Goofy Armslist deals

[allaroundhunter]

Maybe it's just me, but if I showed up to sell a firearm at a prearranged location, with a prearranged price and the buyer starts to ask if I will take less for it then a couple red flags would go up...

 

[Bruno2]

Some people just like to negotiate prices. That's why I never agree to pay a certain price before I look at the item. I could show up and discover that your idea of very good condition is quite a bit different than mine.Also I don't want to forfeit the ability to make a lower offer. When somebody lists an item as firm on price I wont make a counter offer I will either take it or shake it.

 

[rugerdude]

Once a guy was meeting me to buy a Taurus revolver. He drove a considerable distance to meet me and kept using little smiley faces in his text messages. That was super creepy to me, because that's just not something two men do in text messages to one another, but he ended up paying asking price with no fuss and I gave him some free ammo in thanks for driving an hour to meet. I remember he was smoking a cigar when he pulled up and I just couldn't help but think of the old Freud quote "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

I had a guy meet me to buy a Walther P22. Turns out he got a speeding ticket on the way to meet which was over a hundred bucks. I immediately thought he was only saying that to get me to feel sorry and come down on the price, but sure enough he paid in full.

Also had a guy mention to me in an Email that he was not a resident of the state we were in. I was glad that he offered that information since I didn't ask, but nevertheless I could not legally make the sale and he was understanding.


I always repeat the same thing right before I meet someone. "Okay so just everything is clear for both of us, you're buying my ____ for the amount of _____ dollars and we're meeting at ____ at ___ time" It probably sounds like I'm trying to set up some kind of a sting operation, but it's my defense against "Alright here's your $400" when the asking price is $450.

 

[anothernewb]

Due to the crazy liability and crap in MN laws dealing with a handgun. I agree with the OP on wanting to see at least a permit to purchase or carry card. If the story related was true, I'd have bailed selling to that person as well.

to me that guy looked and quacked like a duck...

 

[rugerdude]

Another thing I have noticed is that you really do get increased interest in guns by leaving a phone number, but generally it's not serious buyers.

Here's my favorite text conversation:

Them: send pics

Me: Which gun did you want pictures of? I have multiple guns listed.

Them: All of them

Me: I have pictures up with the ads, is there something specific you want to see?

Them: Just send pics of all the guns you have up

Me: I'm not interested in doing business with you, good day.


Also, $700 seems to be the point where you just cannot get cash out of people. They'll trade offer you to death, but getting more than $700 in cash has never worked for me. It doesn't seem to be a pricing thing either. My ads stay up only for a few days generally (best was 17 minutes) because I like to actually sell guns instead of just tell everybody how much I think it's worth, but any time I have a higher dollar gun I usually only get trade offers. The sub $350 market on Armslist is HOT though.

 

[CoRoMo]

I sold an LC9 not long ago and had a dork keep trying to haggle me down via email. I sold the pistol a day or two later but I kept playing with this weirdo, assuming from his vocabulary that he was a gang-banger. I let him think that he had worked me all the way down to $60... for a like new LC9. When he wanted to meet to complete the deal I made my insults very clear in a final email and told him that someone bought the pistol at asking price days before. It was a humorous waste of time.

 

[Salmoneye]

You should read back through some of our threads about carrying guns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol! As many states do have prohibitions against that, we often see that even the most sold-out "gunny" members here, who are from those states, are SHOCKED that anyone would do so, or would be opposed to laws prohibiting it.

It's like they grew up under that regime, unconsciously adopted its views, and have never examined whether their fears are founded on logic or fact.

Mention a couple of THR Mods sipping ales in a bar with guns on their hips and their heads are like to explode!

Indeed I HAVE noticed...

I have lived in Vermont my entire life...I find many beliefs by otherwise hard-core 2A proponents on these forums to be antithetical to my thinking and experiences; bar/restaurant carry being only one facet of these differences in thinking...

It makes me sincerely wonder if they would believe as I do if they had lived here forever...

 

[MedWheeler]

I consider that doing my part to abide by MN 624.7141, which forbids transfers to anyone whom you have reason to believe was denied a permit or is otherwise ineligable to possess a handgun or assault weapon.

The law forbids transfers to anyone whom you have reason to believe was denied a permit or is otherwise... blah, blah.

I understand the CYA-aspect, but to presume everyone who shows up to buy a gun is ineligible until otherwise proven to be eligible smacks of some of the very philosophies we as gun-rights supporters ardently oppose when we resist things like registration, permitting, and UBC laws.

In fact, in further review of the law's text, it appears that the burden is even greater than "reason to believe", but requires actual knowledge.

624.7141 TRANSFER TO INELIGIBLE PERSON.
Subdivision 1.Transfer prohibited.

A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who intentionally transfers a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon to another if the person knows that the transferee:

(1) has been denied a permit to carry under section 624.714 because the transferee is not eligible under section 624.713 to possess a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon;

(2) has been found ineligible to possess a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon by a chief of police or sheriff as a result of an application for a transferee permit or a transfer report; or

(3) is disqualified under section 624.713 from possessing a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon.
Subd. 2.Felony.

A violation of this section is a felony if the transferee possesses or uses the weapon within one year after the transfer in furtherance of a felony crime of violence.
Subd. 3.Subsequent eligibility.

This section is not applicable to a transfer to a person who became eligible to possess a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon under section 624.713 after the transfer occurred but before the transferee used or possessed the weapon in furtherance of any crime.

Again, I do understand any desire to require what it takes to assure a "clear-conscience" transfer, and have considered that, were I to want to part with any of my guns, I would also consider asking for a carry license (these are pretty common here.)


As an aside, not being in MN, what are the restrictions of the transfer of a firearm that doesn't fall into the above categories to someone who does (such as a shotgun or bolt-action rifle?) Just curious.

 

[itchy1]

I've had a couple people try and low ball me by coming off as an expert. They are looking to score at prices that would have been cheap 10 years ago. The more common frustration I've had with Armslist are the idiots that claim that they want to make the purchase but then never respond to my follow up email agreeing to sell at their price. This happens way too often in my area so I've all but given up on it. I've had much better success selling on gunbroker. Buying on GB is an entirely different matter.

 

[rugerdude]

Some of the responders on armslist are actually just selling your email address to span sites. Never use a real email address or one that lists your full name.

I have a spam email with a fake name for use with armslist. The address theif emails usually look something like "Hey do you still have your gun for sale?" Once you respond they have your address and you won't hear from them again.

And of course, if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Check for the other listings by that user and more than likely they'll be selling in several different states.

Shockingly, I've never had too many lowballers. Also, I don't deal with people who can't type emails at a highschool level.

 

[justice06rr]

I don't even deal with Armslist anymore. Too many retards on there asking for way too much or lowballing you for your item.

 

[allaroundhunter]

I just started a thread in the autoloader section about a ridiculous Armslist sale.... Guy is asking over $3 billion for a Springfield 1911

 

[Bruno2]

His wife must have told him he has to sell it.

 

[rgwalt]

I never list my phone number, all my deals must be completed via email, then I will exchange phone numbers when we arrange a place & time to meet. I also do a recap of the deal to make sure both parties are 100% clear on what is being bought/sold/traded. The make, model, and accessory/ammo list all get recapped.

I had a guy try to low ball me in person for a pistol. He said "are you sure $XXX is the best you can do?" I said "Yes, I held the gun for you for a week, and I could have had it sold twice over. I'm happy to get in touch with one of the other guys if you aren't interested." He paid me the money...

I get a low of low ballers. My favorite was when I got an offer that was $150 low for a LNIB Beretta 92FS. Not terrible during non-panic times, but a couple of months ago you couldn't find that gun anywhere. Well, I ended up getting a full price offer, and the low-baller kept trying to bargin. I told him that I had a deal made with someone else, then he went on whining about how much he wanted the gun, blah blah blah. I could have sold that 92FS about 10 times over that night before I pulled the ad down. I had one guy offer to come to my house with cash that night if I would sell the gun to him as opposed to the other person. Crazy.

Overall I've had extremely good luck selling through Armslist, THR, TexasGunTrader, and TexasGunTalk.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Please, tell me your name/company so I know to never go to one of your classes. MN has a Permit To Carry, not a CCW. You should know that if you "have both thoroughly and repeatedly read our state laws on carry and purchase of handguns and taken a Criminal Code class".

I tend not to get caught up in the distinction. This is a distinction without a difference. Some states call it PTC, some call it CCW, some call it LTCF, but in a general sense it means all the same thing, and in a forum with members from all 50 states and around the world, a general term seems to work well, especially given that CCW is the most common.

I have found that students who get caught up in semantics and think they know everything are disruptive to the rest of the class. Complaining about this is akin to moaning about someone calling a non-Colt 1911 with a 4.25" barrel a Commander. Everyone knows what you mean.

My name is Sam Rudolph, and the business name is Be Safe With Guns. If it makes you feel better, I do not teach there often, but both of the other instructors will probably interchange the terms as well.

So based on your supposition, because I dont have a CCW because I have moved three times in 4 yrs, I shouldn't be able to do a F2F transaction?

No one said that.

1. I got my CCW permit in college and moved four times in three years. Moving had nothing to do with the permit. I called and updated my address with the Sheriff's Department as required and paid my $10 fee each time to get an updated permit card.
2. I see no reason to restrict your ability to do a face-to-face transaction. That's none of my business. But if you don't have a permit to carry, I will restrict you from doing a face-to-face transaction with ME. That's all. There are plenty of sellers who will be happy to sell you a gun without a permit to carry. I am not one of them. I don't think having a permit should be a legal obligation- there are already too many laws as it is. But I do it as a matter of choice and my right as a seller to set my own terms. This infringes not at all on any rights you have.

I understand the CYA-aspect, but to presume everyone who shows up to buy a gun is ineligible until otherwise proven to be eligible smacks of some of the very philosophies we as gun-rights supporters ardently oppose when we resist things like registration, permitting, and UBC laws.

I think the distinction is that I only do it as a matter of best practice for my own sales and my own peace of mind. I do not support any law making it mandatory. There's a big difference between someone who does something he thinks is right and someone who wants to make it legally mandatory for YOU to do something because he thinks it's right.

Again, I do understand any desire to require what it takes to assure a "clear-conscience" transfer, and have considered that, were I to want to part with any of my guns, I would also consider asking for a carry license (these are pretty common here.)

As an aside, not being in MN, what are the restrictions of the transfer of a firearm that doesn't fall into the above categories to someone who does (such as a shotgun or bolt-action rifle?) Just curious.

Permits are not super common in MN, about 2.5% to 3% of Minnesotans have one. I think the count is about 80,000 right now. But as a proportion of Minnesota Armslist buyers, in my experience most have a permit to carry already or have gotten a permit to purchase (which is valid for a year in MN, so it's not like you have to go to the PD to get a new one for every single gun).

Long guns that don't fall into the MN legal definition of a "semiautomatic military-style assault weapon" can be transferred without a permit to purchase. It's been so long since I bought a gun that didn't fall into that category that I honestly can't remember what else happened besides filling out the 4473.

Well, based on all that, I wouldn't be real broken up about it falling through.

I'm not really, but there's this THR thread about a Gemini Custom SP101... and it's making me itch because I had a line on a 3" Gemini SP101 up in Minneapolis and had the trade all worked out except I needed the cash from the Beretta sale.

 

[holdencm9]

Long guns that don't fall into the MN legal definition of a "semiautomatic military-style assault weapon" can be transferred without a permit to purchase. It's been so long since I bought a gun that didn't fall into that category that I honestly can't remember what else happened besides filling out the 4473.

Pretty much nothing besides a license, or other way to prove you are an in-state resident, IIRC. That's about all I'd ask for if I were to sell one too.

I think asking for the permit to purchase just takes a lot of the burden off of the seller to make a judgment call. For instance, if some sketchy looking dude comes up to buy it, or makes some comments you find odd, then him not having the p2p makes it a lot easier to decline the sale. If he has one then you can sleep easier at night, that at least the local PD deems him okay to have a handgun. Some people are very comfortable canceling the sale last minute, others may not be.

And yeah, the law makes the burden of knowledge pretty high. If you suspect something is up with a guy, you can't be held liable if he does turn out to be a criminal, but from a conscience perspective, it won't do you much good if he turns around and uses it in a crime. And you never know what an overzealous prosecutor might do. Even if you were within the law, I'd rather not fight that.

I am most definitely against p2p system and UBC, don't get me wrong. But where they have the p2p system in place, I see nothing wrong with requesting one when making a private sale. I'd rather they just do away with p2p's entirely and open up NICS to everyone, but don't make it mandatory. I think freedom of choice is key. I'd like to be able to call up NICS when selling to stranger, but I don't believe in UBC because I think I should be able to sell anything to anyone (private property) without gov't interference, and of course if I were to sell to a friend or even casual acquaintance, a NICS check being required seems absurd.

PS How you liking that snow, Madcap?!?

 

[HOOfan_1]

I tend not to get caught up in the distinction. This is a distinction without a difference. Some states call it PTC, some call it CCW, some call it LTCF, but in a general sense it means all the same thing, and in a forum with members from all 50 states and around the world, a general term seems to work well, especially given that CCW is the most common.

Yeah I had some people crawl all over me on OpenCarry.org because I said something about a Virginia CCW Permit. Ours is a CHP (concealed Handgun Permit)

Woop dee doo

 

[CoRoMo]

I had a guy try to low ball me in person for a pistol. He said "are you sure $XXX is the best you can do?"

They are going with the adage that 'it never hurts to ask'.

When someone shows up to buy from me, and say the price is $200 but they ask, "Will you take $190 just so that I feel like I'm getting a deal?", I tell them... "Not if you brought all two-hundred".

 

[morcey2]

His wife must have told him he has to sell it.

We see that locally on occasion. There was an M48 up for sale at least in the picture, but the description was very convoluted and described a mosin. The seller was asking for close to $1000 for it, which was completely absurd for either one. I sent him an email to him explaining what he had and what he could probably get for it.

His response thanked me for my info, but he would leave it as it is. His wife wanted him to sell it because it scared her. He relented and said he would list it for two weeks, but if it didn't sell he could keep it. So he was going to make sure it didn't sell. A little passive-agressive, but he got to keep his gun.

Matt

 

[Speedgoat]

I understand you, I posted up a rifle for 'FTF SALE LOCALLY' and got a email from a dude all the way in Florida. I figured I may as well entertain it, since he was willing to pay asking price, fees, and shipping, but let him know that it would take me a day or two to figure out the legal way to ship it, consult my local FFL, etc. I got a e-mail back and he was so darned pushy, almost bully-like, that I decided I'm done with trying to sell on there. Think I'll try to do a local gun shop consignment deal next.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

PS How you liking that snow, Madcap?!?

Be quiet, you.

It was so wet and heavy that it clogged the impeller on my snowblower and snapped the shear bolts that hold it to the drive shaft. I didn't have any spares, so I was two hours late to work because the buses were all stuck or in ditches, and I had to finish shoveling by hand. And then again when I got home because it was still blizzarding.

I am going to have to remember that zillion dollar Armslist sale trick!

 

[Elkins45]

I've never had anything like that, but apparently agreeing to meet me to buy a gun carries a measurable risk that you will be involved in a serious car wreck. Twice I have reached a deal to sell guns on Armslist only to have the buyer back out on the day of the sale claiming they can't purchase it anymore because they were involved in car wrecks the night before. One was particularly annoying because I drove 30 minutes put of my way.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

I put a ad last fall looking for a 391, got everything under the sun except what I was wanting. Had a guy contact me about one he had with a bulged barrel. He sent pictures but they were so small and blurry, I really didn't know what I was getting if we made a deal. He said a barrel was $500 and if I'd give him $250 I could have it. I agreed and thought if nothing else I could part it out.

It showed up and was a Gold Parallel Target, score!

But most everything I have been offered has been junk otherwise.

 

[Lex Luthier]

Trying to pinch a twenty from a done deal is cheap and bs. I would have just walked away on principle also, though PTP or PTC would have been necessary to complete the transaction. This clown appeared to talk too much talk as it was.

Cheap is as cheap does.

 

[hAkron]

I've done many meet-ups through Armslist. Every time I have done ALL of the negotiations prior to the meet up. Unless the item is other than described, we already have an agreement on price. I would be seriously irritated if the seller still wanted to dicker once I arrived. I've had them bring along some ammo or a holster to see if I was also interested, but the original deal is separate and binding (in gentleman's way...or gentlewoman's way) as long everybody has been open and honest.

If I show up and I see that something has been changed, or is not as described, or purposely hidden from view, then I'm probably going to pass on the deal. If I failed to clear something up and it's a $20 mistake, then I eat it.

I bought a S&W model 15 with a box. It was a good deal for the gun. The box however was the wrong era, wrong color, and the label with the serial number was missing. I went ahead with the deal because factoring the box out of the deal, it was still a fair exchange.