Silly Gun Broker Question and more

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OilyPablo

OilyPablo

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Sep 2, 2012
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WA State (NOT in Seattle)
For the first time ever I have decided to sell a few of my handguns. I have duplicates of certain models, guns that just take up space - all good guns or I would not have bought them in the first place.

I am 100% scared/paranoid about this. I am reluctant to sell to an individual locally. Perfectly legal and I can ask for a BOS, but I can't force the person to transfer ownership, nor would I try that hard. I would of course ask for their CPL. I see handguns bought/sold every day. My main worry is some person I sell the gun too losing possession to a criminal and me being the last legal owner. Heck, I bought more than 10 of them on GB myself with no issue. So that may be my route because I must ship to an FFL.

My silly question: Do I need to ship FROM an FFL? IOW go to my local FFL for "legal" shipping?

Other input/concerns welcome as well.
 
Shipping from an FFL offers a far more practical benefit than shipping yourself (which can be done through, I believe, UPS). Having your FFL ship your handgun is FAR cheaper. If you ship yourself, you'll have to send it overnight, which I believe can run you $70+ for a pistol. An FFL can ship USPS Priority Mail, which means your shipping charge will be cheaper and it will be easier to sell your gun.
 
Shipping from an FFL offers a far more practical benefit than shipping yourself (which can be done through, I believe, UPS). Having your FFL ship your handgun is FAR cheaper. If you ship yourself, you'll have to send it overnight, which I believe can run you $70+ for a pistol. An FFL can ship USPS Priority Mail, which means your shipping charge will be cheaper and it will be easier to sell your gun.
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Great stuff right there. I will need to find out his fee.
 
Also note that even if it winds up being (slightly?) cheaper for you to ship yourself (if you have an expensive FFL) some other FFLs won't receive direct shipments from individuals, only from FFLs. Mine is one of those. So having an FFL in place to use as the ship from makes sense.
 
If you're not comfortable with a local FTF sale you could also state that in-state buyers must go through an FFL for transfer as well. That way if you ever get a trace contact from the ATF you just give them the FFL's info.

Or you could have your local FFL consign the guns for you, which may net you a bit more if you don't have a rating on GB yet, many folks are wary of new sellers due to scams.
 
I did exactly that.

My FFL will sell nine guns for me, I set the price. A high and a low he will try as hard as he can to sell at the highest price, I trust this guy - my buddy did the same with three Glocks and he was satisfied. He charges $50 per gun $25 transfer and $25 for making the sale. Yes it's costing me something, but nine guns would be a major headache for me.

All the stuff I bought new, appears new. Not kidding, back in the original case with all the pieces, no scratches or dings. The the ones I bought used have a little wear, but function great. It pays off to keep my stuff nice.

My safe is barren. Well OK, it's just not all falling out now. Missing will be:

1) Sig P229 .357Sig and.40S&W, both Sig barrels. 2-tone exotic wood grips with 4 mags, case, original grips, manual, bought new.

2) Sig P6 (225) 9mm German police import. 4 mags. Case. A little wear, good shooter.

3) Ruger Blackhawk 357Mag Stainless 4 5/8" barrel.

4) CZ-82 surplus import 9x18 1 mag, great shooter.

5) Makarov 9x18 5 mags(!). Some pitting under bluing, little wear, good shooter. Refurbished in Europe. (Bulgaria?).

6) Glock 17L with extra threaded barrel 5 mags one 33 rounder, case, stainless recoil spring, manual, bought new.

7) Glock 20C with 2 Magazines, case, manual bought new.

8) FN FNP-45 3 Magazines, case, manual bought new.

9) Kahr CM9 4 Magazines, case, manual bought new.

BTW. Actually I have 32 good feedbacks from purchases on GB. The P229 I bought on GB!
 
Shipping from an FFL offers a far more practical benefit than shipping yourself (which can be done through, I believe, UPS). Having your FFL ship your handgun is FAR cheaper. If you ship yourself, you'll have to send it overnight, which I believe can run you $70+ for a pistol. An FFL can ship USPS Priority Mail, which means your shipping charge will be cheaper and it will be easier to sell your gun.
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Yup, I just sold a gun on this forum.
By taking it to my ffl, it'll cost me about $45 ($20 for him, & 25 for the USPS)

IF anything ever happens & the ATF comes looking for me, I can say I sold it & my ffl will have proof. (He has to log the gun in).

SO the final question is, do you trust a local ffl holder?
If he logs it in, your fine, if he's very sloppy with record keeping, well...
 
Consignment is a good way to go if you trust the dealer and have specific terms outlined. I had a bad experience where a dealer traded a gun I had on consignment with the intention of selling the traded weapon at a higher profit margin for himself.
 
Yes, going through the FFL is probably the most prudent way of getting rid of your firearms. Agree that in most places (Colorado no longer allowed) private citizens are permitted to sell to others but the way things are today, not worth the risk. I held a FFL for 25years and did this alot.
 
Gunnygeorge said:
Yes, going through the FFL is probably the most prudent way of getting rid of your firearms. Agree that in most places (Colorado no longer allowed) private citizens are permitted to sell to others but the way things are today, not worth the risk. I held a FFL for 25years and did this alot.
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Tens of thousands of firearms are sold every day face to face with no government involvement.
 
OilyPablo said:
I did exactly that.

My FFL will sell nine guns for me, I set the price. A high and a low he will try as hard as he can to sell at the highest price, I trust this guy - my buddy did the same with three Glocks and he was satisfied. He charges $50 per gun $25 transfer and $25 for making the sale. Yes it's costing me something, but nine guns would be a major headache for me.
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In Washington state it makes no sense to go through an FFL for an in-state sale just for a paper trail. The reason is that Washington has an optional form available that the buyer and seller sign, which is then sent to the Washington State Department of Licensing to record the sale. It is almost the exact same Pistol Transfer Form that is required when the buyer receives a handgun from a Washington FFL. You get the exact same paper trail, sent to and tracked by the exact same government agency as if the gun was transferred through an FFL, the only difference is that it is free.

www.dol.wa.gov/forms/652004.pdf

Or - just complete the form and keep it in your own records, even if it is a rifle/shotgun being sold.
 
OilyPablo said:
Well except most of the buyers don't want to fill the form out. It's well worth the $ for me to have my FFL guy in Lake Stevens do all the selling for me.
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If they don't want to fill out that form, then they won't buy it from a dealer either, because the pistol transfer form is REQUIRED when buying from a dealer in Washington state.

But it's your money to spend how you want to.
 
If they don't want to fill out that form, then they won't buy it from a dealer either, because the pistol transfer form is REQUIRED when buying from a dealer in Washington state.

But it's your money to spend how you want to.
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Of course. I guess I could never be an FFL!

Trust me, it's worth it to me.
 
At the gun show today sold everything above and a Mini-14 except:

1) Sig P229 .357Sig and.40S&W, both Sig barrels. 2-tone exotic wood grips with 4 mags, case, original grips, manual, bought new.

7) Glock 20C with 2 Magazines, case, manual bought new.

9) Kahr CM9 4 Magazines, case, manual bought new.
 
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