New member here. Got some questions about Gunsbroker

First, welcome to The High Road.

As to your question, it's actually pretty simple. You basically click buy now, and follow the directions. Just like any other online store. You'll usually get an email from the seller asking for FFL information, or have to choose from Gunbroker's list of dealers in your area.

Mac

To MacAR’s point, you need to have an FFL located/selected to have the firearm shipped to. If you have a LGS (local gun store) you frequent, see if they are on the list. I always call the LGS to let them know I purchased a gun and am using them as the FFL. You don’t have to. But it’s courteous. Always good to contact the seller also via email or phone. But purchasing with the credit card is simple. It (Gunbroker) will walk you through the process.

If your debit card is issued by Visa or MasterCard, you should be good to go.

If at all possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card. Using a debit card intead of a credit card cost me over $200 on Gunbroker when a dishonest seller scammed me.
Debit cards have no protection. Once the money leaves your account by debit its out of your or the banks control. Credit cards offer much more protection in event you are the victim of a scam.

silicosys4 said:

If at all possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card. Using a debit card intead of a credit card cost me over $200 on Gunbroker when a dishonest seller scammed me.
Debit cards have no protection. Once the money leaves your account by debit its out of your or the banks control. Credit cards offer much more protection in event you are the victim of a scam.

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This is absolutely correct. using a debit card is basically the same as paying cash.

Re: ''Debit cards have no protection. Once the...''

That actually goes by the individual bank policy. I do know of banks that treat protections for CCards and Debit cards the same. Other features may be different, I didn't ask on those.

Ppl love or hate GB but the checkout procedure is a-Ok. The rest of the info is spot on, good tip on contacting your selected FFL ESPECIALLY in a crazy time such as now.

Good luck, and welcome to THR !!

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

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I have had good experiences buying and selling on gunbroker. I decide what I'm willing to pay for an item and if it goes for more than that amount there is always another like or similar item for sale for me to bid on. I've always gotten the item I wanted for the price I was willing to pay by taking my time and waiting for that opportunity. I also take into consideration the FFL fee, shipping cost and now sales tax when bidding on an item vs what it will cost buying locally. The problem with buying locally is the item I want may not be available especially if it is a discontinued model or a gun that is not typically in demand. A few years back I wanted an Anschutz 1712 for metallic silhouette competition. I could have bought a new one locally but the cost was considerably higher than a used gun. There just weren't any used model 1712 rifles around but I found one on-line for the price I was willing to pay and the rifle was an excellent buy for the money.
As for new gun prices, I've not seen any bargains on auction sites. My local LGS has much better prices and that is where I purchase new guns.

I have a separate card dedicated for such use. I don't want to risk having somebody being able to use my primary account numbers.

Also be aware that nearly all sellers charge an extra 3 - 4% for using a card. You basically eat their cost of doing business this way. For high ticket items, I either go with a personal check (if we have done prior business... they don't hold for it to clear), or a Money Order. This avoids the fee. Especially important now they charge local sales tax.

I have had all positive transactions on GB and for most of the items I buy, this may be the only place they are available. As is said of all on-line purchases... first and foremost, buy the seller, not the item. In other words... do your due diligence!

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

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Literally, not true.
If it's "overpriced" it won't sell.
GunBroker remains the best source for the widest range of new and used firearms. I've bought and sold on GunBroker for almost twenty years.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

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Horesehockey.
"sight unseen"? Duh, look at the photos.

Mr. 22 said:

Also be aware that nearly all sellers charge an extra 3 - 4% for using a card. You basically eat their cost of doing business this way.

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You want the convenience and security of using a credit card? That ain't free and shouldn't be subsidized by those willing to pay cash/check/money order.

Well, take into account that, even if you pay 3% surcharge for a credit card, you’ll most likely get 2% back.

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

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i don’t lecture other people on how to conduct their affairs that don’t affect me. I’ve found it good policy. Until it’s my money, they are free to do as they please with their money

silicosys4 said:

If at all possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card. Using a debit card intead of a credit card cost me over $200 on Gunbroker when a dishonest seller scammed me.
Debit cards have no protection. Once the money leaves your account by debit its out of your or the banks control. Credit cards offer much more protection in event you are the victim of a scam.

Click to expand...

That may be true with your bank but it is not true with ether of the two credit unions I use. Back in 2019 both of my wife's debit cards got used on line and both credit union's replaced our money as soon as I called and let them know, one uses Visa the other Master card.

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

I've bought 8-10 used guns on Gun Broker over the years, non were over priced or crap. Even If I had to pay sales tax on them they would have still been much cheaper than new.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

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I've bought 8-10 used guns on Gun Broker over the years, non were over priced or crap. Even If I had to pay sales tax on them they would have still been much cheaper than new.

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

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Nonsense. A moron probably shouldn't use it, but for anyone with normal intelligence it's just fine.

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

Click to expand...

Actually I just got a great deal on a Springfield Armory Saint. All in, gun, shipping, tax were several hundred dollars cheaper than buying locally. It arrived within days. Seller was a legit high-end gun store. It was my first experience buying from GB and it was a good one. YMMV.

bearman49709 said:

That may be true with your bank but it is not true with ether of the two credit unions I use. Back in 2019 both of my wife's debit cards got used on line and both credit union's replaced our money as soon as I called and let them know, one uses Visa the other Master card.

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Online fraud is different from willingly purchasing something and then not getting/liking what you bought. Most, if not all banks will cover someone illegally accessing your account, but won’t necessarily cover a bad purchase with a Debit Card.

I have purchased several firearms on Gunbroker and always had a good experience.

I’ve only had one really negative experience out of over 50 transactions on Gun Broker. This was a seller in Alabama selling reloading supplies under different accounts. The seller sold me 500 Starline .32 H&R Mag cases... but the weasel didn’t have them in stock. Lots of negative reviews started popping up on both seller sites this clown uses for the same unethical schtick.

One other seller tried to use a shill bid to run up the sale amount of a Ruger .41 Mag Blackhawk but it went over my max and the knothead had to repost it. (I then bought a similar .41 for about $50 less than I was going to pay him. Haw haw!)

Other than these rare guys, I’ve bought at least 40 guns on GB and have been happy with each auction I’ve won.

Do your research on the going rate / prices for what you’re looking for, check first locally to see if you can get it for less and if not, set a maximum you’ll go (include tax, shipping and transfer fees into your total) and start bidding.

Stay safe.

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

Click to expand...

There's a whole lot of BS in this post. I've used Gunbroker several times, usually when things can't be found in stock anywhere, locally or otherwise, and it's been a positive experience every time. I just bought 2 ALG ACT triggers for normal retail price, and a Savage BA 110 stealth for an excellent price. They're nowhere to be found around here or online. Gunbroker is a perfect example of "the market sets the price." You can even find primers on there right now, albeit from scalpers and for an asinine price which I won't pay, but they are available. Try finding those elsewhere.

I've never seen any seller on GB that listed taking a debit card as an acceptable payment method. That being said, some bank debit cards will run credit transactions. So check on the terms of your bank and your card and it might be possible.

KY DAN said:

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen.

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Sorry, don't mean to personally offend, but your comments are utter nonsense. You don't buy anything on GB "sight unseen" in the first place. Any seller wanting to sell at a good price is going to post numerous photos, and I don't bid any auctions that don't have good photos. In the second place, I've purchased a number of valuable and collectible firearms on GB. The only rotten deals I've got on such were a couple of surplus firearms I bought somewhere else from some other online gun stores.

KY DAN said:

Stay away from gunbroker, it is over priced crap. Once you pay the sales tax(starting 2021), shipping, ffl transfer you literally can buy new in person.

No one buys anything collectible or valuable sight unseen. Gun broker lacks anything of value

Click to expand...

Pure Bovine Excrement.

silicosys4 said:

If at all possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card. Using a debit card intead of a credit card cost me over $200 on Gunbroker when a dishonest seller scammed me.
Debit cards have no protection. Once the money leaves your account by debit its out of your or the banks control. Credit cards offer much more protection in event you are the victim of a scam.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily true. Someone once skimmed my card and wiped my account dry. My credit union covered it and refunded all the NSF fees I racked up in the meantime.

bdickens said:

Pure Bovine Excrement.



Not necessarily true. Someone once skimmed my card and wiped my account dry. My credit union covered it and refunded all the NSF fees I racked up in the meantime.

Click to expand...

SimonRL said:

Online fraud is different from willingly purchasing something and then not getting/liking what you bought. Most, if not all banks will cover someone illegally accessing your account, but won’t necessarily cover a bad purchase with a Debit Card.

Click to expand...