I'm looking for opinions. I know I'm opening myself up to the scrutiny of my fellow THF-ers and promise not to take anything personally.

For the first time ever, I backed out of a gun sale.

I have a pistol posted in Classifieds that I was contacted about last night, and I initially agreed to meet (today) for the sale. When I asked for their THF handle (because I always do), they said they "couldn't get the verification email to go through when trying to register, yesterday".

So now this is a complete stranger to me with no THF presence and no one we know in common to vouch for them - Yellow flag #1.

They asked me to meet 45 miles from home, but I've got no THF history on which to form an opinion about their dependability, and that's 90 miles total in holiday Metromess traffic for nothing if they don't show - Yellow Flag #2.

Next, you know how there's a language around firearms/shooting/outdoors/hunting...a somewhat common verbiage to it all? This person didn't talk like that at all. (I say that knowing that anyone at any time has the right to take up legal gun ownership & shooting, and they'll likely sound new to it all when they do), but it was, for me, Yellow flag #3.

Not a single question about the gun. Nothing about round count, how long I've owned it, the trigger job I mentioned in the ad, nothing at all. Unless a gun is listed for way below market, it's just almost never that simple. I'm used to answering at least a couple questions when selling a gun. So I got the feeling that the "no questions asked" sale was simply too easy, thereby equaling Yellow flag #4

So, after sleeping on it I texted back this morning that I was not going to meet for the sale. They said they understood, and I'm grateful they didn't make me feel bad about it.

But now I'm wondering - AITA for backing out?
Are my yellow flags a bunch of baloney?
How do you feel about selling to a complete stranger with no THF creds at all?
For that matter, in your opinion does someone having a THF account with a few years of posting really offer any accountability?

Thanks for any thoughts...J.R.

Usually it’s best to follow your gut feeling. If it don’t feel right don’t do it.

I’ve done deals with strangers in the past but I never had a bad gut feeling about it.

Your gun to sell, your butt on the line, your method. It's better to not follow through if there are that many yellow flags. If no account, how did they get your number? If you posted it, I would reconsider that as a method. I ask for a PM to give out personal info like a phone number just in case.

Sounds like you listened to the little guy in the back of your head. He's usually right. I think you were right.

If it doesn’t feel right then don’t feel bad. I’ve had to back out of a few on guntrader for similar reasons. It’s a risk anymore and I’ve had a few encounters in the last year or two that makes me want to just take the hit and trade it in to a shop. Just not worth the risk.

NTA.

First and foremost in Texas we have no legal obligation to confirm someone’s identity when selling person to person.

Now, there’s never anything wrong with following your moral compass and general bad feelings about a deal. If it’s not right for you then don’t do it.



Generally speaking a long standing member here will be a stand up person or they wouldn’t be a long standing member. You can look at anyone’s post and see what they’re up to if you chose.

Seems way too odd, unless they were buying it as a present for their kid/husband/etc.

I’d say you made the right decision, that sounds pretty sketchy and I’d done the same thing.

Would definitely go through FFL dealer with a someone I didn't know.

Coming from somebody east of the Metromess, that typically only ventures into that area if medically necessary, this is the only flag I need. However, sleep well. It is 2023 and that guy could have whacked somebody tomorrow and you could have been in the spotlight.

Not only that my neighbor got in a shootout selling a car off the Internet at the mall.

I would have passed as well. No member, low post count per year or only active in classifieds or RED flags to me.

Probably just a fed. Trying to work in some shady language for a straw purchase charge.

Though not required...I only sell to LTC holders or through an FFL. Not fool proof but does give me piece of mind.

It takes a lot more than that.

Look at my current post on the Taurus. I’m fixing to scrap it. As descriptive as the post is I still got texts on shipping etc.
I got out state texts as well. I answered but something just isn’t right.

Use your gut feeling. Some of these guys have been on here a while. At least 3 who contacted me had very few posts. Keep in mind. ANYONE CAN LOOK AT THE CLASSIFIEDS, ANYONE.

So in my post who knows who saw and decided to text? 🤷 I might understand if your selling a box of chocolates, but when it comes to firearms it’s a tad wee different, imo.

I don’t sell my guns. When I buy, I expect some personal paperwork re the sale with a signature and date.

same here.
always respect the inner voice

I traded a sailfish to a buddy for an AR. He was an ATF task force guy. Made me sign a bunch of nonsense.
I said dude, I’ve known you for 20 years.

I’m not gonna give this to a felon or someone who can’t pass a background check. He even wanted to verify my ID. 😂

Yes, a THF member does hold some extra credibility. Especially if they are long time active members. Is that foolproof? No. But I have met quite a few members on here and they didn’t seem much different in person.

I’m not necessarily worried about what a long time member on here would do with it but rather if they get it stolen from their vehicle or home. A bill of sale and a LTC number clear things up quickly if it gets used for some nefarious purpose. As for the OP, it’s yours and you can sell it or not sell it to whoever you see fit.

But now I'm wondering - AITA for backing out?
No.

Are my yellow flags a bunch of baloney?
No.

How do you feel about selling to a complete stranger with no THF creds at all?
Would not.

For that matter, in your opinion does someone having a THF account with a few years of posting really offer any accountability?
That's not so simple, but for brevity I'll simply say yes. Maybe. Probably. Maybe with some exceptions. LOL.

Nothing wrong with how you handled it.

Thanks, errbody. Makes me feel better.