GunBroker is just the medium,you are dealing with hundreds of individual buyers and sellers. I've done about a hundred deals and I've only been screwed twice. In one case I sold ammo to a guy who never paid for it and in another case I bought a used shotgun that turned out to be inoperative and had to be sent to an authorized repair center for repair. All of my other transactions went smoothly and I became friends with several of the people that I dealt with.
GunBroker website?
- Thread starter theboyscout
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Out of 50+ transactions, I only got screwed once on a complete AR15 upper that was sold to me as a bushmaster.
It was a parts kit that caused double feeds and stove pipes.
Gave it to a friend for next to nothing to use for parts.
Lesson for me was to only buy complete uppers direct from the manufacturer or trusted sources.
It was a parts kit that caused double feeds and stove pipes.
Gave it to a friend for next to nothing to use for parts.
Lesson for me was to only buy complete uppers direct from the manufacturer or trusted sources.
lionking
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Bought many times with no issues. I stay away from sellers with little or no feedback though. Thing is you gotta use self judgement and what they DON'T show you in the listing pics and description wise is just as important as what they do disclose. So if they don't show a angle o a gun, or don't SAY something best to ask. Sellers that use fuzzy pics or just one or two pics, I stay away from unless it's something new and modern.
They may try to disclaim themself on used guns by saying like "never shot it myself" so you gotta use self judgment on old used guns. One reason why I usually don't buy milsurps unless bolt serial matches the gun.
One thing that irks me is most sellers charge a % for using a credit card,
But yeah gunbroker and auctionarms has been good to me.
dogtown tom
Member
Believe it or not, but every seller charges you a % for using a credit card.
Visa/Mastercard/Amex/etc don't provide their services for free. If the seller says "no fee for credit card" he has just included that cost in his sales price. That means buyers paying by cash or check are paying for a service they aren't getting.
And undoubtedly there will be some that complain about that too.
mokin
Member
I'll second this as well. It's generally less expensive to buy locally but that is seldom an option. I've found some deals on accessories and occasional semi collectable items.
Be sure to consider shipping and FFL fees.
lionking
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Then how come there isn't a cash discount at my local gun store, or Walmart. or Home depot, or grocery store and such if I pay cash or why aren't they charging a fee for using a CC ? I don't think they are marking up their items to make up for a CC fee.Believe it or not, but every seller charges you a % for using a credit card.
Visa/Mastercard/Amex/etc don't provide their services for free. If the seller says "no fee for credit card" he has just included that cost in his sales price. That means buyers paying by cash or check are paying for a service they aren't getting.
And undoubtedly there will be some that complain about that too.
Seems to me sellers on gunbroker are unique as the only ones who charge a fee for using a CC. Then again gunbroker lets sellers list for free I know on seller who has had a old milsurp rifle listed for three years at a ridiculous price who refuses to lower it to a sellable price.
I've been watching one seller who listed a USP Expert last month for $1000 and got no bids and last week lol he raised it to $1100. Which is another gripe of mine some sellers just fish on GB to see if someone bites with no incentive to really sell because there is no listing fee
dogtown tom
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Again, Visa/Mastercard/Amex/etc don't provide their services for free. If the seller says "no fee for credit card" he has just included that cost in his sales price.
Walmart, Home Depot aren't just eating that cost, but pass it on to the buyer. That you don't see it as a separate charge doesn't mean that isn't included in the seller pricing.
They ARE....it's not shown as a separate fee but included in the price.
REALLY?
Have you ever run a retail business? If so you would know that the retail price includes THE COST OF EVERYTHING from the supplier to the moment its in your bag as you are leaving the store. WalMart doesn't pay the 3% that I have to pay my CC processor. Their volume of sales means its likely much, much less. But lets say it's the same 3%..............How many $$$$ do you think that 3% represents to a merchant that does $1000 sales in a weekend? $10,000 in a week? Or in the case of WalMart......$70,000 per MINUTE? Pretty soon we're talking real money.
Cash price vs credit price is very common at gun shows. (and quite a few other small businesses)
Take a deep breath and think for a second.....why would the seller give a discount for paying cash?
FFGColorado
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Yup, I owned a retail place for a long time and I added 2% to every price I posted, to pay for CC..I think CC companies ought to be paying the retailer, not the other way around..since w/o retailers, CC companies wouldn't exist..BUT every time I swiped that CC card-1.5%...yup, had a good deal with processors.
daniel craig
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It’s eBay for guns, you’re not necessarily buying from them but from an individual. Make of that what you will.
grammontS
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Another to know is that most sellers will state in their listing that if you're not satisfied once you see the product at your FFL dealer, they'll take it back ( usually a 3 day period to decide once its in your FFL dealers hands). I've bought a few different items on gunbroker and all have been smooth , deals are out there if you look for them.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Sold one gun and bought one gun on G B.
It went well, but be careful. All sellers are not equal!
It went well, but be careful. All sellers are not equal!
wiscoaster
Member
I've bought a number of guns on GB, and recommend it over some other auction sites because of its close control over buyers and sellers. I think you're less likely to have a bad experience there. There's another thread in this forum with commentary from some members on how to use it to best advantage:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...rice-and-gut-check-a-new-gun-purchase.875805/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...rice-and-gut-check-a-new-gun-purchase.875805/
Ignition Override
Member
Perfect experiences. All seven or eight deals featured items exactly as described. Exc. communication, timely shipping, packaging etc.
* Notice how much feedback is posted on any seller and use your intuition a bit.
Knowledge of the item can make a huge difference. A Mini 30 or Sig P228 isn't cheap merchandise. Certain used guns don't need a warranty.
bdb242: I had not heard about
* Notice how much feedback is posted on any seller and use your intuition a bit.
Knowledge of the item can make a huge difference. A Mini 30 or Sig P228 isn't cheap merchandise. Certain used guns don't need a warranty.
bdb242: I had not heard about
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dogtown tom
Member
I've never heard of them in twelve years and I get a lot of gun transfers from all over the country.
And that website www.gunsonlinesales.com makes me real suspicious.
The address: "2854 Constitution Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106" when Googled returns numerous business names with that address......and its a residence. Now, I'm a home based business, so that by itself isn't suspicious because the majority of licensed dealers are home based. But..............is that their real address? At the bottom of the "Home" page it says "We're your one-stop online gun store in Illinois"
Click on "Ammunition" tab and at the bottom it says "Kingler Weapon Store- your dependable online ammunition dealer"..........https://kinglerweaponstore.com/ shows an address in Florida.
I searched the ATF FFL list at atf.gov and there is no licensee with "Kingler" in their name.At best its a sample website from some webdeveloper using "guns online sales" to generate hits....then he sells the website. Or.....it could be 100% scam. Reading through both of those websites..........chock full of spelling errors, phone numbers like 2-345-6789, and most obvious........they have guns and ammunition in inventory. (doubtful)
Bought 4 in the last 90 days, 2x Taurus Tx22 and 2x Sig p365XLRX
Two were auctions, two were buy it now
Paid by credit card for all of them
All came within 2-3 days of purchase.
All the items were NIB and functioned perfectly.
Completely satisfied.
Two were auctions, two were buy it now
Paid by credit card for all of them
All came within 2-3 days of purchase.
All the items were NIB and functioned perfectly.
Completely satisfied.
silicosys4
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I recommend gunauction.com over gunbroker. The only time I used GB I was scammed out of $200 by a clever but nasty scammer. GB did absolutely nothing for me. Gunauction.com has a less listings but this comes with much better customer protection. They will proactively screen listings for scammers and are very responsive to customer complaints.
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wiscoaster
Member
So your experience with scams on Gunbroker is 1 out of 1. Mine is 0 out of 35. Hmmm ... maybe you gave up too early.
I don't know how ANY online auction site can "screen for scammers". They can't know a listing is a scam until the buyer gets scammed. Then it's too late. They probably say they do this, but all they can really do is ban a seller that gets too many complaints. Both sites. Then the seller can re-register a new account with different account details. Both sites. In the end in comes down to "caveat emptor". Both sites.
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George P
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Blaming GB for you getting scammed is like blaming the gun for crime in Chicago.
silicosys4
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Read my post again. Not once did I blame GB for getting scammed. I said that they have very little customer protection compared to other auction sites I've used.
had good luck. my rule of thumb is to ask a question that is not described in their listing. most good sellers will list things you really want to know anyway, but there is usually some detail you can ask anyway. if they can very clearly answer the question, then I will bid, if not - I don't want the trouble. they usually don't have time to answer a bunch of detailed questions or have long drawn out discussions. good sellers will have very high ratings and jump through hoops to keep it that way. If you don't like what comes in the mail, send it back. There's a chance any purchase goes wrong, including just buying groceries, so - don't fret about it too much just be smart about it.
dogtown tom
Member
For ten years I loved AuctionArms, now Gunauction. But about four years ago they dried up.
Gunauction.com has a pathetically low number of listings vs GunBroker. For both sellers and buyers thats important.
I'm sorry you were scammed, but that's possible with any online auction or sales site. "Better customer protection" ? How do you know until you get scammed at gunauction.com?
Comparing your "only time" at GunBroker isn't really a valid comparison. Heck, if I were GunBroker and someone on their first transaction claimed they were scammed and wanted to be reimbursed I would be more than a bit suspicious. Maybe GunBroker couldn't do anything for you because you didn't do your due diligence.
wiscoaster
Member
Any and every buyer using any and every online auction site is responsible for doing their own due diligence. It doesn't relieve the buyer their responsibility if the site claims to screen for scammers. I'm not familiar with the other sites mentioned, but what I like about GB is that they enable me to do that due diligence, and for the most part, right there on the site itself.
George P
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It is not their job to protect you; it is your job to do your own due diligence.
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