How to sell a used gun online in the US
Selling a gun online is easy enough if you’re in the US. That said, you do have to be mindful of certain things, like the laws for gun sales and the going rates for your gun.
To help you manage the process effectively, here’s a simple guide that can help. This will outline the steps to follow when selling a firearm online for a good price.
1. Decide if you want to go through a dealer
The laws for gun sales vary across states in the US. In some of them, you can sell a used gun to another person directly. In others, you have to go through a licensed gun dealer who handles the whole process for you.
Here are the rules to follow:
- If you’re selling to someone who lives in the same state, you can usually sell to them directly and skip the dealer. Confirm this by checking your state’s laws first!
- If you’re selling to someone who lives in another state, you have to send the gun to a dealer in their state and ask that dealer to handle the sale for you (for a fee).
- If you’re selling to a licensed dealer, you can always sell the gun to them directly.
2. Pick a platform
Selecting the right platform for your sale is essential. It can make the difference between a fast and effective sale or a drawn-out one with little profit.
Now before you get ideas about selling it on places like eBay, don’t bother. That’s not among the places where you can sell guns online. Try the following platforms instead, which are popular among gun collectors:
- Direct-purchase dealers: An example of these is Cash for Arms, which is a licensed dealer that provides quick cash offers to gun sellers directly. Dealers like these will buy the gun from you themselves, so you don’t need to wait for bidders.
- GunBroker: This is essentially eBay for firearms, where you can list used guns for sale and wait for bidders to make offers. It’s popular among sellers who can wait a while for sales, given the way the auction process works.
- Armslist: This is a classifieds site where you can list your gun for a flat fee. Most people use it for local gun sales, but there are more interstate sales on it now.
3. Present your gun
Selling a gun online means posting photos and videos of it. That’s why preparing these is a critical step if you want to attract buyers or get the best price from your potential buyer.
Here are some tips that can help you put your best foot forward at this stage:
- Clean the gun: This should be self-evident, but a clean firearm looks more appealing and can fetch a higher price.
- Take quality photos: Take multiple high-resolution images from various angles. Ensure you have good lighting and clear backgrounds. Use a good camera if you can.
- Be clear in documentation: Be honest about any wear or damage when crafting the gun’s description. Be detailed and accurate, whether it’s about scratch marks or its model.
4. Set a fair but appealing price
Look up successful sales or auctions of guns similar to yours to determine a fair market price. Consider factors such as these during your research:
- Condition: New or barely used guns get higher prices.
- Brand and model popularity: Some brands maintain higher resale values due to demand. It’s usually the well-known ones with cachet, e.g. Colt or Ed Brown.
- Market trends: Prices can fluctuate based on current trends, so check recent sales for similar items on your chosen platform.
5. Post your listing or send it to your buyer
You should already have the material you need for this if you’ve been following this guide properly. Post those (or send them to the dealer if you choose to go that route) on your chosen platform to entice buyers. Here are added tips that may help:
- Use descriptive titles: Try putting the brand, model, and condition in the title.
- Highlight the gun’s best features: If your gun is a rare model, for example, talk about that in the description.
- If auctioning the gun, offer a buy-it-now option: This may help attract interest, as it may start with a lower initial bid.
6. Communicate with your buyers
Be prepared to negotiate with buyers. In most cases, they won’t take the first price or offer immediately. Here are tips that can help you close the sale as quickly as possible:
- Be prompt: Most buyers will move on if you don’t answer quickly.
- Set a bottom line: Knowing where to put a hard stop on negotiations will help you avoid wasting time.
7. Finish the sale
Assuming all negotiations are finished, you only need to actually execute the sale! Here are the key things to do at this stage:
- Arrange payment securely: As much as possible, stick to secure payment methods. You may have to negotiate with your buyer until you find something that works for both of you.
- Send the gun to the right recipient: Remember what we said earlier about some states requiring that you send the gun to a dealer instead of your actual buyer.
- Follow up with your buyer: After shipping, confirm with the buyer that they received the gun in good condition.
