Sold Pistol. New Owner Missing?

[ny32182]

I would not be dealing any more with this person. I'd keep the "money", if it turns out to be real; great, you have something for your trouble. If it doesn't, you aren't out anything.

This is heading in the direction of the classic "Nigerian" scam; just with a longer time table. Personally, I would NOT send this guy a dime at this point.

 

[S. Hill]

Don't send the "money" back -- if you can't find the guy it will go into the ether. Determine what happened to the guy. If you can't, you simply owe him the money. In fact, maybe put it into a savings account with interest and no charges -- it really is his but what can you be expected to do? Someday, you can declare it abandoned, and it'll be yours as an unclaimed fund...

This!!! If you can't contact the buyer, don't be sending any kind of check or money order back to an address where he might not be.

I agree with sending a registered letter, informing the buyer that he has a limited time to claim his merchandise. If you get no response from him, hold his money and re-sell the pistol. You have done everything in your power to complete the transaction.

I wrote this ^^^ before reading the whole thread.

Since the original payment was made via Western Union, I don't see how the "buyer" can stop payment on the money order, or have used anything but cash to pay for the Western Union money transfer. Every time I've dealt with Western Union, they have required cash payment.

I don't think that Wags is going to lose any money in the deal, and in my opinion he is entitled to the money if the buyer is willing to abandon it.

But I have to agree, the whole situation is strange. Maybe the guy is a drug dealer??? They have a lot of cash to take to Western Union.... they have a "skewed" sense of time and reality. They have little regard for small expenses....??? It would also explain his immediate response when Wags mentioned that he was going to the LE officials!?!

 

[Johnny_Come_Lately]

I think this situation is bizarre.

bi·zarre
/bɪˈzɑr /
–adjective
markedly unusual in appearance, style, or general character and often involving incongruous or unexpected elements; outrageously or whimsically strange; odd: bizarre clothing; bizarre behavior.

Origin:
1640–50; < French < Italian bizzarro lively, capricious, eccentric, first attested (circa 1300) in sense “irascible”; of disputed orig.


http://abandonedproperty.uslegal.co...w/ohio-disposition-of-unclaimed-property-law/

Two and a half months ago I sold on another gun forum a pistol I had listed. Struck deal with buyer (same state, OH) who said they would drive to my area of state to meet for a FTF transaction.

Send him a registered letter. In that letter inform him that due to the bizarre nature of his actions, you will ONLY conduct any further transactions with him in the parking lot of your local PD.

In that letter, also make very clear a other few things:
1) he has 30 days to complete the transaction,
2) if he does not complete the transaction within that time frame you will consider that he has no desire to do so.
3) upon failure to complete the transaction, you will charge a 15% re-stocking fee against the payment recieved for your trouble.
4) in order for him to receive a refund he needs to meet you in the parking lot of your local PD.

You have gone above and beyond the call of duty. You have taken THR. It is his turn to do the same. Go to sleep with a clear conscience.