Online gun stores NOT to buy from?

I've rated all my own person transactions with firearms dealers and vendors in this thread: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/my-ratings-for-firearms-businesses.875573/

shootbrownelk said:

It seems that gun owners have good long term memory compared to the general population. During the O'Bummer induced panic buying and subsequent ammo shortages/unavailability Cheaper than Dirt was the numero uno ammunition price gougers on the internet. Never forget. I wouldn't take anything from them if it was free.

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Remember (related to Cheaper Than Dirt), it's not just the price gouging...it was cancelling existing orders saying items were out of stock, and immediately posting the same ammo at higher prices. This happened to me, and I will never patronize them again.

CamaroZ28 said:

Having never bought a gun online

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First, Welcome to THR.

Second, I'm going to turn this on its head. You need to find/decide your local gun store (LGS) and ask them who they accept firearms from.
This is because you will need a licensed dealer at your end.
And, if the LGS won't, you might need another dealer.
And, reputable on-line dealers will have lists of FFL they have already dealt with successfully.

I ahve bought several from Hinterland Outfitters, fast service, great prices, often have hard to find guns.

https://www.hinterlandoutfitters.com/

Great resources here for me thank you for posting

For me, the most obvious for NOT doing business is Cheaper than dirt, full metal jacket ammunition ranging from $.95-$1.05 per round. Pre COVID-19 pricing for some same ammo was under 25 cents/round, go figure.

I'm getting very good and fast service from Optics Planet. I've done business with Proven Arms and Outfitters (formerly) Quantico Tactical; they offer LE/MIL pricing, as does Bud's.

BearBrimstone said:

I’ve never had an issue with any of the companies that I have bought from. The only issue I’ve ever had was the manufacturer’s problem rather than the dealer. That said, the dealer was Kentucky gun company and they made sure the manufacturer got things straightened out for me. I couldn’t recommend Kentucky gun company enough because of that. They are a great company and usually have good prices.

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Another vote for Kentucky Gun Company (kygunco.com). Great prices, great service; they actually answer their phones and are very nice to deal with. They also have a 90-day layaway with no extra fees -- I think they might be the last online retailer to still do that.

I do not like Classic Firearms. I bought a number of surplus guns from them. However, I haven’t bought from them after they sent me a rusted CZ-70 that was advertised in I think very good condition as well as a holster that was brittle and flaked. I contacted them about the items and their response was that the CZ was a surplus gun; yes, but when the description, photos, etc that you use to advertise it drastically do not correspond with the actual condition of the firearm, there is an issue. With respect to the holster, nothing was noted in the written description about them being brittle and the leather flaking; Classic said that I should have watched the product video because it was mentioned in there. That’s fine... they lost a customer over a $15 holster and a $200 pistol. Had they taken responsibility, apologized, and maybe refunded a few bucks, I would have been satisfied. I’ve gone elsewhere and paid higher prices from places like AIM and J&G Sales, but at least I know that the surplus guns that I buy will be in the same, if not better, condition as advertised.

I also avoid Bud’s. Bud’s cancelled an order of mine because I was bought a gun and had it shipped to an FFL in PA where I was a resident, but my credit card address was associated with my CA address. I called Bud’s and the customer service rep stated that their policy is that if the gun is illegal in either the shipping or billing address, then they cancel the order. I explained that the billing address is irrelevant and that I could easily call my bank and change a billing address to wherever, but that the shipping address was the only relevant address since that is where the FFL will ensure that the purchaser is eligible to receive the gun based on residency, conduct the background check, etc. The rep then said something to the effect of “well we’re not going to aid you in committing a crime.” I lost my mind and explained that no crime is being committed. The rep continued to hide behind the asinine policy. It was actually a blessing because I found the same gun at a better price from Outdoor Superstore and had no issues with billing and shipping addresses. Again, Bud’s lost me as a customer.

herrwalther said:

Only 2 retailers on my black list currently. Cheaperthandirt for the aforementioned price gouging, now and in the past. And optics planet. I had ordered a pistol light from there for about $350 several years ago. Item was labeled "in stock." I never got an order confirmation email or shipping notice email. And they charged my card. After about a month of calls and emails, I never heard anything about my order. I had to call my bank to get the money refunded and prove I never got my item. Even today, about 5ish years after I placed the order, it still says "In Process" in my optics planet account. I won't deal with that again.

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It seems like during this panic, Planet might be drop shipping or back ordering without saying anything? I have made many purchases from them over the last couple years, excellent service, fast shipping. However over the last few months, the expected delivery I used to see when I made purchases is gone. I cancelled a couple orders recently, after several days of no status updates, and no response to my inquiries.

peeplwtchr said:

It seems like during this panic, Planet might be drop shipping or back ordering without saying anything? I have made many purchases from them over the last couple years, excellent service, fast shipping. However over the last few months, the expected delivery I used to see when I made purchases is gone. I cancelled a couple orders recently, after several days of no status updates, and no response to my inquiries.

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My bad experience with Opticsplanet was back in 2008ish. I cannot imagine their supply during this time period is any better.

shootbrownelk said:

. I wouldn't take anything from them if it was free.

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Hmm...For me, it might matter what it is that they're giving away. But then, when it comes to buying a new gun, my wife says that if I had a scruple it would die of loneliness.

herrwalther said:

My bad experience with Opticsplanet was back in 2008ish. I cannot imagine their supply during this time period is any better.

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This is surprising to me. Prior to last month, I made many orders from Planet, due to availability and selection. The cust. service was excellent, fast shipping. I thought they were one of the best online resources. Maybe I got lucky.

Hinterland Outfitters and Gunprime. Don't buy from places that a) don't have accurate inventory accounting, and b) that you can't speak to a human on the phone

I also don't like places that are restrictive with what FFL they'll send a gun to, cough Buds, cough cough MidwayUSA. Pains me to say about Midway too, because for everything but guns they are great to deal with. I did buy a gun from them last week, and like any other Midway transaction they were lightning quick. I did have to send it to their FFL instead of my own however, which kind of sticks in my craw. They would send to my FFL, if my FFL goes and fills out their online dealer application, then I wait 3-5 days for FFL approval. All this when they have quantity 1 of a gun you want that no other vendor has in stock. So I paid the premium to use their FFL instead of mine, and will consider their FFL charging twice what mine does for a transfer as the fee I am willing to pay for a gun I want. Also, as far as I'm concerned, my FFL is doing me a favor letting me have a gun I want sent to them. There is no way I am going to ask them to waste their time signing up for some other vendor's dealer program. End of rant.

great experiences with
Gun Zone Deals
Modern Sportsman
Sportsmans Warehouse
Ed's Gun Shop
Classic Firearms
KyGunCo
K-var
CDNN
Brownells
GrabAGun

Off point a little, but I mostly buy from a local guy in a store built by himself. He talks guns, orders what I want, and helps me with problems. He is friendly and does the best he can with prices. I AVOID internet purchases if at all possible, and it is. Many a good gun store (and other retailers) have closed for lack of business because people can can convenience themselves of "go cheap" on-line. Is THAT the kind of future you really want?

Avoid at all cost "The Gun Dock" (Louisville, Ky). They advertise many, but stock zero. Drop ship only. Took two weeks to ship a firearm. There must have been a mix-up at their end, I got the tracking number, firearm was shipped to them and they returned it to the shipper. When I first called, the voice-mail was full. Next call I left a message that went unaswered for another week and a half. E-mail unanswered for the same week and a half. Cancelled the order and did a "charge-back" on the credit card. Now "The Gun Dock" decides to get in touch with me to tell me that they will charge me one third of the charge for "restocking". Card company didn't go along with their plans.

"The Gun Dock" does a lot of business through GunBroker.