Question How do i Avoid getting scammed on a PPT Purchase?

[BONECUTR]

Nitpicky question...This is also a federal issue, transferring a handgun between residents of different states without an FFL, would having relied upon CADOJ help?

It will just always depend on the situation. If they want to make a case against someone they will.
The CADOJ will let people vol reg firearms gifted from family out of state and that's clearly not legal. (Maybe the feds should sue CA over it)
I just had someone who CADOJ told him he could (who knows what was said on the phone) but they rejected his op law form because the family member was not straight up and down the family tree so now he needs to get it back to that person and then ship to a CA dealer for transfer. The didn't threaten to take the firearm of anything just rejected his application.

 

[treelogger]

Nitpicky question...This is also a federal issue, transferring a handgun between residents of different states without an FFL, would having relied upon CADOJ help?

Technically the feds could prosecute that. It's hard to see a federal attorney (prosecutor) getting a whole federal court criminal case started, just for the "innocent" transfer of one firearm across state lines. If you look at federal court dockets (I do), the criminal cases you see there tend to be "big and important". And in the scenario we're discussing, the exact same argument "I called the CA DoJ, they said just do the online paperwork" would once again make successful conviction somewhere between hard and impossible, as it creates reasonable doubt.

 

[JamMan1213]

Ok, I think it's time I explained a few things that prompted me to ask this question in the first place. Many here have brought up "Police Sting"
as kind of ridiculous. Now, having made several PPT purchases (All of which went smooth as silk) I've both bought and sold via PPT transfers and have met some very cool people during the process. But in order to explain the full nature of my original post I have to provide a few bits of information that may clarify/explain the nature of it.
1st off, I had zero experience with PPT, Didn't even know it existed until I lamented to an FFL that I would never be able to own my favorite gun (Glock 19x) as it was and remains off roster. What he said changed my world and gave me hope. "Unless you PPT it" Whhhattt?? He explained PPT to me very briefly and I left there with a glimmer of hope as well as in disbelief that there was a possible way around the crushing and vastly inadequate gun roster for those of us living here in this anti-firearms state.

So now we come to the very first conversation I had with a seller on a sight called arms corp which prompted my almost panicked posting here. Again, Please remember I was a complete newbie to firearms and I don't know if you can remember a time when this was you, but firearms are a bit daunting to someone with no idea what's going on with them, What makes them work, do's and don'ts and so forth. I call the guy about an off roster fire arm he had up for sale. He said that we'd meet at his chosen FFL because they'll work with him on this and that we would only DROS the lower. To which I replied, What about the rest of the gun. "Oh well I give you the slide outside the store when we leave." I then said what about the magazines, "It comes with 2x 19 and a 17 rounder, but wait, isn't there a 10 round limit in CA? "Oh, cops don't really even care about that at all".

By now I'm thinking this guys is a criminal (and not a very good one) or he's a cop and this is entrapment. He went on and on about how he goes shooting with police and DA's all the time with his high capacity magazines and no-one cares at all. Hell the district attorney's don't even procecute that kinda stuff. Now, Again, I'm a damn fool when it comes to guns at this point but even I know what he's suggesting isn't even close to a legal transaction. So I say to him, Serials match right? Naw, The slide will be from a different gun but who cares, You'll have the gun you want right?. So I say , Just so I'm clear....We DROS the lower only....I hand you the cash, Sealing the deal AND my fate. You hand me a different serialed slide that doesn't match the DROS with illegal mags outside the store when we leave. (by now, I'm picturing the scenario of him driving off as the squad cars roll in lights/sirens and guns a blazing as they take me off to jail for being stupid enough to fall for this. Hell I didn't even sleep for a couple of days after talking with him.

This had to be a police sting or a complete criminal idiot attempting to get me to go along with this. Ignorance is no excuse for the law....and me not knowing it would not save me. I just wanted off the phone by this time and said look, We'll talk later...A day or 2 later he calls me ready to set up the meet, I flat out told him I was no longer interested in his firearm and not to contact me again. Funny thing is, The very first PPT I ended up doing was with a LEO from a listing right here on CAguns. Very cool guy and very smooth deal. Did I pay more for it than I should have? Yep, But hey, I got the gun I wanted and the type of transaction that I wanted as well. Safe and legit! I just thought it was time to do a follow up post explaining it from someone who at the time, knew nothing about PPT's and talking to Lex Luthor as my first contact for a PPT....Well nuff said, Sorry for the long ass post

 

[BONECUTR]

Ok, I think it's time I explained e of transaction and thought that it was to good to be true. And again, After talking to Lex Luthor as my first contact for a PPT....Well nuff said, Sorry for the long ass post

That situation seems really sketchy and a seller you should avoid.

There was a Border Patrol guy if I remember correctly who was busted for flipping off rosters and during the sting on him, when the undercover buyer asked him about going in the store to do the paperwork he told him "up to you player" insinuating he was cool just doing the transfer in the parking lot.

Don't do anything illegal or deal with people who try to get you to do something illegal.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Ok, I think it's time I explained a few things that prompted me to ask this question in the first place. Many here have brought up "Police Sting"
as kind of ridiculous. Now, having made several PPT purchases (All of which went smooth as silk) I've both bought and sold via PPT transfers and have met some very cool people during the process. But in order to explain the full nature of my original post I have to provide a few bits of information that may clarify/explain the nature of it.
1st off, I had zero experience with PPT, Didn't even know it existed until I lamented to an FFL that I would never be able to own my favorite gun (Glock 19x) as it was and remains off roster. What he said changed my world and gave me hope. "Unless you PPT it" Whhhattt?? He explained PPT to me very briefly and I left there with a glimmer of hope as well as in disbelief that there was a possible way around the crushing and vastly inadequate gun roster for those of us living here in this anti-firearms state. So now we come to the very first conversation I had with a seller on a sight called arms corp which prompted my almost panicked posting here. Again, Please remember I was a complete newbie to firearms and I don't know if you can remember a time when this was you, but firearms are a bit daunting to someone with no idea what's going on with them, What makes them work, do's and don'ts and so forth. I call the guy about an off roster fire arm he had up for sale. If you guessed a 19x you'd be right. He said that we'd meet at his chosen FFL because they'll work with him on this and that we would only DROS the lower. To which I replied, What about the rest of the gun. "Oh well I give you the slide outside the store when we leave." I then said what about the magazines, "It comes with 2x 19 and a 17 rounder, but wait, isn't there a 10 round limit in CA? "Oh, cops don't really even care about that at all". By now I'm thinking this guys is a criminal (and not a very good one) or he's a cop and this is entrapment. He went on and on about how he goes shooting with police and DA's all the time with his high capacity magazines and no-one cares at all. Hell the district attorney's don't even procecute that kinda stuff. Now, Again, I'm a damn fool when it comes to guns at this point but even I know what he's suggesting isn't even close to a legal transaction. So I say to him, Serials match right? Naw, The slide will be from a different gun but who cares, You'll have the gun you want right?. So I say , Just so I'm clear....We DROS the lower only....I hand you the cash, Sealing the deal AND my fate. You hand me a different serialed slide that doesn't match the DROS with illegal mags outside the store when we leave. (by now, I'm picturing the scenario of him driving off as the squad cars roll in lights/sirens and guns a blazing as they take me off to jail for being stupid enough to fall for this. Hell I didn't even sleep for a couple of days after talking with him. Again, This had to be a police sting or a complete criminal idiot attempting to get me to go along with this. Ignorance is no excuse for the law....and me not knowing it would not save me. I just wanted off the phone by this time and said look, We'll talk later...A day or 2 later he calls me ready to set up the meet, I flat out told him I was no longer interested in his firearm and not to contact me again. Funny thing is, The very first PPT I ended up doing was with a LEO from a listing right here on CAguns. Very cool guy and very smooth deal. Did I pay more for it than I should have? Yep, But hey, I got the gun I wanted and the type of transaction that I wanted as well. Safe and legit! I just thought it was time to do a follow up post explaining it from someone who at the time, knew nothing about PPT's and talking to Lex Luthor as my first contact for a PPT....Well nuff said, Sorry for the long ass post

Great story but line breaks are your friend!

I didn't like the attitude of that seller either, too reckless and cavalier given how green you were.

 

[kemasa]

Both the buyer and seller can corroborate that parts were missing in front of a judge, not to mention the security footage from the transaction. Not exactly the brightest criminal

Yet they got away with it, until they ended up in jail for other reasons.

 

[kemasa]

Nitpicky question...This is also a federal issue, transferring a handgun between residents of different states without an FFL, would having relied upon CADOJ help?

Nope. The CA DOJ has told people they could do such a transfer, which is illegal under fedeal law. I personally have told them that they are giving out bad information and they kept doing it. The CA DOJ doesn't know federal law, so you can't trust a thing that they say about interstate transfers.

 

[kemasa]

In regards to a sting, just because you are paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't after you.

I understand why a person would be concerned. I have seen enough not to trust that just because you are doing something legal that they won't try to come after you because they are ignorant of the actual laws.

 

[PlinkyDinky]

Peace of mind counts for a lot!

 

[Shellbackitup]

Ok, I think it's time I explained a few things that prompted me to ask this question in the first place. Many here have brought up "Police Sting"
as kind of ridiculous. Now, having made several PPT purchases (All of which went smooth as silk) I've both bought and sold via PPT transfers and have met some very cool people during the process. But in order to explain the full nature of my original post I have to provide a few bits of information that may clarify/explain the nature of it.
1st off, I had zero experience with PPT, Didn't even know it existed until I lamented to an FFL that I would never be able to own my favorite gun (Glock 19x) as it was and remains off roster. What he said changed my world and gave me hope. "Unless you PPT it" Whhhattt?? He explained PPT to me very briefly and I left there with a glimmer of hope as well as in disbelief that there was a possible way around the crushing and vastly inadequate gun roster for those of us living here in this anti-firearms state.

So now we come to the very first conversation I had with a seller on a sight called arms corp which prompted my almost panicked posting here. Again, Please remember I was a complete newbie to firearms and I don't know if you can remember a time when this was you, but firearms are a bit daunting to someone with no idea what's going on with them, What makes them work, do's and don'ts and so forth. I call the guy about an off roster fire arm he had up for sale. He said that we'd meet at his chosen FFL because they'll work with him on this and that we would only DROS the lower. To which I replied, What about the rest of the gun. "Oh well I give you the slide outside the store when we leave." I then said what about the magazines, "It comes with 2x 19 and a 17 rounder, but wait, isn't there a 10 round limit in CA? "Oh, cops don't really even care about that at all".

By now I'm thinking this guys is a criminal (and not a very good one) or he's a cop and this is entrapment. He went on and on about how he goes shooting with police and DA's all the time with his high capacity magazines and no-one cares at all. Hell the district attorney's don't even procecute that kinda stuff. Now, Again, I'm a damn fool when it comes to guns at this point but even I know what he's suggesting isn't even close to a legal transaction. So I say to him, Serials match right? Naw, The slide will be from a different gun but who cares, You'll have the gun you want right?. So I say , Just so I'm clear....We DROS the lower only....I hand you the cash, Sealing the deal AND my fate. You hand me a different serialed slide that doesn't match the DROS with illegal mags outside the store when we leave. (by now, I'm picturing the scenario of him driving off as the squad cars roll in lights/sirens and guns a blazing as they take me off to jail for being stupid enough to fall for this. Hell I didn't even sleep for a couple of days after talking with him.

This had to be a police sting or a complete criminal idiot attempting to get me to go along with this. Ignorance is no excuse for the law....and me not knowing it would not save me. I just wanted off the phone by this time and said look, We'll talk later...A day or 2 later he calls me ready to set up the meet, I flat out told him I was no longer interested in his firearm and not to contact me again. Funny thing is, The very first PPT I ended up doing was with a LEO from a listing right here on CAguns. Very cool guy and very smooth deal. Did I pay more for it than I should have? Yep, But hey, I got the gun I wanted and the type of transaction that I wanted as well. Safe and legit! I just thought it was time to do a follow up post explaining it from someone who at the time, knew nothing about PPT's and talking to Lex Luthor as my first contact for a PPT....Well nuff said, Sorry for the long ass post

So, I always trust my gut when it comes to buying/selling things online.

And your gut is telling you something seems fishy. Trust it.

It's better to miss out on a good deal, then get scammed, arrested, or worse.

Here are the red flags to me:

1) This guy is planning to commit a felony, by transferring/selling standard cap magazines to you, and is asking you to willingly take part in that transaction. If he put the information about the 19 and 17 round magazines in DM's, text, or email, that would be a bigger red flag than if he told me that he was going to give me some standard capacity magazines over the phone or in person. Still illegal, but not as sketchy. What he said is not entirely untrue, but not entirely true either. There are loopholes such as magazines obtained during 'freedom week' that are legal (for now) to own in CA. Doesn't mean that you can transfer them. Burden of proof is on the state to prove that you obtained the magazines outside of 'freedom week', but if there's records like texts, emails, etc....

2) Doing the "lower" and "upper" separate on a handgun doesn't make any sense in this context. Even referring to it as an 'upper' instead of 'slide' is weird. If it were a long rifle, this would make sense due to illegal 'features' like flash hiders, pistol grips, etc. The fact he is going to sell the gun to you disassembled is very strange. Especially since most FFL's will ask for a safety demonstration with the firearm you are purchasing. There is no reason to break the gun down into frame and slide.

Trust your gut

If it feels weird, just find another gun from another buyer (even if it takes a few months)


EDIT: Just thought of this- It's possible that the frame is a Glock 17, and the slide is from a 19 (or an OEM 19 replacement slide). This might be why he wants to do them separate, so that the FFL won't point this out. This would be a deal killer for me, as he is representing the gun as something it is not.

 

[weaverftw]

Ok, I think it's time I explained a few things that prompted me to ask this question in the first place. Many here have brought up "Police Sting"
as kind of ridiculous. Now, having made several PPT purchases (All of which went smooth as silk) I've both bought and sold via PPT transfers and have met some very cool people during the process. But in order to explain the full nature of my original post I have to provide a few bits of information that may clarify/explain the nature of it.
1st off, I had zero experience with PPT, Didn't even know it existed until I lamented to an FFL that I would never be able to own my favorite gun (Glock 19x) as it was and remains off roster. What he said changed my world and gave me hope. "Unless you PPT it" Whhhattt?? He explained PPT to me very briefly and I left there with a glimmer of hope as well as in disbelief that there was a possible way around the crushing and vastly inadequate gun roster for those of us living here in this anti-firearms state.

So now we come to the very first conversation I had with a seller on a sight called arms corp which prompted my almost panicked posting here. Again, Please remember I was a complete newbie to firearms and I don't know if you can remember a time when this was you, but firearms are a bit daunting to someone with no idea what's going on with them, What makes them work, do's and don'ts and so forth. I call the guy about an off roster fire arm he had up for sale. He said that we'd meet at his chosen FFL because they'll work with him on this and that we would only DROS the lower. To which I replied, What about the rest of the gun. "Oh well I give you the slide outside the store when we leave." I then said what about the magazines, "It comes with 2x 19 and a 17 rounder, but wait, isn't there a 10 round limit in CA? "Oh, cops don't really even care about that at all".

By now I'm thinking this guys is a criminal (and not a very good one) or he's a cop and this is entrapment. He went on and on about how he goes shooting with police and DA's all the time with his high capacity magazines and no-one cares at all. Hell the district attorney's don't even procecute that kinda stuff. Now, Again, I'm a damn fool when it comes to guns at this point but even I know what he's suggesting isn't even close to a legal transaction. So I say to him, Serials match right? Naw, The slide will be from a different gun but who cares, You'll have the gun you want right?. So I say , Just so I'm clear....We DROS the lower only....I hand you the cash, Sealing the deal AND my fate. You hand me a different serialed slide that doesn't match the DROS with illegal mags outside the store when we leave. (by now, I'm picturing the scenario of him driving off as the squad cars roll in lights/sirens and guns a blazing as they take me off to jail for being stupid enough to fall for this. Hell I didn't even sleep for a couple of days after talking with him.

This had to be a police sting or a complete criminal idiot attempting to get me to go along with this. Ignorance is no excuse for the law....and me not knowing it would not save me. I just wanted off the phone by this time and said look, We'll talk later...A day or 2 later he calls me ready to set up the meet, I flat out told him I was no longer interested in his firearm and not to contact me again. Funny thing is, The very first PPT I ended up doing was with a LEO from a listing right here on CAguns. Very cool guy and very smooth deal. Did I pay more for it than I should have? Yep, But hey, I got the gun I wanted and the type of transaction that I wanted as well. Safe and legit! I just thought it was time to do a follow up post explaining it from someone who at the time, knew nothing about PPT's and talking to Lex Luthor as my first contact for a PPT....Well nuff said, Sorry for the long ass post

Just FYI the lower/frame is almost always the serialized part and is considered the “firearm” (rarely it is the upper, and in new pistols it’s the “fire control unit” and not the grip frame or slide, nothing else matters. If you buy a replacement slide from the manufacturer (or any aftermarket slide) obviously it will not match and that doesn’t matter. You can sell a mismatched serial # handgun and only the frame/lower serial # will be on the DROS. No reason to keep the slide separate and hand it off in the parking lot unless it’s an otherwise illegal configuration (threaded barrel or something).

And the seller was right, cops and other LEO generally don’t care about standard cap mags because IT’S LEGAL TO OWN THEM assuming you obtained them legally (during freedom week, prior to the ban, etc). There is no way to tell when you bought them usually so it’s generally considered totally fine to possess and use them. Now, BUYING a high cap mag is definitely illegal and it’s possible it was a sting but honestly they have bigger fish to fry and I suspect it was just some random seller “trying” to do you “a solid” by giving you standard cap mags with the sale that you could then own and claim you obtained legally. But it is odd they wanted to give you the slide separately and probably good you backed out if you don’t have a good understanding of gun laws. What firearm was this?

 

[Wolkenflieger]

It's also highly suspect/foolish if someone puts the sale/transfer of an illegal-to-possess item such as a standard capacity mag in writing.

Wiring "mag" is a much better option if the item is to be included without being explicit, with details revealed in-person before transfer.

 

[HiveMed]

Hello, New here: There is a listing here for a GLOCK 19x PPT local in San Clemente
1st I've never done a PPT purchase so I'm not sure how it should go.
Any advise on how to protect myself against getting scammed or running into a police sting?
What steps should I take in contacting the seller and purchasing the firearm.
The FFL to DROS is in my area so I've been there a few times in the past
At what point do I pay for the firearm?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I really am only interested in a safe LEGAL transaction

Thanks,
JamMan1213

Um a police sting, really? Paranoid much. Why would there be a police sting if you’re doing it legal at an FFL.

 

[HiveMed]

The beauty of the PPT is there are fewer ways to get scammed. Wait until you want to buy a $15K gun from a seller back East.

PPT is the same as buying a gun from the shop, more or less ; same DROS - Same 4473.

IMHO, the buyer should dictate the FFL as they are paying the PPT fee and need to make the trip twice.

Everyone has a different level of comfort but I usually like to see the gun before I walk in to start all the paperwork but depending on the parking lot set up, that might not be advisable. I like to make sure it matches the pictures on the ad.

Have the payment method agreed to up front - I've done cash, Venmo and Zelle all based on the seller. Not everyone wants to walk around with cash. Last one I did was at 2A Zone and as mentioned above, they are OK with the money changing hands in the store. Try that at Turners and you will be scolded and if they are in a bad mood, charge you sales tax. I'm not kidding.

I agree. Buyer should be able to pick the FFL since they are going twice.

 

[Gawernator]

Um a police sting, really? Paranoid much. Why would there be a police sting if you’re doing it legal at an FFL.

They wouldn't, because that doesn't make any sense

 

[Gawernator]

Ok, I think it's time I explained a few things that prompted me to ask this question in the first place. Many here have brought up "Police Sting"
as kind of ridiculous. Now, having made several PPT purchases (All of which went smooth as silk) I've both bought and sold via PPT transfers and have met some very cool people during the process. But in order to explain the full nature of my original post I have to provide a few bits of information that may clarify/explain the nature of it.
1st off, I had zero experience with PPT, Didn't even know it existed until I lamented to an FFL that I would never be able to own my favorite gun (Glock 19x) as it was and remains off roster. What he said changed my world and gave me hope. "Unless you PPT it" Whhhattt?? He explained PPT to me very briefly and I left there with a glimmer of hope as well as in disbelief that there was a possible way around the crushing and vastly inadequate gun roster for those of us living here in this anti-firearms state.

So now we come to the very first conversation I had with a seller on a sight called arms corp which prompted my almost panicked posting here. Again, Please remember I was a complete newbie to firearms and I don't know if you can remember a time when this was you, but firearms are a bit daunting to someone with no idea what's going on with them, What makes them work, do's and don'ts and so forth. I call the guy about an off roster fire arm he had up for sale. He said that we'd meet at his chosen FFL because they'll work with him on this and that we would only DROS the lower. To which I replied, What about the rest of the gun. "Oh well I give you the slide outside the store when we leave." I then said what about the magazines, "It comes with 2x 19 and a 17 rounder, but wait, isn't there a 10 round limit in CA? "Oh, cops don't really even care about that at all".

By now I'm thinking this guys is a criminal (and not a very good one) or he's a cop and this is entrapment. He went on and on about how he goes shooting with police and DA's all the time with his high capacity magazines and no-one cares at all. Hell the district attorney's don't even procecute that kinda stuff. Now, Again, I'm a damn fool when it comes to guns at this point but even I know what he's suggesting isn't even close to a legal transaction. So I say to him, Serials match right? Naw, The slide will be from a different gun but who cares, You'll have the gun you want right?. So I say , Just so I'm clear....We DROS the lower only....I hand you the cash, Sealing the deal AND my fate. You hand me a different serialed slide that doesn't match the DROS with illegal mags outside the store when we leave. (by now, I'm picturing the scenario of him driving off as the squad cars roll in lights/sirens and guns a blazing as they take me off to jail for being stupid enough to fall for this. Hell I didn't even sleep for a couple of days after talking with him.

This had to be a police sting or a complete criminal idiot attempting to get me to go along with this. Ignorance is no excuse for the law....and me not knowing it would not save me. I just wanted off the phone by this time and said look, We'll talk later...A day or 2 later he calls me ready to set up the meet, I flat out told him I was no longer interested in his firearm and not to contact me again. Funny thing is, The very first PPT I ended up doing was with a LEO from a listing right here on CAguns. Very cool guy and very smooth deal. Did I pay more for it than I should have? Yep, But hey, I got the gun I wanted and the type of transaction that I wanted as well. Safe and legit! I just thought it was time to do a follow up post explaining it from someone who at the time, knew nothing about PPT's and talking to Lex Luthor as my first contact for a PPT....Well nuff said, Sorry for the long ass post

Highly doubt it was a sting, first off when have police ever done a sting in this manner, and dudes break the mag laws all the time since they are barely enforced. It is true many cops don't really care unless you are jammed up on other charges. The undercover cop is going to PPT you an expensive off roster Glock as part of his ploy....? lol okay.

That is highly less likely than some dude just giving you his hi cap mags because he doesn't care. If you're so worried just say no to the magazines.

 

[nakatomi]

I ran into two scammers recently, including one this morning so this topic is pretty fresh on my mind.

One thing I've noticed is that the scam usually starts with a deal that's just a little too good to be true. Not outrageously cheap, just cheap enough to get your attention. The seller is also usually far enough away that meeting in person becomes inconvenient.

Then comes the request for a small Zelle payment to hold the item or cover "gas money."

Don't do it.

The common pattern I've seen is that scammers try to move the transaction away from a face-to-face meeting and toward an online payment. Once that happens, your risk goes up considerably.

Personally, I try to keep transactions local whenever possible. I think that's where this marketplace works best. If either party is traveling, then both sides need to do their due diligence. If you have friends in another city, maybe they can help verify an item on your behalf.

I recently sent an upfront payment to a seller, but only because they were a long-time member with a solid reputation and regular participation on the forum. Zero issues. Zero friction with calling and texting. Fast and no drama.

When a buyer or seller is too afraid to talk on the phone walk away.

That's really the point. The reputation system here matters and I like it. Trust should be earned through participation, successful transactions and time.

 

[duc748bip]

I don't know if I would consider a scammer, but he certainly wasted my time. Its a high price impulse purchase, texted on Friday and had a phone conversation, just because the seller want to make sure I'm serious. Had PPT place and time set up, which was Monday morning. Went to the bank Saturday morning to withdraw cash, gave a fake answer to the teller what was the cash for. Sunday afternoon the seller texted back saying he sold it to someone else. I get it someone might have offer him a higher price, but the seller could have communicated that and I'm certain I could have matched it.

Following weekend I gave half of the cash to my wife and blow the other half on a table in a club

 

[nakatomi]

I don't know if I would consider a scammer, but he certainly wasted my time. Its a high price impulse purchase, texted on Friday and had a phone conversation, just because the seller want to make sure I'm serious. Had PPT place and time set up, which was Monday morning. Went to the bank Saturday morning to withdraw cash, gave a fake answer to the teller what was the cash for. Sunday afternoon the seller texted back saying he sold it to someone else. I get it someone might have offer him a higher price, but the seller could have communicated that and I'm certain I could have matched it.

Following weekend I gave half of the cash to my wife and blow the other half on a table in a club

In any sales transaction the longer it drags out the more likely someone else comes along or the seller uses your interest to drum up competition.

If there was a chance to close on Sat that was the time to do it. If the seller set Monday and then sold it on Sunday then that was a move. But if you set it for Mon then you gave the seller options.

It's a numbers game and there are plenty of firearms out there to be sold.

ABC: Always Be Closing.

 

[mistazz]

I agree with the no deposit advice. I’ve done two PPT transactions recently where I inspected the firearm first, started the DROS, and then handed over the money while the paperwork was being done. They were both smooth and cool sellers.

I had one deal last week from the forums that I ended up cancelling. We had already set a time and place, but while I was driving there, the seller started pushing hard for me to hand over the cash outside before we went in. He said if I didn’t do that, he was going to cancel the deal, and then started saying I was being shady because I wanted to pay during the DROS process.

Seller had no feedback and the last minute pressure just didn’t sit right with me. I’d rather walk away than force a deal that feels off. There will always be another one that pops up.