Private party gun purchase escrow?

[Puss]

I've never bought a gun from a private party, but I'm in the market for one, and have gotten a couple of replies from one to 5 post accounts, i.e. new people. If it was local, I guess we could both go to an FFL, like Cabellas or Big 5, but when the seller is in SoCal and I'm in NorCal, things get complicated.

Is there an escrow service? How do you go about this? I would prefer a middle man rather than hope all goes well. In fact I wouldn't even try an all-goes-well-let's-hope-for-the-best approach.

[SkyHawk]

All the replies you got are fake, scammers

Unless you are talking mid to high five figure gun, no one is sending you anything using escrow.

So, you either vet the sellers and send them immutable payment before they ship, or you don't buy.

And off roster guns must be done face to face, no shipping.

And never do a PPT at Cabelas or Big 5 or any big box store - lol

[003]

New members with very low participation on calguns seeking to made a sale without personal contact is often times an indicator of a scam.

Be very careful.

[M1NM]

You'll want to do local PPT deals for all but the rarest guns on you bucket list. Any shipping to an FFL takes it from the PPT sale and greatly increases your costs.

[sfe187]

Its NOT complicated. I'm in SoCal, have traveled to Redding, Sac, Stockton, Bay area, SD and more in the past for ppt.

[IVC]

You won't be able to deal with escrow because of nuances of gun possession and ownership. It would have to be an FFL, which would be similar to using your local FFL in the first place. I doubt they would be willing to act as an escrow, which has its own legal requirements and responsibilities to both parties.

[IVC]

In fact I wouldn't even try an all-goes-well-let's-hope-for-the-best approach.

This is the only sensible option - don't get scammed.

[M1NM]

Its NOT complicated. I'm in SoCal, have traveled to Redding, Sac, Stockton, Bay area, SD and more in the past for ppt.

But expensive at $4-5 dollars a gallon unless you are traveling for some other reason. It would have to be an exceptional deal to justify pouring a couple hundred dollars worth of gas through the tank.
I even take my time into account when deciding to sell a gun. If the profit doesn't compensate me for my time I just keep it - it will be worth more next year anyway.

[saki302]

If a gun is rare or desirable enough, buyers have flown down to so cal to complete a PPT transfer with me.
Of course they need to return in 10 days to collect.

Otherwise, it's a scam. No escrow, come in person, hand me cash, do your paperwork. No if/ands/or buts..

-Dave

[sfe187]

Before get into if financially make sense, first, ask yourself and evaluate risk/reward. Is the gun worth all this trouble or is the deal that great. Then vetting the seller from iTrader to past posts, call and have a conversation with the seller and get a feel of his mannerism and how he conduct business. For example if we made an agreement and he continues to bump or he is wishy washy or the day before meet up you make contact he doesn't reply in a timely manner, those all red flags for me period.

Call his area FFL to see if any hiccups as each FFL is different policies on ppt.

Calculate/math on expenses (two trips).

If all the stars and everything aligned I go for it. Its a calculate risk. I do understand it still a chance of falling out at any reason and I could get stuck into a jam traveling all the way up there and something goes wrong. I did my own risk assessment and its the gamble i'll take.

Everyone situation is different, so evaluate your own time, money, and etc.