Yes, this is a rant, but I really do want to know why. Cruising through armslist and forum classifieds, it seems any deal I am interested in, the seller is not willing to ship. What is it about shipping that makes sellers not want to do it? Seems like shipping would be more convenient than trying to meet up with someone FTF. Do they not realize it will be shipped to a FFL? Are they afraid they are going to be scammed? Seriously, why not ship? So frustrating.
Why won’t you ship?
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When a seller will ONLY do FTF it always makes me skiddish. There is a myriad of things that come to mind with sellers like this. OTOH some folks may just not want to deal with the hassle of shipping.
There are also buyers that only want to do FTF. There are a myriad of reasons for that too.
There are also buyers that only want to do FTF. There are a myriad of reasons for that too.
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1,983 Posts
To me it's just easier to meet face to face and get cash on the spot. I will ship but the first time I shipped a gun I was nervous about the ordeal.
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Come on. If someone has a choice between a quick FTF sale or shipping, they would take the FTF everytime. Why would I want to go through the hassle of packaging a gun up, going to the gun shop, and worrying about getting paid? I'll take the five minute drive to the walmart parking lot and get cash in hand.
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4,636 Posts
The buyer is taking the biggest risk in any online transaction From the perspective of the seller you will get your money before you ship. Then if you ship through a FFL the risk shifts to them.
Just make sure the checks are cleared before you ship and you are gtg.
As long as the buyer covers the shipping and FFL fees I’d rather ship. Safer than meeting a random person in the parking lot at Walmart
Just make sure the checks are cleared before you ship and you are gtg.
As long as the buyer covers the shipping and FFL fees I’d rather ship. Safer than meeting a random person in the parking lot at Walmart
I’m all for a quick FTF as well, but I am also willing to ship. As with you, I think most feel shipping is a hassle, because they don’t realize they can ship themselves. You don’t have to ship throgh an FFL, just to an FFL. Worrying about getting paid? You don’t ship until you get paid. Simple.
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11,717 Posts
Probably because it's a Royal PITA. I jus shipped a Mauser Sniper rifle that had been "Sporterized" with a Monte Carlo stock. The buyer actually just wanted the rifle, but the nice stock was a plus he could sell or use. I drove the 45 miles to the UPS after calling first and then waited while "The Manager" was found. I had both license's, everything totally legal, still you would have thought I was shipping a Pit Viper. I paid extra for bubble wrap and the rifle was already in a padded case, but guess what? It arrived broken at the stock wrist and it was not bubble wrapped. I'm still waiting for the claim adjuster to call. I had it insured, of course. Luckily the buyer is a nice, understanding Gentleman.
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Why would "FTF Only" sales raise any suspicion? Maybe a guy just doesn't want to risk any issues arising. Also, many people don't want any kind of paperwork. If that is legal in their state, as it is in mine, I have no problem with no paperwork. Heck Ive sold guns without getting a receipt.
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10,259 Posts
I won’t ship because I don’t want to deal with the pissing and moaning about a gun that “looks to have a high round count” or that it has a hairline scratch that they weren’t told about. (That is so minute I didn’t know it was there myself)
I’m up front about what I sell, and I want the full and unquestioned approval from a prospective buyer befor cash changes hands.
Simply stated, it’s my gun and I call the shots, and I don’t want to screw with people. In just a few hours, a FTF deal can go from inquiry to done. A long distance deal can drag on for months. I have shipped, but the price is usually not as negotiable, and nearly everything is on my terms or it ain’t happnen’.
I’m up front about what I sell, and I want the full and unquestioned approval from a prospective buyer befor cash changes hands.
Simply stated, it’s my gun and I call the shots, and I don’t want to screw with people. In just a few hours, a FTF deal can go from inquiry to done. A long distance deal can drag on for months. I have shipped, but the price is usually not as negotiable, and nearly everything is on my terms or it ain’t happnen’.
Good point about having the buyer see it in person. No reason they could complain later.
Also good points in this thread about shipping being such a PITA.
But I definitely would be leery of some FTF only people. I’m thinking of another site where some guy we worked in baggage at the airport was caught smuggling guns he bought off that site.
Amazing how fast the ATF tracked down each sale and showed up to chat with everyone who sold a gun to the guy. Not that any of them did anything wrong.... I think it was the govts way of saying “we see you.”
The internet doesn’t provide any kind of privacy with these transactions. I don’t think a lot of folks get that.
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811 Posts
I always preferred FFL transfer. I dont want to take a chance being sold a stolen firearm or any firearm I've sold somehow ends up at a crime scene, I want to be able to prove I sold the firearm when they come looking for the last known owner.
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