(transfer) Buying/selling a ca to ca firearm

[Dano3467]

Please move, if in wrong place.

I have never procured a firearm through a member on this site.

I have bought before. But cash was much smaller, so I just trusted the seller, & sent cash. They would ship, after cashing my check. worked fine.

This will be much bigger, & it's a firearm, instead of just an item.

I have in past, done FTF, then of transferred direct from a gun shop purchase, out of state, into Ca.

Anyway, how does this all work, to ship/have shipped a members firearm (rifle not banned) from inside Ca.

Just how to exchange $, for firearm, the safest way for both parties ?

As always, appreciate CG members knowledgeable input.

[boogak]

best to ask your preferred ffl their process, fees and requirements.

[M1NM]

Shipping a firearm to a dealer for transfer takes it out of PPT and opens you up to whatever fee your FFL decides to charge for receiving the gun. Unlike a PPT he has to log this gun into his bound book and most charge $25-150 for that service. Check with the your FFL re: his fee. Then figure out if you are better off finding one local to PPT after you pay shipping and the receiving fee - it could also open you up to owing sales tax on your purchase.
IF you 110% trust the seller a USPS money order is best. DON'T send PayPay (they will ban you for a gun deal) - Crypto or other transfer where once your $ is sent you have no recourse. A credit card is best where if your gun doesn't show up you may be able to recover your money but most private sellers don't have the ability to take CCs.

[ar15barrels]

Please move, if in wrong place.

I have never procured a firearm through a member on this site.

I have bought before. But cash was much smaller, so I just trusted the seller, & sent cash. They would ship, after cashing my check. worked fine.

This will be much bigger, & it's a firearm, instead of just an item.

I have in past, done FTF, then of transferred direct from a gun shop purchase, out of state, into Ca.

Anyway, how does this all work, to ship/have shipped a members firearm (rifle not banned) from inside Ca.

Just how to exchange $, for firearm, the safest way for both parties ?

As always, appreciate CG members knowledgeable input.

The process is exactly the same as from out of state.
You send payment to the seller.
The seller ships to your FFL of choice.
You do the DROS at your FFL.

The FFL can charge you any amount he wants for the transfer as the transfer is NOT a private party transfer if both the buyer and seller are not present at the FFL's shop to do the transfer.

[Dano3467]

Have already had contact with my FFL

My FFL charges $50 for transfer. If this helps.

Another question, if you please. I am thinking that I (maybe) will travel to see, & pay (cash) for firearm (is this a good idea ?). Then have his FFL ship to mine. 10 day wait, but will not have to make second trip. It's a good distance.

[SharedShots]

"Just how to exchange $, for firearm, the safest way for both parties ?" was part of your question OP and sending money in advance is safe for the seller (them) but no so much for the buyer (you).

There is another way to do it. Arrange with the seller a sort of escrow situation where you pay the shipping to your FFL and have a reasonable window to inspect or have inspected to make sure what was represented, and you think you are buying is what you'll end up getting. While that does place some risk on the seller in that you could refuse, it's really not your job to watch out for the seller but for yourself instead.

Some sellers will refuse outright, it depends on them and how comfortable both of you are with the comms. There are also small transaction escrow services available that work seamless and puts both seller and buyer on equal footing.

I'm bringing this up because unless it's one of those "I gotta have it at that price" deals, they didn't make just one and there will always be another, always. Scams are on the rise and you might hear stuff like "I wouldn't go through that hassle" but you know what's a hassle? Being out your money with not what you want to show for it.

If you are face to face in a gun shop would you hand over your money before even looking at the firearm? I doubt anyone here would so then why do it because of shipping, how is it different if you can arrange for an easy small transaction escrow service? While there is a fee involved, if fees were such a big deal then who pays for shipping, handling, the FFL process (other than legally required) and so on anyway?

Getting your money back from someone is often difficult and you're going to eat the return shipping even if they agree and then you face the problem of getting your money back before you ship whatever it is they sent back to them.

Yeah I know, most transactions go over smoothly. Ask the ones who got skunked how smooth it was.






.

[morrcarr67]

Have already had contact with my FFL

My FFL charges $50 for transfer. If this helps.

Another question, if you please. I am thinking that I (maybe) will travel to see, & pay (cash) for firearm (is this a good idea ?). Then have his FFL ship to mine. 10 day wait, but will not have to make second trip. It's a good distance.

That is by far the best thing to do if you really just have to have that exact rifle. Though you'll need to take into consideration the cost of your trip. At that point it might just be better to buy from a LGS or someone else that is closer to you. Though being so far north that's not always an easy thing to do.

Good luck with your purchase.

[jeremiah12]

I once drove to LA (350 miles one way) to do a ppt of a not that easy to find C&R handgun I wanted. I did not have my FFL 03 and COE at the time, so I had to make the trip twice.

The second time, I took my wife and son and we spent a few days visiting some places we had never been before so it was worth it.

I have passed up many firearms that I would love to have because they are being sold in southern CA. The gas and time to make the trip twice is not worth it. That is the only way I can obtain the off roster guns, which are spendy to begin with. So I just wait until I can find them for a reasonable price in my area. I have found two.

For a rifle, I would not spend money on gas today to drive very far, twice, for a ppt, especially if it is one that you can order from a local FFL. By the time you pay for the gas and consider your time, you will likely spend less money buying it new from a local FFL.

If it is a one of a kind, rare unicorn at a great price, then I would make the drive so I could inspect it in person. I would also make the drive to pick it up so it would not get damaged during shipment.