Gunsamerica/Gunbroker etiquette?

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

aprayinbear

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2009
Messages
112
Location
South Carolina
I recently pushed the buy it button on a gun from Gunsamerica. The seller who supposedly sells many guns on the site, sent me an email with payment address. I said great, grabbed a money order for the amount and sent exactly as I said I would. I asked in my correspondence that he notify me when check was received and asked that he let me know when he would be shipping.

Well the check was received (I paid for receipt verification) and I still hadn't heard anything. Also the gun was still listed as for sale. So I sent a quick polite e-mail asking if he had received payment and asked when he would be shipping. I also mentioned that "I was a little concerned because the item was still listed as for sale."

In return I got one of those rude e-mails written in all caps saying "DON'T WIG OUT!" and going on about how people often don't pay and that he would check his mail and finally ended with "THIS ISN'T EBAY." Well, its only a day latter, but he still hasn't verified that he received check, nor has he said when he would ship.

If he had communicated earlier I wouldn't think twice. I don't really care about timing, only that this guy still hasn't answered my original questions.
Am I doing something wrong? I buy and sell often on the internet and make it a point to pay quickly, do exactly what I promise and when selling I ship asap. If there is a problem I let the buyer know. That's just good business to me.

What do you think? How long should I wait before e-mailing again?

Just Trying to Do the Fair Thing,:mad::(
 
Give him a couple more days. You have all paperwork verifying he received the MO, so you're covered. Some sellers are just @sshats.
 
I've never purchased anything from Gunsamerica so I'm not sure what their protocol is. Can you file a complaint to them about this rude dolt ?

Since he now has your money, I wouldn't be bashful with this man.

I'd email or phone him again right now.

There is just no reason for anyone to behave as rudely as he has.

Good luck and let us know how this turns out.
 
grabbed a money order for the amount
Click to expand...

If this wasn't a postal money order, I would give it a few days. He is likely waiting for the funds to be put in his account before he sends the goods. He is just making sure that you didn't send him a bogus Money Order.

EDIT: Also, some sellers on GA are slow at putting on the SOLD status. And sometimes with good reason. I wouldn't worry about it too much.
 
I guess I've been lucky on Gunbroker. All my sellers have been outstanding in communication. I pay fast, send an e-mail, and they do the same. As it should be.
I've gone in gun stores where the owner is a jerk too. Then I don't buy.
 
I have a fair amount of experience buying and selling on Internet auctions sites and I have found that slow communication is the biggest single complaint people make and it's also the most common thing you will experience.

You have to be patient. I figure 21 days minimum from the time I put the MO in the mail. Sometimes takes longer than that. Replies to questions can be very slow in coming. Many sellers run gun shops and don't sit at the computer all day checking emails. Others close up for 2-3 days without responding to messages.

It's the nature of the beast. For instant gratification you have to buy in person.
 
You wouldn't tolerate this sort of behavior in a face-to-face meeting at the local gun shop, and especially at the box store level. So why should we think that this is standard operating procedure for an internet-assisted transaction?

If I'm involved in a gun deal with someone I don't know, I go out of my way to let the person know the status of things: from the time the check is either sent or received to the shipping arrangements and time that the gun was picked up or taken to the shipping center, to the tracking number, and anything else I think might be pertinent. I don't want someone sweating bullets on the other end, and I don't want to be doing it on my end, either.

I've been lucky in most every deal I've ever negotiated in this fashion (I got stung once on a gun that didn't work and the guy would not respond).
I'll wager that most of us have deals that worked just fine when all was said and done. But when something odd takes place, I think it's imperative that the person be called on it. And I would call this something odd.

Rude behavior is rude behavior.
 
Good News.

I finally got an e-mail and the gun has been sent. He gave me the tracking # so I'm more then satisfied it's actually on its way. Think I just ran into someone with a sour disposition.

Thanks For your Support!;)
 
Leave feedback, warn the next guy. It might make his next sell easier when the purchaser knows what to expect from the grump.
 
Or, we can all just relax and bear in mind we're making long distance deals with folks for whom Internet sales are at best a part-time activity. If you are going to get all worked up over not getting an immediate email response you should not deal via the Internet.

I just don't sweat minor delays. So far I have never failed to receive my item.
 
Did you make sure that the seller has a bona-fide copy of your local transfer agent's FFL? If not - expect the seller to sit on the gun until he gets that document.
 
I guess I got lucky. The seller with whom I dealt in my one transaction so far on Gunbroker seemed just as eager to have me be happy as I was to get my grubby mitts on my new purchase.

Traditionally, in commerce, that approach has been somewhat effective. ;)
 
I think the anonymity of the internet can cause buyers to feel like they are always dealing with a business that owes them a measure of customer service. I'm not excusing either rudeness or foot-dragging, but hobbyists don't necessarily think you are doing them a huge favor by buying what they have to sell.

I don't sell guns on the internet but I do sell in my other hobby and while I take care of buyers, I probably don't run as tight a selling ship as I would if it were a business. Just something to keep in mind before getting testy with a guy you might be great friends with if you met.
 
You wouldn't tolerate this sort of behavior in a face-to-face meeting at the local gun shop, and especially at the box store level. So why should we think that this is standard operating procedure for an internet-assisted transaction?
Click to expand...

Exactly , it seems that rudeness is to be tolerated , some even make it a point to conduct themselves that way. In the limted dealings I've had online at gunbroker when the item was sold - IT WAS NO LONGER listed. I always check the feedbacks on the sellers , if they have a lot of bad feedback I look elsewhere.

Think I just ran into someone with a sour disposition.
Click to expand...

Well at least you did not inconvenience him too much buying his item for sale. Good to hear that the gun is on the way.
 
Many sellers run gun shops and don't sit at the computer all day checking emails.
Click to expand...

I've seen listings where the seller actually said that. Seems an easy and curteous way for a seller to avoid bad feelings and possibly bad reviews.
 
Or, we can all just relax and bear in mind we're making long distance deals with folks for whom Internet sales are at best a part-time activity. If you are going to get all worked up over not getting an immediate email response you should not deal via the Internet.

I just don't sweat minor delays. So far I have never failed to receive my item.
Click to expand...

I agree. I know this is a "I want it now!!" world, but we have to be patient especially with internet sales!
 
Can of worms

Hey Guys,

Didn't mean to open a can of worms here. A couple of things..... The seller had a valid FFl and apparently sold dozens of guns online. That being said, the FFL was unimportant as I was buying a BP rifle. And for clarity I sent a Postal money order.

Once again, I wasn't concerned with how long it would take me to get the gun. What concerned me was lack of communication (especially when I requested notification of check receipt and shipping details.) As long as a buyer keeps in touch with me I don't care if It takes weeks to receive. In fact I deal with some black powder guys who routinely let you know that they only answer emails once a week, etc. No problem, because they are up front about it. If a seller doesn't take the time to do so (there are even computer programs that do it for you), that's a red flag for me. And if they send me a rude letter when I just asked if he got my $$...... well, that's a big red flag!

Like I said..... it all worked out ok, do I hold bad feelings about the guy...... absolutely not, but would I ever buy from this guy again?...probably not.

;)
 
I requested notification of check receipt
Click to expand...
This is why I always send my USPS MO's via priority mail using delivery confirmation. A bad seller could always tell you he hadn't gotten your payment.
 
I spoke too soon

:(

I received the rifle (a GPR). That gun in "good condition" was actually a dog with badly pitted bore and enough rust to sink a battleship. There was also frosting and rust on the outside. Basically this gun was unusable for anything other then a forth of July bang (and I'm not sure that would be safe!) So the day I got it I sent it back (eating the return postage) and am now waiting for my return check. I did get a not so nice e-mail saying "Send it Back!" I would be refunded my $.....

So now I'm waiting for my $$$. The bad thing is that the guy has already relisted the gun on Gunsamerica making the same claims. To my knowledge there is no way to leave feedback on Gunsamerica, but if anyone reads this and sees a GPR .50 for $225, don't go for it! It's a dog.

Guess I've learned my lesson and plan on buying a GPR kit when I've saved up a few more $$$$$.

All The Best:eek:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

4
  • Locked
Dilemma due to high UPS shipping rates!
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Griz44
G
H
  • Locked
Gunbroker question
2 3
Replies
56
Views
3K
Larry Ashcraft
Larry Ashcraft
Y
  • Locked
Should I go through with this auction?
Replies
14
Views
925
walker944
W
M
  • Locked
Problem with Impact Guns...Suggestions?...Experience?
Replies
7
Views
600
El Tejon
E
P
  • Locked
Am I just impatient or what? Ordering online
Replies
12
Views
544
p85
P
Back
Top