In a debatable moment last night I decided to list a pristine Hungarian SA-85m AK on Armslist. Immediately received and email with interest. Today the person texted me and was real interested to make a deal on Sunday. He had a Tampa Fl area code in Memphis TN so my questions were on alert. I decided that I would only sell this through a local gun shop so they could do a 4473 on the buyer. Well this tripped the buyer up, said he wasn’t interested. No worries, I said - done, move on. Here is where it gets weird - next message started with “i know its your right blah blah but ai am a xxxx firearms instructor, some other [bleep] I forget, etc etc. something about the 2nd amendment. I was stressed working in the garage cleaning a huge mess, so I blocked all phone and email messages from this person. For all I know he is still trying to reach me. I also killed the ad on Armslist, just don’t want to deal with any crazies right now. I just thought it really strange that this guy would go into “i’m awesome, 2nd amendment guarantees me everything, etc.” flawed logic. My gun, my sale, my rules....

Probably some BATFEIEIO Fed trying to run an entrapment scam!
Jerry

If he cant take a yoke,....

You did the correct and right thing.
If it smells fishy, then back out. It's certainly your option.

Yeah, tell that to the boys at BATF.

I'd have done what you did. Good luck if you want to sell it again.

L.W.

Its up to you what the terms of sale are. You’re willingly turning your back on money for your principles. I don’t understand prospective buyers being upset, their not at a loss.

Felon or wackjob.

Or a sting

It's memphis!

Why I sell consignment at my LGS.
10% for them to deal with people is a friggin bargain.

Only issue is idiots handling the stuff, can get dinged up.
Most of my gear used, hunting rigs, not abused but not mint.

Saw a dumbass at a diff shop open a new Browning OU and the buttstock whacked glass case upper edge (metal).
Nice whack, brand new rig (not a higher grade).

Salesman about puked.

There's a reason old shops had a carpeted counter area to look at guns..............

I agree that you did the right thing. A person's "right" in no way becomes your "obligation to fullfill." He had the chance to purchase via the FFL. When you are ready and list it again I expect someone else who really wants it will follow your sale's requirements and all will be happy.

I'm going with waffen BATFEces scumbags.

The knucklehead might have moved to FL after living in Memphis awhile. My stepdaughter has a CT phone number, she lived here in Kentucky awhile, and has now move to FL, herself. Same phone number from CT, though. If he was using a cellphone, that's likely the case.

Felon

This. Listed an AK on a local gun classified board. Some guy messaged about it, and after working out a deal etc... Sends some message about can these turned full auto very easily and did I know where to get parts etc.... I told him he better never contact me again for any reason and sent the PM to the administrator of the board. I noticed his username on there a few months later so they apparently weren't as concerned as I was about it. Stopped using that board except very occasionally and carefully about what I list. Guy was way too well spoken too have been some random but. Guarantee he was LEO of some flavor.

Well on the flip side, I live in ND (resident), but my cellphone has a Texas area code.

Period.

All interested parties are completely welcome to GFY.

While I have never even visited ALI have hears alot of stories of scammers on that site.
Our 2A "rights" guarantee our ability to own firearms,does it even mention purchases?
I'm thinking scammer

Cotis' situation certainly raised storm flags...I would have done the same. That said however, as a C&R buyer in the past, I have gotten angry and frustrated at sellers (never backtalked them though) who refused to complete a perfectly legal transaction because I had a California zip code. It's the sellers right to refuse a sale, I get that, but to willingly be a dupe or a sheep of the anti-gunners is just playing into their hands. I wanted to argue, "if it's ok with Cabela's gun library, why is it a problem with you?" But, when you're in hole, quit digging they say.

Smells bad, you did the right thing

That's a good reason for putting it on consignment at your LGS.

Why people still use that site is beyond me..

Same, hear more bad then good. Actually, I never hear anything good.

Stay away!

I live in ND as well, but have a MT cellphone number. My daughter and her husband both live here and have SD cell phones.

Thats a nice AK.
I wouldnt sell it.

FTF state resident deals in a public area only way ta roll on armlist
Or certified armslist FFL dealers
Be wary of users that are unregistered.

Some buyers on their dont have any spidey sense.

Military folks have cell numbers that often don't match the area code in which they live. When my BIL was in my sister's number never matched their locale.

Completely agree.

This^^^

In-state sale to another private party. WGAF

The sole reason I would buy any AK is for the bypassing of the 4473. Parking lot deals and cash are where and how I want to roll.

I’ll check his Tn DL to prove residency and that’s it.

Over the years I have found that my but instincts on something like this are usually right. If it raises the hair on your neck, don't do it. Even if you have to sell for some reason there are many ways that are straightforward that will allow you to sleep at night.
Besides, your property, your sale ,your rules.

And just for reference, I live in a military town. People don’t get a new cell phone just for the move.

I list property for rent, get area codes from nearly every state.

Seems bizarre but ya just have to get your mind around being in a area with a 1/2 million people or in your area, a locale of 2-3 million

Burner phones, some people move every six months-to a year. I never could conceive that but being a slumlord I see it.

That is a surprisingly low commission. One I'd consider, but I figured most consignment fees were in the neighborhood of 30-40%. And then there's the other issue of morons carelessly handling the rifles you mentioned. Also, selling over the internet broadens the market which can net a significantly higher price in some cases if the local market sucks.

I've never dealt with armslist but it seems every time I see it mentioned a scam is involved. I've never considered using that site.

I miss the days when I used to just advertise guns in the local paper or put them out in a lawn sale and sell them to whoever showed up with cash in hand first. Never worried about who they were or where they were from, just as it should be in a free Country with a bill of rights that says "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed",.. Too bad that free Country is no more or at least New York is no longer a part of it..

It is this type of transaction I specifically want TO AVOID. I am not selling an AK to some yahoo in a parking lot. The money isn’t worth it to me. You would not be my customer...

I have sold quite a few guns on AL. I always expect, usually the first or second inquiry, to be a scammer......... "Do you still have the gun? I am very interested in it. I will send a certified check. I am an FFL........." I usually tell them that is fine as long as they pay with a Postal Money Order or a certified check drawn on Bank of America or Wells Fargo. That ends up being the end of the conversation. I live near the state line and had a pistol on AL. A buyer from across the line wanted it but didn't want to go through an FFL. I got the "I have a concealed carry, blah, blah." If you don't feel comfortable don't go through with the sale.

Would you sell it at a gun show state to state resident private transaction???
Pay your admission , zip tie the action and walk the floor with it.
All perfectly legal.

Felon, probably wanted to rob you. Always talk to them on the phone. If the way they talk gives you pause, back out and don’t look back.

I will code letter and number my ph # in the description and at the end once again.
Also will state will not reply to any email about transaction and will be deleted without opening. Call or text only.

That kinda stops alot of new ad response B.S.

I havent run into problems on armslist.

Some people are naive and gullible
And then get all mad when they get screwed over.
Which ya cant blame em for one bit.

But common sense and having spidey sense goes along ways.

When I run across one of those douchebags I give them the address and phone number for the local State Police

Yep Ol Eric Holder and crew running a sting good catch

You made a good decision.

Always trust your instincts.

But I had the same experience selling my late 70’s early 80’s porno collection.

So make him an offer for the BO/U.....down around wholesale, less10%

Then take it to a gun show and price it for 10% over retail.....

And yeah- that caller was hinky, one way or another.

Yeah, those broads and the lighting are old school. (I imagine). Presumably you kept the best since 2010?

Lol. I've sold a lot on Armslist and just got a 340 Weatherby mag off of it yesterday. No horror stories.

No. While legal, the little money made is nothing compared to the crapstorm if the thing was ever used in a crime. Hence the transfer.