I can no longer do private sales as I use to, because our law precludes gun deals without background checks...I tell them I want to deal with only someone with a CWP, Military ID or commission card and I have that luxury because there are a lot of people in those categories here, and my prices are beyond fair so I can pick buyers. Site selection is critical.
Here's the method:
Get a burn phone, for several reasons, some obvious, some very practical, so I don't get a call from some eager idiot late at night days after the ad comes out and the firearm is sold off. I email those phone numbers, names and vehicle descriptions to someone else, who has another phone to call 911 if needed. I will be on the phone with him when I am doing the deal and obviously be on the phone. I pass that info on what that person is wearing, license plate, vehicle, etc.
I set up the meeting at a local mall parking lot in a spot that's overlooked by a business with a lot of windows, on two cameras, and near a road but not near the mall itself. It is also not far from a place where security likes to loiter and where state troopers swing by coming off the freeway but not very close.
I set up meetings back to back, that way, there's a good chance of the next person being there soon.
I have a few other steps I don't share.
I have the person meet me, so they're on the other side of the vehicle, with the doors open so they can look at the firearm and not expose the firearm to the public. I explain this to the person and tell them it's for safety for both of us.
I show the gun if they show the cash. Any hedging, hesitation, I say adios, no deal.
Only one time did I get thrown...a guy came early. He parked away while I completed that deal and rode up, and I noted he observed what my percautions were.
He asked what I did for use to do for a living because he was both pleased and surprised with my set up...he was operating at a few steps beyond me!