Experiences with Gun Broker site

I bought a NIB Glock 19 and a NIB Taurus Tracker 22LR revolver on Gun Broker and have nothing but good news to report on the transactions.

GB is great. I've bought and sold plenty there. My only complaint about the site is that it's ad intensive, but that's par these days.

No problems in five years.

I've only bought new pistols and rifles on Gun Broker with very good results. I would probably not buy a used firearm sight unseen.

Used guns

I have purchased several revolvers. If your not sure about something, ask questions, or ask for more pictures.
I will continue to bid on Gun broker.

I live in the Boondocks. Gunbroker and Gun Auction as well as one other auction site have been my main source for used guns. Other than individual issues with the guns I bought I haven't had any issues with sellers. BUT... buying used guns that you can't handle in person can lead to some disappointments. And once you have received a firearm and feel it's got problems sending it back is a pain, and I've only done that once. I just went ahead and got them repaired. It's never been something major, just annoying mechanical issues that need to be addressed. My track record isn't good, I've had to do something with about 50% of the guns I bought. But because I live were I do I have learned to live with the fact that I'm taking my chances in buying a gun this way, and that's just the way it is.

In the past 14 years I have purchased many firearms (and sold a few) thru Gunbroker.

Look for auctions with clear, focused, well-lit photos and detailed descriptions ... and forthright Sellers who are happy to provide you with detailed responses to your questions.

One of the things that I have always liked (a LOT!) about Gunbroker is their 15 Minute Rule to eliminate Sniping. If someone places a Bid less than 15 minutes before the End Time, the End Time clock is changed to 15 additional minutes from the point of that last Bid.

Beware ... Gunbroker can quickly become habit-forming.

In the morning, I will pickup the 3rd gun that I have bought off gunbroker in the last month. I have been buying guns there for more than 10yrs and I have never had a problem...of course, there is a first time for everything...but so far, so good.

Payment depends upon the seller; I have purchased 3 handguns, all 3 I called the seller with my cc info.

Hammer059 said:

... How does paying work? You just enter your credit/debit card info and gunbroker handles the transaction?

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It depends upon the Seller. The ones that take plastic will usually charge an additional ~3% to cover costs.

FWIW, my preference has always been USPS Money Order.

In addition to Gunbroker you may want to try Armslist. I've both bought and sold a number of guns using it. I ultimately dealt face to face with the buyers and sellers, and to date have had good experiences.

I've bought on Gun Broker, but never sold. I have bought & sold on Armslist with good results. From all the interweb comments out there about Armslist, I must be living right. Extreme due diligence, skepticism and some internet stalking of "sellers" has saved me some grief though. Buyer beware.

Looks to me like you need to actually go to the Gunbroker website and read thru their documentation ... and then resume asking questions.

My most recent purchase on GB was a 25 pound bag of #7 1/2 shot and it was a perfect transaction. The seller got the shot to me quickly and in perfect shape.

I have bought and sold on gunbroker. I picked up a surplus Browning Hi Power a few years ago. Selling firearms is a snap and you can legally ship to an FFL if you are not an FFL holder yourself. Selling ammo can be a pain because you can't use USPS and the UPS stores won't handle it. I have had to take it to a hub in my area.

Nothing but positive experiences with the site. You have to watch some auctions as some people don't honor a C & R FFL. Payment depends on the seller.

I've bought some used guns using Gun Broker and never had any problems, items have always been as described, sometimes better but never worse.

Check their ratings, read their feedback, you'll be fine 97.32% of time....in my estimation.

I've purchased several used guns via GB with no issues. Don't be shy about asking for additional photos if you want to see something they don't provide in the ad.

I have bought through GB several times. GBExpat's advice to read GB's explanations is very good advice. It took me a while to get through all of the info, but I started buying with confidence once I knew what I was doing.

For each listing, I look for wording that says the general condition (as defined by GB), condition of the bore/cylinder/chamber/breechface, descriptions of dings & scratches. I look closely at the pictures to verify what was written. If I don't see a view of an area that I want to see clearly, I message the seller asking for it. If I don't see a description that specifies the condition of an area, I ask for it. I have always gotten prompt and good responses. Every item that I have bought on GB has been exactly as represented in the listing.

The seller's payment methods are written in the listing. As soon as I have won an item, I called the seller and verified payment method, as well as company name, address, e-mail, phone, and fax. Most of the time I give my CC info over the phone. Then I go to my local gun store with the seller's info and they do the FFL work.

As you are not in a hurry (good idea) you might want to do searches over a period of time to look for a good deal on a good item. A lot of items get re-listed at a lower price if they don't sell. Good luck, and have fun.

I have several used gun purchases from GB, both long guns and hand guns.
The best deals came AFTER the listing didn't sell... then contact seller to work out a deal... sometimes they will. You lose some safeguards, but a reputable seller with LOTS of positive feedback can be usually trusted, and perhaps some money saved. I have done this when the seller is local enough to complete a face-to-face.
If the seller won't provide more or better detailed photos or descriptions, or if the price isn't right for the info given, or if you just don't like the tone of communication, or lack of communication, BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY.. there will be more and better deals down the road, don't get caught up in the AUCTION FEVER!
Unless you're pursuing the ONE and ONLY specimen ever made, be patient.

First of all, PayPal doesn't do transactions involving firearms:

We don’t allow PayPal members to buy or sell any kind of firearm, whether it’s in working order or not. The same goes for certain firearm parts and ammunition.

For example, using PayPal, you can’t buy or sell:

•Any firearm, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns, whether they’re for sport and recreation, collectibles, or curio or relic firearms.
•Firearm parts, including but not limited to receivers and frames, silencers, and kits designed to modify guns so that they fire automatically. High capacity magazines, multi-burst trigger activators, and camouflaging firearm containers are other items in this category.
•Ammunition, including propellants like gunpowder or blank ammunition; ammunition or cartridge cases; and primers, bullets, or propellant powder designed for any firearm.

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/helpcenter/helphub/article/?articleID=FAQ585&m=SRE


I've won several items on Gunbroker, including some rifles, a revolver, and some magazines. I've had zero problems.

If you've never done any auctions, here's what you need to do:

1. Do some research on the item(s) you want and learn about it (them). Know how they work, what constitutes the various conditions they can be in, any specifics relating to value, and get a feel for what constitutes a "fair market price" by shopping around. Just know what it is you want to buy and it's relative value.

2. Set yourself a budget and then STICK TO IT. It's really easy to get carried away or take things personal and can end up costing you more money than you had intended.

3. Talk to some local FFL people at some gun shops that you might like to use to have your winnings shipped to. Ask them if they will do transfers and, if so, get the information from them that you will need to send to the sellers on Gunbroker. Then, when you win something, call your local gun shop and inform them that you'd like to use their services for the item and give them the details. (So they have a heads up and won't be asking "***? Why did someone send us this gun?")

3. Payment: I use a credit card. You can pay by check, money order, certified bank note, or whatever else the seller will accept. If you have any questions because it's not clear, ask the seller BEFORE you bid to make sure you're both on the same page. If it involves any kind of check, expect the seller not to ship until the check clears.

4. If you're nervous, check the seller's ratings. If the seller has been around for a while, as evidenced by having at least a few previous sales and positive feedback, that should calm you some.

5. Help a brother out after you get your product. Leave feedback when everything is done. We all use the feedback to check sellers (and buyers).

ColonelAngus said:

I have several used gun purchases from GB, both long guns and hand guns.
The best deals came AFTER the listing didn't sell... then contact seller to work out a deal... sometimes they will. You lose some safeguards, but a reputable seller with LOTS of positive feedback can be usually trusted, and perhaps some money saved. I have done this when the seller is local enough to complete a face-to-face.
If the seller won't provide more or better detailed photos or descriptions, or if the price isn't right for the info given, or if you just don't like the tone of communication, or lack of communication, BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY.. there will be more and better deals down the road, don't get caught up in the AUCTION FEVER!
Unless you're pursuing the ONE and ONLY specimen ever made, be patient.

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I second this.

If you don't like their tone, their ability to answer questions politely or in a timely fashion, move on.

There will almost always be more chances to get what you want.

I've bought off GB and the transaction was perfect. I got a Winchester Model 94 for a gift for my brother-in-law, and the seller gave me extra photos of areas I wanted, answered questions, and was polite. Awesome transaction and I was very pleased.

I had someone else I asked a question about regarding a Winchester 94, to ask if there were any rust issues or barrel issues. The response was, "Do you see any rust in the pictures!!!????" and my only response was "Yes, there are spots in the photo on the receiver that can either be from a flash, or rust, I don't know - and don't care to find out. Thanks for your time." I hope they enjoyed keeping their 94, and I'm glad I moved on. No need for people to get rude when asking simple auction/picture questions at all.