Advice needed - Gun Sale out of state

Grabber

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Hey Everyone,

First off, Mods/Admins, I'm only asking for advice from those that have sold firearms off the site as I'm in the process of doing so and need some advice. If this is inappropriate, by all means, remove it.

So, I listed my Beretta on Armslist.com and someone bit right away. He is out of WA and wants to pay by cashier's check and will wait for the funds to clear. He's already sent me a copy of his drivers license and wants me to ship to his FFL.

Is there anything else I need to do to cover my butt? I know for IL, I'm going to create a bill of sale documenting everything, including our names, type of gun, serial number and the conditions of the sale.

If anyone knows the laws of WA and if permits are required, let me know. This is my first time and I want to do it right and lawfully.

Thank you

-Chris
 

Silverstrike

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Have no idea how the FOID card that Il has really works or if it even needs to be used in this situation. But if you do a FFL to FFL type transaction I think you would be good to go. As they would want to have everything to check out.

I use to have a pretty good grasp on what each state had as regulations when it comes to Firearms but ever since Sandy Hook and all the knee jerk reactions that followed not so much.
 

tnuce10

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^^^He's right.

FFL to FFL transfer should cover your ass. Bill of Sale is a good idea to keep for your records as well.

You shouldn't have a problem.
 

Grabber

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So, the best thing for me to do is to contact an FFL and provide them with the info of the one he is using?

do they handle shipping the gun and what not or just the paperwork of ownership and I cover the shipping?

With FOID, if I was to sell in the same state, I'd need their FOID ID # and would have to log into the state police site and enter it to get a generated approval number to sell it. Then, I'd need to retain the approval and bill of sale for 10 years in case of an audit, etc.
 

Silverstrike

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Yes the FFL should cover everything including shipping and transit time between points including even insurance on the handgun and it's value.


I use to work for a class II mfg. until he decided to do some bonehead stuff and almost took me down with him. But that is an entirely different matter.
 

Redneckbmxer24

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It has to go to an FFL on his end regardless, he should provide you with a dealer of his choosing. DO NOT SHIP DIRECTLY TO HIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It's an interstate transaction therefor a transfer must be done. Request a signed copy of the FFL of his chosing, make sure its current (not expired) and that you ship to the address listed on the license.

As long as you receive cleared payment and ship to an ffl then you have covered yourself all you need to. If something happens with the gun in the future they will follow the paper trail to that FFL, not to you.

My question, is it a long gun or a hand gun?

If it is handgun I would personally go through an FFL on your end too. Most FFL's charge $20-30 for outgoing + shipping. Most FFL's are pretty cool though and will let you generate a label and pay postage so long as they are listed as the return address. The reason I would use a FFL is per UPS and Fedex's policy handguns must ship via air, and per USPS policy, only licensed dealers can ship handguns. So to ship it yourself would run $90+ with them. A FFL can ship USPS priority flat rate so you're looking at $12+ insurance + their fee.

If it's a long gun I would just ship it yourself. You can ship via any class through UPS or fedex, or you can use USPS. I personally use whichever is cheapest with insurance. Regardless, make sure you do signature required. I also suggest taking a copy of the FFL to wherever you drop it off so that you can show them that it's shipping to a licensed dealer incase there is any question.
 

Grabber

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It has to go to an FFL on his end regardless, he should provide you with a dealer of his choosing. DO NOT SHIP DIRECTLY TO HIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It's an interstate transaction therefor a transfer must be done. Request a signed copy of the FFL of his chosing, make sure its current (not expired) and that you ship to the address listed on the license.

As long as you receive cleared payment and ship to an ffl then you have covered yourself all you need to. If something happens with the gun in the future they will follow the paper trail to that FFL, not to you.

My question, is it a long gun or a hand gun?

If it is handgun I would personally go through an FFL on your end too. Most FFL's charge $20-30 for outgoing + shipping. Most FFL's are pretty cool though and will let you generate a label and pay postage so long as they are listed as the return address. The reason I would use a FFL is per UPS and Fedex's policy handguns must ship via air, and per USPS policy, only licensed dealers can ship handguns. So to ship it yourself would run $90+ with them. A FFL can ship USPS priority flat rate so you're looking at $12+ insurance + their fee.

If it's a long gun I would just ship it yourself. You can ship via any class through UPS or fedex, or you can use USPS. I personally use whichever is cheapest with insurance. Regardless, make sure you do signature required. I also suggest taking a copy of the FFL to wherever you drop it off so that you can show them that it's shipping to a licensed dealer incase there is any question.

Awesome!

It is a handgun I'd be selling. As of now, he just wants a copy of my drivers license as I already have his. Then he said he'd pay by cashiers check, wait for the funds to clear and then give me the FFL info.

I found one near me that deals with FFL's and I've sent them an email with some of the details.

I'll definitely follow your advice and go through an FFL to just make sure things are safe so I don't wind up sorry.
 

Grabber

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It has to go to an FFL on his end regardless, he should provide you with a dealer of his choosing. DO NOT SHIP DIRECTLY TO HIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It's an interstate transaction therefor a transfer must be done. Request a signed copy of the FFL of his chosing, make sure its current (not expired) and that you ship to the address listed on the license.

As long as you receive cleared payment and ship to an ffl then you have covered yourself all you need to. If something happens with the gun in the future they will follow the paper trail to that FFL, not to you.

My question, is it a long gun or a hand gun?

If it is handgun I would personally go through an FFL on your end too. Most FFL's charge $20-30 for outgoing + shipping. Most FFL's are pretty cool though and will let you generate a label and pay postage so long as they are listed as the return address. The reason I would use a FFL is per UPS and Fedex's policy handguns must ship via air, and per USPS policy, only licensed dealers can ship handguns. So to ship it yourself would run $90+ with them. A FFL can ship USPS priority flat rate so you're looking at $12+ insurance + their fee.

If it's a long gun I would just ship it yourself. You can ship via any class through UPS or fedex, or you can use USPS. I personally use whichever is cheapest with insurance. Regardless, make sure you do signature required. I also suggest taking a copy of the FFL to wherever you drop it off so that you can show them that it's shipping to a licensed dealer incase there is any question.

Double Post.
 

geoffmt

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is this for Washington state? Last time I bought a weapon there, I handed over cash, was handed the weapon. If you have to mail, then go through a FFL
 

JPKII

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+1 for FFL to FFL for interstate.

Even face-to-face I'm less inclined to do anymore. I'd rather pay the FFL fee and get the transaction officially documented. Offers protection for both parties.
 

rotor_powerd

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Paying the $30 or whatever it will cost to ship from an FFL on your end is cheap insurance to make sure you're fully covered and on the up and up.
 

Redneckbmxer24

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Awesome!

It is a handgun I'd be selling. As of now, he just wants a copy of my drivers license as I already have his. Then he said he'd pay by cashiers check, wait for the funds to clear and then give me the FFL info.

I found one near me that deals with FFL's and I've sent them an email with some of the details.

I'll definitely follow your advice and go through an FFL to just make sure things are safe so I don't wind up sorry.

For a handgun definitely go through a FFL, you'll save yourself $50 and won't give out your info.

Personally I wouldn't send him a copy of your DL. He has no reason to see it, and if a FFL is receiving from another FFL, your FFL will include a copy of theirs with the gun so the receiving dealer will log the gun in from them. The FFL you use will want to see your ID however to log the gun into their books.
 

4a7191a

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I had a deal where I purchased a gun. I talked to a local pawn shop and had them pay for it ans mailed to them. Had to pay an ffl transfer and 25 bucks for the hassle. But still completely legal and safe on both ends that way.
 

Grabber

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For a handgun definitely go through a FFL, you'll save yourself $50 and won't give out your info.

Personally I wouldn't send him a copy of your DL. He has no reason to see it, and if a FFL is receiving from another FFL, your FFL will include a copy of theirs with the gun so the receiving dealer will log the gun in from them. The FFL you use will want to see your ID however to log the gun into their books.

Well, I did send the guy a copy of my DL and requested his FFL info. I also reached out to an FFL dealer near me and am waiting to hear back from them with the info.

Worst comes to worst, I'll try and find a dealer here that accepts trade ins and see if they can give me a fair price for my gun/ammo and buy the new one I'm looking at so I avoid all of this.

Definitely going through an FFL no matter what.

Thanks for the advice.
 

jbs$

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Take a little less money from a local buyer and save yourself a lot of hassle. In the end you, most likely, you will have more money in your pocket.
 

Redneckbmxer24

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A dealer is going to give you about half of what its actually worth on the used market. Trade ins are not the way to go with guns. You may want to try gun broker, other than forums, its by far the best way to sell used guns. Way too much scamming on armlist and too small of an audience for me to bother with it.
 

Grabber

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A dealer is going to give you about half of what its actually worth on the used market. Trade ins are not the way to go with guns. You may want to try gun broker, other than forums, its by far the best way to sell used guns. Way too much scamming on armlist and too small of an audience for me to bother with it.

Any other gun sites you use? Tried to get setup on Gunbroker and they want me to send them utility bills, copy of my driver's license and pay fees just to join the site.

Also tried gunsamerica and the only options allowed for accepting payment from buyers are credit cards, money order or check. I prefer paypal or cash if local.
 

Redneckbmxer24

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Any other gun sites you use? Tried to get setup on Gunbroker and they want me to send them utility bills, copy of my driver's license and pay fees just to join the site.

Also tried gunsamerica and the only options allowed for accepting payment from buyers are credit cards, money order or check. I prefer paypal or cash if local.

AR15.com is a good site to sell stuff but I can tell you that a new member with no feedback or reputation on the site is going to be harder to make a sale happen. I'm not sure why gunbroker would require all that documentation, I can't speak to that though because I've had my account for over 10 years now and I'm sure some things have changed.

If you do a FTF just make sure you look into that laws in your state, I know that Illinois has some pretty strict gun laws. It wouldn't surprised me at all if you're required to go through a dealer.
 

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