The joys of new sellers on Gunbroker.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

(sigh) Okay, so I am getting my brother-in-law in Arizona a new toy for his birthday. I manage to find used Beretta APX with no reserve and a starting bid of $350. The only down side is that the seller only has 2 ratings. Both positive, but still... So I read the details, the gun is fine. He takes credit cards, and buyer pays actual shipping costs. What the heck? I give it a try, and end up winning it for $350. Great.

He sends me a PayPal invoice. For $425. "That should cover the 2nd day shipping costs." What? Seriously dude? I have to explain to him that no, $75 is not how much it costs to ship a handgun. And no, I am not going to violate PayPal's policy on buying firearms, and get my PayPal account closed. When you say you accept credit cards, it means YOU accept credit cards. Not PayPal. And "Buyer pays actual shipping costs" means actual shipping costs. Not what you think it will cost plus an extra $40 to bump up your bottom line for your auction. When I explain this too him, he says that this is his first sale of a firearm, and maybe we should just cancel the whole thing. Ummm... No. Just because you are unhappy with the price you got, and somebody makes you follow the rules is no reason to get out of a legal contract. So I am having him get in contact with the FFL in Arizona, get their address, and then get a real quote from FedEx for shipping. I will end up paying by USPS money order, simply because that gets me some security. Seriously people, if you are going to sell a gun online, at least try to know what you are doing.

-Mb

[Maltese Falcon]

I wish I had a BIL like you, good luck.


.

[AreWeFree]

Where's he shipping from?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Georgia.

[AreWeFree]

Ahhh, I had guessed Ohio.

I picked a random GA zip code to 85032, and with $400 insurance on a 12x12x8 box it's $82 for standard 2 day.

That's without adult signature required, another $3 I think.

The ohio one I tried was about $55, new mexico was around $35.

He's probably looking at $60-$65 so his estimate wasn't far off.

[AreWeFree]

BTW since you're working with him on actual shipping costs, you may want to get his info and pay fedex directly with credit card, they'll email him the label. Your card isn't charged until the shipment is received, I've done it several times and it's super easy.

Also if he has a LGS, they may ship it for him USPS at a reduced cost. Probably $35 total or something like that if he calls and checks.

I thought UPS and Fedex both required overnight shipping on handguns, but another member here recently informed me that Fedex only requires 2 day. UPS still requires overnight (I believe.)

An FFL can ship handguns USPS.

[saudadeii]

or use:

https://www.shipmygun.com/go/

[Dvrjon]

ShipMyGun.

Small box; from GA; To SD; 5#; Insurance=$400

Price: $47.99

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I ship handguns all the time. Normally it runs $25-35. From just about anyplace in the country. $75 was crap.

And, unsurprisingly, he said he got a better offer elsewhere, and sold the gun. Real class act. Oh well, I gave him an F on the transaction, and an explanation as to why in his feedback. I also forwarded his PayPal invoice to PayPal stating that, golly gee, I wouldn't use PayPal to buy a nasty firearm from him against their terms. And how I didn't want him to claim I failed to pay him for the transaction, so I am reporting what happened to them so it doesn't reflect on my accountn, etc.... That should be amusing for him to explain to them. Dick.

-Mb

[AreWeFree]

I ship handguns all the time. Normally it runs $25-35. From just about anyplace in the country. $75 was crap.

And, unsurprisingly, he said he got a better offer elsewhere, and sold the gun. Real class act. Oh well, I gave him an F on the transaction, and an explanation as to why in his feedback. I also forwarded his PayPal invoice to PayPal stating that, golly gee, I wouldn't use PayPal to buy a nasty firearm from him against their terms. And how I didn't want him to claim I failed to pay him for the transaction, so I am reporting what happened to them so it doesn't reflect on my accountn, etc.... That should be amusing for him to explain to them. Dick.

-Mb

Well my opinion of you just dropped off a cliff. Please don't report me.

[tuna quesadilla]

(sigh) Okay, so I am getting my brother-in-law in Arizona a new toy for his birthday. I manage to find used Beretta APX with no reserve and a starting bid of $350. The only down side is that the seller only has 2 ratings. Both positive, but still... So I read the details, the gun is fine. He takes credit cards, and buyer pays actual shipping costs. What the heck? I give it a try, and end up winning it for $350. Great.

He sends me a PayPal invoice. For $425. "That should cover the 2nd day shipping costs." What? Seriously dude? I have to explain to him that no, $75 is not how much it costs to ship a handgun. And no, I am not going to violate PayPal's policy on buying firearms, and get my PayPal account closed. When you say you accept credit cards, it means YOU accept credit cards. Not PayPal. And "Buyer pays actual shipping costs" means actual shipping costs. Not what you think it will cost plus an extra $40 to bump up your bottom line for your auction. When I explain this too him, he says that this is his first sale of a firearm, and maybe we should just cancel the whole thing. Ummm... No. Just because you are unhappy with the price you got, and somebody makes you follow the rules is no reason to get out of a legal contract. So I am having him get in contact with the FFL in Arizona, get their address, and then get a real quote from FedEx for shipping. I will end up paying by USPS money order, simply because that gets me some security. Seriously people, if you are going to sell a gun online, at least try to know what you are doing.

-Mb

Hmm...

[Apec]

I've done paypal for guns plenty of times. The only risk you face is if you're dealing with a scammer. However, if it's a retail business or on a forum with a strong feedback system, you should be fine. Don't leave any comments when you send the money.

Normally sellers have been very fair, but I have dealt with one dumbass who insisted on doing UPS overnight (126$). I volunteered to get in touch with FFL's near him to ease the process, but no for some reason he fought that. Claimed it was too difficult because he lived in some rural bum**** town.

Even claimed that his FFL thought that filling out a USPS affidavit to ship was a hassle (it's a form that literally only requires a date and signature, it's far less labor intensive than the FFL's end of filling out a 4473)

While he did volunteer to eat 30$ of the shipping cost, I still think he's a moron. Didn't have a choice. The next time I run into such a clown, I'm giving him a fixed shipping budget and it's his problem if he can't keep it down.

Good on you for fighting it. There's no reason to give the shipping companies extra bucks, they're already doing very well.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Screw it, the dude burned me. I have no qualms about letting him burn right back for his own actions. Yes, it was mean. But so is trying to screw somebody on the shipping, and saying you take credit cards when you don't. Or backing out of an auction after it has closed. And as much as I dislike PayPal's gun policies, I use them for a lot of purchases at work and at home. I am not going to give them an excuse to ding me over somebody else's stupidity.

As for my rating on the sales here, I am not trying to sell things here. This isn't primarily a sales forum. Gunbroker is.

-Mb

[kemasa]

FedEx and UPS policy is overnight shipping on handguns unless you have a contract with them, which then may allow second day air.

USPS is much cheaper for shipping handguns.

[dfletcher]

Screw it, the dude burned me. I have no qualms about letting him burn right back for his own actions. Yes, it was mean. But so is trying to screw somebody on the shipping, and saying you take credit cards when you don't. Or backing out of an auction after it has closed. And as much as I dislike PayPal's gun policies, I use them for a lot of purchases at work and at home. I am not going to give them an excuse to ding me over somebody else's stupidity.

As for my rating on the sales here, I am not trying to sell things here. This isn't primarily a sales forum. Gunbroker is.

-Mb

Would you mind listing the GB auction number? I kind of like to know who's who on there, buy pretty often. My guess is he never had anything to sell.

I've never had much faith in the USPS MO and unless it's $$$ I can afford to lose pay by CC. I've always thought the PO wouldn't do a heck of alot for me in a "he said,she said" situation.