Handling Sellers with Guns

(Formerly “Correct Handling of Guns”)

Guns will no longer be handled in the satellite buy offices. Any customer wishing to sell an antique gun must be referred to our Old Town buy office. All gun sales must be done by appointment with the COO, ESM, or EBM only. All advertising and posters in the buy offices will be adjusted to reflect this Gun Policy change.

If a customer presents you with a gun, DO NOT TOUCH IT. If you are in a remote office, let the customer know that gun sales are handled through Old Town by appointment only. Do not touch the gun, even if they offer it to you. Make sure to record their contact information, take pictures and record information on the gun so we can research it. If the customer has other items for you to look at, you may ask them to stow the gun in their vehicle while you work on their other pieces.

If you are in the Old Town office do not touch the gun; leave it on the counter and ask the customer not to touch it either. Find someone authorized to handle the gun.

People authorized to handle guns:

• Leo
• COO
• Estate Buying Manager
• Estate Sales Manager
• Sales Manager (Maggie HFA)

If you are not on this list, do not handle a gun, even if you think you know what you are doing!

Pricing

Treat guns like any other unique collectible. Do preliminary research to see if we can buy the gun and if it is in a price range the customer is willing to accept. Forward your research to COO, ESM, or EBM when you make an appointment. We only want to send people to Old Town if there’s a good chance we can make a deal. Otherwise, it is a waste of time for the customer, COO, ESM, or EBM and yourself.

Safety Information

In Old Town, once the buy is negotiated, the gun should be placed in a status that is open and unfireable. Once this has been accomplished, the gun should be taken immediately into the COO’s office and the door locked. The COO will then secure the gun in the safe. If the COO is not in her office, give the gun to the CFO to secure in her safe.

If the customer also brings in ammunition for the gun, they should be directed to remove it from the buy office. The gun and ammunition should never be together in the buy office. Ask them to take the ammo back to their car. If the customer wishes to include the ammo they can bring it back after the buyer has purchased the gun and removed it from the general area of the customer (in safe, or behind counter).

NO GUN SHALL EVER BE LOADED IN THE STORE. DON’T EVEN PRETEND TO LOAD ONE.

Any gun that is under evaluation in the buy office should never be touched by any staff other than the five individuals named above.

NOTE: Sometimes the accessories that accompany a gun, particularly if the gun is from the 1700s-1800s can be worth a significant amount. Don’t negotiate separately but have them included and do take them.