Frequently Asked Questions
Accounts
- Q: Do I need an account to use ARMSLIST?
- No. You can perform all of the major functions without creating an account.
- Q: Why should I create an account?
- If you are a frequent user of ARMSLIST, you can create an account
that will save you time performing repeated tasks.
What are these features you ask?- Ability to bypass confirmation emails
- Ability to have your email address pre-filled when creating listings or sending messages
- Ability to view/edit listings you have made in the past in a single consolidated interface
- Q: What is OpenID?
- OpenID is a system that allows you to use a single login for a variety of different websites. OpenID works by allowing you to select a provider that you already have an account with, such as Google, AOL, or Yahoo. Login is transferred to the selected provider. The provider verifies your login information and control is transferred back to ARMSLIST.
- Q: Why use OpenID?
- It seems that every website requires you to create an account. You end up with tons of usernames and passwords that you have to try to remember. OpenID allows you to reuse these logins in a secure way. Basically, it's simpler.
Vendor Account
- Q: How do I get a vendor account?
- Please contact us about your interest and we will get back to you to collect payment and FFL validation (where applicable).
- Q: How much does a vendor account cost?
- The fee for a Vendor Account is $20/month. Enter your monthly recurring billing to the paypal address below, and submit your FFL information to begin your Vendor Account application.
- Q: How is payment made?
- Q: What features do I get as a vendor?
- You get the following features:
- Ability to create an unlimited number of listings. Normal users are capped based upon a variety of factors. You are still required to abide by anti-spamming rules.
- Ability to automatically link your vendor profile (store information, contact info, etc) into listings.
- Ability to skip reCAPTCHA, streamlining the listing process.
- Removes the ability for listings to be flagged.
- Direct access to our development team for questions, problems, or feature request.
In addition to these benefits, we'll be implementing additional features for building virtual stores and allowing integration of your listings into your own websites as the vendor program matures and we get more feedback.
General
- Q: I have made a post and not gotten the confirmation email.
- Usually, emails are delivered without issue and within a few minutes. Please perform
the following actions:
- Ensure you are filling in the correct email address when creating your listing.
- Ensure you are checking the same email account that you used to create the listing
- Check your SPAM, JUNK or BULK MAIL folder.
- Use a free email service such as Google's GMail, AOL, or Hotmail.
- Q: How do I create a listing?
-
Scroll to the very top of the page.
To the right of the logo is a button that says "Create a Listing" as shown in the image.
Alternatively, follow this link to create a listing.
Enter your listing information. A confirmation email will be sent to the provided email address. Activate your listing by clicking the link in this confirmation email. Your listing will appear within a few minutes.
- Q: I have contacted a seller and not received a response.
- If you have not gotten a response, the item has likely been sold. You can look for the item from another seller. Additionally, you
can flag the listing as unresponsive and it will eventually be removed from the site.
- Q: I've lost my confirmation email, how can I edit/delete my listing?
- Your confirmation email can be resent by clicking the "Edit" link on your listing page. Or you can access the Resend Confirmation page directly but you will need to enter the ID for your listing.
- Q: I have created/update a listing and do not see it, what should I do?
- Be patient. For performance reasons, the listings pages are only updated every few minutes. If it has been more than an hour and you do not see your listing, please contact us as your listing may have been trapped in our spam filters.
- Q: How do I completely remove a listing?
- There is no way to completely remove a listing, but you can deactivate your listing. Deactivating your listings will prevent buyers from being able to contact your and will remove your listings from displaying in searches.
- Q: Can you increase the size limit to allow me to upload more than 1 picture?
- The size limit is to reduce the amount of processing our servers have to perform. If you would like to upload more pictures, please resize your images to 800x600 prior to uploading them.
- Q: I do not see the CAPTCHA and cannot send a message?
- Please ensure you do not have security software or ad removal software running while browsing ARMSLIST. Software such as AdBlock may cause certain pages to fail to load correctly. If you are using Internet Explorer 6.0 please upgrade to a newer browser.
- Q: Dealers are overrunning the site, can you ban them?
- In short no, there are a number of features that enable you to filter out vendors. On the category selection page, there are links that allow you to view "private party" or "dealer" versions of the category. Additionally, on the category listings page, there are filters on the left side of the screen that allow you to toggle "private party", "vendor", or "all sellers". If you have old bookmarks, please save new ones with these filters applied appropriately.
- Q: Can you tell me if an item is still for sale?
- Please contact the seller directly. ARMSLIST does not get involved in transactions.
- Q: Can you help me contact a seller?
- Please use the built in tool for contacting a seller.
- Q: What is the correct section for my item?
- The "Guns" classifieds section is for the sale, trade, or intended purchase
of firearms, parts, and ammunition only. Posting items in this section that are
NOT firearms, parts, or ammunition is in direct violation of these terms.
The "Outdoors Gear" classifieds section is for the sale, trade, or intended purchase of outdoors equipment. Posting items that are NOT outdoors equipment is in direct violation of these terms.
Items that are do not fit into "Guns" or "Outdoors Gear" that are for sale or trade in exchange for firearms should be posted in the "Other Items" section.
Transactions
- Q: Can ARMSLIST help me conduct a transaction?
- ARMSLIST is purely a service provider that allow sellers to list items. As such, ARMSLIST can not and will not be a party in transactions. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer and seller to conduct safe and legal transactions.
- Q: Can ARMSLIST contact a seller for me or provide me with information about a user?
- Due to our privacy policy, ARMSLIST can only provide information to law enforcement during due process of law.
- Q: How can I ensure transactions are conducted safely and legally?
- Please contact your local sheriff's office and ATF branch office to learn how to conduct proper transfers in your area.
- Q: What is the safest way to conduct out-of-area transfers?
- ARMSLIST was designed for local interactions, please use the site accordingly.
Scams
- Q: What should I do if I suspect a listing is a scam?
- Please flag the listing as "scam", this will remove the listing from the site. Please contact us with a link to the listing so we can remove the listing.
- Q: How do I avoid scams?
- Follow these common sense rules to help avoid getting scammed:
- Deal locally and transact in person - This will help you avoid almost all scams
- Never send Cashiers Checks or Money Orders to sellers
- Never wire money via Western Union, Moneygram, or other wire services
- Never accept Cashiers Checks or Money Orders as they can be easily faked
- Never give out financial information
- Avoid deals involving shipping or escrow services
- If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is
- ARMSLIST is not involved in any transaction, we do not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification"
- Q: What should I do if I've been scammed?
- Please do the following:
- Contact your local police department via their non-emergency number
- File a report via the Internet Fraud Complaint Center
- Contact us and include the URL to the listing so we can remove the listing.
- Q: Can ARMSLIST help if I've been scammed?
- We take every precaution to prevent scammers from using the site. Unfortunately, beyond our efforts to prevent scammers there is little we can do.
You are the best resource to prevent and stop scammers. Please take the steps listed previously if you are the victim of a scam. Also, please refer to our tips and heed the warnings on the site on how to prevent getting scammed. - Q: Can ARMSLIST provide me with more information about a scammer?
- Due to our privacy policy, ARMSLIST can only provide information to law enforcement during due process of law.
Flagging
- Q: Why was my listing flagged?
- Flagging is a result of peer review. Numerous users of the site must flag a listing before it is deactivated. Please refer to the following FAQ answers for explanation of what rules apply to each flagging rule.
- Q: My listing was incorrectly flagged, can ARMSLIST reinstate it?
- Due to our policies, ARMSLIST cannot reinstate your listing. Please relist your item, it is a free site.
- Q: My listing has been flagged several times, what should I do?
- Please address any issues with your listing as defined in the flagging rules below. If it continues to be repeatedly flagged, please stop creating the listing or usage of the site may be suspended.
- Q: I am no longer able to create listings, why is this?
- Your privileges may have been removed as a result of your listings being repeatedly flagged.
- Q: What is spamming?
- Spamming includes but is not limited to listings that do not pertain to the subject matter of the site (firearms and outdoors activities), posting the same material in more than one category, and posting the same material in more than one location. The site is designed to allow searching across local, state, the entire country. DO NOT create listings in more than one location.
- Q: What are inflammatory listings?
- Inflammatory listings include but are not limited to listings directly addressing an individual or group of persons, listings that use profanity, or are not goods for sale, trade, or intended purchase.
- Q: Why was my listing moved to a different category?
- Your listing may be moved to a different category if several users flag it and move it to a new category.
- Q: Why was my non-firearm related item flagged?
- The users of this site control which items are removed. This site is intended for firearms, ammunition, and accessories. If your non-firearms related item is repeatedly flagged, please take it to a site that was designed for that type of item.
- Q: My listing is not appearing, why is this?
- We have a number of filters that prevent listings from appearing on the site. Attempting to SPAM the site or using profanity are the most likely causes of a listing not appearing.
