Best online auction for selling guns?

[CountGlockula]

I'm planning on selling a handgun and would like some recommendations and comments. Is it kind of like eBay, where you have to register and have paypal?

I'm pretty much a newbie in selling and looking for the best online auction, including THR's...but would like other options like: gunbroker, gunsamerica, hkpro, glocktalk.com, etc.

Thank you for your help.

 

[texas bulldog]

count,

there's also auctionarms, though it seems to me that they get less traffic than gunbroker. however, i like the style of their auctions better and there seems to be less "junk" than gunbroker. by junk, i mean home-printed instruction manuals filed under the gun lists and stuff of that nature.

good luck.

 

[30 cal slob]

Honestly, you'd get a better response from the b-s-t listings on gun boards like THR.

if you have an HK to sell, hock it on hkpro.com

if a sig, to go sigforums.

lot of 1911 nuts right here.

if a glock, melt it down and toss it in the recycle bin.

 

[CountGlockula]

Thanks guys. I think I'm looking for more traffic, so the sale is a "done-deal" type of thing.

texas bulldog-I'll definitely check out auctionarms.

Please more suggestions!

 

[Lashlarue]

I recently sold two pistols on gunbroker, everything went smooth as glass.As a individual shipping was skyhigh, but the buyers didn't seem to mind.

 

[hemiram]

I've bought and sold guns on both auctionarms and gunbroker. Zero problems.

 

[Spuds]

gunbroker.com is to gun auction sites as ebay is to general purpose auction sites. Best price yield would most likely be there, all things being equal.

 

[Flame Red]

Best price yield would most likely be there, all things being equal.

+1 on that. If you use the fine boards (like THR) to sell items you must be willing to do more bargaining as a seller. At the auction sites, bargaining is pretty rare. That and the high prices people are fishing for at the auctions sites is why I only buy on there if it is something pretty rare that is hard to find.

The auction sites require registration and pretty much require a credit card for all sellers to pay their fees (and to prevent fraud these days). Some now to even from buyers. A lot of buyers are hesitant to buy from people without feedback. So if you have a lot of ebay feedback, use that as a reference. (We all hate ebay even more now of course).

Key is:

1. Post really good pictures and a lot of them.

2. Make sure the description is clear.

3. Don't use the 98% finish remaining unless you are expert at that system.

4. Respond to email PROMPTLY. Buyers do not like to buy from sellers that take days to respond. If I get a response to a query from a seller, that always gives me a warm and fuzzy.

5. Caveot Emptor (goes for sellers too). Insist on postal money orders. Certified checks can be faked (I know rare). Do not even think about selling anyone outside the US. Do not accept payment in excess of the amount agreed. Make sure if it is a high cap pistol, that you won't sell to the Nazi states (sorry, NY, NJ, Maryland, HI, etc.) State it is the buyer's responsibility to know and adhear to local laws.

6. Shipping charges are a KILLER unless you are an FFL. Make sure you post your exact shipping charges. Talk to an FFL and have him ship it to the buyer's FFL via USPS Priority Mail (insured). It is the cheapest way of doing it for a handgun. Usually specifing $45 fixed cost for shipping is not unreasonable. It makes you super legal and is really about your cost.

7. Most of the auction sites require you as a seller to give the buyer a three day (no shooting) inspection. So there is a possibility of it heading back to you. That is why you need to be really honest. That and you won't be able to sleep at night.

8. Make sure you clearly state what is and is not included. Mag, boxes, papers, locks, tags, etc. This is especially important to collectors but keeps misunderstanding from happening.
9. Did I mention lots of pictures?