New on GunBroker

tarosean said:

Amen.. I freakin hate when I see an ad for an expensive gun and its one or two crappy pictures.

You want me to look at your 5000 dollar gun you better get off your lazy butt and take some good pics.

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I passed auctions several times because of this, it screams that they are hiding something.

3% fee can be worth it for convenience. A USPS MO with signature and envelope/postage is $7-8. Time / gas is counted in and the hassle it's a $10-12 problem. 3% on a $600 gun is $18, food for thought... I do not give money away but a $5-10 convenience fee to have gun on the way the next business day with an emailed FFL from the local shop is fabulous.

wankerjake said:

Any advise on selling? Do you think it’s worth it to pay for the “showcase” or “featured” listings?

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Far and away the most important thing in selling is to have GOOD photos and plenty of them so that the potential buyer feels like he/she (these are the only two genders that exist in humans, so you'll be selling to one of these two ) has little doubt about what they will be getting. I've sold several guns on GB and they always bring about 20% or more than average for what they are, and I'm convinced that the key is GOOD photos and a good description. And for most guns, start the item at a penny. Run it for about 2 weeks, end the auction at about 10:30 PM Eastern time on Sunday night.

Likewise, I've bought several bargains on GB, and the reason IMO is that the seller put up crappy photos.

That said, nowadays, guns are selling insanely well, so you may be able to just post "I have a gun for sale" and get a big price.

Stay away from it when drinking.

What I do on any auction item is come up with a price I would pay before the bidding starts. Place a “max” bid of that amount and forget about it. If I win, I get a notification, if I don’t, that’s the end of it.

Let the other people get “caught up” in the moment and make poor choices, they later regret.

I've done about 40 transactions as a buyer on Gunbroker and never gotten truly burned. The advice I would give to a new GB bidder is:
1) until you're more experienced stay out of auctions with lots of bidders
2) pay attention to the seller's feedback
3) only bid on auctions where you can pay with a credit card
4) avoid getting in a high-bid duel with another bidder
Good luck and happy bidding!!

SunnySlopes said:

I don't do biz with anyone with no feedback. I also don't buy anything that doesn't have a lot of quality, close up pictures. Read the descriptions very carefully.

Also, if the seller is a FFL with a brick and mortar shop, I have contacted them to transact a deal sans Gunbroker for a reduced price.

For openers.

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The problem there is if something goes wrong you can't complain to Gunbroker or give them a bad review.

Paul7 said:

The problem there is if something goes wrong you can't complain to Gunbroker or give them a bad review.

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Well, that's not completely true. They do have a "Buyer Protection Program" that would cover some item you received that you find is materially different from how it was represented, and this program covers that type of dispute, but it has a dollar limit that's unreasonably low given today's gun prices - but it is something, anyway. They also do have dispute processes covering several bad transaction scenarios such as seller doesn't deliver or buyer doesn't pay, etc etc. As far as some problem with the item you bought that doesn't conflict with how it was represented in the auction listing then your only recourse is to deal directly with the seller. Something like that is covered by "caveat emptor".

Bad photos can work in your favor if you are willing to do a little work. Some sellers with little experience are just bad salesmen. I asked a seller for close up photos of specific areas under better light. The old pump .22 was in condition of those selling for $700-900. I got it for $400 as the only bid near the ending time.

Paul7 said:

The problem there is if something goes wrong you can't complain to Gunbroker or give them a bad review.

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No problem for me as in the referenced scenario the seller has always been an established dealer who stands behind their product. I do my homework where they are concerned.

I've bought lots of guns sight unseen from private parties as well. From forums like THR. No recourse there, either.

There is always a degree of risk involved. Caveat emptor.

Know your max budget and STICK TO IT; if you miss something, keep looking and watch for the next one to come around. It is Way to easy to get caught up in bidding fever (and watch out for shill bidders who just outbid you by the minimum every time you bid) Those shills are not supposed to be allowed but they are out there; sometimes it is the seller himself or a close friend trying to get the price up.

As to selling, start it at a penny; if it is worth something the price WILL go up and almost always well past what you thought. I won't even look at those with hidden reserve prices

1. Check the seller's record before purchase
2. Always pay with a credit card, if they don't take a credit card then walk away
3. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Gunbroker is for people that want to pay too much.

For me if they are NOT an FFL I look elsewhere. I can look up an FFL, not so with a private seller. I have a LOT of confidence dealing with an FFL holder

tws3b2 said:

Gunbroker is for people that want to pay too much.

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I've found some good deals there. Many LGS in south Florida advertise there, it really saves me a lot of time driving to their shops.

Zillion?? I don't know Ed, but I think he's wrong. All I can tell you is that "Every time" I try gunbroker + 3% credit card + ffl up to $35 + up to $45 shipping + the gun is over bided to start with = way too much. I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack but nor am I the dimmest. If you can find a fair deal, Great for you. But, For me. No thanks.

If you purchase a lot on GB, open a Gunbroker pay account. It saves the CC fees and it convenient whether purchasing or selling.

Uffdaphil said:

.... I asked a seller for close up photos of specific areas under better light..... I got it for $400 as the only bid near the ending time.

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You were really pretty lucky to get such a response from a seller. That's not the norm and not what a new buyer should expect to be par for the course.

tws3b2 said:

Gunbroker is for people that want to pay too much.

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Well, exactly. It's a free market. You have the choice to opt in or to opt out. That's nothing to complain about and it's not a negative. It's the way the world should work in a society where everybody is free to make their own choices.

wiscoaster said:

You were really pretty lucky to get such a response from a seller. That's not the norm and not what a new buyer should expect to be par for the course.

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From a high volume pro seller I’d agree. With someone selling an old gun he maybe inherited with no bidding action 2/3 the way through the auction, he will be more motivated to give personal service. Of course it depends on how you ask.

tws3b2: My Czechpoint VZ-58, nib, list at $1,100 in spring 2019 on GB, and we then had no retail tax. Glad that I didn't put off buying it.

Found two nice condition 3rd Gen S&Ws (9mm), also on GB - in December 2020- for decent prices.
Can't find these specific guns at either stores around Memphis, or on local Armslist.

It's good to have the availability, even if a bit too much, at the right time, over not finding the same gun elsewhere.

wiscoaster said:

You were really pretty lucky to get such a response from a seller. That's not the norm and not what a new buyer should expect to be par for the course.

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That's what I've found as a new seller. Buyers seem surprised when I respond right away and answer questions, send another pic they want, etc. I thought I'd really be fighting an uphill battle as a new seller, but I've done okay simply because I'm willing to communicate and demonstrate that I'm legitimate.