The riskiest moment in any private firearm sale is the payment. The buyer worries about paying for a gun that never ships; the seller worries about shipping a gun and never getting paid, or getting hit with a chargeback weeks later. Escrow solves both problems by putting a neutral party in the middle.
What escrow means
In an escrow transaction, the buyer pays a trusted third party instead of the seller. The third party confirms the funds are real and tells the seller it is safe to ship. Once the seller ships, the third party releases the money to the seller. Neither side has to trust the other.
How GunTab works
GunTab is an escrow payment service built specifically for firearm transactions. On Liberty Gun Trader it is built into checkout:
- The buyer chooses GunTab at checkout. We create a GunTab payment request with the price, shipping and the buyer’s receiving FFL.
- The buyer pays on GunTab’s secure site by bank account or card.
- GunTab confirms the payment and tells the seller to ship. The order in the seller’s dashboard updates automatically.
- The seller ships to the buyer’s FFL and enters the tracking number.
- GunTab pays the seller.
If the buyer cancels before paying, the item goes back on sale automatically.
What GunTab costs
According to GunTab’s published pricing, its service fee is 2.9% (or 2.5% when either party is a verified FFL), and the seller can choose who pays it: seller, buyer or a 50/50 split. Paying by credit card adds a 3% card convenience fee, normally paid by the buyer; paying from a bank account avoids that fee but adds a few business days. Check GunTab’s pricing page for current rates.
Liberty Gun Trader does not add a fee on top during launch.
Why not just use a payment app?
- Many general-purpose payment apps prohibit firearm transactions in their terms, and accounts can be frozen.
- Instant payment apps and wire transfers are effectively irreversible for the buyer, which is exactly why scammers ask for them.
- Cards and some apps allow chargebacks, which leave sellers exposed after the gun has shipped.
Escrow designed for firearms avoids all three problems.
Red flags of a firearm payment scam
- A price far below market on a popular gun.
- A seller who will not use escrow and insists on gift cards, crypto, wire transfer or “friends and family” payments.
- A buyer who sends a payment “confirmation” email that did not come from the payment provider.
- A buyer who overpays and asks for the difference back.
- Pressure to move the conversation off the marketplace.
Report suspicious listings or messages using the report button on any listing.
When to use card payment instead
Verified FFL dealers on Liberty Gun Trader can accept cards directly through their own Authorize.Net merchant account. Buying from an established dealer by card is fast and familiar. For private-party purchases, escrow is the safer choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does Liberty Gun Trader hold my money?
No. Card payments go directly to the seller’s merchant account, and GunTab holds escrow funds. Liberty Gun Trader never holds buyer funds.
Can individual sellers accept GunTab?
Yes. Any approved seller can connect a GunTab account in Dashboard → Payments.
What if the gun never arrives?
Contact the seller and GunTab. Escrow and tracking give you a documented trail that informal payments do not.
Related: how to buy a gun online and how to sell a gun online.
Fees and terms are set by GunTab and can change; confirm them on GunTab’s website. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.