How long to leave a firearm for sale on consignment?

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Thetaii

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Hello all, I am new to this forum, and so far it seems to be a great place for any type of firearm info/tips/reviews/etc.!

I recently placed my like new/mint condition Browning Gold Sporting Clays 12 gauge shotgun up for sell on consignment at a local gun shop. I am looking to use the funds I get from the sale to purchase a S&W 686 SSR w/ 4" barrel, or possibly a standard 686 7 shot with a 4" barrel.

So my question for everyone is, how long do you all think I should leave my shotgun at this shop till I attempt selling it elsewhere? I was planning to wait at least one month, however ideas/tips/suggestions about how long to wait for it to sell, as well as other possible options on how to sell it more rapidly, would be most appreciated! :D
 
Welcome!!

Do you know if the consignment shop will charge you a fee to reacquire the firearm from them? Since you will have to go through the transfer process (form 4473 and NICS background check), expect them to charge you a fee. That might become a factor in letting it sell at the shop rather than fiddle with trying to sell it on your own.

If it were me, and it didn't sell after two or three months, I'd lower my price and let it ride another couple months.
 
Thanks Furncliff. Looks like I'll be waiting a month. Also am I correct in saying that I could always sell it through an authorized firearm sales website? If so how would such a sale to a private party work? I assume it would have to go through an FFL holder correct?
 
Thanks CoRoMo. The shop consignment fee to re acquire the firearm is $35, which for me seems reasonable. As far as lowering the price I don't mind doing that if necessary of course but I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that it will sell for the asking $800. I really can't wait to get a 686 since this will be my first revolver. :)
 
It depends on how much you need the money from the sale and how quickly. But I think CoRoMo stated pretty much what I would personally do. If I were in a hurry for the money, I would not have placed it on consignment. I let one of my houses listed for 6 months by one agent before changing agents. Hopefully, the time element will not be an issue for you and the gun will sell in some reasonable timeframe.

The gunshop has logged the gun into their books. So, I suspect you will have to complete a 4473 and NICS check (usually associated with a fee) if you take it back.
 
If you use Facebook then check for local firearms pages for your area. There are dozens for just my area alone and they seem to move guns fairly fast.
 
Well I'm not in any serious hurry but ideally I'd like to sell it sooner than later so I can get that 686. After I placed it on consignment I actually then started to think that selling it online may have been a better way to go. I'm gonna do some research about California firearms sales to see what such an online sale would require. Oh and CoRoMo I was thinking that an "authorized firearm sales website" was basically a website that was "allowed/authorized" to sell firearms. Considering your response about selling on this forum it appears that no such thing exists. :p
 
You're right. There is no such thing as "authorized online firearm" seller unless they have their FFL license. If you are located in the same state, you could visit their location and do the transfer. Otherwise, the process is still the same even without a FFL, the gun is shipped to a FFL dealer for transfer to you at which time you adhere to any foid card, waiting periods, and of course the 4473 and the NICs check prior to the transfer. One difference is that a FFL dealer can ship via USPS priority mail (flat rate shipping box for a handgun as an example) and a private citizen can only ship via UPS or FedEx next day (for the most part).
 
It can often take much longer than 1 month unless it is priced very low. I've left guns and had the shop call my cell phone before I got home. Other times I've left guns for 6-8 months, but 2-3 months is more reasonable. FWIW, leaving guns on consignment would not be my 1st choice. I'd try other methods first.

In GA if you have a carry permit there is no background check, so it only invoved a 4473 to get my guns back. I did leave the shop owner $20 for his trouble even though it did not sell.
 
Thanks for the info jmr40. I think I'll just do like I stated, e.g. get the shotgun out of consignment if it hasn't sold after at least a month. In the meantime I'll post ads for it online.
 
David E said:
This is NOT federal law. It is merely the policy of some shipping companies.
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Wow. You quoted me before I could edit my original post. Some things got displaced. But you're correct about UPS and FedEx, it is their requirement, not federal law on the shipping time frame.

I found that regardless if you have a dealer ship via USPS (handgun) or do it yourself, you're probably going to be spending in the $40-$50 area unless the dealer is a friend and they will do it for the shipping cost only. FedEx is really high. They have priced themselves out of my regular use and this year with the price increase, the final straw fell. I have not shipped anything FedEx this year (unless the client specifies FedEx and pay an extra fee) and as a result they have lost about $1000 in revenue in 4 months. These were not guns.
 
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I like to use a gunshop that offers both sales options: consignment in the shop and/or listing it online with like gunbroker or gunsamerica for an additional fee. Typically my guns have sold in two weeks or less at the shop.
 
Yeah Bannockburn I wish I checked to see where/if gunslingers puts ads online (I think they place ads on their website.) I think I'll stop by the shop and see if they can place online ads elsewhere.
 
Since your gun shop is also an FFL then you can list it for sale yourself and direct them to the gun shop to complete the purchase. Keep in mind he'd still get his cut so price it accordingly. Nothing says you can't drive the buyer to the shop with your own ads.
 
Good idea Larry. I just updated my online ad at armslist. I tried making a gunbroker.com ad but it "flagged" my account and I'm waiting for their support people to address my issue.
 
Admittedly, I haven't put a gun on consignment in ages, but since when must someone who does so now have to go through the transfer process to get it back?? It was my gun when I put it on consignment, and it's still my gun if I change my mind and want it back. Makes no sense to me (but then, many gun laws make no sense).
 
md2lgyk said:
Admittedly, I haven't put a gun on consignment in ages, but since when must someone who does so now have to go through the transfer process to get it back?? It was my gun when I put it on consignment, and it's still my gun if I change my mind and want it back. Makes no sense to me (but then, many gun laws make no sense).
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I was told by a gun store employee awhile ago that he had to go through the transfer process to get his gun back. He didn't give a reason and I didn't ask but I would think the paperwork has to do with the fact that you are transferring custody of the weapon to the store, then having custody returned to you. This is just a guess on my part.
 
Actually as per federal law, a 4473 will NOT be required IF the same person picks it up as dropped it off as its being returned to the owner, exactly the same as dropping of a firearm for work at a gunsmith.
 
Do you know if the consignment shop will charge you a fee to reacquire the firearm from them? Since you will have to go through the transfer process (form 4473 and NICS background check), expect them to charge you a fee. That might become a factor in letting it sell at the shop rather than fiddle with trying to sell it on your own.

If it were me, and it didn't sell after two or three months, I'd lower my price and let it ride another couple months.
Click to expand...

If a shop tried to charge me a transfer fee on my own firearm it would be the last time I did business with them, plain and simple.
 
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