How to Buy Guns at Online Auctions

You've been browsing web sites like GunBroker.com and GunsAmerica.com. You've seen some pretty nice firearms, maybe something modern and hard to get like the new Ruger LCP .380, or perhaps a vintage Colt .45 Single Action Army revolver like Grandpa had has caught your fancy. At any rate, you've got the gun buying bug. How do you go about buying a gun at an online auction? It is both legal to do and much easier than you think. Here's what you need to know.

The first thing you need to do (before bidding) is to call your local gun store and ask the owner what he will charge to do a firearm transfer for you. Be certain his quote includes the total price including his fee plus tax, the fee for your background check and any other charge. Some dealers charge a flat fee to transfer any gun, while others base their fee on the cost of the gun. If one dealer seems to be too high on his quote, call the next dealer in the book. Bargain hunting is what you're doing after all. Just be certain the dealer is prepared to give you a signed copy of his federal firearms license or to send a copy immediately when you provide the address.

Now you're ready to choose your auction site. While I've done transfers from both GunBroker.com and GunsAmerica.com there are many such sites available. Personally, I've done the most work with GunBroker.com so we'll use that site as an example. Go to www.gunbroker.com and look for the green bar at the top of the page. In that bar you'll see the words "How do I buy." Click on those words. You'll go to a list of instructions and helpful advice that applys to GunBroker.com. as well as to many of the other gun auction sites. After reading these instructions about legal age and basic gun laws, scroll down to the topic of "Placing a Bid." There you'll click on the blue "Click Here" to register with GunBroker.com. You'll fill in information such as your email address and an online user name and so on.. Now you're ready to bid.

You can go to the search box and fill in the name of the type of gun you want, or you can browse auctions that are getting ready to close. When you see an item you want to bid on, scroll to the "bid" box at the bottom of the listing and fill in your maximum bid. You will then be asked for your user name and password. Fill those in, then click on "submit". Remember that you can still be outbid until the auction closes, so plan accordingly. If you are the high bidder when the auction closes, you'll get an email giving contact information for the seller. Contact the seller and get the name and address of the business. It helps to collect the seller's phone number and email address for the dealer handling the firearm transfer for you. Next contact your dealer and give him the auction number, the seller's address, email address and the name of the auction site. You send payment, along with shipping and insurance charges to the seller and your dealer will provide a signed copy of his federal firearms license (FFL) or will send it or email/fax it to the seller himself.

After receiving the payment and FFL copy, the seller will ship the gun to your dealer. The dealer will arrange a time for you to come to his business to fill out the paperwork (a form 4473) and do your background check.
After getting the ok from your background check and completing the 4473, you pay for the transfer and you're almost done. Be certain to have your dealer brief you on safe handling of your firearm. If you have any questions, ask your dealer before you leave.

After you inspect the firearm and are satisfied that it is in the condition advertised, go back to GunBroker.com and leave good feedback for the seller. He should do the same for you and the rating number that
appears beside your user name will go up with each good deal you do. This tells others browsing GunBroker that you are a good person with which to do business. The higher a person's rating, usually the safer it is to do business with that person. Be a responsible gun owner and enjoy your new gun safely.