Online gun stores NOT to buy from?

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CamaroZ28

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Hey guys, I've been looking for a certain gun and happen to find one online. Having never bought a gun online I'm unsure of what sites are trusted and not trusted/ outright scams. Can anyone give some insight? The site I have suspicion about is "Global Gun Sales," where I found the gun I've been searching for.
 
Welcome to THR. Never heard of Global Gun Sales so can't comment.

BTW, here's "10 Best online gun stores [2020] new/used" by Pew Pew Tactical - https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-place-buy-guns-online/

I have bought guns and AR/PCC receivers/parts/kits from these online vendors with good results (Also CA restriction friendly and will ship CA legal guns/receivers):
  • Bud's Gun Shop (Used to have best prices now offers "price match". I believe my LGS ordered my GSG 1911 from Bud's) - https://www.budsgunshop.com/
  • Grab A Gun (Great price and fast shipping but Texas only sales tax on purchases apply. Bought my Thompson Center T/CR-22 for $269 - Still came out cheaper even with Texas sales tax) - https://grabagun.com/sale.html
 
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Only buy from big name, trusted sources, especially so in times of tumult.
If you haven’t seen an ad for them online, and only found them in an internet search, and their website looks sketchy and cheap, and they are the only ones with the pistol you are looking for...

Proceed with caution...:scrutiny:
 
Ive purchased from the following great folks numerous times so I'll add them to the list.

Cdnnsports.

Tombstonetactical (the only one on the list I haven't bought from in 3 or 4 years. They used to be good though)

Gallery of guns

Kingsfirearmsonline (their ratings of used guns are generous. I believe accurate, but generous. If they say fair they mean just fair )

And recoilgunworks.com (their used guns go the opposite. Good condition tends to look pretty much new.)

Ive also bought from smokey mountain guns and ammo and buds but they are local to me. I've no idea if their online sales are the same

I don't know of any specifically not to buy from. I've been lucky I suppose
 
Buds has had some issues the last few years. It's to the point where one of my local FFLs will not handle transfers from them. That said I did buy one gun from them and it went OK.

In addition to several other good ones listed, I have had good luck with Wholesale Hunter, although they take a couple days to get things shipped. In general, any seller that does big business on Gunbroker is legit.
 
Only ever bought from 2, bother were great.

Bud's Gun Shop - great online shop. Bought the majority of my more recent collection from them.

Palmetto State Armory - bought a PTR 91 from them along time ago when they had the only ones in town. Easy transaction and the rifle more than met my expectations.
 
I’ve bought from several: Empire Arms, Smoky Mountain Guns, Grab a Gun, Classic, Palmetto, iAmmo, AIM, and others.

I will never buy from 2 online dealers:
1. Cheaper than Dirt, price gouging and order cancelling (not to me personally)
2. Bud’s, they do NOT honor their sale prices when the ad they emailed is less than 12 hours old and jack you around telling you to buy from someone else when you call about getting the advertised price as the price is higher on their website when you try to buy said gun (happened to me on an ad emailed to me from them).
 
Since were on the subject I would like to know about Optics Planet.
There was some shenanigans going on earlier with Illinois and whatever the lawmakers were doing.

However, I have received excellent service when I did purchased from them a few scopes and mounts in fact, great people.
When I called with a question and to order they gave me a price that was for an organization only and honored a sales promotion. (I’m sure they still made money, but it couldn’t have been much...;))

I would like to patronize them again if it were prudent.
 
Only 2 retailers on my black list currently. Cheaperthandirt for the aforementioned price gouging, now and in the past. And optics planet. I had ordered a pistol light from there for about $350 several years ago. Item was labeled "in stock." I never got an order confirmation email or shipping notice email. And they charged my card. After about a month of calls and emails, I never heard anything about my order. I had to call my bank to get the money refunded and prove I never got my item. Even today, about 5ish years after I placed the order, it still says "In Process" in my optics planet account. I won't deal with that again.
 
Llama Bob said:
Buds has had some issues the last few years.
Click to expand...
What "issues"?:scrutiny:
I haven't had a week go by in the last eleven and a half years where I didn't have at least 3-4 guns arrive from Bud's. Other than the "I bought it on Friday night and Bud's didn't ship for three days!!!" crowd, I've found them honest, reliable and very good pricing. Same with Palmetto State Armory and dozens of others.


It's to the point where one of my local FFLs will not handle transfers from them.
Click to expand...
Ever bother to ask why?
I know why, and its nothing to do with reliability or honesty......pricing. Few dealers can come close to Buds volume and the resultant pricing. Buds retail price is often lower than my wholesale cost.
 
brunowbe said:
I’ve bought from several: Empire Arms, Smoky Mountain Guns, Grab a Gun, Classic, Palmetto, iAmmo, AIM, and others.
2. Bud’s, they do NOT honor their sale prices when the ad they emailed is less than 12 hours old and jack you around telling you to buy from someone else when you call about getting the advertised price as the price is higher on their website when you try to buy said gun (happened to me on an ad emailed to me from them).
Click to expand...
Bud's has always been straightforward about their pricing. The following has been on their website for decades but no one bothers to read it:
...Our website updates every 20 minutes, 24/7, with our current inventory and replacement cost. We do not price our guns manually based on our cost in each, rather we use a live download from manufacturers and distributors to set our price based on our current replacement cost. As our cost changes, the corresponding website price of each make/model will change up/down accordingly. Although our profit margin remains unchanged, our advertised prices will change frequently, sometimes several times per day.
Click to expand...
If more local brick and mortar dealers followed this practice, they might stay in business. Sadly many price according to their cost and not replacement cost.
 
dogtown tom said:
Bud's has always been straightforward about their pricing. The following has been on their website for decades but no one bothers to read it:
Click to expand...
Then they should not email ads with sale prices (with prices being good thru and it gives dates) late at night and when you open it the next morning, click on it, go to buy said gun, it’s a different price, not just a little shift in pricing either. This took place in 2011, and I have not bothered with them since. Sorry, they are a terrible company.
 
Good ones I have delt with:

J&G Sales,
Century Arms,
Sarcoinc.

The only really bad one I know of is Hunters Lodge Corporation. Stay away from that like the coronovirus.
 
I have never bought from an online gun store BUT, my LGS, when I was trying to find a Bird's Head Uberti, took me to her computer and showed me one on Midway and mentioned she couldn't match their price(BUT very graciously offered to be the FFL..she recognizes good customer service=returning customers).
I mentioned Buds and she was VERY critical of them, using some words I often heard from Sailors....:cuss:

SO..YMMV..

Optics Planet?..They seem to sell stuff they say is 'in stock', then say, oops, it's not, gotta wait 3-4 WEEKS..no thanks. I think they have a manufacturer or distributor drop ship, and really have little on-hand' inventory.
 
Meeks36 said:
Avoid cheaper than dirt! Highly recommend budsgunshop, and palmetto State armory.
Click to expand...
It seems that gun owners have good long term memory compared to the general population. During the O'Bummer induced panic buying and subsequent ammo shortages/unavailability Cheaper than Dirt was the numero uno ammunition price gougers on the internet. Never forget. I wouldn't take anything from them if it was free.
 
I do!:)
Though it’s better to claim wavering memory, rather than “I was going shooting anyway...”

Especially when conversing with the more ruthless sex...;)

I remembered the news and my own good dealings with Optics P, however I am risk adverse, and will continue to pass them over.
 
I never bought a gun online but have considered it a couple times. A few years ago there was a dealer around here ( not in business any more) that would handle transactions like that for folks. They had a list of places they didn't deal with any more based on their buying experiences with them. My guess on this topic would be to talk to FFL's with experience in this. They're the ones that have to order the gun for you and make the transaction.
 
I like AIM, and it seems they're universally liked here, too. Nice to find a business with not only very good prices, but very good customer service.

They also offer a discount, I think it's 10%, on parts and accessories, not ammo or firearms, to first responders.
 
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