How to go about a purchase on Calguns

[motajose1996]

[Sure Shot 45]

Buying a firearm? Meet at the FFL for the PPT inspect the firearm in the parking lot or vehicle. Walk inside and do the PPT/DROS which you the buyer pays for.

[Garv]

Generally, you respond to an ad for what you want and set up a time and place to meet by sending the seller a PM.

Bring cash and inspect inside the store, can be done in the parking lot if it looks secure.

It it is in good shape, discretely hand over the cash and start the DROS. Avoid having a gun shipped unless you are very confident of the seller.

Make sure you have your FSC, extra ID such as car registration for your current address and your RealID CA drivers license.

If you put up a Want To Buy (WTB) ad, be very careful, that is where we have scammers saying they have things, money up front required. Do not do that.

Try to use an FFL that will release on "undetermined".

[motajose1996]

[Sure Shot 45]

Okay so you don’t pay until you’re at the gun store. Awesome that’s what I was wondering about cos I’ve seen posts in the past that want money up front, thanks for the help!!!

Never pay upfront. You need to physically inspect the firearm first. Unless of course the seller is shipping then you better have detailed pictures/info of the condition etc.

I respectfully disagree with member Garv about handing over the money in the store. You may inspect the firearm inside but do not exchange the cash in store.

[BigPimping]

Do not pay until you are at the gun store. Inspect the firearm for functionality and probably want to do a dry fire test. at that point, go to a secluded area of the store and pay the seller. I normally wait until the dros process is complete. YMMV.

[hermosabeach]

OP-

Watch a few episodes of Pawn Stars-

Not for the offering 40% of value....

But for listening to the questions and story that go with the item...
when did you get it
why did you buy it
how much was it used
why are you selling


Does the seller seem legit is what you are searching for....

and know how to inspect what you are buying....

AIRSOFT companies license products... so you can find rails made from beer can aluminum that look like a real rail or mount...

you can find air soft licensed and bootleg copies of most red dot optics...

know how to spot a real vs a clone...



Some people buy gear used... never use it and resell it... If they purchased a fake ACOG... and they think and paid a real price... well as the buyer you need to know what you are buying...

[Garv]

Okay so you don’t pay until you’re at the gun store. Awesome that’s what I was wondering about cos I’ve seen posts in the past that want money up front, thanks for the help!!!

Some people may ask for a small amount up front, my first seller asked for $10. I volunteered to put a small deposit on my second purchase since I asked the seller to hold it for me for a few days until I could drive 90 miles for the pickup.

You can expect some hesitation from some sellers as you have no iTrader rating. Ask the seller to give you one if all goes well to bump your "cred". Give him one in return.

I suggest you offering to drive to the seller at a time of his convenience.
Most of us will deal with a new person as long as we do not have to drive too far, but we get flake stories here once in a while that result in neutral or negative iTrader ratings which mean fewer people will take a chance on that person.

Good luck.

[Sure Shot 45]

Do not pay until you are at the gun store. Inspect the firearm for functionality and probably want to do a dry fire test. at that point, go to a secluded area of the store and pay the seller. I normally wait until the dros process is complete. YMMV.

I would disagree. What you're saying is to complete the PPT/DROS before paying? I would never start the PPT as a seller until I was paid in full. When the DROS is submitted you no longer own the firearm.

[Erion929]

Never pay upfront. You need to physically inspect the firearm first. Unless of course the seller is shipping then you better have detailed pictures/info of the condition etc.

I respectfully disagree with member Garv about handing over the money in the store. You may inspect the firearm inside but do not exchange the cash in store.

Disagree.

Paying inside the store is the only acceptable way to do it, as far as I’m concerned. Just put the cash in an envelope and discreetly hand it over to the seller after you inspect the firearm, and BEFORE you start paperwork.

Not paying inside the store, as in paying outside before the transaction, is crazy without seeing/inspecting the gun.

Not paying inside the store, as in after the DROS paperwork, is disrespectful to the seller (as he sometimes can leave earlier than the buyer, who has more paperwork) and can even be a problem, as he has already turned over his property.

.

[Sure Shot 45]

Disagree.

Paying inside the store is the only acceptable way to do it, as far as I’m concerned. Just put the cash in an envelope and discreetly hand it over to the seller after you inspect the firearm, and BEFORE you start paperwork.

Not paying inside the store, as in paying outside before the transaction, is crazy without seeing/inspecting the gun.

Not paying inside the store, as in after the DROS paperwork, is disrespectful to the seller (as he sometimes can leave earlier than the buyer, who has more paperwork) and can even be a problem, as he has already turned over his property.

.

I've been told numerous times by different FFL's "do not exchange money inside, go outside". I'm not going to knowingly disrespect them by doing so.

You misunderstood me about not seeing/inspecting the gun first. I never said that.

[czshooter]

If I am the seller my MO is as follows:
I allow the buyer to do a cursory inspection in the parking (if secure). if the firearm is acceptable, Then I will allow a deeper inspection in the store. If the firearm passes inspection, I require payment once I have produced my drivers License for the purchase. I will not sign the DROS before I receive payment. I also generally will only go to FFL’s that do allow payment inside the store (no turners). I also ask if it is ok to exchange cash in the store. I am also more comfortable dealing with members that have a reasonable itrader rating.

I follow the same protocol when I am the buyer.

Good luck with your purchase in these crazy times.

[Garv]

Maybe I should have clarified "discretely".

Some FFLs do not like to see the money change hands.

I have handed the seller an envelope inside the store most of the 10 or 12 times I bought a gun, never an issue, at 6 or so different stores.

I handed it over "under the table" out of view of the clerk.

I do not recall seeing a sign about handing over cash and never asked if it was OK.

[motajose1996]

What is I trader?

[Sure Shot 45]

What is I trader?

I trader is your feedback score. On the right side.