This is a proposed rule change that has not yet been implemented. A non licensee still cannot ship a handgun through the USPS. They can ship a long gun but that is within their state of residence unless being shipped to and FFL.
Need suggestions on best way to sell guns.
- Thread starter blume357
- Start date
This is a proposed rule change that has not yet been implemented. A non licensee still cannot ship a handgun through the USPS. They can ship a long gun but that is within their state of residence unless being shipped to and FFL.
ATF does require background checks to return guns that do not sell. The only times you do not need a background check is after an appraisal (store only has 48 hours) or after gunsmithing work.
contender
Ruger Guru
As noted,, a gun show will net you the most. Yes,, posting here can get some sales,, and I'm sure several members would possibly appreciate your offerings.
Yes,, a table at a gun show will cost you $60-$80 for the (2) day show. You also get in on the day before to set up. That also allows you to be the first to see what others are offering for sale.
You also get (normally) (2) passes as a table holder to get in the show w/o cost. That way,,, you can get a trusted friend to help you handle the sales, allow you a break, (bathroom, food etc.) And yes,, usually, the second day of the show is slower,, but can still be very good.
Yes,, it's a couple of longer days,, but I always approached it as a "job" in that I know what time I'll start, and what time I'll quit.
If you wish,, I can give you several small detail pointers to make it easier to do a gun show.
The Greenville gun shows are usually well attended, and offer a petty good chance of you selling a lot of stuff if your prices are fair & a bit negotiable. Especially if you approach it with a serious plan to actually sell stuff. MANY of the table holders are "regulars" and carry guns from show to show trying to get top dollar, and to buy from others very low.
Example; You have a gun to sell. GB shows completed sales of that gun averaging at $500. You put out the gun for $550.00. A potential buyer comes by, is interested, and offers you $450.00. You counter with $500 and he buys it. Win-win.
BUT,, if he is firm in his offer of $450,, you ask yourself; "If I went to a gun shop, and put it on consignment, how much would I actually get AFTER it sells for $550.00?? The gun shops etc will usually get 10%-20% if on consignment.
OR,, if you try to sell to a shop,, you will normally get an offer of $250 for a $500 gun.
The gun show sales cut out the middle man.
Heck,, depending upon my schedule,, if you needed a hand to work the gun show,, I'd offer to help.
Yes,, a table at a gun show will cost you $60-$80 for the (2) day show. You also get in on the day before to set up. That also allows you to be the first to see what others are offering for sale.
You also get (normally) (2) passes as a table holder to get in the show w/o cost. That way,,, you can get a trusted friend to help you handle the sales, allow you a break, (bathroom, food etc.) And yes,, usually, the second day of the show is slower,, but can still be very good.
Yes,, it's a couple of longer days,, but I always approached it as a "job" in that I know what time I'll start, and what time I'll quit.
If you wish,, I can give you several small detail pointers to make it easier to do a gun show.
The Greenville gun shows are usually well attended, and offer a petty good chance of you selling a lot of stuff if your prices are fair & a bit negotiable. Especially if you approach it with a serious plan to actually sell stuff. MANY of the table holders are "regulars" and carry guns from show to show trying to get top dollar, and to buy from others very low.
Example; You have a gun to sell. GB shows completed sales of that gun averaging at $500. You put out the gun for $550.00. A potential buyer comes by, is interested, and offers you $450.00. You counter with $500 and he buys it. Win-win.
BUT,, if he is firm in his offer of $450,, you ask yourself; "If I went to a gun shop, and put it on consignment, how much would I actually get AFTER it sells for $550.00?? The gun shops etc will usually get 10%-20% if on consignment.
OR,, if you try to sell to a shop,, you will normally get an offer of $250 for a $500 gun.
The gun show sales cut out the middle man.
Heck,, depending upon my schedule,, if you needed a hand to work the gun show,, I'd offer to help.
Skeet 028
Single-Sixer
I'm going to do a local gun show in a couple weeks. I have a few Marlins a Ruger or 2 a nice Garand and a really nice 03A3...Maybe a Colt or 2... I need to thin the herd a bit at my age...You can put the price you want on them...dicker with people...decide if you want to sell to this scumbag or that one LOL...As far as shipping...I DO NOT TRUST THE USPS any longer...and UPS is not much better.. I have a really rare Double gun I'm going to hike around the Cody Winchester show next month too. Remember also guys...If you sell with some(most) of the big auction houses...they send you a 1099 so Unka Sam wants a cut....and it works out to a lot of money on an expensive gun you may have bought years ago...I have a couple...one I bought in 1965 for less than a 1000 dollars...that could bring 60,000 now...a lot of tax on that...and places like that big auction house in the middle of the country(RIA) wants 25% or more even with their 15% buyers premium.
I also will put someone else's guns on my table with a 10% fee to me...they tell me their hope for price /bottom line and I will do the dickering..If their bottom line is too high...I tell them
I also will put someone else's guns on my table with a 10% fee to me...they tell me their hope for price /bottom line and I will do the dickering..If their bottom line is too high...I tell them
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You've been given a lot of good ideas. I'll throw out one more. Check out a few of the better (by their higher selling prices) dealers that are online auctioneers. They pick up your guns, clean em all up, take a lot of good photographs, and do decent write ups for their auctions. They take guns on consignment and list them. If they sell they get 14%. That's high I know but they do all the work. The auctions I've been following seem to do ok. Not top dollar but not bad returns after the commission. After my accident I find myself a little too worse for wear and am looking at the options suggested here and at some of the consignment auctions. My local dealer tends to low ball the asking prices and I'll admit I've taken advantage of his listings over the years. Now that it's my turn to cull the herd I am looking for alternatives. Good luck with whatever path you take.
DOJ has indicated that they will not prosecute individuals for doing so, while the new changes take place.
bwct
Bearcat
I have been happy with sales handled by Locust Fork on Gunbroker. This information is from her page:
"Nearly all of our sales are consignment listings. If you like how our items are presented and would like us to handle your sales please contact us.....click on " Ask seller a question" and send me a message. We have very competitive rates...ONLY 10% for consignment sales. We have a long history on Gun Broker, and all items are insured that are in our possession. We travel to pick up collections and we send boxes with return labels to make getting your items to us as easy as possible."
"Nearly all of our sales are consignment listings. If you like how our items are presented and would like us to handle your sales please contact us.....click on " Ask seller a question" and send me a message. We have very competitive rates...ONLY 10% for consignment sales. We have a long history on Gun Broker, and all items are insured that are in our possession. We travel to pick up collections and we send boxes with return labels to make getting your items to us as easy as possible."
cleg
Bearcat
Look on guns international there care Gin stores/Ffls that will buy your collection. But im sure you prob make more on private sales. Just a thought.
That is good to know however, you can only ship within your state of residence or to an FFL in another state. UPS and Fedex policy says only FFLs can ship firearms and even then, Fedex requires an firearms shipping agreement to which they have decided they are not issuing any more. I am an FFL and I can ship via USPS or UPS. I can receive packages every day from Fedex but I cannot ship on with them. It is a crazy policy if you ask me.
DGW1949
Hawkeye
Hello Blume,
I have a couple of nice but (not collectable) guns I'd like to sell, so I'm kinda in the same boat...
A few years ago, selling a gun was not the problem that it is today. Today you've got the BATFE roaming around the gunshows, plus the state (and maybe county) tax boys, and who knows who poking their noses into your business....I worked the shows in Conroe, Spring, and around Houston for 20 years and finally quit because of such things. It seemed that the longer time went on, the more that everybody and their dog began sticking their hands out wanting my money. Not to mention the ever-increasing cost of a couple of tables and buying lunch at the venues that didn't allow me to bring my own.......
Consignments though my LGS worked great when I lived in Texas, but here in Iuka Mississippi, I have to drive into the next county to get to the closest gun shop, and I don't even know those people....
Maybe advertise here on the Forum?...Yeah, that would be fine, but how about fee's, shipping cost, and possible taxes?....The buyer ain't going to pay all of those, and I wouldn't blame him.....Once upon a time, one could sell a gun by putting an ad in the classified section of the newspaper, but them days are gone too...and none of the online "market place" type venues allows guns or ammo....
So I dunno, Blume........Maybe Gunny is right, just have a yard sale....assuming of course that your local City Hall don't pitch a hissy-fit.
DGW
I have a couple of nice but (not collectable) guns I'd like to sell, so I'm kinda in the same boat...
A few years ago, selling a gun was not the problem that it is today. Today you've got the BATFE roaming around the gunshows, plus the state (and maybe county) tax boys, and who knows who poking their noses into your business....I worked the shows in Conroe, Spring, and around Houston for 20 years and finally quit because of such things. It seemed that the longer time went on, the more that everybody and their dog began sticking their hands out wanting my money. Not to mention the ever-increasing cost of a couple of tables and buying lunch at the venues that didn't allow me to bring my own.......
Consignments though my LGS worked great when I lived in Texas, but here in Iuka Mississippi, I have to drive into the next county to get to the closest gun shop, and I don't even know those people....
Maybe advertise here on the Forum?...Yeah, that would be fine, but how about fee's, shipping cost, and possible taxes?....The buyer ain't going to pay all of those, and I wouldn't blame him.....Once upon a time, one could sell a gun by putting an ad in the classified section of the newspaper, but them days are gone too...and none of the online "market place" type venues allows guns or ammo....
So I dunno, Blume........Maybe Gunny is right, just have a yard sale....assuming of course that your local City Hall don't pitch a hissy-fit.
DGW
For most of us the first question is whether we are willing to ship. That's where I draw the line. If I have to deal with shipping I will not sell at all.
I only do face to face transactions.
Now if you're a guy who ships stuff regularly and knows all the rules, rates, procedures and policies it might not seem like a hassle to you.
I only do face to face transactions.
Now if you're a guy who ships stuff regularly and knows all the rules, rates, procedures and policies it might not seem like a hassle to you.
OP
When I first got into buying a few guns.. 20+ years ago a number of them were private sales and just about all of them the seller filled out a bill of sale and put down my information on it...If I do the gun show route I'll probably do the same thing... making sure the buyer is a S.C. resident and legally allowed to own a gun..... CYA. Not worried about the tax man... at least federal... I don't pay federal taxes... but that is a story for the gathering... I do pay S.C. sales tax through my business... but not sure that a private sale requires that... but I'm pretty sure I know what the tax commission would say... couple years ago they tried to get a lady down in Charleston for not paying sales tax on what she charged for watering the plants in hotel lobbies....
https://lsbauctions.com/contact-us/
I will consult this auction house when liquidation time comes for my collection
Lock Stock and barrel, Cody Wyoming
Bill
I will consult this auction house when liquidation time comes for my collection
Lock Stock and barrel, Cody Wyoming
Bill
@blume357 You know, if you are going to sell that one Sig. It was the pretty one in the box you brought to Contender’s range that one time. You passed it around saying it was the prettiest gun you own. I’d pay you a very fair price if you are thinking of selling that one…
Indeed!
I believe individuals can still ship guns via UPS, but have to do 2nd Day Air IIRC which isn't cheap. Used to be Next Day, but UPS backed off on that. The crazy thing is that from what I understand, that policy is due to their own employees stealing guns in transit so UPS wants to reduce the opportunity for them to do so.
Good information here, I’ll share some of my experience. I’m convinced that gun shows are the best way to sell. Put prices on that you can live with then figure on being flexible on the price. Half the people at gun shows aren’t just there because they need the money, they are there because gunshows are a social event for them. They aren’t just there to sell they also there to buy more guns for the next gun show. First rule is if you’re emotionally attached to a particular gun, leave it home. This isn’t a business for you most you will have forgotten how much you paid. Price what you consider a fair price but it won’t take long to figure out which of your guns are already over priced by walking around to see whose got the same gun, then price them $10 less. If you suspect the buyer is looking for a gun he’s going to sell so he can come back to the next gun show, remember you need to leave enough for the guy to make a few bucks.
Listing on the forum is a good idea because people already know you and know you’re a straight shooter. That’s important. I don’t typically put long guns on here because they can get expensive to ship.
At the gun show if someone makes you an offer on the long gun I don’t think, is that a fair price, or you could ask would I rather take that gun back home or the cash?
Here there’s an internet deal called Alaskaslist. He charged a few bucks to advertise it.
That’s a pretty good place, who knows ask around there might one near you. I never have someone come to my house, I always offer to meet them somewhere that’s convenient for them. Figure out how you can make it convenient for them to give you money you are already trying to get rid of.
Edited to add, in working on your strategy you need to take into consideration (these are approximate numbers I’m sure they vary by state) that approximately 60-65% of sales are handguns, while rifles in example are closer to 25-30%, and shotguns are about 10-15% are shotguns, so if you are trying to decide how flexible you want to be on pricing you’re going to get less offers on the long guns so take that into consideration before you turn down an offer. Just a thought!
Listing on the forum is a good idea because people already know you and know you’re a straight shooter. That’s important. I don’t typically put long guns on here because they can get expensive to ship.
At the gun show if someone makes you an offer on the long gun I don’t think, is that a fair price, or you could ask would I rather take that gun back home or the cash?
Here there’s an internet deal called Alaskaslist. He charged a few bucks to advertise it.
That’s a pretty good place, who knows ask around there might one near you. I never have someone come to my house, I always offer to meet them somewhere that’s convenient for them. Figure out how you can make it convenient for them to give you money you are already trying to get rid of.
Edited to add, in working on your strategy you need to take into consideration (these are approximate numbers I’m sure they vary by state) that approximately 60-65% of sales are handguns, while rifles in example are closer to 25-30%, and shotguns are about 10-15% are shotguns, so if you are trying to decide how flexible you want to be on pricing you’re going to get less offers on the long guns so take that into consideration before you turn down an offer. Just a thought!
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Yaworski
Hawkeye
His profit is not my concern.
Paul B
Hunter
The ones I've talked to still want 30 to 40 percent. Damn greedy bunch around here.
PJ
Rifles and shotguns- I box my own and ship them Priority Mail to the buyer's FFL. Handguns- FFL to FFL. Either way- they go via ShipMyGun, which is a subsidiary of Kentucky's own famous Bud's Guns. Very easy to do.
Lots of really good information here. I too may have to decrease my inventory. As some know, my wife is in a rehab (serious back operation), she also has had a number of strokes and needs help doing many things. It was suggested yesterday that she go into an assisted living place. The least expensive was $8000.00 per month. Together we don't bring in that much monthly. Got to go to 'Plan B'; 'Plan A' won't work.Figure getting rid of some guns might help us a little.
Fire Chief
Bearcat
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2014
- Messages
- 49
This is the next show in Greenville. I would be glad to help you on Saturday. I am only about 30min from the convention center.
Sept 12-13th, 2026 - Greenville
Sep 12, 2026, 9:00 AM – Sep 13, 2026, 4:00 PM
Greenville, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville, SC 29607, USA
Saturday 9 AM - 5 PMSunday 10 AM - 4 PMADULTS: $10.00 | MILITARY: $8.00* Must Show Military ID12 Yrs & Under: Free when accompanied by an adult.* No admittance 30 minutes prior to closing.
Sept 12-13th, 2026 - Greenville
Sep 12, 2026, 9:00 AM – Sep 13, 2026, 4:00 PM
Greenville, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville, SC 29607, USA
Saturday 9 AM - 5 PMSunday 10 AM - 4 PMADULTS: $10.00 | MILITARY: $8.00* Must Show Military ID12 Yrs & Under: Free when accompanied by an adult.* No admittance 30 minutes prior to closing.
Not in Montana.
contender
Ruger Guru
"If an private individual gets a table at a gun show does he, (the seller) have to do a background check like a dealer would?
Any paperwork to get done?
Just curious, thanks"
Many states do allow the private sale of your personal property,, including guns w/o the restrictions a FFL dealer who is in business to buy & sell firearms for a profit.
So, no background check is required. No paperwork necessary by law. HOWEVER,, as Blume has mentioned a simple bill of sale,, and in many private sales,, a look at the buyer's driver license will prove they are a resident of the state.
Blume can make a bill of sale,, noting the buyer's name & address to show he was doing his "due diligence" in trying to sell to a legal resident.
If a person is a felon, or not a resident of SC,, then they will be the one to walk away from the simple request by Blume.
Any paperwork to get done?
Just curious, thanks"
Many states do allow the private sale of your personal property,, including guns w/o the restrictions a FFL dealer who is in business to buy & sell firearms for a profit.
So, no background check is required. No paperwork necessary by law. HOWEVER,, as Blume has mentioned a simple bill of sale,, and in many private sales,, a look at the buyer's driver license will prove they are a resident of the state.
Blume can make a bill of sale,, noting the buyer's name & address to show he was doing his "due diligence" in trying to sell to a legal resident.
If a person is a felon, or not a resident of SC,, then they will be the one to walk away from the simple request by Blume.
Not sure really, but one time I bought a shotgun at the gun show in Boise.
The seller wanted cash, did not want to know my name or anything else. No check or credit card, just unmarked bills. Sort of funny in a strange way.
Yaworski
Hawkeye
When I lived in Maryland, if an unlicensed individual got a table at a gun show, he had to get a temporary sales tax license and collect sales tax.
There's a gunshop not far from me that does 'consignment sales'. Those consigned long guns are piled/spread on a table at one end of his for sale racks. If the gun was in good condition when consigned, it's condition degrades daily because lookers do literally toss the guns back into the pile on the table.
I'm not saying all shops do this but just mentioning that one should beware of the potential. Consider that you might be taking a like new rifle in and a month later decide it's not selling only to discover the rifle is now beat and bedraggled and worth 50% of what you started with. o_O
I'm not saying all shops do this but just mentioning that one should beware of the potential. Consider that you might be taking a like new rifle in and a month later decide it's not selling only to discover the rifle is now beat and bedraggled and worth 50% of what you started with. o_O
https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...are-regulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms
UPS accepts packages containing Firearm Products for shipment only as a contractual service and only from Shippers who are licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors (as defined in Title 18, Chapter 44 of the United States Code) to authorized recipients, as outlined in an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of Firearm Products.
