possibly buying a handgun via private sale, but wants to go through FFL?

[azmp5]

So I'm bidding on a handgun on gunbroker. So far a decent price for it but there is a few days left so who knows how it will go. Anywho, I noticed the seller was here in Phoenix and it was a private seller. I msg'd him and asked if he was ok with a private sale if I won and i didnt care if he wanted to do a bill of sale or just check IDs.

He said he would prefer to go through an FFL. His reasoning is "so he know the gun isnt stolen and he knows he isnt selling to a felon"

I cant argue it and it really doesnt "bother" me that much. Kinda dumb...but whatever. My thing is I've never bought a gun this way. Do we just find an FFL and i do the paperwork? Who pays their FFL fee? IS there an FFL fee?

*not trying to start some THIS IS STILL AMERICA...f*** THAT FFL SHIT kind of thread. Just asking how this way goes if anyone has ever had to go through a private sale this way.

 

[cool arrow]

I have had the same situation on GB and sellers in Phx, find someone close by, or an FFL here on the board, and find out what their fees for a transfer are.

 

[Boriqua]

I would think this is something you can negotiate up front. If he is insistent on an FFL transfer in a state that doesn't require it then my personal feeling is, then he should pay the cost.

If I sell something out of state I put a little something on for shipping but it never covers the actual shipping cost .. I just assume its part of me doing business.

Most of the FFL's I have bought from have said they would be glad to do private transfers. I have never done one but dont see it would be a problem. They make a few bucks on filing paper work they file all day so I assume all FFL's will do it.

I usually require a signature on a home brewed receipt and I provide the buyer with a copy with my signature. I flash my AZDL and they do the same so I know and they know the sigs match the name and I am happy. This way they know I didnt just steal the gun from someones car and am selling it to them and I have a sig that says I sold it should it ever come up. I did have one occasion where an FBI check was done on a gun I sold. Nothing came of it but I did hear about it from the dealer who sold it to me.

To the regulars on the boards I usually hand them a gun when they hand me cash but .. I am a firm believer in people doing what makes them comfortable so if your seller NEEDS an FFl and you have to have that gun ... no harm no foul but I think he should pay for it.

 

[azmp5]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, as far as the "who pays for the FFL" I can argue both ends of the buyer or seller. Granted I "save" on not having to do shipping or tax, but as you stated also, we live in a state where it's not needed so why should I have to pay.

 

[Boriqua]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, as far as the "who pays for the FFL" I can argue both ends of the buyer or seller. Granted I "save" on not having to do shipping or tax, but as you stated also, we live in a state where it's not needed so why should I have to pay.

I am with you and please understand .. I am fully aware that its an internet board, I am a stranger and my very humble opinion is worth zero.

I thought the same thing at first ... I have purchased a few guns through gun broker and thought .. well if you bought from an out of state seller you would have to pay the FFL and the shipping so you are saving that but then

If its not a requirement and you both live in the same state in which its not required then its a requisite he has. That's cool but if I go to a restaurant and ask for something extra they are happy to give it to me but I have to pay for it.

In the end ... if its a smokin deal and the extra $20 bucks still makes it a smokin deal then grumble while you pay the $20 and walk out happy with your new toy. Most of the things I have gotten on Gunbroker even with shipping and ffl still killed any local offerings by more than enough to make it a good deal.

 

[azmp5]

That's where I'm at. Like anything with an auction, it can go from great deal to "is it worth it to keep bidding" so we will see. For all I know I may not win but since I've never ran into this before, I figured I'd ask.

 

[Ballistic Therapy]

If you bought it from someone out of state you would have to pay the shipping and FFL fees to receive it.
Once you find out who pays just bid accordingly. Like any other auction figure the cost of everything into your bid price.

 

[shooter444]

Seller's merchandise,... sellers terms,... end of story, imo.

Now, on the other hand,...

"He said he would prefer to go through an FFL. His reasoning is [highlight=yellow]"so he know the gun isnt stolen [/highlight]and he knows he isnt selling to a felon"


..., if HE, the SELLER, wants to go through a FFL to KNOW if HIS weapon is not stolen,... beyond the fact that I don't believe it works that way, (unless the FFL retains the weapon for verification),... but, just that statement by the seller, would end the purchase, for me.

On a side note,... I believe,... a felon, planning on illegally purchasing a weapon, will have false ID, and, answer all form questions to the affirmative. Another false assumption by the seller.

Basically,... the whole deal sounds fishy to me,.... I would walk.

 

[AZ Husker]

Don't forget sales tax if he is an AZ dealer selling to someone in AZ.

 

[smithers599]

Seller's terms, sure, but if you don't like the terms, you are not required to buy.
Whatever gun it is, there are probably plenty more like it that I can buy, and if not, there is no gun that I really "need." And for the seller, there are plenty more buyers.
I wouldn't do business with the guy, but if you want to, go ahead.

 

[Solar_Empire]

Slightly off topic, I had a guy off backpage a few years ago request the same thing. FFL or no deal. Didn't bother me since I was getting a steal anyways. A nice MAS 49/56 (that he thought was sporterized) still in 7.5 French. Since I had my CCW there is no phone call. Just fill it out, paid and rolled. The guy was completely dumbfounded that there was no call since I had a CCW. I think at that point he learned what a colossal waste of time it was.

 

[azmp5]

Seller's merchandise,... sellers terms,... end of story, imo.

Now, on the other hand,...

"He said he would prefer to go through an FFL. His reasoning is [highlight=yellow]"so he know the gun isnt stolen [/highlight]and he knows he isnt selling to a felon"


..., if HE, the SELLER, wants to go through a FFL to KNOW if HIS weapon is not stolen,... beyond the fact that I don't believe it works that way, (unless the FFL retains the weapon for verification),... but, just that statement by the seller, would end the purchase, for me.

On a side note,... I believe,... a felon, planning on illegally purchasing a weapon, will have false ID, and, answer all form questions to the affirmative. Another false assumption by the seller.

Basically,... the whole deal sounds fishy to me,.... I would walk.

I agree, the way I put was just the readers digest version. We have msgs each other back and forth and from the sounds of it, either hes new to selling guns privately (maybe from a commie state) or hes just clueless.

That being said..... it did raise a red flag and I did get the serial # and the gun is fine. Through the emails, you could tell the owner is just new to this whole gun thing. Is it true, who knows, but the gun checked out so I'm good.

 

[azmp5]

Slightly off topic, I had a guy off backpage a few years ago request the same thing. FFL or no deal. Didn't bother me since I was getting a steal anyways. A nice MAS 49/56 (that he thought was sporterized) still in 7.5 French. Since I had my CCW there is no phone call. Just fill it out, paid and rolled. The guy was completely dumbfounded that there was no call since I had a CCW. I think at that point he learned what a colossal waste of time it was.

This is where my conversation went with him. Once I told him I can show him my ID to prove I'm over 21 and had a CCW, he agreed the FFL would be a waste unless I wished to proceed. I said hes the seller and it's up to him but it would be a waste of time.

 

[Mauser98]

I once had a guy on here insist that I go to a notary with him to sign a bill of sale on a gun that I was selling to him. It was a used Sig. I told him no and then he decided not to buy it. *sigh*

For a lot of people the government is their God and they must make sacrifices and get approval from their God.

 

[Gatsby]

I once had a guy on here insist that I go to a notary with him to sign a bill of sale on a gun that I was selling to him. It was a used Sig. I told him no and then he decided not to buy it. *sigh*

For a lot of people the government is their God and they must make sacrifices and get approval from their God.

That kind of requirement needs to be in the ad so everyone knows up front.

 

[Flash]

I once had a guy on here insist that I go to a notary with him to sign a bill of sale on a gun that I was selling to him. It was a used Sig. I told him no and then he decided not to buy it. *sigh*

For a lot of people the government is their God and they must make sacrifices and get approval from their God.

That kind of requirement needs to be in the ad so everyone knows up front.

Absolutely. I'd be very pissed if I went to a meet to do the deal and a seller pulled this on me. The deal also wouldn't happen and I'd give negative feedback.

 

[knockonit]

way too much complitcation here, believe i'd go eslewhere for the "deal" if in fact it is one, but with all the fa la la, the fun of finding, purchasing and then fondling is kinda clouded.

jmo
Rj

 

[shooter444]

I agree, the way I put was just the readers digest version. We have msgs each other back and forth and from the sounds of it, either hes new to selling guns privately (maybe from a commie state) or hes just clueless.

That being said.....[highlight=yellow] it did raise a red flag and I did get the serial # and the gun is fine.[/highlight] Through the emails, you could tell the owner is just new to this whole gun thing. Is it true, who knows, but the gun checked out so I'm good.

Hmmm, now, that is interesting. I am very interested in how you researched a serial number, to find out if it is stolen, or not? I never had to do such, but, I sure would like to know how.

 

[Mauser98]

I once had a guy on here insist that I go to a notary with him to sign a bill of sale on a gun that I was selling to him. It was a used Sig. I told him no and then he decided not to buy it. *sigh*

For a lot of people the government is their God and they must make sacrifices and get approval from their God.

That kind of requirement needs to be in the ad so everyone knows up front.

Absolutely. I'd be very pissed if I went to a meet to do the deal and a seller pulled this on me. The deal also wouldn't happen and I'd give negative feedback.

No, I was the seller. This guy was just a random buyer, and he told me he'll take it, then insisted we go to a notary together.

 

[Mauser98]

I once had a guy on here insist that I go to a notary with him to sign a bill of sale on a gun that I was selling to him. It was a used Sig. I told him no and then he decided not to buy it. *sigh*

For a lot of people the government is their God and they must make sacrifices and get approval from their God.

That kind of requirement needs to be in the ad so everyone knows up front.

He was the buyer.