So recently for my birthday and early graduation gift to myself I picked up an ugly looking Springfield GI model on gunbroker for 425$. It had been painted with a cerakote finish and had some nicks and scratches but that didn't bother me. Upon inspection, the gun looks a little more rough than the pictures but it checks out ok. After I got home, upon closer inspection the plunger tube appears to be held on with JB weld. That's fine. I'll just get the staking tool and re stake it. Now after detail stripping and cleaning, the hammer will move off the sear while the thumb safety is engaged. This in turn will allow the hammer to fall when the thumb safety is disengaged. Niether of these things were mentioned in the auction. Can I do anything about this with the seller? If I would have found these things at the shop I would not have taken possession of the firearm.
Frustrated With Gunbroker Purchase
- Thread starter smovlov
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jakk280rem
Member
Call him and ask. Somewhere in the listing it should state emphatically whether the seller accepts returns. Failing that, caveat emptor. Seems like a good excuse to pick up a C&S pre fit fire control group. It will replace all the monkeyed around with bits and will be better than brand new stock parts.
Smovlov;
This is the problem with internet sales; you don't always get what you think you should have. And, as was stated, unless there was a return policy included in your sale you now own it.
I believe I'd do exactly as Jakk advised you, replace the kitchen-tabled bits and then enjoy the gun.
900F
This is the problem with internet sales; you don't always get what you think you should have. And, as was stated, unless there was a return policy included in your sale you now own it.
I believe I'd do exactly as Jakk advised you, replace the kitchen-tabled bits and then enjoy the gun.
900F
What I don't like about gunbroker is the prevalence of sellers that only want to do cash or money order deals. IMO, those manners of payment for internet sales are only for the naive. If you pay with cash (or equivalent), ALL the power is in the seller's hands. If he's unscrupulous, you're screwed. If you pay with your credit card, you can at least dispute the charge and you're in a better position to deal with the seller.
Hopefully you paid by credit card. Either way, give the seller the benefit of the doubt that he's a decent person and contact him. Hopefully it doesn't get ugly.
Hopefully you paid by credit card. Either way, give the seller the benefit of the doubt that he's a decent person and contact him. Hopefully it doesn't get ugly.
tyeo098
Member
Did you put the disconnecter in backwards?
I've done it countless times and have had 'fun' experiences with a 1911
I've done it countless times and have had 'fun' experiences with a 1911
hoghunting
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Not everyone who sells on GB is a gunshop, most are individuals selling a few guns and don't have business accounts with the credit card companies to accept buyer's credit cards.
Grumulkin
Member
I've done quite a bit of business on gunbroker.com and only once got something not as advertised. I listed that item with full disclosure and got my money back.
I'd say contact the seller and if you fail to get satisfaction leave appropriate negative feedback.
I'd say contact the seller and if you fail to get satisfaction leave appropriate negative feedback.
oneounceload
member
You can also file a complaint with GB; whether they will do anything or not is one thing. If he doesn't rectify the situation, leave really negative feedback; folks DO look at those numbers.
Paid with a USPS money order sent certified mail. Seller is an individual, not an FFL.
Disconentor is in the correct way.
I sent him an email explaining the problems. I just asked what could we do to remedy the problems. Worst comes to worse I'll put the pistol back up for sale.
Disconentor is in the correct way.
I sent him an email explaining the problems. I just asked what could we do to remedy the problems. Worst comes to worse I'll put the pistol back up for sale.
Swing
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Check to see if there is an inspection period. I know Auction Arms had a standard 3-day, no shoot, inspection period standard. Maybe GB does too; I haven't had to bother with it.
That said, what you found, if not disclosed in the auction, would be enough for me to return the item. A minor ding there, a tiny missing accessory here; I'd just let it go. But something that bad, again if not truthfully disclosed in the auction, I'd ask for a return/refund. Oh and if he's a muppet about it, provide the requisite negative feedback. It is the only way we know who's screwing around on auctions.
That said, what you found, if not disclosed in the auction, would be enough for me to return the item. A minor ding there, a tiny missing accessory here; I'd just let it go. But something that bad, again if not truthfully disclosed in the auction, I'd ask for a return/refund. Oh and if he's a muppet about it, provide the requisite negative feedback. It is the only way we know who's screwing around on auctions.
barnbwt
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No joke. The gatekeeper of any transaction is the seller; his needs trump all others --sorry, that's capitalism. In the case of gun sales conducted (mostly) blindly over the internet, a seller would be naïve to accept anything other than guaranteed payment. Some provision for returns is the best a buyer could possibly deserve.
TCB
Swing
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smovlov said:
That's too bad. As bad as AA has become, and it is a trainwreck these days, they have a mandatory minimum of a three day inspection period in which the buyer could return the gun for a refund, sans shipping of course. It looks like GB leaves that setting up to the seller. Caveat emptor.
Grumulkin
Member
Gunbroker has no standard inspection policy.
Gunbroker won't do much about a single complaint. If a seller gets a lot of complaints, then they might terminate selling privileges so it's worth it to complain if necessary.
Feedback does matter a lot. Even a little negative feedback can significantly and negatively impact the price a seller will be able to get for things.
Gunbroker won't do much about a single complaint. If a seller gets a lot of complaints, then they might terminate selling privileges so it's worth it to complain if necessary.
Feedback does matter a lot. Even a little negative feedback can significantly and negatively impact the price a seller will be able to get for things.
Spoken like a true seller!
Credit cards and Paypal seem to be trustworthy enough methods of payment for merchants outside the gun world. I would never pay cash for something over the internet because of what's happening to the OP. His fate is in the seller's hands right now, and that unacceptable when my money is on the line.
As for how capitalism works, I have a safe fulla guns and not one of them bought with cash on gunbroker.
carbine85
Member
Contact the seller and see what he has to say.
There are several common problems with gunbroker.com that you have to be prepared to deal with if you want to buy off the site.
1) A lot of the sellers don't respond to questions.
2) Typically they won't send additional pictures.
3) It's common practice to over charge for shipping. I just haggled down the
shipping cost for a rifle. The guy tried to charge me $60.00.
4) The sellers rating system seldom matches NRA standards.
5) Buy now, starting prices, and reserves prices are usually on the high side.
There are several common problems with gunbroker.com that you have to be prepared to deal with if you want to buy off the site.
1) A lot of the sellers don't respond to questions.
2) Typically they won't send additional pictures.
3) It's common practice to over charge for shipping. I just haggled down the
shipping cost for a rifle. The guy tried to charge me $60.00.
4) The sellers rating system seldom matches NRA standards.
5) Buy now, starting prices, and reserves prices are usually on the high side.
jmorris
Member
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- Sep 30, 2005
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- 24,232
http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/gun...as-exclusive-form-of-non-credit-card-payment/
If you didn't catch issues while you were at the shop to pick it up, there is a chance the seller didn't know about it either. I know I have bought and sold guns that I have never fired or detail stripped for that matter.
If you didn't catch issues while you were at the shop to pick it up, there is a chance the seller didn't know about it either. I know I have bought and sold guns that I have never fired or detail stripped for that matter.
Captcurt
Member
The problem with accepting credit cards or paypal is the 2.5%-3% charge for the service. Many times, especially on new guns, you are lucky to make 10% on the sale. Take 1/3 of that and you may as well pick up beer cans out of the ditch. Wire transfers can be much worse. My bank used to do it free. Now they charge $15. I think that I will stick with certified checks and money orders.
I have sold over 400 guns on GB. There have been 4 or 5 complaints for about 99% A+ rating. All of my complaints have come from California. I can now see why many dealers refuse to ship there.
UPDATE: Emailed the seller. Like jmorris, he had no idea anything was wrong. The gunsmith had the pistol to repaint and was to fix the plunger tube at that same time. The seller hadn't noticed. My guess is the smith also messed up the thumb safety when the polished the internals.
The seller is willing to pay to get these things finished.
About how much would a decent smith charge to restake (possibly replace) a plunger tube and refit a thumb safety?
The seller is willing to pay to get these things finished.
About how much would a decent smith charge to restake (possibly replace) a plunger tube and refit a thumb safety?
jakk280rem
Member
A new plunger tube is $20 and takes a minute to properly crimp into place with the proper tool. A new safety can run between $20 and 120 depending on make and overall fanciness and can take a few minutes to install with a hand file. If the seer or hammer has been ruined by a kitchen table numbskull, that'd more money and more time.
You guys don't pay that out of pocket, you say right in your ad, "3% fee if payment by credit card or paypal".
Gun merchants get away with a lotta stuff other merchants don't.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
If he does make good on that, make darn sure you give him credit in your feedback. I think it's important for people to know when a seller will bend over backwards to fix a problem for a customer.
evan price
Member
As a buyer and a seller, I dont use paypal because if they get a hint you are doing gun business they will lock your account and seize your money. Plus they are anti gun so why give them the business?
Credit cards charge a merchant fee. By license agreement, merchants may not charge a fee or additoinal cost to use a card. However, it is acceptable to offer a cash discount. Sophistry, but its allowable.
Business is done in money orders. If you dont like that, feel free to buy elsewhere. The feedback system is what keeps honesty intact.
Credit cards charge a merchant fee. By license agreement, merchants may not charge a fee or additoinal cost to use a card. However, it is acceptable to offer a cash discount. Sophistry, but its allowable.
Business is done in money orders. If you dont like that, feel free to buy elsewhere. The feedback system is what keeps honesty intact.
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