Rant concerning seller's requirements on classified ads

Poseidon69

Poseidon69

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2021
Messages
10,861
Location
Hickory
Rating - 100%
28   0   0
I have noticed quite a few private sellers with "requirements" that really diminish our right to buy/sell firearms privately. Yes, I realize we all have the choice to not do business with anyone of our choosing--and I immediately disregard the ones posting such nonsense--but some of the demands are completely asinine! Here are a few I'm seeing frequently:

1. "Trades need to be in my favor"
I really don't even know how to articulate my disdain when I see this on an ad, so you're the only one who should have a positive experience? Or, maybe your full-time job is a used car salesman at "Slick's Lemon Rides."

2. "Bill of sale is required"
A bill of sale is not required (in NC anyways) and the attracting feature of private transactions is not having your name/information further accessible by any alphabet agencies in the future.

3. "Transfer must be done at a FFL holder and you must pay the fee"
This totally negates the private sale advantage and why would I pay your full asking price when I can probably buy the same item cheaper directly from the dealer who you're wanting to do the transfer! Yes, there is a risk involved in buying/selling privately but that's where the $$$ savings comes in. If you want to do a FFL transfer on a used firearm then find out what the FFL would pay you for said piece if you sold it to them and start your asking price at 10% over that amount.

4. Requiring a pistol purchase permit or CCW to buy a long gun.
No permit or license is required to buy a long gun.

I realize some may not agree with my ramblings but the great thing about our country is freedom of speech...much like our right to privately buy/sell in our respective states.

For further reading and to educate yourself on (NC) gun laws: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/gun-laws-state/north-carolina-gun-laws/
 
Poseidon69 said:
I have noticed quite a few private sellers with "requirements" that really diminish our right to buy/sell firearms privately. Yes, I realize we all have the choice to not do business with anyone of our choosing--and I immediately disregard the ones posting such nonsense--but some of the demands are completely asinine! Here are a few I'm seeing frequently:

1. "Trades need to be in my favor"
I really don't even know how to articulate my disdain when I see this on an ad, so you're the only one who should have a positive experience? Or, maybe your full-time job is a used car salesman at "Slick's Lemon Rides."

2. "Bill of sale is required"
A bill of sale is not required (in NC anyways) and the attracting feature of private transactions is not having your name/information further accessible by any alphabet agencies in the future.

3. "Transfer must be done at a FFL holder and you must pay the fee"
This totally negates the private sale advantage and why would I pay your full asking price when I can probably buy the same item cheaper directly from the dealer who you're wanting to do the transfer! Yes, there is a risk involved in buying/selling privately but that's where the $$$ savings comes in. If you want to do a FFL transfer on a used firearm then find out what the FFL would pay you for said piece if you sold it to them and start your asking price at 10% over that amount.

4. Requiring a pistol purchase permit or CCW to buy a long gun.
No permit or license is required to buy a long gun.

I realize some may not agree with my ramblings but the great thing about our country is freedom of speech...much like our right to privately buy/sell in our respective states.

For further reading and to educate yourself on (NC) gun laws: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/gun-laws-state/north-carolina-gun-laws/
Click to expand...

As I understand it, when Karens come upon behaviours in others that they don't like within their environments, they tend to vocally rant to the management and/or neighbors ... as if THEIR views of how things ought to be are the most correct or 'right' views -- regardless of the freedom of others to exercise/express/live by different views. IIRC, the male counterpart name that goes with such behaviour is: Ken.

Is your name Ken, perhaps? I ask only because you seem to be vocally ranting ... to the management and your forum neighbors ... about behaviours you don't like in this environment ... as if your view of how such things ought to be are the most correct views -- regardless of the freedom of others to exercise/express/live by different views.
 
Last edited:
I understand where you're coming from but I don't really understand what the issue is? If terms are not acceptable and not to your liking move on and at least they posted them upfront and neither are wasting time. There is always the option of private message and discussing what is or isn't reasonable per terms of sale.

I think # 2, 3, and 4 while not really an issue is generally either peace of mind or considered good practice. Relevant or not that's what the seller decided for whatever reason. If it's that much of an issue or concern no reason to engage from the get-go. On some things, it's nice to have a paper trail or alternate way of moving something.
 
Poseidon69 said:
I have noticed quite a few private sellers with "requirements" that really diminish our right to buy/sell firearms privately. Yes, I realize we all have the choice to not do business with anyone of our choosing--and I immediately disregard the ones posting such nonsense--but some of the demands are completely asinine! Here are a few I'm seeing frequently:

1. "Trades need to be in my favor"
I really don't even know how to articulate my disdain when I see this on an ad, so you're the only one who should have a positive experience? Or, maybe your full-time job is a used car salesman at "Slick's Lemon Rides."

2. "Bill of sale is required"
A bill of sale is not required (in NC anyways) and the attracting feature of private transactions is not having your name/information further accessible by any alphabet agencies in the future.

3. "Transfer must be done at a FFL holder and you must pay the fee"
This totally negates the private sale advantage and why would I pay your full asking price when I can probably buy the same item cheaper directly from the dealer who you're wanting to do the transfer! Yes, there is a risk involved in buying/selling privately but that's where the $$$ savings comes in. If you want to do a FFL transfer on a used firearm then find out what the FFL would pay you for said piece if you sold it to them and start your asking price at 10% over that amount.

4. Requiring a pistol purchase permit or CCW to buy a long gun.
No permit or license is required to buy a long gun.

I realize some may not agree with my ramblings but the great thing about our country is freedom of speech...much like our right to privately buy/sell in our respective states.

For further reading and to educate yourself on (NC) gun laws: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/gun-laws-state/north-carolina-gun-laws/
Click to expand...

Hey, Boats;

Fully agree. The inverse, we don't like the ad, just move on. Free market (ish) and all.

Maybe we should keep this thread going for those who don't want to pay.
 
I think you may be misinterpreting the phrase “Trades need to be in my favor"

I went and searched for posts with that and my own read of that simply means they only want trades or lesser value than the item they are selling. Basicall they don’t want to end up selling something here with a trade and having to pay additional funds they might not have. That seems a pretty reasonable request to me.

maybe I’m wrong, but that’s how I take the meaning of that phrase as used in the FS threads I read.
 
surrealone said:
As I understand it, when Karens come upon behaviours in others that they don't like within their environments, they tend to vocally rant to the management and/or neighbors ... as if THEIR views of how things ought to be are the most correct or 'right' views -- regardless of the freedom of others to exercise/express/live by different views. IIRC, the male counterpart name that goes with such behaviour is: Ken.

Is your name Ken, perhaps? I ask only because you seem to be vocally ranting ... to the management and your forum neighbors ... about behaviours you don't like in this environment ... as if your view of how such things ought to be are the most correct views -- regardless of the freedom of others to exercise/express/live by different views.
Click to expand...
"...You seem to be vocally ranting...", did the thread title give it away? I'm Wayne and I never stated my views were the "correct" views, but they are my views! If your intent was to cause a knee-jerk reaction on my part, MISSION FAILED!
When fringe ideas, morals, etc. become normalized by society (yes, we are a gun society on here) then they steadily--without us even realizing it--become the norm and are no longer fringe.
 
DaveInCLT said:
I think you may be misinterpreting the phrase “Trades need to be in my favor"

I went and searched for posts with that and my own read of that simply means they only want trades or lesser value than the item they are selling. Basicall they don’t want to end up selling something here with a trade and having to pay additional funds they might not have. That seems a pretty reasonable request to me.

maybe I’m wrong, but that’s how I take the meaning of that phrase as used in the FS threads I read.
Click to expand...
I agree, but maybe the better choice of words would be, "Not looking to trade up or laterally."
 
Chuckman said:
Hey, Boats;

Fully agree. The inverse, we don't like the ad, just move on. Free market (ish) and all.

Maybe we should keep this thread going for those who don't want to pay.
Click to expand...
Hence my comment, "We all have the choice to not do business with anyone of our choosing--and I immediately disregard the ones posting such nonsense."
 
DaveInCLT said:
I think you may be misinterpreting the phrase “Trades need to be in my favor"

I went and searched for posts with that and my own read of that simply means they only want trades or lesser value than the item they are selling. Basicall they don’t want to end up selling something here with a trade and having to pay additional funds they might not have. That seems a pretty reasonable request to me.

maybe I’m wrong, but that’s how I take the meaning of that phrase as used in the FS threads I read.
Click to expand...
Interesting take. It always pays to view things with a open mind.
 
If the seller has specific requirements it's better to get it out in the open than to be surprised at the meet up for a purchase.

I've passed on quite a few items based on the sellers requirements or maybe it's just a new member with no history other than the BST area of this forum. Seller can ask what he wants as far as price and other requirements, I can accept or move along. For me, it's not complicated.

.
 
Everyone has their opinions and I pretty much agree with #’s 1-3
Regarding #4 I think it is good form to “SEE” Not Record in any way, proof someone is not a felon by showing they have a valid permit of some kind to purchase a firearm. I support law abiding gun owners all day, but I don’t want to furnish someone with any gun that has lost the legal right, from their own criminal behavior. Not being a felon is a requirement to owning or purchasing any firearm.
Just my .o2 cents…
 
I agree with a lot on both sides, but, in a nutshell….

You don’t like a seller’s requirements, yes….move on.

OTOH….

I have passed on MANY a fine pieces of hardware due to “meet at my/your FFL to do the transfer” and “trades need to be in my favor”. The former should be self explanatory, but the latter? You’re expecting my Sig X5 Legion for your LCP even up?? Naw….trades should be as even as possible. If the purpose is just to get a fresh toy, then cash up or down, if agreed on by both parties, is the way to go.

I don’t mind a BOS if it’s a piece I’m really digging, but if I’m filling out a 4473, I’ll just give my funds to my LGS.
 
NKD said:
I make people knock out 50 pushups and change my oil.... or no sail/sale.
Click to expand...
orange pushups or those nasty lemon-lime? I can definitely knock out 50 orange.

And...2nds on the "if you like this thread, pony up to become an actual member of the site to see ALL the digs going on re: BST foolishness". In the meantime, we'll keep the public/freeloading area mostly bash free.
 
While I don’t think I’ve ever posted such, I completely understand the “trades must be in my favor”. I generally don’t like trading because it’s an additional level of complication, having to agree upon valuation of both items, and I generally make out better searching for deals and buying new.
For someone who doesn’t realllly want to trade, they may be more willing if the trade is more in their favor i.e. my $900 item for your $975 item. So I view that statement as, “you’re going to have to sweeten the deal for me to trade.”
 
Jerzsubbie said:
While I don’t think I’ve ever posted such, I completely understand the “trades must be in my favor”. I generally don’t like trading because it’s an additional level of complication, having to agree upon valuation of both items, and I generally make out better searching for deals and buying new.
For someone who doesn’t realllly want to trade, they may be more willing if the trade is more in their favor i.e. my $900 item for your $975 item. So I view that statement as, “you’re going to have to sweeten the deal for me to trade.”
Click to expand...
I've done one three way trade and somehow nothing went wrong
 
Poseidon69 said:
I have noticed quite a few private sellers with "requirements" that really diminish our right to buy/sell firearms privately. Yes, I realize we all have the choice to not do business with anyone of our choosing--and I immediately disregard the ones posting such nonsense--but some of the demands are completely asinine! Here are a few I'm seeing frequently:

1. "Trades need to be in my favor"
I really don't even know how to articulate my disdain when I see this on an ad, so you're the only one who should have a positive experience? Or, maybe your full-time job is a used car salesman at "Slick's Lemon Rides."

2. "Bill of sale is required"
A bill of sale is not required (in NC anyways) and the attracting feature of private transactions is not having your name/information further accessible by any alphabet agencies in the future.

3. "Transfer must be done at a FFL holder and you must pay the fee"
This totally negates the private sale advantage and why would I pay your full asking price when I can probably buy the same item cheaper directly from the dealer who you're wanting to do the transfer! Yes, there is a risk involved in buying/selling privately but that's where the $$$ savings comes in. If you want to do a FFL transfer on a used firearm then find out what the FFL would pay you for said piece if you sold it to them and start your asking price at 10% over that amount.

4. Requiring a pistol purchase permit or CCW to buy a long gun.
No permit or license is required to buy a long gun.

I realize some may not agree with my ramblings but the great thing about our country is freedom of speech...much like our right to privately buy/sell in our respective states.

For further reading and to educate yourself on (NC) gun laws: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/gun-laws-state/north-carolina-gun-laws/
Click to expand...
BOS Required, Transfer @ FFL ETC ... is BS, I just keep looking I'll find some other person either on this forum or elsewhere that wants to sell. Might take awhile but I will find someone .
 
Last edited:
Is what it is. /thread.
 
If I want it bad enough, then I’ll pay the tax. Y’all have changed my mind about the BOS. I don’t require it anymore. Nor will I sign one. But if I want the gun in question bad enough then I’ll do a transfer at a FFL.

As far as the trade requirement. My thoughts and how I interpret that is, if I have a firearm for sale and I have it listed as no interest in trading, then if someone really wants my gun and doesn’t have the funds and wants to trade then it would have to be in my favor where I feel comfortable being able to resell.

On the other hand, if I am selling something and I’m interested in trading for a certain firearm, then I want it to be fair for both parties.

So I have a Ruger 77/22 for sale right now. I have listed that I want a 28 gauge pump as my only trade. If someone were to offer me a 28 gauge pump then we would have to come to an agreement on either trading even or either one of us adding cash. But to keep it fair. Unless I want the 28 gauge bad enough then I will pay for it. But if someone were to offer me an AK or should I dare a Glock 😖, then it would have to be in my favor so I can turn around and resell it and recoup my money. Plus extra money for my troubles/gas/time etc
 
Last edited:
It's interesting reading the different perspectives in this thread.

Speaking personally, I don't need to meet at an FFL or see a PPP. Nor do I need to keep a copy of the buyers DL.

I do require a BOS, and to view the drivers license to ensure that the info matches what we put on the BOS. The reason why is my own liability.

Most of my firearms are purchased new, so if one that I've owned is ever linked to a crime scene, then Law Enforcement is going to show up on my doorstep. A BOS proves that I no longer own the firearm and gets me off the hook as the potential perp.

And besides, if a dirtbag posing as a good guy buys a gun from me and then uses it in a crime, why wouldn't I want to help the cops nail his ass?

My 2 cents.
 
Scsmith42 said:
A BOS proves that I no longer own the firearm and gets me off the hook as the potential perp.
Click to expand...
0D347915-4BE1-4D9E-A7A1-4921C18916CE.gif

I could go create a BOS for everything that’s sitting in my safe. Put anybody’s info on there as a buyer that I wanted to…whether they exist or not.
 
Plus, NC law doesn't require a BOS so why open yourself up to further scrutiny. I actually had that happen where a handgun I bought new was found in FL, got a call from a detective and I explained that I sold it privately according to NC legalities and what happened to it after that I have no idea. Told them it wasn't my concern and never heard back.
 
Poseidon69 said:
Plus, NC law doesn't require a BOS so why open yourself up to further scrutiny. I actually had that happen where a handgun I bought new was found in FL, got a call from a detective and I explained that I sold it privately according to NC legalities and what happened to it after that I have no idea. Told them it wasn't my concern and never heard back.
Click to expand...

Even this is too much conversation.

**officers explains situation**

Me, an intellectual, "oh wow that's interesting"

Officer: Well do you know anything?

Me: No sorry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom