First time selling - Payment Methods Classifieds

[PB458wm]

Hello everyone, I have been a member now for a few years and have mostly used the classifieds to find reloading components. I am preparing to post a listing for a rifle and wanted to fourms imput on safest method of funds transfers. I read the method of payment post and what I got from that is that USPS money orders is a secure method And preferred. Also do you recieve the funds then send out the firearm? I already discussed the transfer with my local FFL and have a shipping plan in place. Let me know if there is anything that should be considered.

 

[Woodcarver]

Hello everyone, I have been a member now for a few years and have mostly used the classifieds to find reloading components. I am preparing to post a listing for a rifle and wanted to fourms imput on safest method of funds transfers. I read the method of payment post and what I got from that is that USPS money orders is a secure method And preferred. Also do you recieve the funds then send out the firearm? I already discussed the transfer with my local FFL and have a shipping plan in place. Let me know if there is anything that should be considered.

Safest method is Guntabs, an escrow service designed for buying/selling firearms. Protects both the seller and the buyer in the transaction. Well worth the couple percent fee.
Vetting the potential buyer is a bit harder, but well established members here tend to have a pretty solid record as both buyers and sellers. There is a pinned thread in the Classified section where members give kudos to those they have had good transactions with. There's also one dealing with the a-holes that occasionally show up.
It has paid off for me to ask for a phone number from the potential buyer and have an actual conversation with them. Scammers don't tend to want to talk to you outside of the PM system.
Good luck with your sale!

 

[thriller]

I always talk to the person on the phone first. If you don’t pass the smell test I am not dealing with you. I usually make sure I have the check before I send the item selling. It’s not perfect for the buyer but I know I am not a scammer and I am not looking to get scammed. Never used gun tabs but seems like it could be a good system if it works.

 

[375Fox]

As a buyer I would refuse to send a USPS money order for any significant amount. It gives me zero protections. I have no verification it was received and my money is already gone. I’m good with zelle and personal check both as a buyer and seller. No legitimate buyer will object to waiting time for it to clear. With a check I have verification you received and cashed it and the money isn’t drawn until you do so. As a buyer I’m also fine with PayPal F&F through my debit card. However as a seller I will never accept PayPal again. I find it difficult to access the money because I refuse to link my back account to PayPal again.

 

[JimP]

Any payment method should be scrutinize. USPS money orders would be one of the last forms that I would accept. They are too easy to counterfeit.

I'm also skeptical of most online payment methods. I just signed up with Zelle through my bank but still wonder about it.

The escrow service looks good, it protects both sides.

 

[Stompbox]

I have been using gun broker since 1999 and probably have well over 600 transactions in that time, although only 229 of them bothered to do the feedback and rating. I always required a USPS money order, but I had an A+ rating and I think that gave buyers confidence. I still prefer to receive a USPS money order because it can be verified immediately and then I would ship out the next day instead of having to wait the 10 days that my bank wanted to wait to ensure a check was good. I have signed up to use the gun tab option, but have not used it yet. I never received a counterfeit USPS money order or personal check, which I accepted for repeat customers.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have done a lot of buying and selling on AH. Never have been scammed. I always ask for phone number and talk on phone. I send checks and accept checks for payments. I let them clear sometimes. Sometimes I don't. The regular members here that I deal with a lot I am not worried about. The newbies, will have to wait till clears. Heck I have been know to ship even before payment arrives from some on here that are repeat buyers.

 

[BeeMaa]

I've bought and sold a lot on AH and (knock on wood) have not had an issue. Most of the time I use PayPal, but I've also done personal check, bank check and USPS money order. The people I'm comfortable with are normally PayPal, but I always talk on the phone with any buyer/seller.

If you are concerned, use something like Guntabs to hold the money in escrow until the transaction is done and both parties are satisfied.

Also a good source of information on AH buyers/sellers...
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/purchases-on-ah-references.63194/

 

[PB458wm]

Thank you for the input. I really appreciate it.

 

[Woodcarver]

As a buyer I would refuse to send a USPS money order for any significant amount. It gives me zero protections. I have no verification it was received and my money is already gone. I’m good with zelle and personal check both as a buyer and seller. No legitimate buyer will object to waiting time for it to clear. With a check I have verification you received and cashed it and the money isn’t drawn until you do so. As a buyer I’m also fine with PayPal F&F through my debit card. However as a seller I will never accept PayPal again. I find it difficult to access the money because I refuse to link my back account to PayPal again.

With PPs rep concerning gun related sales/purchases, I won't link a bank account to it either. I use a cc, and delete the card after the purchase. If taking payment through PP, I have PP send me a check, minus the buck and a half they charge for that.
Zelle and personal checks are my preferred methods as well. Won't take a USPS money order.

 

[Mekaniks]

I will not do any transaction with someone that I cannot verify…..The method of payment is 2nd for me….

 

[ActionBob]

Zelle, especially for transactions under about $3000.

For an expensive double i got the seller to send it to J.J. Peredeau to check it out, do some needed repairs, and hold it in escrow (in effect). Then when J.J. oked it. I sent the funds to the seller. When the seller confirmed he had the funds, J.J. sent me the gun. Great comfort level all around.

 

[sierraone]

Zelle, especially for transactions under about $3000.

For an expensive double i got the seller to send it to J.J. Peredeau to check it out, do some needed repairs, and hold it in escrow (in effect). Then when J.J. oked it. I sent the funds to the seller. When the seller confirmed he had the funds, J.J. sent me the gun. Great comfort level all around.

And then when its someone you know like @ActionBob , just take a personal check and be done with it!!!

 

[375Fox]

I'm also skeptical of most online payment methods. I just signed up with Zelle through my bank but still wonder about it.

What do you wonder about? It’s an essentially Venmo but without leaving the bank. When you go to send money either through their cell number or email their name automatically pops up from their account as a secondary confirmation you are sending to correct person. I usually send $1 first to someone new fo confirm they got it then send the rest. It’s incredibly easy to use and as a seller money is in your account within minutes. Same as PayPal FF though leave the reason blank no need to mention anything gun or hunting related.

 

[375Fox]

With PPs rep concerning gun related sales/purchases, I won't link a bank account to it either. I use a cc, and delete the card after the purchase. If taking payment through PP, I have PP send me a check, minus the buck and a half they charge for that.
Zelle and personal checks are my preferred methods as well. Won't take a USPS money order.

I won’t link my bank account anymore because I used my credit card for a purchase through PayPal but it was marked as potential fraud. So instead of letting me confirm charge they just automatically withdrew from my bank account. That really made me mad. I like the protection of using credit card to purchase items in event of any fraud. The last time I had difficulty getting the check from them and had to link my bank account to get my money, so no more sakes through PayPal for me after that.

 

[Ray B]

The one time I tried to make a payment using PayPal it was for renewal of membership to a local gun club. I'm not sure what PayPal's problem with it was, but they contacted my bank to cancel my credit card. so I don't use payPal. I bought a book from a member in South Africa. I don't recall the system name but the seller did all of the logistics and all I had to do was click on the link and fill in the blanks. Most recently I purchased a knife from VonGruff in New Zealand. He no longer has a US agent, so I just wired the funds from the bank. Otherwise, I pay with personal check which I just sent one today. It's within state and I'll be picking the items up next week. the check will have cleared the bank and both b&s are protected.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I prefer money sent by 18 year old blond courier with no morals, that is how I know you mean business

 

[Ray B]

18 year old blond courier with no morals,

Less risk if they are 21

 

[Bullthrower338]

Less risk if they are 21

Good point!

 

[sierraone]

I prefer money sent by 18 year old blond courier with no morals, that is how I know you mean business

Is her name Zelle?