Selling gun on Calguns . . . procedure

[Brother_Hesekiel]

I have offered a gun for sale. Got PMs from three members (1), (2), and (3), of which two, (2) and (3), matured to a point where we agreed to meet. Not a firm place and time, but approximately.

Member (3) wants to meet on Friday, sometime, and member (2) wants to meet on Tuesday, so three days earlier. I entertained both offers to meet.

After I did that, member (3) posted "I'll take it" on the forum. Member (2) did not do that. How do I proceed now? Do I tell member (2) that member (3) has the first shot based on his post on the thread, although three days later, or do I meet member (2) and if member (2) takes the gun, tell member (3) that it has been sold.

I want to play this by the rule book. Advise needed.

[manuelcardenas77]

I usually go by the first PM, the time schedule is up to you, I've held items for sellers with positive feedback for up to a week.

[skosh69]

I usually go by the first PM, the time schedule is up to you, I've held items for sellers with positive feedback for up to a week.

I would have to agree with ^^^ Unless you stated "first I'll take it gets it", then first pm gets first dibs. If it doesn't work out with #2 on Tues, then #3 is up on Friday.

Let both parties know what's up also, no need to string anyone along either. But that's just me.

[Freedom_shooter]

Selling gun on Calguns . . . procedure

I view PM's as informal. If I make an arrangement, I ask the potential buyer to post in the thread claiming the top in the pecking order.
That also makes other potential buyers less skeptical about you given the private nature of PM's.

If I got a "hot" item then I'll ask for a $50/$100 deposit so it keeps the buyer honest and I resist urges to sell to a impatient buyer who is determined to buy the item that same day.

A lot of this is predicated on the buyers itrader rating as well.

[-hanko]

I view PM's as informal. If I make an arrangement, I ask the potential buyer to post in the thread claiming the top in the pecking order.
That also makes other potential buyers less skeptical about you given the private nature of PM's.

If I got a "hot" item then I'll ask for a $50/$100 deposit so it keeps the buyer honest and I resist urges to sell to a impatient buyer who is determined to buy the item that same day.

A lot of this is predicated on the buyers itrader rating as well.

I'm of the opposite view...I'm used to selling on forums (e.g., arf and the FAL File) where the first "I'll take it" is the same as shaking the buyer's or seller's hand through the web.

But situational ethics as found in California pretty much negate the old saw that "a man's word is his bond"...no rules here that I've ever seen controlling who's first. If I actually have to post a weapon FS, I always note that 1st I'll take it seals the deal.

Normally, anything I buy or sell I can do without the Marketplace here simply by sending a PM to someone who notes they might be interested in a certain gun in a thread on calguns not related to buying or selling.

[ifilef]

I look at it this way- there's no deal until there's a deal.

If both parties agree on price, date, time and location of PPT, I mark the listing as SPF to that person. Everything else is just bargaining and 'ifs' and 'buts' and 'maybes'.

[beerman]

1st PM of "I'll take it" rule here....If a guy posts I'll take it in a thread,he should have already PM'ed the seller. Since I usually give my guns away cheap, I've been thru this. And no I don't have anything for sale at this time.

[uxo2]

I'll take it
Trumps all.

[hermosabeach]

Showing up with cash and taking it trumps all

[ElDub1950]

It should be the first one you solidify the deal with. "I'll take it" posts and PMs are nice to have but until you both agree on the price and terms, they don't mean anything.

I've rejected a first PM with a full price offers because the buyer had 1 post and no iTrader. Had another where we agreed on everything until it came to where to do the transfer and the buyer wanted me to drive 90 miles 1 way to meet near him. So, 'I'll take it' and a PM mean more than someone is interested.

I don't buy and sell much, but personally, I don't feel obligated to accept any particular offer. But as soon as we agree on the price, place, date & time, then it's over.

[ElDub1950]

1st PM of "I'll take it" rule here....If a guy posts I'll take it in a thread,he should have already PM'ed the seller. Since I usually give my guns away cheap, I've been thru this. And no I don't have anything for sale at this time.

There's no '1st PM' rule here.

But rule #2 does state:

2) Buyers and Sellers assume any and all risks in any transaction.

Since I assume all risks, I retain the right to evaluate any PM however I wish, and decide on a case by case basis.

Marketplace Rules

[billped]

Whatever you decide, communicate politely to the others. You will need one of them if the first flakes (and we have a very high flake ratio).

[golfrj]

ALWAYS state in your ad first "I will take It" gets the deal.. Your situation now, I say go with the guy who is Ready to BUY NOW..

[SkyHawk]

First one to agree with me on a time, place, and price is in the first slot when I sell. Assuming the buyer has good feedback, it doesn't matter if someone else can meet sooner, if they were not the first to agree to a time, place, and price they are not first. If you are in a bad way for cash in a hurry, that might not work for you in which case you should give the first buyer a chance to meet your deadline.

If negotiations with two buyers was progressing along similar tracks, and they both agreed to the time/place/price then I guess the first to have PMd me gets first dibs.

All that depends on feedback though, a tie breaker always goes to the guy with higher feedback if there is a wide disparity in feedback. That is my prerogative as a seller. Because as others have said, we have some flakes here.

As a buyer, I usually only post "I'll take it" after I have agreed to a time, place and price with the seller. At that time, I am of the mind that we have made a deal and my public posting of "i'll take it" is done sometimes by request of the seller, or otherwise to give the seller confidence that I have also made a public commitment on top of my private commitment. It sounds like one of your buyers has done this.

Whatever you do, figure out who is your number one right away, and let the other guy know he is #2 with first dibs if the deal falls through.

[Cokebottle]

^^^ This.

It would suck to bypass the Tuesday potential buyer only to have the Friday guy flake.
The "I'll take it" post may have been to simply support a later negative iTrader if he knew that you were in contact with other potential buyers.

Either way you're kinda screwed now.
Sell it on Tuesday and Friday leaves you a neg.
Tell Tuesday "Sorry, Mr Friday said I'll Take It" and you get a neg from him... and when Friday flakes, the offered price just got knocked down.