Issue with a sale on Gunbroker

[thatguy12]

Hello Gentlemen,
I have some questions that need to be answered, and I believe this community can help me. I recently decided that I would like to buy an HK P30L. It was my understanding that I couldn't buy this pistol at a gun store, but I could buy it through a private party transfer. Well I went online and I did a google search and I found one online on Gunbroker. When I won my bid I didn't say I was a cop. My main income is from the GI Bill while I'm going to school. When I talked to the buyer I didn't say I was a Law Enforcement Officer, nor did I give him any reason to believe this. When our conversation was over it was my understanding that the pistol would be shipped to an FFL down near me, as he lived a bit ways away, and it would be a private party transfer. I paid for the item and the pistol arrived shortly. When it came in I was told that my transaction was not a private party transfer. When I explained this to the seller he said he was sorry and he assumed I was a LEO. He then sent me a screenshot of the Gunbroker page where it said it was my responsibility to make sure I could buy the item, and in the same screenshot it said no refunds. I have tried contacting the seller but he doesn't respond to texts or calls. I don't want to get the authorities involved as the seller is a former Marine, and as a former 1stMarDiv Corpsman I'm a bit reluctant to screw him over.


Here are my questions gentlemen:

1. What are my potential courses of action? I want majority of my money back. I offered to pay for shipping both ways and some money for his time and patience.

2. Should I feel cheated, or is this me just feeling upset because I failed to follow instructions?

3. Do you have any advice in general?

Thank you gentlemen. I understand I played a role in creating this debacle and I made mistakes, just looking to fix it.

[Eatmyshade]

Post it on the classifieds but mention it's for LEO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lone_Gunman]

It was your mistake. A PPT requires both parties to be present. If the gun was shipped it's not a PPT. The seller may have assumed that you knew what a PPT was, and assumed that if you were having the gun shipped that you were roster exempt.

[357magnum]

PPT means you both have to be at the FFL at the time of purchase.
Both seller and buyer must be CA residents and be at the FFL together with proper ID, FSC, ect.

[Wildhawk66]

Since you cannot conduct a PPT without the seller present, and you cannot take possession without conducting a PPT, I think you have two options.

1 - Police officers are roster exempt. Find one local to the gun that wants to buy it and have him purchase it as a non PPT.

2 - If the seller ever responds, see if you can pay him time plus travel costs to travel to you, or some portion of the way to you to do the transfer. If that doesn't work, you may be able to get your FFl to ship the gun to the sellers area and then you travel to him, but you will have to do that twice, once to dros and once to pickup.

[foxtrotuniformlima]

You are in a real tough spot -

1) Gun is yours - you bought it. Can't take possession but it's yours.

2) No. Buying a gun in CA is complicated at times due to the laws. Your responsibility to know them and how they apply to you. Sorry -

3) List it or sale on GB yourself and once sold, have the FFL ship it off. Unless you have a parent or grandparent in another state. If so, then you have another option.

[Mr. Beretta]

Ask the FFL who received the gun, if they want to purchase it and add it to their inventory. They can either sell it locally to a LEO, another FFL or out of state.

And yes....not wanting to add salt to the wound, it was your responsibility to make sure you could legally purchase / own the gun. Cut your losses and see how much the FFL offers for the gun.

Good Luck.

[thatguy12]

Thanks for the quick responses gentlemen. I have some LEO friends that I'll sell it to (if that is possible). I'm a bit miffed that the seller didn't correct me about the ppt but you're all right, it was my responsibility. I appreciate the help.