A Craigslist for Ammo: Your Thoughts?

[BulletBay.Org]

Hey THR Family,

Aspiring programmer with a fire for our 2nd Amendment rights and a fresh idea I'd love to get your take on. Imagine a Craigslist, but it's all about ammo – a place where flippers, reloaders, and shooting ranges can sling their surplus and make some side cash. Or on a more casual level, a place where you can trade your excess ammo, for calibers and types you're short on.

I'm developing it to keep the ammo flowing and our rights exercised.

But, I'm curious about the view from the trenches: do you think there's room for this in our pro-gun world?
What kind of obstacles do you reckon we'd face?

Would love to hear if this is something you'd back, or if you have any pointers from your own activism experiences.

Thanks for your feedback,
BulletBay.org

 

[jmorris]

A place for “flippers”….no thanks, I don’t need more middle men. walk in stores is already enough mark up over wholesale, don‘t need more people involved scarfing up resources just to add their own version of VAT tax.

 

[bearcreek]

What kind of obstacles do you reckon we'd face?

Lack of interest. There aren't enough people who are selling their ammo to support a website like that. Now, if it was like the old Armslist, for selling guns, you'd have something.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

A place for “flippers”….no thanks, I don’t need more middle men. walk in stores is already enough mark up over wholesale, don‘t need more people involved scarfing up resources just to add their own version of VAT tax.

Thats valid, we want to keep bad actors out. Sometimes you get a good deal on factory sealed ammo and could make some extra cash though.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

Lack of interest. There aren't enough people who are selling their ammo to support a website like that. Now, if it was like the old Armslist, for selling guns, you'd have something.

I've head the term "old armslist" thrown around. Could you elaborate or expand on that? I'm curious what that entails?

 

[jmorris]

Thats valid, we want to keep bad actors out. Sometimes you get a good deal on factory sealed ammo and could make some extra cash though.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. Seeing the prices people were paying, I was tempted myself but would I be part of a solution or the problem?

The libertarian in me supports the idea. Just not something I would partake in, I seek out low prices, not inflated ones.

The concept of “flipping” is inflating prices on the same goods. I’m out, unless I am the one taking advantage of others and fortunately or not, that’s not “me”.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

Oh, don’t get me wrong. Seeing the prices people were paying, I was tempted myself but would I be part of a solution or the problem?

Absolutely, I get where you're coming from. It's a fine line between supply and demand and taking advantage of a tight market. On one hand, platforms like the one I'm proposing could help those who genuinely can't find what they need elsewhere. There's a sense of community in ensuring that our fellow enthusiasts aren't left high and dry.

On the other hand, it's important to approach this with integrity, not just chasing profits. If we keep the spirit of support and fair trade at the core of such a marketplace, then I believe we lean more towards being part of the solution. It's all about balance and remembering why we're all here in the first place – to exercise our rights responsibly and support each other in doing so.

 

[jmorris]

There's a sense of community in ensuring that our fellow enthusiasts aren't left high and dry.

I have done that for fellow competitors, as far as giving them what they need to stay in the game. I don’t take money though, they just have to replace the items when they are able to. This way I am not out case if the prices remain inflated.

Also facilitate group buys within the club. Powder valley will ship up to 48 lbs on a single hazmat, dissolving its impact on the purchase, if fully utilized. I am pro group buy, better prices, lower impact of hazmat/shipping, makes them a win, win.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

I have done that for fellow competitors, as far as giving them what they need to stay in the game. I don’t take money though, they just have to replace the items when they are able to. This way I am not out case if the prices remain inflated.

Also facilitate group buys within the club. Powder valley will ship up to 48 lbs on a single hazmat, dissolving its impact on the purchase, if fully utilized. I am pro group buy, better prices, lower impact of hazmat/shipping, makes them a win, win.

That's a commendable approach, and it's the kind of community spirit we aim to foster on BulletBay.org. Perhaps we can integrate a feature for group buys, maximizing the benefit of bulk shipping and encouraging that same camaraderie and mutual support you're talking about.

 

[243winxb]

Gunbroker & Ammoseek would seem to have it covered. Plus most will not buy/use unknown ammo that may be reloads.

Hard to find ammo can be had from custom loaders.

https://bulletbay.org/shop/ Free to private individuals may work. Make money from adds?

Meeting people in person to sell/trade may be a dangerous thing to do. A set up to be robbed. It happens. *Craigslist*

Nice wedsite. But a programer can start at $60,000 a year or more, why bother?

Good Luck

 

[epags]

California's restrictions on out of state purchases and prohibitions on individual sales, sharing and giving of ammo would eliminate a significant % of potential users.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

D

Gunbroker & Ammoseek would seem to have it covered. Plus most will not buy/use unknown ammo that may be reloads.

Hard to find ammo can be had from custom loaders.

Do you feel like the price/barrier to entry on those sites is too high for average joes?

 

[BulletBay.Org]

California's restrictions on out of state purchases and prohibitions on individual sales, sharing and giving of ammo would eliminate a significant % of potential users.

Much like Armslist the idea would be private in-person trasactions. People can freely gift whatever they want to each other.

 

[entropy]

We can do that here. I'll pass on making it even more public.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

Nice wedsite. But a programer can start at $60,000 a year or more, why bother?

I do plan on potentially having ecommerce sites do ads, but for now I don't want to clutter up the place. I think if I can get enough traction with what I have going, I may be able to employ a small team of programmers one day.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

We can do that here. I'll pass on making it even more public.

True that, something I think a lot about is how I can bring more people to our community.

 

[243winxb]

Do you feel like the price/barrier to entry on those sites is too high for average joes?

I dont think its made for the average guy? So your site may work better?

Prices @ Ammoseek. Your member prices are very reasonable.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

I dont think its made for the average guy? So your site may work better?

Prices @ Ammoseek.

That's what I was going for. For most people I don't think the hassle of account creation, approval, then all the fees is worth it unless you're talking $300+ of product. I wanted to give the guy with $50 a place to set up shop and try his hand at it.

 

[243winxb]

Shipping ammo by privite parties. As on January 2023? No longer allowed by UPS, FEDEX, USPS. Best to check this, i may be wrong?

 

[VoodooMountain]

No way I'm buying ammo private party. Way too much risk

 

[BulletBay.Org]

No way I'm buying ammo private party. Way too much risk

This is an overwhelming sentiment. I'll need to think of ways to highlight the "sealed factory new" ammo more for the guys who don't want to dabble with reloads.

 

[bearcreek]

I've head the term "old armslist" thrown around. Could you elaborate or expand on that? I'm curious what that entails?

It was a Craigslist for guns, to put it simply. Worked the exact same way as Craigslist.

 

[VoodooMountain]

This is an overwhelming sentiment. I'll need to think of ways to highlight the "sealed factory new" ammo more for the guys who don't want to dabble with reloads.

I have purchased ammo before that was "factory new" from a private seller . Boxes and cartridges looked good and nothing raised any flags.

Then I shot it....lol. The guy was passing off inconsistent handloads as new ammo.

It is basically impossible to determine if ammo is factory new or not.

 

[BulletBay.Org]

I have purchased ammo before that was "factory new" from a private seller . Boxes and cartridges looked good and nothing raised any flags.

Then I shot it....lol. The guy was passing off inconsistent handloads as new ammo.

It is basically impossible to determine if ammo is factory new or not.

Thanks for sharing your experience; it really highlights the need for vigilance in private sales. We've put a robust reporting system in place at BulletBay.org to address such concerns. If anything seems off, you can quickly flag it, and we'll take action. Ensuring a trustworthy platform is our top priority.

 

[hso]

What will you make on these transactions or are you giving your labor away? How will you monetize to recover costs?

You can't both controll quality of what strangers sell using your site and also just leave those strangers to sell their excess. They are incompatable concepts.

The individual faces regulatory barriers to shipping ORM-D Hazardous materials as well as the various shippers' requirements. How will you prevent violations of those requirements and the associated liability? Indemnification language on the internet is next to meaningless when it comes to Anti 2A action against a business.

Will you be a not for profit and where will it be registered? What sort if not for profit?