Buying or Selling an Optic online, what should I know?
One of the best parts about have a great community of individuals for a hobby, is the ability to get used equipment and gear at a reduced cost. This helps draw people to the sport, assists individuals in upgrading their equipment, and promotes brand awareness for companies that may not have as much recognition. The shooting community is no exception, and when it comes to the shooting sports, the community is expansive and awesome.
Not only does this large base of shooters help, educate and encourage people to join and grow the sport, but they constantly help each other through buying, selling and trading gear. The advantages to this are numerous for all parties involved. A flaw in this system though, is we believe that others will have the same passion and dedication we do in providing a service to that community. Unfortunately with a community the size of the shooting sports, bad or ignorant individuals are inevitable.
For this article we are specifically going to be discussing optics as then tend to be one of the more expensive items that we’re always trying to find a deal on. Additionally, they are the most fragile item to be shipped, and damage to the optic can cost a significant amount of money to be repaired, depending on the brand.
Buying:
There are several things we need to be warry of when we are looking to purchase an optic from an individual online. First off, what is the source of our connection? Is it a social media group/page, a 2nd amendment forum, or a sales site like EBay? What systems does the site have in place to protect buyers? Next we need to consider payment. What methods does the seller accept? Do these options offer additional protections to you as the buyer (like PayPal goods and services)? These are questions we must ask ourselves and do research on, as apps and websites change rapidly for what is available, especially for 2A items.
If we trust the location of our connection and they accept a payment method we can accommodate, we next need to determine if it is a scam. Unfortunately, with all groups where there is inherent trust, there are bad actors looking to take advantage of that trust for personal gain. There are several ways we can mitigate the risk of getting scammed. First you can see if the seller has any reviews. How you verify this depends on the website. For groups on social media pages, search for posts with the sellers name. This will show you all of their posts and any complaints or compliments posted by other buyers. There may be comments on their sales post vouching for them from other group members as well. If it is a forum, they may have an actual reviews section on their profile. These options can help re-enforce your level of confidence in the transaction. But all group members have to start somewhere and this may be their first sale. A common request from buyers is to post a picture with the item and the seller or buyers name written on a piece of paper next to the item with the present date. This demonstrates that the buyer does in fact have the item that is for sale and did not take a picture from another sellers post. You should also look at the seller profile and see when it was created and when they joined the group. A profile with no friends, that is only days old, should be a huge red flag to any potential buyers.
Now, we have verified our site, payment method, and seller and have given ourselves the green light to take a leap of faith and commit to purchasing the Item. We have limited our risk of being scammed, but there are other risks to consider. Mainly the human risk. Even though shipping services have improved a lot since being mainly privatized, there are still mistakes and mishaps. Packages could be lost or damaged by the shipping company, and the default package insurance does not cover the cost of a brand new precision optics. We need to ensure that the seller is opting for the increased insurance amount to match the value of the item. This protects both parties involved in the transaction. As the buyer, we also need to ensure the seller is using a tracked shipping method. This allows for us to know that the item has been passed off to a shipper and when we can expect it to arrive.
Once a package arrives it is important that we control our excitement and document the package prior to opening it. Especially if it seems to have been mishandled or damaged in any way. This will be helpful in any potential insurance claims with the shipping company. Once we have our item unpacked and in hand it is important that we inspect and test every aspect of it. This allows for us to identify any potential issues that may need to be addressed with the seller. I recently purchased a scope with a set of rings, and one of the rings was the incorrect size and did not tighten to the scope tube. I was able to immediately message the seller and work out returning them for a refund. This may not have been possible if I had waited weeks to install the rings. Once we are satisfied with our item make sure to go back to the website and leave a review or post for the seller so that other in the community can know that they are a person of their word and can be trusted for future transactions.
Seller:
If you are on the other side of the transaction and are selling an optic online, you still have to be aware of the risks.
Just like the buyer, we have to be on the lookout for scams. Checking their profile and looking for reviews of the buyer can prevent the potential headache of a scammer. This needs to be considered when we look at the terms of the payment methods, do they offer protections to the seller as well as the buyer. Or will they take the buyer at their word and refund the payment, leaving the seller without the money or the product? This requires us to be familiar with the website we are using and the payment method.
Once we have found a buyer willing to pay an acceptable price for our item we have to prepare it for shipping. This is a step in our process that we should not half ass. Find a box with enough room for the item and appropriate packing materials to protect the item from potential damage during shipping. Nothing should be loose in our package and multiple items should be separated. I recently received a scope with the rings shoved inside the sunshade, which was attached to the scope. By a sheer act of god, the objective lens was undamaged, but this could have been catastrophic for the optic, but I digress. Once the Item is appropriately packaged we need to drop it off at our shipper, but our responsibilities are not over yet. It may seem enticing to skimp out on the shipping and forgo some of the added options such as increased insurance, tracking, or signature requirements. But all of these options add a level of security to the transaction. Especially, if their profile is new and does not have a long list of positive reviews from prior sales. It is a lot more difficult for a scammer to say they never received a package when they had to sign for it.
Once we have passed off our package to the shipping company our final duty is to send that tracking number to the seller without delay. Now all we have to do is sit and wait.
Once they receive the package it is a curtesy to ensure that they are happy with the item and the transaction. If they are not, come to a workable compromise if it is needed. If they are happy with the transaction then write them a positive review and request the same in return. This helps to grow the trust and confidence we have in the core members of the community and make it more difficult for the scammers to infiltrate the group and take advantage of our members.
I hope this guide proves helpful and aids you in your purchase or sale of equipment along your marksmanship journey. Never be afraid to ask for help with any aspect of the shooting sports and most importantly, get out and shoot.
Written By: Johnathon Solinsky