No, it's not stolen
Next Steps-Bought Gun from a Friend, Will Not Hand Over
- Thread starter RSBro
- Start date
Thanks for the input. To answer some questions poised above;
I have not driven down to confront him about this, as I've just been trying to not escalate this if possible and he lives about 2 hours away and we're in the process of moving. I still may do this here soon as a last ditch effort.
I 'bought' it from this person because they have been a friend for some time and we have not only completed firearm and music equipment sales in the past, but this was an actual good friend where we went to the range together, he recorded my old band's album where he was paid and did a stellar job, and has also been a personal/business tax client since I've known him and has paid for such services. So, this didn't seem like a stretch to me to send him the funds knowing I'd get it. This wasn't someone who is a friend of a friend of a cousin's neighbor or something like that, I know his sister and parents, etc. and I think most people in my situation would have done the same to help someone out who needed it, especially for a deal on a firearm you want.
I wasn't aware you couldn't use PayPal for firearms purchases, so thanks to whomever said that as I'll know going forward, even if it was done as a "business" transaction, which it wasn't.
I agree to the sentiments that I probably could get a judgment in small claims court but if he can't or won't refund my money anyway, what are the chances of getting them from him? Probably small.
Anyway, lesson learned for sure and just goes to show anyone else reading this, everyone acts differently when there's money involved... I've asked other friends who know him to contact him and they have tried, also to no avail. Who knows what's going on but will keep at it I guess.
I have not driven down to confront him about this, as I've just been trying to not escalate this if possible and he lives about 2 hours away and we're in the process of moving. I still may do this here soon as a last ditch effort.
I 'bought' it from this person because they have been a friend for some time and we have not only completed firearm and music equipment sales in the past, but this was an actual good friend where we went to the range together, he recorded my old band's album where he was paid and did a stellar job, and has also been a personal/business tax client since I've known him and has paid for such services. So, this didn't seem like a stretch to me to send him the funds knowing I'd get it. This wasn't someone who is a friend of a friend of a cousin's neighbor or something like that, I know his sister and parents, etc. and I think most people in my situation would have done the same to help someone out who needed it, especially for a deal on a firearm you want.
I wasn't aware you couldn't use PayPal for firearms purchases, so thanks to whomever said that as I'll know going forward, even if it was done as a "business" transaction, which it wasn't.
I agree to the sentiments that I probably could get a judgment in small claims court but if he can't or won't refund my money anyway, what are the chances of getting them from him? Probably small.
Anyway, lesson learned for sure and just goes to show anyone else reading this, everyone acts differently when there's money involved... I've asked other friends who know him to contact him and they have tried, also to no avail. Who knows what's going on but will keep at it I guess.
FireInTheWire
Caprock Crusader
Has anyone actually made contact with him? Is he OK?
This is not a useful idea; contacting the police won't help. This is a civil matter. There's a disagreement about the delivery schedule and some communications problems. There's no way law enforcement is going to get in the middle of that.
I've seen a person pull a scam that looked very much like this. Many of his victims contacted local law enforcement and never got anywhere. Finally, one pissed-off victim started looking for other victims and found a bunch. She bundled up all the info from them, including all the contact numbers for all the local LEOs who took reports and did nothing. It took her months to compile a case file. Then she took it to state-level LE and they accepted that the documented pattern of action constituted criminal fraud. Finally, with over 160 documented victims, a case came to fruition. The scammer was convicted, did no time, never paid his fines, and never even surrendered his CHL.
If your friend has done this sort of shit 100+ times and you have exhaustive documentation, contact LE. Short of that, LE will be of no help.
Standard IANAL disclaimer, of course.
You could send a sharp note of protest and legal threats registerd/certified mail threatening to goto the police ATF FDA DHS ICE and any other alphabet agency you think sounds good, i.e. if you think he is niave to fall for that load of bunk.
Or just write it off.
Or open the libtard outrage addicted play book and initiate a scorched earth campaign posting on every web page face book page and forum he frequents that he is a Lying cheating bastatd who kicks his dog, cheats on his wife and probably might sorta be a serial killer and thief. Quickly followed by emails to every mutual friend saying the same and then call and bug his employer and inform them what a dishonest POS he is and is probably stealing them blind as you speak.
I would just send a final note saying I hope your situation improves to the point you dont feel it necessary to screw over friends. Have a nice life and look elsewhere for help in the future. Tell him to keep the gun because his integrity is now suspect and you dont want to take the chance that he sold it to several different people and deal with that shit storm.
I have found that once people start screwing friends they are a lost cause they are no long worthy of my time.
Or just write it off.
Or open the libtard outrage addicted play book and initiate a scorched earth campaign posting on every web page face book page and forum he frequents that he is a Lying cheating bastatd who kicks his dog, cheats on his wife and probably might sorta be a serial killer and thief. Quickly followed by emails to every mutual friend saying the same and then call and bug his employer and inform them what a dishonest POS he is and is probably stealing them blind as you speak.
I would just send a final note saying I hope your situation improves to the point you dont feel it necessary to screw over friends. Have a nice life and look elsewhere for help in the future. Tell him to keep the gun because his integrity is now suspect and you dont want to take the chance that he sold it to several different people and deal with that shit storm.
I have found that once people start screwing friends they are a lost cause they are no long worthy of my time.
If you pay the paypal fee 3% for a product, then you may send it back for a refund, up to 6 months. PayPal will fetch the money back from the sellers checking account and credit the buyer. Similar situation when using ebay. Not talking firearms of course.
I've only had one bad sale in many years but likely not to do anymore ebay or paypal sales. Crooked buyers can destroy you.
I've only had one bad sale in many years but likely not to do anymore ebay or paypal sales. Crooked buyers can destroy you.
