How do you protest on GUNBROKER? Horrible experience!

[Cosmoline]

The problem isn't GB, but high volume discount sellers. You save some bucks over your local shop, but pay the price when it comes to customer service.

I've done a lot of business on GB over the years, but only with smaller scale sellers. I don't go there to try to shave some bucks off the sticker price.

 

[AKElroy]

The problem isn't GB, but high volume discount sellers. You save some bucks over your local shop, but pay the price when it comes to customer service.

Agreed. I have been able to buy a few items on GB without any trouble, in fact they were terrific people to work with. However, from now on I will be giving my local retailers a shot in the future. I was able to special order exactly what I was hoping to buy for around a $30.00 premium when considering the cost of shipping & transfer. More than worth it, and no worries over being mistreated.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Why bother with Gunbroker?

If you can afford it, get a lawyer and sue him for deceptive and unfair trade practices:

http://www.texasbar.com/Content/Con...e_Trade_Practices_Consumer_Protection_Act.htm

It looks like you got bait and switched.

 

[AKElroy]

If you can afford it, get a lawyer and sue him for deceptive and unfair trade practices:

Like most people, I do not have the time or inclination to devote to that approach. I got my money back, I found the rifle from a reputable dealer, and I brought an issue to light that will hopefully keep someone out of the woods. The seller has been outed elswhere in this thread. PM me if you need more details.

 

[Bluehawk]

AKElroy said:
"He responds by changing my initial "A+" to an "F","

Looking at your feedback there is an "F" rating from the seller but nothing showing it was changed from an "A+".
The sellers response to your "F" rating of him seems perfectly reasonable and polite...and he refunded your money in a timely manner.
I truly don't see any real evidence suggesting a bait and switch....seller simply made a mistake and seemed willing to work with you to rectify it.
The sellers overall rating is very good and his negatives are less than 1%...plus his shipping fees are very low...much lower than most places.
By the way...you stated you wanted to maintain your anoymitity on GB but it's the same name there as here!!!!

 

[oregonhunter]

Now your just kicking rocks.

 

[Roccobro]

Lol. I like how they re-listed the item right after the first auction closed.

Sounds like Tin star range got THEIR pantie in a wad over your emails! Heaven forbid a customer ask any questions....

Justin

 

[AKElroy]

and he refunded your money in a timely manner.
I truly don't see any real evidence suggesting a bait and switch....seller simply made a mistake and seemed willing to work with you to rectify it.

You need to read my initial post. He rated me an A+ when I initially purchased the item. I verified stock, and paid by credit card within 10 minutes by phone. He sent the wrong rifle, and it took 11 days for that to happen.

He never indicated he was sending the correct rifle or when, became angry when I twice requested that information, stated that he would not sell to me & refunded my money, something I did not request. I wanted the rifle.

I used GB rating scale in evaluating him, and "F" is the only one that fit. He responds in private emails that "He will enjoy his rating & I should enjoy mine". He changed my A+ to an F. I then get another email stating he will change his if I change mine.

It is this "rating extortion" that I opened this thread to expose. Had he simply stated that he could not locate the rifle he auctioned & that he made a mistake, I would have taken my money & moved on without this thread.

As for my anonymity, I have had that user name for a long time & now will be forced to cancel that account. I was a bonehead for not thinking about that when I opened this thread. Oh well....

 

[piratelooking@40]

OP, your main concern seems to be about the rating. Why? What do you care? In effect, some guy called you a name. Big deal. Why get this exercised about it?

 

[atblis]

The sellers overall rating is very good and his negatives are less than 1%...plus his shipping fees are very low...much lower than most places.

Sorry, he does not have good feedback. There are too many negatives stemming from the condition of the item. Items that were supposedly "new in box", but were rusty and or had scratches. No way in hell I'd buy from that guy.

 

[GunsAmerica Fan]

That's the way it is Akelroy. If you criticize something someone likes their ego just takes over and they do everything they can to invalidate you. Your post was thoughtful and helpful, and could and should make people who read it really do their homework before trusting feedback on GB. It was specific to a specific weakness in the system. You never said that every experience was bad on GB, or that potentially thousands of people couldn't post into this thread that they had a positive experience on GB. There was no reason to chime in "I have never had a problem with GB". Because this was specifically when you **do** have a problem, this case can happen.

Ebay had this issue and solved it by eliminating buyer feedback. GunsAmerica did that years before, and Ebay may have even copied our approach. We use a strike system for nonpayers. All a seller should care about is whether a buyer pays and provides legal ability to transfer the gun.

I am told by friends to not get involved in these threads myself, because there really is no upside. But I personally have been ripped off by a seller on GB. I am an active shooter and I have bought stuff on GA and GB, even though GB is a competitor. I am an experienced Ebayer from way back so I knew this tit for tat issue, and I knew that GB has never fixed it. They are still running the Ebay circa y2k interface entirely in fact.

Now you have compromised your anonymity. For what, so morons could bury the point of your very helpful thread among their ego comments about how they have never had a problem, and now even that you were at fault to expect to receive the gun you actually bought and paid for. If they did this in your state the seller could be charged with a misdemeanor under consumer protection statutes, even with the full refund, but getting stuff like that done over state lines is almost impossible.

I saw in another thread, don't remember if it was here, a guy was concerned that he was going to get gang bangers after him for being vocal about drug dealers in his neighborhood. Some idiot actually had the nerve to tell him to mind his own business and he'd be fine.

That is unfortunately the story my friend. Shut your mouth and you will be fine. I appreciate your attempt to help your fellow man and what goes around comes around for those who broke your your anonymity.

 

[AKElroy]

OP, your main concern seems to be about the rating. Why? What do you care? In effect, some guy called you a name. Big deal. Why get this exercised about it?

If you read the thread, you missed the point. The point of the thread was to point out that the rating system on GB is badly compromised. Many buyers who DO care about their rating will change their rating of the seller under pressure to get their good rating back, making the rating system worthless.

 

[woad_yurt]

As with all auction sites, Gunbroker has a financial incentive to side with or do nothing to the seller because, if a sale is successful, Gunbroker makes money.

I went through the same crap with a GB seller and GB was no help whatsoever. I got stuck paying shipping twice (to me and back to seller) for a blatantly misrepresented gun* after a very long, drawn out struggle. At first, GB didn't answer my emails. After a week, I got a response which, in effect, helped me not at all.

A buyer only has one responsibility: Get the $$$ and FFL to the seller. If they do that in a timely manner, they've done as they should.

* Gun's chambers had been crudely altered from original enough to make it virtually useless. He had said that it was in excellent condition.