voice made it immed. clear he was from a very "different" area of Memphis, and he didn't understand why I asked a certain routine question. I thanked him for his time and never called or texted him again.
 
MoreIsLess: If you are old enough to have a really developed "Inner Voice", you are used to trusting it......
This can work, but like Reagan once said, "Trust........but verify". The only times I've done face-to-face gun deals were with 1-someone I already knew, 2-with someone a close friend knew and trusted, and 3- someone I had a lengthy conversation with on the phone after "meeting" them on a gun forum. I had a sense he was okay, he suggested meeting at his house, and to top it off I trusted him enough to drive four hours to get there. That turned into a fantastic meeting, the guy was retired LEO and drug interdiction agent and he had some stories to tell. The gun (a S&W M58) was new in the box and had been a safe queen all its life. He'd gotten it from his LE partner's estate. This guy that I got it from was in his 80's at the time of sale.
 
Meet in a parking lot like at Lowe's and have a friend in another vehicle close by watching and ready. If possible have him block the other vehicle from leaving if it comes down to it. Have 911 on speed dial.
Because bad guys don't bring backup?:rofl:
The reason police departments have started using Safe Exchange Zones is due to crimes occurring in the parking lot at Wal Mart, Home Depot or Lowes.
 
....But bring a friend and meet in a public place. Never your home. I've used large parking lots like Walmart or Home Depot where I can park away from most customers and prying eyes. Nothing illegal about doing it here, but it's best not to scare Walmart customers if they see guns coming out.
And out of the view of video cameras if things go bad.



Some place like a Cabela's would be a good meeting spot since seeing a gun in the parking lot wouldn't be unusual.
No gun dealer wants people doing firearm transactions in their parking lot.
Its on the dealers premises and puts his license at risk.

Imagine when word gets out about "The Cabelas Parking Lot Loophole!" .......no one wants that, especially Cabelas.
 
Based on your location, I'm 90% sure I'm on the same trading forum. I've got the same user name there if you want to PM and ask more specific questions.
- Carry. GA is permit-less carry now so no reason not to have have another gun on you.
- Meet in a public place, grocery store or lowes-depot parking lots are common for me.
- Pay attention to your gut, especially with first impressions. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
- Check the buyers feedback. Be wary if they have little or no feedback.
- I'll typically get out and chat for a minute or two before actually getting the gun out so I can give my spidey senses a chance before handing the gun over. If they seem nervous or constantly looking around is a big red flag.
 
Because bad guys don't bring backup?:rofl:
The reason police departments have started using Safe Exchange Zones is due to crimes occurring in the parking lot at Wal Mart, Home Depot or Lowes.
You could always make it look like a drug deal on Miami Vice, have a couple of cars full of guys with submachine guns standing by while the money/dope exchange is made.
 
tomtomgt356 made an Excellent summary in Remarks # 18. Not only a phone chat before the meeting, but regular talk when you guys first meet each other is done with all of the senses "open and clear".

Any phrases or dialect you're not familiar with on the phone call can alert one's Inner Voice.
Out of about 18 deals only One time was such a "different culture" giving me the Type of 'heads-up' that I didn't want to deal with the 'Bro'. Misunderstandings would have been awkward-possibly dangerous.👎
But a guy of the same ethnic background belongs to the gun club- and he was perfectly fine when dealing with him.:thumbup:

One can always try to find the same gun on Gunbroker (ie a retail store) and often can.
 
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am selling one of my guns to someone I met on a gun trading website. What safety advice can anyone give me to be safe and ensure I don't become a crime victim and get robbed or shot or other.
These are all really good suggestions, thanks for posting them.
I decided to use the Police Department parking lot. I called them and they said "fine, bring it on over"

The prospective buyer never showed up. I guess that tells me what I needed to know, trouble avoided.
 
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My M1A (nib) came from Gunbroker in 2021, and the (added) shipping charge, tax and FFL fee was certainly worth it Versus trusting that some stranger didn't try to "tweak" or even swap an internal part- or be AWOL for a FTF meeting etc.
"Peace of mind", at least for me, make the extra charges worth it.
 
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The prospective buyer never showed up. I guess that tells me what I needed to know, trouble avoided.
I list guns on Texas Gun Trader. Every week I'll get several "I'll take it! I'll be there tomorrow/Friday/Saturday/whenever"......... 80% never show up.
Unfortunately there isn't a way to get them banned or leave feedback.

I may have to resort to giving their names and email addresses to spammers.:rofl:
 
I live in an area that a lot of the people are just like me still. The recent imports stick out like a sore thumb and most of them run away from the gun culture in general. Nice to be in the north and a sparsely populated rural area. Still things are a changing and now I ask to do a FFL transfer unless I know the person well. Gotta stay legal.
 
The last gun I bought, the sale was done in a commercial range parking lot, in view of their outdoor cameras.

I ask perspective buyers to call me when they’re close to the meeting spot, which is near me, so I’m not waiting for a no show. When I sold a revolver to a member here, we agreed to meet at a busy gas station just off the highway he was traveling on. Perfect transaction.

I also sold a stripped lower to another member here, we met at his place of business, which was a nice motorcycle ride away. Had an enjoyable conversation, very pleasant transaction.
 
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