U.S. online firearms sales payment

[BeeMaa]

I've bought and sold multiple firearms, ammo, brass, knives...etc on AH and used any number of payment methods depending on how well we know each other. There have even been times where I have shipped items before payment, but that is the exception not the rule.

Generally I use some form of electronic payment. PayPal (friend) seems to work best in most cases. I've also used cashiers check, USPS money order, personal check and cash. At the end...it comes down to trust. Do you trust this person? I always wait until the funds clear before sending the item unless I've done business with them before. Again...trust is earned.

Be vigilant. Do your research/homework on whoever you are buying from (or selling to). Ask yourself honest questions and if your gut says "don't do it"...then don't do it.

For all the items I've bought and sold on AH I think there was only one bad interaction, and it wasn't really that bad. I ended up with the item and they got the money. So that is the exception, one bad experience in 5 years of buying and selling on AH. It's not the website/forum and it's not the method of payment. It's the person on the other side of the computer and do you trust them.

 

[Woodcarver]

Is there a safe alternative to PayPal/Venmo that offers security for the seller and buyer.
I’m almost ready to go back to personal checks and hold off shipping the rifle for a negotiated/agreed on time frame.
What are you folks doing?

Hate to sell rifles, but it will help fund our safari.

GunTab.com is an escrow service obviously set up to specifically work for firearm transactions, but can be used for any purchase. Fee is nominal and negotiable as far as who pays it (buyer or seller). Allows someone to use a CC (adds another typical CC fee) even when the seller doesn't have a means to accept a CC otherwise.
I set up an account, but have not used it yet. So far all the transactions I have done with folks here on AH have been by check or Zelle. Think there were one or two that used Paypal, but not for a gun. As others have said, if you trust the seller/buyer you're dealing with, a check or Zelle work. If you don't know, use Guntab. The couple bucks spent on the escrow fee are a small price for the comfort of knowing there is a safety on the transaction.