Need help.

[jcreek]

I'm trying to buy a kimber tactical custom ii as a new duty weapon online. I usually buy new but everywhere I've talked to says Kimber is 9-12 months out. I've never bought online and was wondering what the best way to do it is to avoid being ripped off. I live in WA and the two I'm looking at on Armslist are in WI and FL. Last I heard Paypal didn't allow firearm transactions and I have no desire to have them freeze $1000 of my cash. What are some other good escrow services to use? Any procedural advice?

 

[Koolbota]

I just received $1500 in a Postal MO for a FN that will ship tomorrow.

You do business with those you trust and pony up the cash.

 

[wolf_fire]

I'm trying to buy a kimber tactical custom ii as a new duty weapon online. I usually buy new but everywhere I've talked to says Kimber is 9-12 months out. I've never bought online and was wondering what the best way to do it is to avoid being ripped off. I live in WA and the two I'm looking at on Armslist are in WI and FL. Last I heard Paypal didn't allow firearm transactions and I have no desire to have them freeze $1000 of my cash. What are some other good escrow services to use? Any procedural advice?

Prepaid credit card?

 

[dogshawred]

What would be the difference of them holding a grand or you giving up a grand for the purchase. One way or the other this grand is going to leave you and you are going to get the gun you want. RIGHT?

 

[jcreek]

What would be the difference of them holding a grand or you giving up a grand for the purchase. One way or the other this grand is going to leave you and you are going to get the gun you want. RIGHT?

Not if PayPal freezes it. They have a bad habit of freezing all of the cash in your account for violations of their terms. In that case, I lose a grand and have to go through a lengthy appeals process and don't get crap in return.

 

[Purple]

Postal money order is the way to go or electronic funds transfer by POP systems. I've used both.

 

[jcreek]

Postal money order is the way to go or electronic funds transfer by POP systems. I've used both.

If I send him a PMO and then he never ships it, is there anyway to recoup the loss?

 

[Dekul34]

Most people don't accept paypal for firearms purchase, but if that's how they want paid, pay their paypal account with credit (get a prepaid if you have to) instead of a paypal account of your own. Then if paypal freezes the money it's on their end, and if your item doesn't get shipped you dispute the charge on the credit card.

 

[BluesStringer]

If I send him a PMO and then he never ships it, is there anyway to recoup the loss?

You're going through FFLs, right? Have your FFL confirm your seller's FFL is in possession of the firearm before you send the PMO. Make PMO payable to his FFL. They can settle up between themselves right after your Kimber is shipped to your FFL.

If either of your prospective sellers are dealers (FFL themselves), buy from that one and eliminate one third-party FFL middleman. Otherwise, the only legal way is for seller and buyer to transact through FFL in their state, making it a four-party transaction. Cumbersome, but if the seller wants to sell and is willing to ship interstate, seems they would understand your security concerns and put both the money and the weapon through their FFL.

Blues

 

[jcreek]

If I send him a PMO and then he never ships it, is there anyway to recoup the loss?

You're going through FFLs, right? Have your FFL confirm your seller's FFL is in possession of the firearm before you send the PMO. Make PMO payable to his FFL. They can settle up between themselves right after your Kimber is shipped to your FFL.

If either of your prospective sellers are dealers (FFL themselves), buy from that one and eliminate one third-party FFL middleman. Otherwise, the only legal way is for seller and buyer to transact through FFL in their state, making it a four-party transaction. Cumbersome, but if the seller wants to sell and is willing to ship interstate, seems they would understand your security concerns and put both the money and the weapon through their FFL.

Blues

Thanks for advice. And yes I'd prefer to go through FFLs on both ends. On top of the added confidence it should save money because, from what I understand FFL-FFL transactions can ship however they want but Private party-FFL must ship overnight.

One seller hasn't responded at all yet and I haven't heard back from the other one yet as to which FFL he uses. Neither one is a dealer themselves.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice.

 

[Koolbota]

Prepare to add $100+ to your purchase. FFL to FFL, two transfers and shipping.

As seller you will pay my shipping FFL fee, then again, I would not sell to someone requiring a shipping FFL.

 

[jcreek]

Prepare to add $100+ to your purchase. FFL to FFL, two transfers and shipping.

As seller you will pay my shipping FFL fee, then again, I would not sell to someone requiring a shipping FFL.

Lol you wouldn't sell to some requiring a shipping FFL? Why? And why do say $100+? My FFL charges $15 for transfer $15-$20 shipping? Even paying for the other FFL fee which I expected to have to do it doesn't add up to $100. All of your posts seem like but flame. Somebody like you would be the last person I would blindly send a check to in the mail.

 

[Koolbota]

Lol you wouldn't sell to some requiring a shipping FFL? Why? And why do say $100+? My FFL charges $15 for transfer $15-$20 shipping? Even paying for the other FFL fee which I expected to have to do it doesn't add up to $100. All of your posts seem like but flame. Somebody like you would be the last person I would blindly send a check to in the mail.

At $15 your FFL is dirt cheap, most are around $30.

See how it all works out for ya.

 

[AndeyHall]

If I send him a PMO and then he never ships it, is there anyway to recoup the loss?

You're going through FFLs, right? Have your FFL confirm your seller's FFL is in possession of the firearm before you send the PMO. Make PMO payable to his FFL. They can settle up between themselves right after your Kimber is shipped to your FFL.

If either of your prospective sellers are dealers (FFL themselves), buy from that one and eliminate one third-party FFL middleman. Otherwise, the only legal way is for seller and buyer to transact through FFL in their state, making it a four-party transaction. Cumbersome, but if the seller wants to sell and is willing to ship interstate, seems they would understand your security concerns and put both the money and the weapon through their FFL.

Blues

According to my local FFL the seller doesn't have to go through an FFL on their end, you just have to go through an FFL on the receiving end. Unless I'm buying from an FFL this is the way I try and go because why pay an unnecessary transfer fee on one end?

 

[jcreek]

If I send him a PMO and then he never ships it, is there anyway to recoup the loss?

You're going through FFLs, right? Have your FFL confirm your seller's FFL is in possession of the firearm before you send the PMO. Make PMO payable to his FFL. They can settle up between themselves right after your Kimber is shipped to your FFL.

If either of your prospective sellers are dealers (FFL themselves), buy from that one and eliminate one third-party FFL middleman. Otherwise, the only legal way is for seller and buyer to transact through FFL in their state, making it a four-party transaction. Cumbersome, but if the seller wants to sell and is willing to ship interstate, seems they would understand your security concerns and put both the money and the weapon through their FFL.

Blues

According to my local FFL the seller doesn't have to go through an FFL on their end, you just have to go through an FFL on the receiving end. Unless I'm buying from an FFL this is the way I try and go because why pay an unnecessary transfer fee on one end?

You're correct, legally only the receiver has to go through an FFL. However, I see two benefits of having the seller/shipper go through an FFL. One, it gives me a higher degree of confidence that the seller is legit. Two, you're right you have to pay the additional transfer fee, BUT...FFLs can ship handguns USPS first class for about $15-$20. Private parties may only ship via UPS or FedEx and they require the gun to be shipped over night and insured. From what I've read that's about $80-$90 bucks. Even if the FFL transfer fee is $30 like koolbota's is, $30 for the transfer and $20 for shipping USPS is still cheaper (and in my opinion safer) than shipping overnight UPS.

 

[dogshawred]

Eliminate PayPal

Not if PayPal freezes it. They have a bad habit of freezing all of the cash in your account for violations of their terms. In that case, I lose a grand and have to go through a lengthy appeals process and don't get crap in return.

That is the whole point here getting away from PayPal and their intervention. Do you have a credit union available to join in you area, if so you can open an account to use strictly for on-line electronic transfers without exposing your regular everyday used account information on the internet or by mail. (this not a special account they have just a standard share draft account with checking and debit card availability) You can even get a debit card you can use strictly for that account and simply transfer money in when you need to cover a purchase made. Most credit unions have on line access and there is even now CURCU which will give you access through your smart phone. Eliminate PayPal altogether and be free. You are still guarding your financial information. I use one all the time for this purpose and feel perfectly safe as my on line account has no connection to any of my other account information.

 

[Lakeland Bob]

Go to Gunbroker.com, there are 4 Kimbers on there and one is a new one offered by a FFL. They all have a track record and you can feel safer working thru them.

I buy on Armslist but I am finding so many scammers on there now that I will only do a FTF transaction.

There's a guy on there now,Robin Cruz, that actually has 10 guns that he is using for phishing. I have tried to buy FTF and keep getting some garbled English automated responses asking for my FFL information so he can arrange for me to send him the shipping money.

Just saying.

 

[BluesStringer]

Go to Gunbroker.com, there are 4 Kimbers on there and one is a new one offered by a FFL. They all have a track record and you can feel safer working thru them.

I buy on Armslist but I am finding so many scammers on there now that I will only do a FTF transaction.

There's a guy on there now,Robin Cruz, that actually has 10 guns that he is using for phishing. I have tried to buy FTF and keep getting some garbled English automated responses asking for my FFL information so he can arrange for me to send him the shipping money.

Just saying.

I was wondering why stick with Armslist if he's going interstate anyway myself. I only use them for in-state, FTF too. You can set search criteria to dealers-only and then go interstate fairly safely, but GB's selection is vastly better than AL's anyway, so if I'm willing to buy interstate, I use GB. Their Feedback system is familiar (basically the same as eBay), and it's meaningful when you're buying from a dealer with a hundred or more transactions and a high positive rating.

Is there any reason you don't want to go with Gunbroker jcreek?

Blues

 

[MADnMO]

+1 for Gun Broker. Look at sellers feedback. Read the description well and look at the photos. Make sure they have a short inspection period so you can return if it is not as described.

I have over 200 transactions on Gun Broker and have not been ripped off yet.

 

[jcreek]

Go to Gunbroker.com, there are 4 Kimbers on there and one is a new one offered by a FFL. They all have a track record and you can feel safer working thru them.

I buy on Armslist but I am finding so many scammers on there now that I will only do a FTF transaction.

There's a guy on there now,Robin Cruz, that actually has 10 guns that he is using for phishing. I have tried to buy FTF and keep getting some garbled English automated responses asking for my FFL information so he can arrange for me to send him the shipping money.

Just saying.

Holy crap. I've been emailing him back and forth for days. I've been extremely suspicious of him by the way he acted and his evasive answers. Thanks for confirming that for me. First email I sent him I asked him several gun specific condition questions and he spent me back a spec sheet for the gun copied and pasted from Kimber's website.. And when I kept asking for his FFL info like blues suggested he just kept insisting he would ship it.