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Buying Firearms from Online sites

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mlv2k5 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mlv2k5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Buying Firearms from Online sites
    Posted: September/22/2011 at 20:38
I'm sure a ton of people here have purchased firearms from the various online auction sites etc, generally speaking about how long would you say is an appropriate time for a dealer to hold a rifle once a commitment has been made for the receipt of funds? I ask because I have been having trouble with a dealer over this issue. Last week was particularly chaotic and it took seven days between when I spoke with him on the phone and verbally committed to the deal to his receipt of funds. Apparently this was a huge imposition and he has since refused to sell the rifle to me.

Maybe I am the one in the wrong here and if thats the consensus then I guess it will just be a lesson learned, but I don't feel that one week between agreement and receipt of funds is really anything to raise a stink over... I really liked the rifle and I had negotiated a very good deal for myself with this dealer. I kind of feel like he was using the delay of funds excuse to go ahead and sell the rifle for a higher price to someone else, despite his obvious protestations that this was not the case. 

Whatever, the thing is over and done with but I would like to know how everyone here feels about it as I can't say I agree with the position he took, particularly since he never made any attempt to contact me before deciding to sell the rifle to someone else. 
-Michael
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ebow86 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2011 at 20:55
I have never purchased a firearm online so I can't offer any advice there, but i guess this is a valuable lesson for you. The situation could have turned out much worse, feel lucky.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2011 at 21:06
I've purchased three firearms online (well, one by calling SWFA, but they're online and not local to me). All three transactions went well. The other two were with the Civilian Marksmanship Program and Aim Surplus. I wouldn't expect a problem with SWFA or CMP and Aim was fine too. I think part of it is the vendor choice. When in doubt, use a credit card. But I'd avoid questionable dealers. Just imagining unraveling a bad deal that involves a firearm and FFPs makes me cringe.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JLud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2011 at 21:08

I have bought almost exclusively online.  I started out giving local shops a chance, many times they would laugh at me when I told them the price, thinking I was being dishonest, and tell me to go ahead and go get it then.  Once had them told me they couldnt even get it for that price, so to me some of the best deals are online, but from reputable sources.

 
One week isnt that uncommon or long of a time.  Most auctions or sellers will state a timeline for payment.  If they didnt post one, then you are probably right, they wanted to back out of the deal for some reason.  This is probably a good thing for you, as if they wont do the right thing and sell you the rifle, they are already questionable in my book, and trust has been lost.
 
I like purchasing online weapons with a credit card.  Many will charge a 2 to 3% fee, but if you get points back it will offset the cost, and there are the advantages of rapid payment (and thus rapid delivery) and that it offers the buyer protection in the event anything goes wrong.
 
Try using a CC for next purchase.  Gunbroker has many good sellers, Budsgunshop is great, and you already know where to get optics! 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2011 at 21:10
IMO 7 days is along time with the types of payments that are available today.  Wires, paypal, credit cards can make payment instantaneous.  Even mailing a check should not take more than 3 or 4 days.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mlv2k5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/22/2011 at 23:56
Good to hear from some different viewpoints. In general I too consider 7 days to be longer than expected, but as I said it was a chaotic week for me and I simply did not have the time to get to a bank during business hours to get a certified check then get to the post office. I guess what really eats me is that the dealer never inquired about payment, never called, never emailed until they had already decided to sell the rifle to another customer. 

Well lesson learned, dont do business with them again, and from now on it will be credit card payments only for me unless I have spoken with the dealer beforehand and specifically designated a time period for payment. thanks for the input.


-Michael
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2011 at 07:37
Originally posted by JLud JLud wrote:

I have bought almost exclusively online.  I started out giving local shops a chance, many times they would laugh at me when I told them the price, thinking I was being dishonest, and tell me to go ahead and go get it then.  Once had them told me they couldnt even get it for that price, so to me some of the best deals are online, but from reputable sources.

 
One week isnt that uncommon or long of a time.  Most auctions or sellers will state a timeline for payment.  If they didnt post one, then you are probably right, they wanted to back out of the deal for some reason.  This is probably a good thing for you, as if they wont do the right thing and sell you the rifle, they are already questionable in my book, and trust has been lost.
 
I like purchasing online weapons with a credit card.  Many will charge a 2 to 3% fee, but if you get points back it will offset the cost, and there are the advantages of rapid payment (and thus rapid delivery) and that it offers the buyer protection in the event anything goes wrong.
 
Try using a CC for next purchase.  Gunbroker has many good sellers, Budsgunshop is great, and you already know where to get optics! 


Very well said. I would also say yes to using credit cards... and no to using debit cards.



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 308 Sav Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2011 at 07:39
Just my opinion. 

The seller should have contacted you to find out if the payment had gone out in the mail and been lost or something. You should have contacted them to let them know you got held up at getting to the bank that week. I assume a lot of people back out on verbal deals like that.

In today's electronic age of banking people are used to almost immediately sending and receiving payment. Hell, when I write a check at the supermarket they scan it through their reader and hand my check back to me. The deal is done.

I do all my  payments on line now except one, they do not give that option. It is secure nowadays, and instantaneous.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2011 at 07:49
I've purchased a lot of guns online.  Via auction sites, forums, retail sites..... all have been fine to deal with.  Some ask for certified checks to save them money, I normally oblige but occationally need to use a CC as the funds may not be free'ed up yet.  My experience when mailing checks has been that if I call and say I am going to buy a gun they say ok mail a check to this address.  I say ok and tell them hey it will go out by such and such date. I had a check get lost once. They didn't complain and I sent a new check two weeks after the date the first check was mailed, they knew the funds were coming and had proof of such ( i faxed a copy of the check over the day it mailed the first time)  SOmetimes its smart on your part to insure they know your not jerking them around.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2011 at 20:26
I've also bought guns from online actions and dealers, excellent communication between you and the other party is of most importance to protect both of you. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2011 at 22:36
 I buy mostly on-line. Communication is needed on both sides. The seller should post their selling procedure and time lines.  If you did not keep in contact to keep the seller up to date shame on you. I always notify the seller immediately on sending the check. With daily communication, the seller does not have reason for doubts of whether you have backed out or not. Not keeping in touch, if nothing else is discourteous.  When sellers have had experiences with dead beat buyers that never send the money they tend to get anxious quicker. If He did not try and contact you shame on him. Have you contacted the auction house to file a complaint. That can go both ways. You will need to be able to show due diligence on your part. I consider 7 days short if a long cross country distance is involved unless there is no communication involved. 7 days is a long time with no word. If nothing else, good communication has helped me get invited to some great hunts in other parts of the country that I may have never been able to go to.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/24/2011 at 07:46
Considering speed of the mail I would not think one week is excessive time.  I would certainly leave feedback regarding the negative experience if it is possible like on gunbroker.   I've bought a few guns on gunbroker or from Impact guns as it is difficult to find colt pistols in stock at dealers here. I pay with a card by  phone so even if they charge an additional percentage its done right now.

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