HELP. Am I being taken for a ride?

[JDay]

One thing I'd like to know is have you asked whether or not you can make a credit card payment? Most credit card companies have fraud protection and will not make you responsible for certain stuff you get ripped off on.

USPS money orders come with a ton of protection from the federal government. I'd feel much better using one of those since the CC company usually just writes it off but the Postal Inspector will get involved in cases of mail fraud.

[SnWnMe]

Here is my response..........

"What do you take me for? There is no way that I would even begin to consider doing that. In no way would I ever try to tell another man to run his business but really, how can you ask me to hand over 300 dollars to someone that I have never even met before, for an item he doesn't have, nor even have an ETA for. Does this sound reasonable to you?

I am also fairly positive that it is ILLEGAL or at least some degree of malpractice to charge for a HSC and DROS application without the physical presence of both the customer and the firearm.

I'm a firm supporter of small businesses, and I wanted to give you my business, but I guess you figured you could just take me for a ride. I think I've been speaking with the wrong person. Good bye ***."

In addition to this, in a previous email, he told me that he could start the DROS process for me 10 days before my 21st birthday and I could pick up the handgun on the day I turned 21? As far as I know, this is FALSE. Am I in the right to be this disgusted?
What actions should I take?
http://www.minutemanfirearms.com/[/url]

Yes.

Learn tact and diplomacy.

[tmuller]

Learn tact and diplomacy.

Good suggestion. I also have to agree with Wes. Didn't even sound shady except for the DROS before 21 issue. When I first read the OP my initial response was NO, you're not getting ripped off. I've put money down on guns that were not in stock and have yet to be burned. Knocks on wood...

[SunriseF150]

Well I put down a $350 deposit for my FFL to order my XD45 w/ night sights. Their distributor had 1 left in stock. The XD40 sub compact w/ night sights was what I originally wanted but she had no idea when one would be available. So it was either wait maybe a few months for that one, or get the 45 now. I wanted the 45 too so it wasn't like I was settling for something else.

If you asked him for his FFL# and looked it up to see it's valid, you could have found out if he was for real or not. And like Wes said, he may have just made a mistake on the DROS part about you being able to fill it out a week before you turn 21.


Hell I went into a gun shop a few weeks ago looking for a used python. They told me they don't get them in on consignment very often. I told them there's only 1 model on the approved list and finding that one might be very hard. They told me that I could get the other models shipped here from out of state as long as it's used. I said doesn't it have to be in CA already, and do a PPT, for me to purchase a non approved handgun. They said, nope you can have a non approved handgun shipped in as long as it's used. I am pretty damn sure thats not correct. Luckily I found one for sale here in CA anyways.

[dfletcher]

USPS money orders come with a ton of protection from the federal government. I'd feel much better using one of those since the CC company usually just writes it off but the Postal Inspector will get involved in cases of mail fraud.

Have to disagree on this one - with a CC I'm using their $$$ (CC company)and they can try & get it back or write it off, makes no difference to me. But with USPS I'm stuck trying to get back my money.

I've done a few charge backs for services/product not received. Since so many people do use USPS I think it would be helpful to hear from those who have tried to get their $$$ back - what was the process, how well did it go. Might be a good tutorial.

[dfletcher]

Well I put down a $350 deposit for my FFL to order my XD45 w/ night sights. Their distributor had 1 left in stock. The XD40 sub compact w/ night sights was what I originally wanted but she had no idea when one would be available. So it was either wait maybe a few months for that one, or get the 45 now. I wanted the 45 too so it wasn't like I was settling for something else.

If you asked him for his FFL# and looked it up to see it's valid, you could have found out if he was for real or not. And like Wes said, he may have just made a mistake on the DROS part about you being able to fill it out a week before you turn 21.


Hell I went into a gun shop a few weeks ago looking for a used python. They told me they don't get them in on consignment very often. I told them there's only 1 model on the approved list and finding that one might be very hard. They told me that I could get the other models shipped here from out of state as long as it's used. I said doesn't it have to be in CA already, and do a PPT, for me to purchase a non approved handgun. They said, nope you can have a non approved handgun shipped in as long as it's used. I am pretty damn sure thats not correct. Luckily I found one for sale here in CA anyways.

That's interesting. I bought a mid 70s Model 28 a while ago, have a C & R and COE and the dealer did the 4473, DROS and handed the thing to me as in "here ya go - have a nice day". Talk about moment of truth, had to tell him I had to do the wait.

We're so used to "anti FUD" & what we can't have, maybe we need "pro FUD" when someone makes a mistake the other way? Then again, if it's good news I guess it's not really FUD.

[csmintel]

Also, almost half of my training partners are LEO so I'll try to get their opinions too tomorrow evening.

LEO's, well, most of them are not lawyers. you may need to ask someone who knows more, much more.

[JDay]

Have to disagree on this one - with a CC I'm using their $$$ (CC company)and they can try & get it back or write it off, makes no difference to me. But with USPS I'm stuck trying to get back my money.

I've done a few charge backs for services/product not received. Since so many people do use USPS I think it would be helpful to hear from those who have tried to get their $$$ back - what was the process, how well did it go. Might be a good tutorial.

If you send a USPS money order and get nothing in exchange it becomes mail fraud, the FBI and USPS Inspectors will get involved. Most criminals don't want a federal investigation. If you get their FFL# and send it to that address it make recovering your money much easier too. In fact you shouldn't deal with any FFL via mail without verifying that #.