Gunbroker with A+ and only 1 sale

[orpington]

Okay, this thread is quite timely.

I sold today a revolver on a forum that I desperately wanted to list on Gunbroker with a penny start and see what happens. But I was afraid that what might happen is that I loose my shirt.

I have a feedback of 2. I bought a revolver years ago because it was a very rare bargain, and before the sales tax scam thing came about. A few weeks ago, I did list a penny start on a holster and it sold for $11.00 plus shipping. I did that to get at least one sale and feedback, hoping to list this revolver with a penny start.

EACH AND EVERY seller once had a feedback score of 0, 1, 2. etc. it the only way I know of making it tov3 and 4, 100, 1000, etc.

And, I can only accept personal check. I’m not a business and have no idea how to accept credit cards except if you are an actual business.

Help!

 

[orpington]

Any thoughts? Regarding Post #26?

If no one else wants to bid because of my low number of transactions and because I take only a personal check, BUT if one person DOES bid, the rules say that you cannot end the auction. And so I risk selling a very nice firearm for one cent.

 

[Legionnaire]

Yes, that's the risk. Without a strong positive reputation, probably better to decide the minimum you are willing to accept and start your auction there.

 

[I6turbo]

Any thoughts? Regarding Post #26?

If no one else wants to bid because of my low number of transactions and because I take only a personal check, BUT if one person DOES bid, the rules say that you cannot end the auction. And so I risk selling a very nice firearm for one cent.

I think the risk of "selling a very nice firearm for one cent," or for any insanely low price, is essentially zero unless the seller does a terrible job posting the ad. Can you find any examples on GB where a gun has brought a small fraction of what it should have? Even half? I haven't been very active at cruising GB for the past year or so, but previously it was amazing to me how just about EVERY would-be fantastic buy got found. Sure, there would be the occasional very good deal that went through, but there was almost no chance of a well-done auction resulting in a small fraction of what the gun should have brought. But there could always be that risk of a freak result.

I used to price my guns at the lowest price that I wouldn't be completely sick if it only brought that amount. After a few guns selling that way I learned that it was a recipe for having it sometimes bring a mediocre price. THEN I sold a couple starting at a penny, and they brought at the very top of the range for what they were. From then on, that's how I've sold them, and I've never been disappointed at the result, and often surprised at how much they brought.

In addition to starting the auction at a penny (or a dollar, etc.), here are a couple other important components of a successful (bringing a high price) auction:
- Post LOTS of VERY CLEAR photos. People want to know exactly what they're getting, and ESPECIALLY so if they're paying above the normal rate for a gun.
- Run the auction for about 2 weeks.
- I like to have the auction end on Sunday night at about 10 PM Eastern (I don't know this to be an important factor, but it's worked for me.)

Note, if you post crap photos, then expect relatively little interest in the auction. If you don't know how to make a good photo with a cell phone, read up on it (for starters, don't photograph a gun on a white background because the camera adjusts to the extreme light and makes the gun itself look dark and featureless). Just about any cell phone nowadays will make a good photo if you get the lighting and background right.

Here are a couple of point-and-shoot cell phone photo examples. Post about 12 or 15 photos like these that show the true condition of the gun and GB bidders will be drawn like zombies to an exposed neck.
After going back and looking at it and drooling every day for a week or two, some of them will be wanting it bad enough to bid it up.

 

[CZ-75BD]

I sold several guns on GB, but I'm not a FFL or have any option to accept credit cards. I am asking the buyer to send a certified check or money order. PayPal is not allowed to use its services for gun transactions. So you would call me a scammer?

 

[jstert]

i have an a+ rating as a buyer on gb.com. i most always reach out to the seller regarding used guns. the replies, or lack thereof, are telling.

i was scammed once by a ffl who sold to me a rossi 32 revolver with an intentionally undisclosed timing problem, which i had fixed. i sold the rossi with gunsmith’s receipt.

i bought a new taurus 85 from a private seller with one f rating. before bidding i asked him straight up, “why sell, why the f rating?” we had a decent email conversation and i took a chance on him. this taurus is superb.

sellers’ vague (sometimes angry) descriptions or replies, odd prices, are tells, imho. gb.com’s added processing fee, universal sales tax collection, and the general environment of higher shipping costs & prices render sight unseen purchases and gb.com less attractive now. i am glad that my buying days are mostly done.

 

[drobs]

I have been buying guns off Gunbroker for 20+ years and also have an A+ Buyer and Seller rating. Plus I have sold some accessories on there in the past.

I avoid buying guns from non-FFL's. Sure I miss some deals doing that but I have never been screwed / scammed.
I would rather have the seller state that they will transfer the gun to my dealer through their local FFL for an additional fee.
I avoid buying guns from FFL's that wont take a credit card.
I won't buy a gun from a seller that has no feedback.
I want to know what the shipping and credit card charges will be.
I review the feedback on big retailers looking at F's & C's. A big retailer will get them but how recently?

I have left 1 F feedback in my 20 years of using GB. That was for a FFL that listed an accessory but didn't have it in stock. While yes they did refund my $, I still left them an F.

Would I buy a gun from a seller with 1 A+ feedback - depends on the above.

 

[AlexanderA]

One thing to note about Gun Broker feedback ratings is that the "default" is A+. I was surprised to see, after a recent purchase, that when I opened the feedback screen, the "A+" was already filled in. So giving out any other rating would require an extra step. This is a reason to take A+ ratings with a grain of salt.