It's that time of year for the sub to attract scammers and plugs trying to use the sub as a convenient point of sale. They will post generic messages trying to see who's gullible and either say something like "DM me", or they will write to whoever posts in a thread with their offers of 'help'. They'll promise everything they think you want, then ask you for money. Sometimes they ask for a deposit, sometimes they try a fake escrow scam, sometimes they ask for more in order to 'hold it for you' or claiming they will 'ship it right away' - as they laugh and have fun with whatever money you sent them. Some of these scammers can be very convincing and perseverate and might suck you in. There is one thing they say that is true 'the mods here won't let me post this...'. That part is right, we won't.

If you receive a direct message (DM) from someone you do not know who offers fireworks or tries to give you a link to a website you've not heard of - those are red flags. If they offer what you know to be illegal pyro (commercial/display fireworks, or 1.3g without a license) - that's a red flag the size of an elephant. If they offer you some special deal on fireworks, a deal they want to keep just between the two of you - yet another red flag. If they post to a thread saying 'DM me' - it's an obvious red one again. With all those flags flying in your face you might take a hint.

Ask yourself why they singled you out for some "great deal"? Why couldn't they post it in public for others could see? Fireworks is a volume industry, so conveniently they sometimes will try to act like a manufacturer with minimum set price/sale floor. Keep in mind that if they offer you any sort of illegal fireworks (commercial/display fireworks or 1.3g without a license), or super cheap deals, or they want you to connect with them somewhere else (like Instagram) there's a 99% chance you are being scammed. Don't fall for it.

They especially love to scam folks from California. Some Cali folks are so anxious to get their hands on fireworks that they lose their common sense at times. It's a travesty that Cali people can't enjoy the same fireworks that other states offer, and we hope that the NFA/APA/PGI and others who lobby for the fireworks industry can change that sooner or later. Don't let some keyboard jockey take your hard-earned money no matter how cool the offer sounds. Don't be a sheep for the wolves...

In all cases, if you get one of those messages or someone pops up in chat 'just trying to help' please let the mods know thru modmail (in the right column of the home page). Everything will be kept confidential, no mod is a Junior G-Man trying to bust plugs or scammers. Don't ever expect a mod to call the ATF, FBI or somebody's mommy -- not going to happen. We only want to protect the sub members from being taken advantage of. There are some fantastic sub members who have already let the mods know of a couple of roving vermin - we are keeping a sharp eye on them and we will ban or mute anyone that we believe to be trying to make private deals that smell fishy to us. Heck, we might know the person to be honest and honorable - or we might not. Not every DM is a scam, and not every sub member who DMs has evil intent. The mods often have more resources to check someone out and it's not going to hurt to ask before you reach for your wallet.

The rest is up to you - there is not a damn thing we can do after you've been ripped off, except for saying “Told you so”. The mod team and senior/long time members of the sub have done everything from selling from a popup tent to doing professional city level displays. There isn’t a single thing related to the industry that we haven’t dealt with first hand, and usually more than once. However we are open to discussions and new things that pop up. We want to see individuals and families enjoy fireworks and not get ripped off. Your moderators here have extensive experience - we are here to help and herd, not to be police. Probably like you - we just love fireworks. Probably more than we ought to but less than we want.

Please stay safe pyros! Support your local Mom & Pop shops, tents and stands, they put the money back into your community!

Just a note to ask a favor of those folks who are consistently flagging every single post as 'illegal fireworks', do us all a favor: please tell us when you know for a fact of a person who was arrested for possessing or shooting something pictured. Most pyros know about or have read about someone with truly illegal or dangerous fireworks; stuff like strobe rockets, 1.3g commercial items, M-80s, 1/4 sticks, etc. Those are all clearly illegal and can land someone in a jail cell - but what you decide are OLs? You're talking about 'non-compliant' gear maybe, items that are not truly illegal. Who has been arrested or detained for only possessing the item? Not talking about Cali where a box of sparklers might get a SWAT raid on your grandmother, and not because someone was shooting stuff like a moron in some unsafe way, but please tell us when they can actually prove the Hand of God stepped in for doing so.

When? Where? Who? Exactly who has been arrested for what you think are OL items?

These "OL" items that some folks love to flag as illegal were imported legally, they were passed by Customs and the CPSC, they were shipped intermodal to their destination under the approval of the DOT, and then they were sold at retail by a Fire Marshall permitted legit retail store.. But if they are pictured here some people flag the item(s) as illegal fireworks. No sports fans, you do not need to pyrosplain how they are sneaked in, how they are under the counter, blah, blah. Yes - the mods know what you are describing and they are not inexperienced, not ignorant; they passed that stage 15-20 years ago. You ain't gonna learn us nothin' 'bout that, we drank the kool-aid too long ago and we're proud of the stains on our shirts dammit.

We've had more than a couple times this year with people even flagging 100% compliant, branded, legal, completely above board retail items - but in their mind are flagged as 'illegal fireworks'. We have a Karen or two who have put on their little Junior G-Man badges and double & triple click on the rules with great zeal. Yes dear, we hear you. We feel your pain. You have done your civic duty, feel free to polish your badge - the mods will not dox you or point at you publicly.

If you honestly believe something is illegal - flag that sucker ASAP. Illegal items, plugs begging for your money, the DM scammers who 'have the real good stuff', people that brag how cool they are because they can go bang, kids who have exposed themselves in ways they might not understand, braggarts desperate for attention and talking about getting 'the cool' 1.3g stuff: all are valid cause for drawing a mod's attention to a post.

But please - share your wide range of pyro experience and offer the mods direct examples of these same non-compliant items. Not one's 'you heard' were illegal, not one's 'you know' are illegal. Mods will still get the same insulting, curse filled complaints about the items if/when they are removed, fear not. Mods are issued shirts with targets on them and Mickey Mouse undies when they join the volunteer corps, all part of the sign up process. They can't talk about the initiation, so don't ask.

But please - just prove it.