New Seller on GB
I am not an FFL (BTW what is a C&R) nor any kind of gun professional. I have a collection of six pistols I want to liquidate and I think GB should do that job well for me. I have a few questions on which I would appreciate some advice from you knowledgeable folks since I am a novice and have no rating on GB or anywhere else.
I think I might benefit my sales effort by offering a 3 day no firing inspection period. Might this be a good idea? Any pitfalls?
I already know about shipping to a FFL. When I ship a gun with shipping insurance, who is it that must file a claim if necessary, the seller or the buyer? Should I require a signature from the receiver?
What is going on about shipping to California and some of the other states as I see many sellers won't ship there?
Thanks, I appreciate your comments.
I think I might benefit my sales effort by offering a 3 day no firing inspection period. Might this be a good idea? Any pitfalls?
I already know about shipping to a FFL. When I ship a gun with shipping insurance, who is it that must file a claim if necessary, the seller or the buyer? Should I require a signature from the receiver?
What is going on about shipping to California and some of the other states as I see many sellers won't ship there?
Thanks, I appreciate your comments.
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The three day inspection is a good idea. I am suspicious of a seller who sells "as is" or "no return". The pitfall is that the buyer may decide he doesn't want the gun and will send it back. I would expect such a buyer to pay shipping both ways. Unless the item is described incorrectly, it is my opinion that the buyer should keep it. The shipper must file the claim for insurance as he is the one who has insured the item. I understand BATFE regulation say the gun must be shipped with the requirement that an adult sign for it.
Several good, closeup photos are very helpful in preventing misunderstandings about the guns condition. I try to describe my items very critically, pointing out any flaws as I don't want to have an unhappy buyer.
A C & R is a curio and relic collector license. These are issued by the BATFE. This permits the buyer to buy curio and relic items interstate with shipment (to most states) direct to the C & R licensee. It also allows the C & R licensee to provide the ffl dealer with a copy of his C & R license which eliminates the requirement for completing a 4473. Without going into detail, a C & R gun is one that is in original configuration and 50 years old or older. There are also some rare or unusual items on a list published by the BATFE that contains C & R items by model, make, etc. Items on the list can be less than 50 years old.
FWIW0 -
Good explanation from Herschel.
You (a nonlicensee) can only ship handguns by UPS or Fedex, Next Day Air (or Next Day Airsaver). You must ship from a company customer counter (hub), not Kinko's, not a UPS Store, not anywhere else. You must accurately describe the contents of your package, being sure that "firearm" appears on your copy of the receipt. And, you need to state "Adult Signature Required"; you don't get a copy of the signature with ASR unless you get an online facsimile from Fedex, but that's all you need. Be sure to state your method of shipping, & state "be sure your FFL will accept delivery from a nonlicensee"; shipping will likely be in the $50-80 range.
I give a 30 day firing inspection with most guns, but no firing with "new" guns or those that should not be fired. I will also refund shipping both ways if the gun is not as I described. Not everyone can run out & fire a gun within 3 days; between the long inspection & many + feedbacks, folks feel more comfortable bidding on guns I sell.
Do what you are comfortable with on the inspection period. As for me, I answer to a higher authority.
Neal
EDIT: If an FFL is shipping a handgun to another FFL, he can ship via US Mail, which has no "overnight" requirement. Nonlicensees (us) cannot use the mail. So, most handguns will cost $20-30 shipping. You do have the option to find a local FFL willing to ship for you; if you can find one willing to ship for a $10-20 fee, that would be great. But, my local FFL's charge $50-60, so no point for me to do it.0 -
If any of your pistols are C+R eligble, be sure to add that in the description. That will sure open your auction up to more bidders. 0 -
Welcome to Gun Broker Forums. I commend you for asking for information on how to be the best way to sell Here. There are One or Two other things I suggest you make the time of the end of auction be at a time most people are at Home Saturday and Sunday are best but week days get the auction yo close after 6:00 PM Pacific Coast time this will be after buyers get home from work and before Eastern time zone folks go to bed . The other thing and maybe the most important part is what type of auction To run . Many if not Most buyers on this site do what is called a smart search and They block out Reserve auctions. This is because many items that have reserves have run for months if not years over and over again. Bidding on these items are considered a waste of time by many of us . Because you are a new seller This makes it somewhat harder for you . The most successful sellers after they get some feed back and feel comfortable doing it start at one penny. However I suggest you start out with one item first to get your feet wet. and start it at the Minimum price that you will take for said Item. This will limit the number of bids you get but if you get no Bids you can relist at a lower price or try another item. Search on seller Locust Fork she does it right and gets higher prices and more bids then just about anyone most auctions she starts at one penny. The last thing you need to do is open a new topic on the general discussion Forum with title Shameless Plug and list the auction number of your item. Then most people that visit forums will go take a look Best of Luck and again Welcome
EDit If you go to the General Discussion Forum and Plug your auction number it will not break any GunBroker rules.0 -
2 thoughts on the inspection period.
1. As a non-FFL, you can ship the gun directly to the buyer's FFL. You will need to include your a copy of your DL with the gun so the receiving FFL can enter it into his book.
If the buyer decides there is some reason not to keep the gun his FFL will not send the gun directly back to you. His FFL can only ship the gun to another FFL.
To get your gun back, you will need to have a local FFL receive it for you and that will usually cost a fee. You will then need to do a 4473 and background check to get your firearm from your receiving FFL.
2. I have read horror stories on here from sellers that offered inspection periods on guns. Guns were returned back to them scratched or missing parts.0 -
quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
Welcome to Gun Broker Forums. I commend you for asking for information on how to be the best way to sell Here. There are One or Two other things I suggest you make the time of the end of auction be at a time most people are at Home Saturday and Sunday are best but week days get the auction yo close after 6:00 PM Pacific Coast time this will be after buyers get home from work and before Eastern time zone folks go to bed . The other thing and maybe the most important part is what type of auction To run . Many if not Most buyers on this site do what is called a smart search and They block out Reserve auctions. This is because many items that have reserves have run for months if not years over and over again. Bidding on these items are considered a waste of time by many of us . Because you are a new seller This makes it somewhat harder for you . The most successful sellers after they get some feed back and feel comfortable doing it start at one penny. However I suggest you start out with one item first to get your feet wet. and start it at the Minimum price that you will take for said Item. This will limit the number of bids you get but if you get no Bids you can relist at a lower price or try another item. Search on seller Locust Fork she does it right and gets higher prices and more bids then just about anyone most auctions she starts at one penny. The last thing you need to do is open a new topic on the general discussion Forum with title Shameless Plug and list the auction number of your item. Then most people that visit forums will go take a look Best of Luck and again Welcome
So it doesn't violate the board rules to just post a plug for your auction? How far can one go in a plug? All of the pistols I want to sell are modern, but out of production and rare to some extent. I am inclined to start their listing at the high end beginning price and reduce the price in re-listings until it sells. Thanks for the tips and I will definitely check on seller Locust Fork for pointers.
Thanks for your tips and your time.0 -
quote:Originally posted by nmyers
Good explanation from Herschel.
You (a nonlicensee) can only ship handguns by UPS or Fedex, Next Day Air (or Next Day Airsaver). You must ship from a company customer counter (hub), not Kinko's, not a UPS Store, not anywhere else. You must accurately describe the contents of your package, being sure that "firearm" appears on your copy of the receipt. And, you need to state "Adult Signature Required"; you don't get a copy of the signature with ASR unless you get an online facsimile from Fedex, but that's all you need. Be sure to state your method of shipping, & state "be sure your FFL will accept delivery from a nonlicensee"; shipping will likely be in the $50-80 range.
I give a 30 day firing inspection with most guns, but no firing with "new" guns or those that should not be fired. I will also refund shipping both ways if the gun is not as I described. Not everyone can run out & fire a gun within 3 days; between the long inspection & many + feedbacks, folks feel more comfortable bidding on guns I sell.
Do what you are comfortable with on the inspection period. As for me, I answer to a higher authority.
Neal
Thanks for your comments Neal. I have gotten quotes from FedEx in the range of $80 for shipping a pistol. That seems way out of line with the shipping rates I see on most all of the GB listings. Whats up with this?0 -
quote:Originally posted by drobs
2 thoughts on the inspection period.
1. As a non-FFL, you can ship the gun directly to the buyer's FFL. You will need to include your a copy of your DL with the gun so the receiving FFL can enter it into his book.
If the buyer decides there is some reason not to keep the gun his FFL will not send the gun directly back to you. His FFL can only ship the gun to another FFL.
To get your gun back, you will need to have a local FFL receive it for you and that will usually cost a fee. You will then need to do a 4473 and background check to get your firearm from your receiving FFL.
2. I have read horror stories on here from sellers that offered inspection periods on guns. Guns were returned back to them scratched or missing parts.
I am vitally interested in maintaining a good rating on each sale as I will most likely sell my guns sequentially. I am inclining right now to sell with a three day inspection only, no firing. If returned for any reason other than misrepresentation I would extract all my expenses and require that the gun be in the same condition as when it was shipped. I saw one listing where the seller would extract the GB fee also, but I think I read that GB returns fees when an item is returned. They may take a little time, but they do so. Right?0 -
quote:Originally posted by chas3819
quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
Welcome to Gun Broker Forums. I commend you for asking for information on how to be the best way to sell Here. There are One or Two other things I suggest you make the time of the end of auction be at a time most people are at Home Saturday and Sunday are best but week days get the auction yo close after 6:00 PM Pacific Coast time this will be after buyers get home from work and before Eastern time zone folks go to bed . The other thing and maybe the most important part is what type of auction To run . Many if not Most buyers on this site do what is called a smart search and They block out Reserve auctions. This is because many items that have reserves have run for months if not years over and over again. Bidding on these items are considered a waste of time by many of us . Because you are a new seller This makes it somewhat harder for you . The most successful sellers after they get some feed back and feel comfortable doing it start at one penny. However I suggest you start out with one item first to get your feet wet. and start it at the Minimum price that you will take for said Item. This will limit the number of bids you get but if you get no Bids you can relist at a lower price or try another item. Search on seller Locust Fork she does it right and gets higher prices and more bids then just about anyone most auctions she starts at one penny. The last thing you need to do is open a new topic on the general discussion Forum with title Shameless Plug and list the auction number of your item. Then most people that visit forums will go take a look Best of Luck and again Welcome
So it doesn't violate the board rules to just post a plug for your auction? How far can one go in a plug? All of the pistols I want to sell are modern, but out of production and rare to some extent. I am inclined to start their listing at the high end beginning price and reduce the price in re-listings until it sells. Thanks for the tips and I will definitely check on seller Locust Fork for pointers.
Thanks for your tips and your time.
You will chase away bidders by have reserve auctions, most folks will not even look at them, me included!!!!
Set the starting bid at the lowest price you are willing to take for each gun, then post a link in the general discussion forum to your listings, you will get great exposure that way.0 -
Like you, I would NEVER EVER sell a firearm allowing a shooting inspection. You have NO WAY of knowing what kind of double-charged handload the buyer might attempt to fire in the weapon or if they managed to force a 30-06 round in a 270 or ---- . You get the picture. They return to you a blown-up firearm and ask for their money back?? Sorry Charlie. IMHO, a 3 day non-firing inspection period is sufficient, with returns only for material mis-representation in the description. Again, just my $.02 worth.
yooper0
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