Whether you’re purchasing on Infinite Armory, GunBroker, forums, Reddit, or a Facebook/Instagram post, sending a payment is always one of the riskiest parts of the transaction … especially when it comes to firearms and related kit.
Between scammers targeting us more than ever before, and seemingly every payment service having anti-gun policies, the chances of becoming a victim of fraud can be extremely high if you’re not careful. Ultimately, the best option is to have a high degree of trust in the person you’re doing a transaction with. Features like our invite-only vendor registration and validated transaction seller feedback exist to keep Infinite Armory a trustworthy marketplace. But, if you don’t feel comfortable about a transaction… STOP. Please thoroughly review our guide on fraud prevention before sending payment to any vendor.
Important note: Because all the private peer-to-peer payment methods have anti-firearms policies, buyers should always leave the “description” or “note” field of a payment they’re sending either completely empty, or use an unrelated emoji. Mentioning firearms or firearms related gear in all of these payment systems can potentially get the vendor’s account with that company suspended. In order to protect our vendors, any buyer violating this policy will have their Infinite Armory account suspended.
PayPal Goods & Services
PayPal’s “Goods & Services” is often used because it offers buyer protection, allowing buyers to file a claim and get their money back if an item isn’t delivered. This service comes with a fee, typically around 3.5%, charged to the seller.
While buyer protection generally works well, it doesn’t cover transactions involving items that violate PayPal’s policies, particularly anything remotely related to firearms. PayPal’s strict anti-gun stance has led to claims being denied for parallel items like night vision or tactical gear. Worse, they often ban both the buyer and seller if gun-related items are involved. So, while paying with G&S might feel safe, a seller can simply mention something firearm-related to have the claim denied and potentially get your account suspended.
PayPal Friends & Family
The alternative with PayPal’s “Goods & Services” is to send the payment via “Friends & Family”. This is an option that PayPal provides for sending money between trusted individuals and bypasses their fee structure. This means that if you fund the payment with a bank account or your PayPal balance, the entire transaction is fee-free. Friends and Family payments offer no buyer protection from PayPal.
This tends to be the most common way payments are sent for gun related items across various marketplaces, because ultimately PayPal’s protection guarantees are empty promises within our hobby. It is up to the Infinite Armory vendor and potential buyer to decide amongst themselves whether to use G&S or F&F with a PayPal transaction.
Venmo
Venmo’s default method does not offer buyer protection. They do have an option for it, but it will add a fee similar to PayPal. It’s important to discuss with the seller beforehand if you intend to elect that option as the seller might not be expecting to be paid less. Be aware that the same anti-firearms policies apply to Venmo’s buyer protection as well (they’re owned by the same parent company). Venmo will sometimes ask the buyer to confirm the last 4 digits of the seller’s phone number before sending the payment. We’re working on natively supporting this in the interface, but in the meantime, you can either skip this option or reach out to the seller and obtain the 4 digits.
Zelle
Zelle is an instant payment solution connected to your bank account, making it highly convenient for peer-to-peer transactions. It can be a great option for both buyers and sellers as there is typically no fee. Zelle does not have any buyer protection.
Cash App
Cash App allows users to send money quickly and easily through its app interface. Like other direct payment platforms, transactions are typically irreversible. Cash App does not have any buyer protection.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay offers a seamless and secure payment option for users with Apple devices. Payments can be initiated quickly using Face ID or Touch ID. While secure, Apple Pay transactions often depend on trust between parties, as they do not include dispute resolution features for transactions between individuals.
