Gunbroker. Looking for the one uneducated buyer?

medalguy... I'd buy one of those overpriced avocados and blow the crap out of it with my (insert any caliber firearm here). Then I'd post it on yootoob.

oneounceload said:

There are no items overpriced if folks are buying them - the new KSG's selling for almost $2000 with a MSRP of about 800 are proof of that.

The customer ALWAYS sets the sales/market price, and this is a good way of demonstrating it

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Exactly. If somebody is willing to pay, then somebody has a right to earn that profit, pure and simple. We already have somebody looking to cut into our prosperity. Please don't help him.

Several "free" relistings then an escalating relisting fee for subsequent relists might help. If the price is lowered then the fee could be waived....
Or maybe a relist counter that could be used to exclude any that have been there over a certain amout of time.

(Needless to say, I'm a buyer and get really tired of trying to sort through the perennial relists......)

There's always two sides to every story... and both sides suck. Ain't life a pain?

I have been guilty to chasing a gun and willing to pay the price!! GB gives me great coverage nationwide to look for the treasures I seek.

"I'm trying to sell that gun honey, it's been on Gunbroker for a year now"

oneounceload said:

Why I prefer GunsInternational.com - NOT an auction site, just a sales site, with many of the best reputable companies repersented

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Never heard of the site until now, thanks!

GunBroker's policies are the problem

If they would charge a listing fee, then that problem would resolve itself.

Just another reason that I seldom visit GunBroker anymore.

deadin said:

Several "free" relistings then an escalating relisting fee for subsequent relists might help. If the price is lowered then the fee could be waived....
Or maybe a relist counter that could be used to exclude any that have been there over a certain amout of time.

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Both these could be a decent solution. This way you could put something up for auction a few times without paying a fee and you will (or should at least) have a better idea of the gun's actual value after several unsuccessful auctions. The only problem is how do you enforce either of these? After the auction has been relisted several times simply cancel it and start a completely new auction with minute differences.

orionengnr said:

If they would charge a listing fee, then that problem would resolve itself.

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I think this is the biggest issue. Sellers don't relist an item for months on end with a ridiculous reserve/BIN price that does not sell on other popular auction sites that charge listing fees because it's just wasting money. As much as I would hate to see a listing fee for the average person who sells a gun here and there it may be the only solution.

I agree the amount of overpriced auctions that are relisted for months on GB can be annoying. And no, I'm not talking about situations like the KSG where a gun is selling for 2-3x retail...there is actually a market for these and they are being bought. I'm referring to the $600 yugo SKS that has been relisted for months. No I don't have to buy it if I feel the price is too high but when they start adding up it is more or less the equivalent of spam. A filter would at least be a start without changing the structure of auctions at GB.

After the auction has been relisted several times simply cancel it and start a completely new auction with minute differences.

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At least this would require the seller to actually do something to the listing rather than just click the relist button........

There's a Gunbroker seller in Florida that's listed a new Wraithmaker drum for Saiga 12ga dozens... maybe hundreds of times. I don't think he's ever sold even one. The MSRP is ultra-high for those things.

I agree that GB should allow a couple of free listings and then begin charging escalating fees. The bad thing is that many sellers will find a way around it.

Does broker have a best offer feature?

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Just click the "ask seller a question" and make an offer.

Well check out that link to the redhawk I was high bidder on. Ended with my $499 bid and unmet reserve. It is relisted again for the third time no changes.

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There's a Gunbroker seller in Florida that's listed a new Wraithmaker drum for Saiga 12ga dozens... maybe hundreds of times. I don't think he's ever sold even one. The MSRP is ultra-high for those things.

I agree that GB should allow a couple of free listings and then begin charging escalating fees. The bad thing is that many sellers will find a way around it.

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The way I look at it is, if a guy owns a quarter and wants to sell it for a dollar, I stop looking at the ad and move on.

It seems that some of you want the fella to have to sell his quarter for a fair price.

Gentlemen....it's just a thought....but wouldn't you be happier, not thinking about it?

I know on Ebay, sometimes sellers are listing new stuff (and some used) at high prices hoping that you will contact them outside of the auction and work out a deal, thus avoiding the auction end of value fees. Then, they simply re list the same item, as if no one bought it. It saves them money on the closing value and listing fees.

It's not allowed, but some do it. Don't know how GB fees work, so I don't know if there might be some of the same shenanigans going on.

CZguy said:

The way I look at it is, if a guy owns a quarter and wants to sell it for a dollar, I stop looking at the ad and move on.

It seems that some of you want the fella to have to sell his quarter for a fair price.

Gentlemen....it's just a thought....but wouldn't you be happier, not thinking about it?

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But if the fella selling the quarter for a dollar has six brothers with the same business model, and 90% of the ads you see belong to one of them, it can become a little annoying. It would almost seem preferable to not even see what I'm looking for at all than to see the same stuff over and over again, re-listed again and again because nobody's buying at obviously inflated prices. We would like for GB to be an efficient way to find a fair deal, but it's so often a waste of time.

On the other hand, I'm a big fan of capitalism, so this is just the market at work. There's probably no fix for it but to deal with it as patiently possible. Complaining is just a way to share the misery and maybe feel better for a few moments, I guess.

I think there are several factors.

First, you have clueless sellers with prices WAY too high. I see this on high-end target pistols all the time. Antiques, sometimes. You get some dealer who sets a price based on some reference...that is wrong by a factor of 2. And he's overstated the condition.

Second, you have the guys trying to sell to either placate spouses or show dealer activity to the ATF. You can point to the listings and claim that you're trying to sell. The fact that you are NOT selling is immaterial.

But if the fella selling the quarter for a dollar has six brothers with the same business model, and 90% of the ads you see belong to one of them, it can become a little annoying.[/

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I agree, and that's why I set GunBrokers filters so that I'm not bothered by that type of ad.

GunBroker is a useful tool for me as a collector. If I run across something I want, I go ahead and buy it knowing that I have a self imposed limit of one for one with firearms. (the safe is full) I know that I can sell a gun quickly on GB without any problems. I take really good pictures, that point out any flaws and start a listing for $5.00 with no reserve. So far I've gotten more than I would have listed it for anyway, and it sells in a week. To me this is a great way to fine tune your collection.

Anyway that's the way that I see it. If anyone wants to go ahead and vent, have at it. Thanks for letting me have my say.

Both buyers and sellers are looking for someone without a clue. That's the name of the game. We do the same thing cruising garage sales looking for that rare vacuum tube amplifier with a $1.50 price tag on it.

mike

Many GB sellers are exactly like a number with tables at gun shows around Memphis and Jackson, TN.

Many gun show sellers assume that you are legally blind (dirty bores can hide things), naive, ignorant or are a very impulsive buyer.
Or they assume that scalpers' "The sky is falling!" (due to Obama) warnings Must be true.

I've had a lot of great luck with gunbroker.com - the name of the game is waiting and being patient about it and not overpaying just because you want it now.

Use the filter options people! It's called working smarter, not harder. Afterall, isn't the hunt for your precious half of the game?

Mike OTDP said:

Second, you have the guys trying to sell to either placate spouses or show dealer activity to the ATF. You can point to the listings and claim that you're trying to sell. The fact that you are NOT selling is immaterial.

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This bears repeating. If it isn't selling, and it keeps getting re-listed at the same "aspirational" price over and over again, the seller obviously is not primarily interested in closing a deal.

The remedy is to use sites with the sort of filtering and searching methods you prefer to eliminate these false positives. For the sites that don't, encourage them to catch up.