I've sold 200+ airguns in 20 years with only one issue/problem. Well over half of those airguns I purchased used.
TALK ! Airgun folks like to talk airguns and if not something is off to me.
Selling I accept only federal U.S.P.S. Money Order. A standard of airgun buying for over 20 years, they can be verified and cashed in seconds at your post office - cant come back like a check- and paypal ( while being anti-gun, they hadnt een in business a year before they dropped airgun dealers, sure they saw the big$$$ and later changed again but left a bad tatste) offers the seller NO protection, if a buyer says you shipped them a rock, paypal refunds there money.
VERY few first time airgunners buying used, whomever you deal with should, know other airgunners, be using there real email that they've had for years. Post across forums using the same handle ( cant always be done but people who are hhidding ???? maybe stay away from).
Do feel free to ask who they know. They should know someone.
Do use the buyer/seller reference here and personally I like using BOTH the PM function here and email - both- for a clear record of the deal.
Naturally attending a match would be nice, face to face is so n ice, and then you meet allthese other airgunners and start tpo know who's who.
John