Gunbroker sucks.

[proud2deviate]

Or, perhaps more accurate, the people selling (or trying to sell,) on Gunbroker suck. If you can stand to wade through page after page of duplicate auctions for cheap Chinese holsters, and find something worth looking at that isn't hideously over-priced, chances are all you'll see under "Item Description" is a nano-blip sentence fragment about the actual item, and a five paragraph essay regarding the seller's shipping terms. I mean, is it such an outlandish proposal that I might want to know about small details like barrel length, caliber, choke, magazine capacity, etc? And yes, I know all about the "Ask Seller A Question" button. In fact, I've used it frequently enough to know that maybe 60% of the time I'll get a reply, and that 50% of the replies I get will actually be coherent, with any amount of thought put into them, and maybe 20% of those will actually answer my question.


With that said, I'd like to thank all of the people who post clean, articulate, well thought out auctions. You help to keep my blood pressure below fatal levels.

 

[trueblue1776]

I finally got over that stuff, then tried to buy a stock, the seller never got back to me. Yes gunbroker does suck. Trading post on THR rocks, so does Midway, Brownels, and AIM.

 

[brashboy]

Gunbroker is modeled on Ebay, which has deteriorated horribly. This may sound like an off-topic ebay rant, but bear with me, please. I joined ebay in 1996 and used to love it. But I really haven't used it much in years, because: it is overwhelmed with rude idiots, people will give negative feedback if the item isn't there in 3 days, most of the auctions are cheap junk (a guy lists 50 of the same junk Bangladesh-made guitar; not a dutch auction for 50 items, but 50 listings) over and over. And the scammers, the scammers. Almost no one I know will sell internationally anymore b/c of the Asian and Eastern Bloc scammers. I used to deal in high-end guitars and did a lot of it on ebay, but no more; and many if not most of the people I dealt with then on ebay use it no more. The scammers were rare years ago - they came in with the advent of paypal, and the problem got worse when ebay bought paypal.

My point is that I see the same thing infecting Gunbroker. It's almost like the same people messing it up. Once something becomes popular enough, the goofballs, the scammers and the big-scale merchandisers take over. And those people drive legitimate listers away, on both ebay and gunbroker. So over time, the percentage of junk and jerks grows, and reasonable people get tired of sifting through the garbage, trying to get answers on listings, trying to get decent pictures. Many of the professional gun dealers on gunbroker (seems to be a handful who dominate) do good and careful listings, but individual listings are of much lower quality generally.

At the end of the day, I think the only reason to use gunbroker is to find something a little off the beaten track. If you want a CZ75, for example, you can get them anywhere.

What I would like to hear are GOOD gunbroker.com stories: people who found that oddball item, or got a great gun at a can't-believe-it price, or whatever. Any of you out there?

 

[Bushwhacker]

I got one to add; Some people on AR15 SUCK!!!

Never again will I deal with someone on that board....

But I guess there are bad apples in every crowd.....

 

[Zundfolge]

Gunbroker (like eBay) is a glowing example of cavet emptor.

I've found several good deals there, but you have to dig to find them (just like anywhere else) and you have to be patient.

I've also never run into a scammer there, I've seen them but to me the scammers are usually so obvious that they're easy to avoid.

 

[Novus Collectus]

Funniest thing I saw on I think it was Gunbroker, or it could be Auction arms a few weeks ago was where a guy was selling a unique Luger starting at something like $900,000. The guy said it was unique because it was "the only Luger owned by me".
I had to read it a few times before I got the joke.

 

[SaxonPig]

I must not be doing it right because I have been buying on GunBroker and Auctionarms for about 6 years with very little trouble. I have bought 60-70 guns and many other items and so far two guns arrived in disappointing condition. One was replaced and the other I kept because it was still a good deal at the price I paid. I have had 3 sellers on eBay steal my money and vanish but no problems like that on GB or AA.

Of course you see junk on the auction sites. Been to a gun show lately? Seems like 1/3 of the tables are jewelry, beef jerky and teddy bears being offered for sale. Life is not perfect. But there's lots of good stuff, too. If you aren't finding it, then you simply aren't looking hard enough.

Sure, there's a danger in long-distance transactions and you want to use some common sense. But I feel relatively confident in buying and selling on GB.

 

[joplinsks]

I've been selling via the net since the early '90s. Back then people chatted and made deals via Usenet (newsgroups) and the Compuserve forums. The folks on there were mostly professionals like doctors, college professors, high ranking executives... who all had money and knew exactly what they wanted. Basically you could list just about anything... at your price... and it would sell immediately to a very satisfied buyer just dying to get it. I made a small fortune during that period.

Now... the net is full of people who don't have a dime to their name and expect "everything" to be as simple as a click of the mouse. I've barely sold anything on Ebay or the net in over 2 years since the profit incentive isn't there anymore and it's not worth putting up with all the whiners and complainers.

 

[Nomad101bc]

Thats why when i buy something ill take a slight price increase and do it through my gun dealer. This way if anything goes wrong they can fix it or return it. My gun store also sells alot of stuff on consignment so you get all sorts of cool stuff coming in be it M1 Garands or pistol grip shotguns they have it all.

Here is an awsome site for AR-15 and CX4 fanatics http://www.houtsenterprises.com/ since someone mentioned AR-15's; they keep stuff stalked in a warehouse owned by them so you get things pretty fast.

 

[Spuds]

My biggest complaint with gunbroker and auction arms is that they allow mis-categorization of listings. Even if you are searching just firearms, or a category thereof, you will encounter more gun parts and ammo than you will firearms.

If gb & aa expect an influx of new listings from displaced ebay sellers, they'd do well to clean up their act in how listings are categorized, or they'll be as useless as mammalian protrusions on a male Sus scrofa.

 

[glockman19]

I use gunbroker to window shop, print out the price and ask reputible dealers to match the price. Most who are interested in your contunued patronage will meet eh price and keep a happy customer those who do not don't get repeat business. I have found guns on gunbroker most recently a S&W 629. I called the dealer, www.budsgunshop.com and paid got the same great deal. Also was able to defer interest & payment for 90 days.

 

[scubie02]

i've had more good deals than bad on Gunbroker, but did have two smith revolvers in the same week show up in disappointing condition. In one case it had obviously had some pitting from rust and been refinished, in the other it had actual copious amounts of rust on it WHEN I got it that would have pitted. At least in those situations the one was very nice and apologized and offered a partial refund, and I kept it, which turned out well because it was a real shooter. The second wasn't so nice but did refund my money when I sent it back, so at least I was only out the shipping. I have had a huge percentage not answer email questions, as mentioned. And most use a "file photo" rather than a picture of the actual item, which is semi sucky, especially with some items where say the wood can vary dramatically item by item, like Citori's for instance.

 

[PowderKeg]

I've been mostly satisfied with the handfull of transactions I've done on both "major" gun auction sites. Four of the last 5 pistols I've bought have come via GunBroker or Auction Arms, the most recent being a Kimber Pro Carry SLE (series I). Price, with ship & FFL fees, was still well less than what I would've paid locally (IF I could've found one locally at a reasonable price), and I spent far less time, money, and gas by sitting and searching several minutes every few nights on the 'puter than buying Trader papers, making calls, repeated trips to shops around town, etc. Mailed the MO on Monday, picked up the pistol on Friday from my FFL. Prior to that, my DW 715 went just as smoothly. Both sellers were great to deal with. Only one, a S&W 66, took a gawdawful time to get finished - seller kept changing his story - first it was taking a long time to get it to the ffl, then the ffl still hadn't shipped, then the ffl was charging him 4 or 6 times as much to send it, yadda-yadda-yadda. Finally did show up after hounding him on the phone repeatedly - I think he was hoping to get more $$$ with the sob story about his ffl problems. Pistol was just as described with a really sweet action job, but it almost soured me to future auction dealings - almost, but not quite.

Since most of what's still on my "want" list is either no longer in production (Virginian Dragoon, DW Monson .44), or has been PC'd with internal locks or other nonsense (want a few pre-Clinton S&W's, it'll be a cold day before I ever buy a locked one), my only real options are the auction sites. Haven't had much luck watching here and GA has really gone to the dogs/dealers (did buy a 4006 via GA 7+ years ago).

If you're like me, looking for specific models only and not particularly concerned about how long it'll take to find one (for a decent price), the auction sites work. If you just have to have the latest and greatest right now, or just look for any "great bargain" regardless of make, caliber, etc., then the auctions can be frustrating with all the junk you have to page through.

Caveat Emptor definitely applies, and specific questions are a must if anything isn't clear in the ad or photos. Most of the time I've received replies to questions, and those that don't reply fall off the watch list.

 

[havanatrader]

My opinion: Gunbroker ROCKS!
Lots of noise to filter through, but there are good deals, and a lot of interesting stuff to look at regardless. Like a little gun show at my desk every day!

 

[AntiqueCollector]

I get annoyed with wading through the same items, dozens of them or more, everytime I look, all listed by the same seller and they never sell. But otherwise, I like GB...

 

[Lashlarue]

If you list an item with a reasonable price it will sell. I sold two pistols this year with no trouble, even with buyer getting burned with UPSs ridiculous charges.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

There is no reason to use Gunbroker. I have found both online dealers as well as local dealers who will meet or beat any price on Gunbroker.


If you look around, you'll find a better price.

 

[silverlance]

the rule for buying anything in life is simple.

be patient, and wait long enough - eventually whatever it is that you want will be at a price that you're willing to pay.

don't cut down gunbroker. GB and AA are helping expand our cause.

 

[Cannonball888]

Bought 3 guns off of Gunbroker. All were from dealers with high transaction count and great feedback. Very satisfied.

 

[Finch]

I only use Gun Broker and Auction Auction arms as a classified ad system. When I do searches, I look for items that I could pick up locally or where I could be in a few hours if someone screws me over. I bought a few guns on auction sites without problems, probably because they were all local pick ups.

I guess you just need a really good B.S. meter when dealing with auctions sites. If I feel any hesitation at all, it's probably for a good reason.

 

[medmo]

Both GB and AA are pretty good as long as you go shopping with both eyes open. Check the rating of the seller and ask questions. I have had some pretty good deals with both and have not been disappointed.

GB is mildly annoying to me because there is a BUNCH of sellers with RESERVE auctions that don't seem to have any real intention of selling anything. I think they enjoy playing games with themselves and are not serious sellers. If these guys really wanted to sell their stuff they should throw out a starting bid dollar amount they can live with and see what happens from there.

 

[Noxx]

I shop GB a lot, but purchase rarely. Most of the things I willing to spend a serious chunk on (and it has to be high cost items, otherwise shipping and fees make low cost items a bad deal) do not offer enough detail and surety for me to feel comfortable buying.

Live auctions are still great when you can find them, I bought five lots at a local auction last night, and altho I missed the FN hi-power I was there for, I was more than satisfied with everything else.

 

[gezzer]

When you are not smart enough to buy from online auctions don't. Support your local gunshop.

 

[trueblue1776]

When you are not smart enough to buy from online auctions don't.

That's a bit harsh maybe.

 

[Feanaro]

I quite like Gunbroker. I wouldn't use it to buy something MidwayUSA or Brownells stocks but its great for discontinued items. I like to collect older guns. When I can find them locally, the condition is usually terrible.