Sold Pistol. New Owner Missing?

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RobNDenver - or the hospital or the morgue, or called out of town on urgent family business. It doesn't have to be something evil or wrong. Don't panic.

I just arrange to meet face to face and be done it all in one fell swoop, but that's my deal. Or have my FFL handle it if a FTF meet can't be arranged. That way I don't get into this mess.
 
I hate to say it, but he is likely dead. Over the years I have had a few online deals fall through because of a death. One memorable one was a small portable 1 HP outboard boat motor I bought off ebay nearly a decade ago, I went through the whole mess of sending a paypal payment, waiting for it to arrive, disputing the charge with paypal, waiting for their attempt to contact the seller to time out, getting my money back. Then finally a about 2 months after the initial sale, I was received an email from the guys next of kin, who was going through his backlog of messages that wanted to know if I still wanted the motor.
 
Ya know, after more thought on this - for all intents and purposes the gun doesn't belong to you if you cashed his money order, and it didn't bounce after 2+ months. So, what does one do with a gun that doesn't belong to them and the owner can't be located?

What I would do, aside from doing the Rockford Files thing, is to turn it into the buyer's local PD. Get a receipt from the PD it to cover your butt, too.
 
In Oklahoma, I'd say check the OSCN (courts) and the DOC (Department of Corrections) websites in addition to the obituary columns.

ECS
 
I appreciate all the input. Most asked question here is did I deposit the check (Western Union Money Order) and try to contact the buyer? Answer is yes and yes. I have documented 7 emails and numerous phone messages left on answering machine. As a matter of fact I left another phone message and email yesterday. Frustrating. And no I'm not going to mail back the buyers money to his home address since I don't know if they still live there, or who will receive the check. If they contact me wanting a refund I will less my cost of money order and mailing.

As much as I don't want to go this route, tomorrow I will mail buyer a USPS Certified Letter with return receipt. This is at my expense and I'm not to happy about doing this. I will be nice in my letter, but firm. I wish I knew the laws when it comes to Statute of Limitations concerning abandoning. This is only 2 1/2 months (04/02/2011) fresh so I bet I have more time to wait before I have a free firearm to re-sell.
 
It is pretty obvious something pretty serious has befallen the buyer.
Anything from a heart attack,stroke,traffic accident,legal incarceration,or death.
Keeps us informed on the outcome of this bizarre story.
 
As much as I don't want to go this route, tomorrow I will mail buyer a USPS Certified Letter with return receipt. This is at my expense and I'm not to happy about doing this. I will be nice in my letter, but firm.
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I wouldn't do that. The burden is on him to contact you. Just put the cash and gun in your safe and wait.
 
After two and a half months (it would not have taken nearly that long for me) I would just consider it my "lucky day" and relist the pistol. If he contacted me sometime down the line with a legit reason for going MIA I would refund his money.

I'm not a detective and don't play one on TV.
 
Sit tight. Make a few more contact attempts. Refunding the money is a bit hard right now as I certainly wouldn't blindly mail it out, and if you can meet face to face then you might as well hand over the gun. Not to mention you've already got time and effort wrapped up into this, and a pistol you want to sell that's been off the market for 2+ months.

At this point I'd just hold onto the gun. It's not hurting anything sitting in your safe. If he hasn't picked it up in 18-24 months then the gun reverts back into your possession.
 
Some good advice. I would send certified letter, email, phone call telling him his check has cleared (if it has) and that you want the firearm picked up. I'd give him a very specific time by which to contact you (say a month). At that point if you haven't been contacted, you will put the firearm backup for sale and will send him a refund once you resell it.
 
does his forum name contain the letters CZ?
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I think that I'm still alive. :D

Some good advice. I would send certified letter, email, phone call telling him his check has cleared (if it has) and that you want the firearm picked up. I'd give him a very specific time by which to contact you (say a month). At that point if you haven't been contacted, you will put the firearm backup for sale and will send him a refund once you resell it.
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Yep, that's the honest way to do it.
 
Today I will send out a USPS Certified Letter with return signature confirmation to buyer in hopes of generating a response. I think I will re-sell the pistol in lets say 6 months if I don't hear back from buyer. If they do contact me after 6 month point I will just refund there money.
 
Look up the sheriffs number in the area of the buyer and give them a call.

Who knows, could of been a felon or parolee trying to buy a gun and either they had second thoughts and are trying to ignore the whole thing or back in jail.
 
Changed my mind this morning after lots of thought concerning mailing certified letter. Let buyer contact me. I've done my best above and beyond.
 
In Michigan, a company that can't connect with someone they owe money to, sends the money with a description of who belongs to it to the state. The one that it belongs to can claim the money from the state and the company can legally clear their books of the transaction.

Look to see if there is something like that in your state and take the high road. Then you can re-list the firearm with a clear conscious.

Clutch
 
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Do a web search on abandoned property laws for your state. Often there's very specific wording that has to go into a letter when you try to contact the property owner, the letter must be sent USPS registered w/ signature confirmation, a specific amount of time (e.g. 30 days) must go by between when the letter is received and when you can dispose of the property, etc.

I had to go through it a few times in VA when tenants would move out and leave stuff behind. It's not a difficult process to follow, but you do have to make sure that you go through the process before selling the gun to someone else.
 
In Michigan, a company that can't connect with someone they owe money to, sends the money with a description of who belongs to it to the state. The one that it belongs to can claim the money from the state and the company can legally clear their books of the transaction.

Look to see if there is something like that in your state and take the high road. Then you can re-list the firearm with a clear conscious.

Clutch
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I don't see giving it to the state as the high road, more like a different road to take if so inclined.
 
I hate to say it, but he is likely dead.
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Death has a way of messing things up.

I hate scenarios like this, but don't worry about it. You have nothing to feel anxious about, as you've done all any reasonable person can realistically do.
 
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