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FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:05 am
by Grumpy_Grampa
Hey all...

I'm almost positive I saw a posting about this last year here but cant seem to find it in searches..

When you are selling a gun where do you do the FTF?? At your home or somewhere else? I've got a few items I've decided to get rid of in order to buy some others. Have always bought but never sold or traded..

I'm not sure I'm real comfortable having strangers come to my house but also is a public place any safer?

Any thoughts would be appreciated... Thought about just using my xfer ffl to do it but these are mostly low end guns...

Thanks!

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:27 am
by seamusTX
I recommend meeting at a range. The buyer can shoot the piece if he wants, and you have other people around to provide some reassurance against skulduggery.

I think meeting in parking lots and the like can draw attention to what might look like a drug deal.

- Jim

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:28 am
by Kerbouchard
I, personally, like to do a transfer at a shooting range, but have been known to meet people at Bass Pro, or just about any parking lot that is well lit and not too crowded.
seamusTX wrote: I think meeting in parking lots and the like can draw attention to what might look like a drug deal.
- Jim
Well, we posted at just about the same time...as far as if it looks like a drug deal, I'm not overly concerned with that. I'm not doing anything illegal, and the police are welcome to be a party to the transaction...heck, if they showed up, I might even ask them to run the serial number...

Which reminds me, if it is somebody I don't have any history with, or who doesn't have a good standing and/or history with one of the online forums I frequent, I have asked people if they would do the transfer at a police station.

I've only had one person ever say no, so needless to say, I was no longer interested in the sale.

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:10 am
by propellerhead
Kerbouchard wrote:...I have asked people if they would do the transfer at a police station.

I've only had one person ever say no, so needless to say, I was no longer interested in the sale.
What if they say yes? Do you contact the police station to let them know? Or do you ask just as a test?

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:44 pm
by Mr.Scott
I'm a big fan of using Fry's parking lots. Lots of people, less likely to have something go sour. Though everyone I've ever met has been a good to deal with. Though meeting people from online boards like this give me more since of security as they are typically people like minded and so forth, now if selling something on Craigslist I'll always have a friend accompany me.

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:48 pm
by Kerbouchard
propellerhead wrote:
Kerbouchard wrote:...I have asked people if they would do the transfer at a police station.

I've only had one person ever say no, so needless to say, I was no longer interested in the sale.
What if they say yes? Do you contact the police station to let them know? Or do you ask just as a test?
I just call the station ahead of time and ask if they mind if I bring in a firearm for them to run a check on it since I will be purchasing it. They don't have a problem with it, but they usually want you to bring it in, just in case it does come up as stolen or something.

When I bring it in, I just make sure its in its case and unloaded.

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:09 pm
by drw
Acting naturally and "non suspiciously" goes a long way. I've bought and sold in nearly any kind of public place you could think of (except a post office parking lot!!) and never had a problem.

I once bought a WASR-10 type rifle and we met in an HEB parking lot in Austin. I openly inspected the rifle and held it openly while we discussed the piece for 5 minutes or so.

I think the root of problems is in suspicious behavior. We acted naturally (we were acting within our rights and in complete obedience to the law) and nobody seemed to have been alarmed.

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:09 pm
by propellerhead
That's good to know. Thanks.

Re: FTF transactions?

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:45 pm
by Grumpy_Grampa
Thanks folks... Range sounds like a great idea... Then they can try before they buy.. :fire