Tip of the Week: How to Improve Your Online Gun Sales Ad

Sometimes it is just time to sell one of your guns.

You may need the money, want to fund a new project, or are just trying to get rid of something you don’t like or use.

Whatever your reason may be, nothing is more frustrating than posting an advertisement online for your firearm, only to be met with crickets or people playing 20 questions.

Obviously, a lot of things have to do with how you price the gun, the demand, and even where you live. There are no guarantees you can get your gun sold, but there are a few tips and tricks you can employ to make your online ad or listing more enticing for prospective buyers.

Take Good Photos

This may sound obvious, but you will be shocked how many listings have grainy photos, only one side of the gun pictured, gross backgrounds included, or other annoying things.

Always make sure you take clear photos of both sides of the gun and make sure the entire gun is visible in a single frame. No one wants to have to scroll through 3 photos to see one side of your shotgun.

Look for a clean background, find a well-lit room, and then snap a photo from above. If you need to, use a stepstool to get high enough to get the gun fully in frame.

You will then want to crop the photo as needed to remove wasted space. You may also want to use a phone program or computer program to black out any serial numbers.

Additionally, take close-up, well-lit photos of the muzzle end, chamber/cylinder, and any areas that have blemishes or scratches.

People want to have a good idea of the condition of the gun they are buying, and having clear and honest pictures helps the buyer and gives you credibility as an honest, knowledgeable seller.

Always take more pictures of different angles than you think you need, and be willing to take additional pictures if someone requests them.

These pictures don’t need to be studio quality, but taking a bit of time to get decent lighting and a clean background will make your gun ad stand out among the crowd. This is by far the best thing you can do to help sales along.

Make a Detailed Description

I hate clicking on a gun listing only to open it and see a description that says, “Remington 700 for sale, good condition, $650.”

What caliber is it? What is the barrel length? How many rounds does it have through it approximately? What are those scope rings I see on there? Are they included?

Be thorough but concise in your description. Include the following information.

• Correct Make and Model (include sub-model/trim if applicable)
• Caliber
• Number of magazines and magazine capacity (specify if they are original or not)
• Honest assessment of the condition (like-new, excellent, good, fair, etc.)
• Approximate round count
• List any modifications or aftermarket accessories that you are including
• List what comes with the gun (mags, cases, documentation, ammo, etc.)

Clear Contact Information

How people contact you may vary based on your preferences and can depend on where you post your advertisement.

Either way, make sure there is an easy method for people to find your preferred method of contact.

Email is a relatively secure method, but it can be slow. People may find another gun they want to buy if you take too long to respond.

When I post on the local sales forum, I like to include my phone number, but I do not spell the entire number out numerically. Putting your number completely numerically can allow bots or other non-human people to scrape your contact information and spam you.

I typically list my number using a mix of letters and numbers. Example: 55five 1two3 45six7.

This makes it easy to read while keeping it safer from people who might misuse it.

Also, be sure to specify how you want people to contact you. Include things like “Text-only at (number),” “Call or text at (number),” or Email me at (email address).

Texting seems to be the easiest way since it is fast, impersonal, and you can easily send pictures. Accepting text messages will increase the likelihood someone is willing to contact you.

Pro-tip: Unless you are selling on a verified auction website like Gunbroker or to other verified members of a sales forum, DO NOT SHIP YOUR GUN. If you want to sell locally, put “Face to face transaction, cash only.” If a local “buyer” asks if you can ship, it is almost always a scam. Money orders are usually scams, too — accept cash only.

Pricing

Each person values guns differently, so this section isn’t about how to value your gun.

However, once you have a price in mind, there are two different approaches you can take when listing your gun for sale.

People like to negotiate and will always lowball you. If you are expecting this, put your listing price a bit above what you will actually take so that you have built-in negotiation room.

If you want $700, list it for $800. Someone may offer $600, and you can “meet in the middle” at $700. Both parties win here.

If you are pricing your gun aggressively and you know it is  priced at or below everything else locally, you can go the route of “firm.” If you are selling for $500 and that is a good price, put “$500 FIRM.” This lets people know you have no wiggle room and you can avoid tire kickers.

Pro-tip: I do not like to use the term OBO (or better offer) when selling. People tend to negotiate even if you don’t include that, but when I see OBO, I know for sure the person is 100% willing to negotiate. As a buyer, I always bargain even harder and ask for a lower price when I see someone using OBO.

Location and Buyer Requirements

The last step is letting potential buyers know where you are, where you are willing to meet, and any additional requirements you may have.

Always, I mean always, list the city or town you live in. There are too many fake or scam ads where someone doesn’t list a location, and when you call, they are “traveling from out of state.” People want to know you are a real person in a real area.

If you are willing to meet within a certain radius, say so. If you want people to travel to you to get the gun, let them know. A simple “Willing to meet in Cityville or Townville” goes a long way.

If you have a specific location you want to meet, like a well-lit Home Depot parking lot or a police station, list that and include a general address or intersection.

Additionally, if you are going to require a bill of sale or require the buyer to have a valid ID (carry license or driver’s license), say so. Do note that while requiring a valid concealed carry license will weed out any criminals, it will cut your prospective buyer base down by a significant amount.

Pro-tip: Even if you are the seller and not the buyer, if you have a valid carry license, say so at the bottom of your posting. This gives potential buyers huge peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

Selling guns can be annoying. But with a little bit of formatting and some good photos, you can maximize the chance that people are willing to reach out.

Your listing doesn’t have to be long. Keep it clean and simple, with all the information that you’d want if you were looking to buy.

Do you have any tips for selling guns online? Let us know in the comments below. Looking to buy and not sell? Check out our article on How to Buy a Gun Online.