anal retentive control freak or conscientious?
I convinced a non-computer-literate buddy to sell his guns here at GB rather than with an ad in the local paper.
He's a nice enough guy but a few bricks shy of a load to start with and then he lived in a vodka bottle for many years. He's had intermittent success and failure at Fleabay; he invested a couple c notes in a get-rich-quick scheme website as a broker for personal real estate notes. (The fine print warned that some states required a broker license but he plunged in without researching the caveat.)
I offered to create the listings for a very reasonable fee each. He countered by offering me 6 times that figure for every gun that sold. He would not have faith and start any at 1 cent but he sold 3 out of 4 and decided to keep the 4th one and pay me for it too since it would have eventually sold.
I asked him to get boxes to ship the guns in. He went off half-cocked and packaged them up. Two of them I can shake the gun in the box - not good for shipping. Also he neglected to record the serial numbers.
I've done all the email contact with the buyers and I'm had to hold his hand at the PO
I insisted on opening the rifle shipped today to get the serial number and I really think I should do the same for the other two and repackage them more securely at the same time.
My excuse for being anal retentive about this is that he's paying me very well and should get his money's worth. and To promote GunBroker by providing customer service to buyers above and beyond excellence. For example, below is my standard packing list affixed to the outside of the box and emailed to the buyer with the tracking numbers:
quote:Seller home address
Shop
Address
Dear Mr. X.
As a result of GunBroker Auction #xxxxxxxx, please transfer to Mr. Buyer of [address & phone), one pistol/shotgun/rifle, caliber .___ , serial number _____.
This gun has shipped with scope, etc blah blah
Please allow Mr. Buyer to open the package for himself. Even though I purchased shipping insurance and have good photos of the packaging process the insurance only covers delivery to your shop.
I certify that I am the legal owner of this firearm and that it was properly transferred to me on a form 4473 when I purchased it from [store name and city]
seller signature [date]
photo of ID
So do I be a dick and insult his packaging skills by opening up the other 2 guns? He keeps saying "It's a million to one" that a package might get damaged or lost. I countered with the story of Locust Fork and the Colts. Plus it seems almost immoral to me to ship a firearm without recording the serial number, but maybe I'm weird. [?]
[/ramble]
He's a nice enough guy but a few bricks shy of a load to start with and then he lived in a vodka bottle for many years. He's had intermittent success and failure at Fleabay; he invested a couple c notes in a get-rich-quick scheme website as a broker for personal real estate notes. (The fine print warned that some states required a broker license but he plunged in without researching the caveat.)
I offered to create the listings for a very reasonable fee each. He countered by offering me 6 times that figure for every gun that sold. He would not have faith and start any at 1 cent but he sold 3 out of 4 and decided to keep the 4th one and pay me for it too since it would have eventually sold.
I asked him to get boxes to ship the guns in. He went off half-cocked and packaged them up. Two of them I can shake the gun in the box - not good for shipping. Also he neglected to record the serial numbers.
I've done all the email contact with the buyers and I'm had to hold his hand at the PO
I insisted on opening the rifle shipped today to get the serial number and I really think I should do the same for the other two and repackage them more securely at the same time.
My excuse for being anal retentive about this is that he's paying me very well and should get his money's worth. and To promote GunBroker by providing customer service to buyers above and beyond excellence. For example, below is my standard packing list affixed to the outside of the box and emailed to the buyer with the tracking numbers:
quote:Seller home address
Shop
Address
Dear Mr. X.
As a result of GunBroker Auction #xxxxxxxx, please transfer to Mr. Buyer of [address & phone), one pistol/shotgun/rifle, caliber .___ , serial number _____.
This gun has shipped with scope, etc blah blah
Please allow Mr. Buyer to open the package for himself. Even though I purchased shipping insurance and have good photos of the packaging process the insurance only covers delivery to your shop.
I certify that I am the legal owner of this firearm and that it was properly transferred to me on a form 4473 when I purchased it from [store name and city]
seller signature [date]
photo of ID
So do I be a dick and insult his packaging skills by opening up the other 2 guns? He keeps saying "It's a million to one" that a package might get damaged or lost. I countered with the story of Locust Fork and the Colts. Plus it seems almost immoral to me to ship a firearm without recording the serial number, but maybe I'm weird. [?]
[/ramble]
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Follow your conscious Henry. Good customer service is an endangered species now days. I would just tell the guy that this is how we handle these transaction on Gun broker. 0 -
If you give the Post Office anything which can be torn up they will tear it up. Do the repack.
However, I wouldn't put anything on the outside of the package which says it even might be a gun.0 -
You're the pro and do it for a living. I'd do it right for him. 0 -
Henry,
Don't over complicate things. Simply tell him you will mail/ship the packages for him. Take them home and repackage and then ship.
For example, below is my standard packing list affixed to the outside of the box and emailed to the buyer with the tracking numbers:
I really hope you are not putting that on the outside where it can be read by anyone. Either put it inside or if you must put it outside, put it in an envelope labled "INVOICE" and securely tape it using clear packing tape.
Life can be fairly simple if you do what is required with little fanfare. No egos are bruised and the mission gets accomplished.[:)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
I really hope you are not putting that on the outside where it can be read by anyone. Either put it inside or if you must put it outside, put it in an envelope labled "INVOICE" and securely tape it using clear packing tape.
On the back of the page with that information I print "Packing List, read before opening" and fold it so that that part shows, put it in a baggie and seal it on with tape.
By providing the dealer with the serial number he can enter it in his bound book without opening the package. **
** a trick I learned from ATF when I sent a gun to Maine
(ATF the GB member, that is)0 -
quote:Originally posted by Henry0Reilly
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
I really hope you are not putting that on the outside where it can be read by anyone. Either put it inside or if you must put it outside, put it in an envelope labled "INVOICE" and securely tape it using clear packing tape.
On the back of the page with that information I print "Packing List, read before opening" and fold it so that that part shows, put it in a baggie and seal it on with tape.
By providing the dealer with the serial number he can enter it in his bound book without opening the package.
HENRY!
No FFL in their right mind would enter a number in their bound book without verifying it with their own eyes! I once got a weapon from Hunters Lodge where the invoice was incorrect as to the serial number on one of the weapons. Of course I contacted them to correct their paperwork, but you should always visually verify the weapons numbers.0 -
Do as your conscious dictates, a bit anal retentive... sure, but who says that is a bad thing. 0 -
The shop I used to work at, it was no big deal to leave a gun sitting unopened for a week or more until the customer who ordered it could be there to open it. I guess it's not that way most places. 0 -
set your business standards HIGH & never look back...there are to many at the other end of things 0 -
Henry,you auctioned these firearms under your user name? Do not let his shoddy packaging jeapordize your feedback. Repack them to your satisfaction before shipping. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by drygulchdan
Henry,you auctioned these firearms under your user name? Do not let his shoddy packaging jeapordize your feedback. Repack them to your satisfaction before shipping.
No, he has his own username.0 -
Dang...I read the title of this thread and thought it was about Saxon Pig! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by iluvguns
Dang...I read the title of this thread and thought it was about Saxon Pig!
[:0] [;)][:D]
Henry, do what you KNOW is right.
You account, his account, does not matter, your getting paid for doing it.0 -
Just curious, but, could what you are doing be considered an illegal transfer by the ATF since technically you don't own the guns that you are selling? Not trying to stir. 0 -
quote:Just curious, but, could what you are doing be considered an illegal transfer by the ATF since technically you don't own the guns that you are selling? Not trying to stir.
The category this would fall under is: HenryO is not the seller, he is acting as agent to assist the seller and buyer agree on a sale price.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Underdog2264
quote:Just curious, but, could what you are doing be considered an illegal transfer by the ATF since technically you don't own the guns that you are selling? Not trying to stir.
The category this would fall under is: HenryO is not the seller, he is acting as agent to assist the seller and buyer agree on a sale price.
Much the same as Gunbroker is assisting the buyer and seller of a firearm transaction but not responsable for the legalities.
Henry is just assisting in the sales and all legalities are the responsabilties of the actual seller and buyer.0 -
You're a good man, HenryO.
Do it right, every time. And never look back.0
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