What to do when you see the same listing on multiple auctions sites?

[Flame Red]

Folks,

Wanted a bit of advice.

I spotted a gun that is kind of hard to find on GB was was about to bid on it when I saw the exact same gun, same pictures and all, listed on Auction Arms. Since I am pretty sure the seller has only one gun to sell, this make the hair stand on the back of my neck!

I contacted the seller and asked them what he was going to do if two people won the auction. But I wanted to ask if this was considered a legit practice. One of the auction he has a reserve price and the other one no reserve. If they both had reserves and he pulled the other auction once one met the reserve this would be ok I guess. But the other auction does not. He has some positive feed back but not a lot. About 10 transactions on each.

How should I handle this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bailey Guns]

No big deal. Bid on it before someone else does on your choice of sites. It's no different than if he had the item on display in a store and someone bought it while at the same time someone bid on it.

 

[627PCFan]

I see regular dealers do this for NIB Guns. Are you looking at a used one?

 

[earlthegoat2]

Though it is unusual because tracking both auctions would take a great deal of vigialnce on the part of the seller I see nothing inherently wrong with it.

I have a great deal of experience selling things on GB from a store and it is in the best practice of the seller to pull the item from the shelf in the store if you wish to sell it on GB or AA. If you dont then it is very likely to sell in store and you dont realize it until the transaction has already been done and there is a bid on GB for the same item that meets the reserve. This is also not deceptive per say but it will open you up to negative feedback if you cannot make the sale on GB because the bid is a binding contract just like the seller is in a binding contract to sell the item if it is bid on.

 

[Lee Roder]

Doesn't sound legitimate to me. What if each auction has a "winning bidder"? As a bidder, I'd hate to be one of those guys. Write both GB and AA support, providing a link to both auctions, and ask

 

[rocky branch]

Pretty unthical IMO.

 

[AzBuckfever]

I would look for any disclaimer on the listing stating that he can pull the auction at any time. 2nd...are both listed to bid on them or does one have a buy it now and the other does not. 3rd....the seller is violating the agreement on both sites if he has listed it on both so that people may bid on it. Otherwise, I see nothing inherently wrong. Bid away and see what happens. Beautiful thing about gunbroker and Ebay type sites, you're covered if you encounter and shady deal.

 

[dogtown tom]

Flame Red Folks:...I spotted a gun that is kind of hard to find on GB was was about to bid on it when I saw the exact same gun, same pictures and all, listed on Auction Arms. Since I am pretty sure the seller has only one gun to sell, this make the hair stand on the back of my neck!...

In the last five years, I've seen three or four guns listed simultaneously on GunBroker and Auction Arms. In each case they seller had little or no feedback. That's a Big Red Flag to me that he's a scammer.

Every auction site has rules- and one of those is when someone wins the auction you are obligated (according to the rules) to complete your side of the sale. That would be rather difficult when you have one gun listed on more than one auction.

All you have to do is email the auction # to the site staff. Both Auction Arms and GunBroker will quickly review the auction listing and both removed the auctions I reported.

I hate thieves.

 

[Wildyams]

If you do decide to bid and do win.. don't pay for it until you have talked to the seller and guaranteed that he has a gun for you. I'd also ask for the serial number at that point too

 

[earlthegoat2]

In the last five years, I've seen three or four guns listed simultaneously on GunBroker and Auction Arms. In each case they seller had little or no feedback. That's a Big Red Flag to me that he's a scammer.

Maybe a scammer.

I tend to think just inexperienced with how things work. Trying to get as many different people looking at it as he can but does not realize the consequences. Maybe he has dont this for his last 10 or so feedbacks and just got lucky.

 

[alohachris]

My most recent auction experience:

A Dealer lists a rifle with a starting bid of $1,200, "Buy it now" price of $1,650 and "No reserve". I watch the auction down to the final minutes and place a $1,201 bid. With <1 minute left a bidder with no rating swoops in and starts bidding up the price. I bow out, the auction ends.

Within minutes, the same rifle & auction magically reappear.

Translation: The unscrupulous dealer had no intention of letting the rifle go at anywhere near the $1,200 list price. They keep a buyers account so they can drive up the price by shill bidding.

 

[Flame Red]

I see regular dealers do this for NIB Guns. Are you looking at a used one?

It is NIB.

Just heard back from seller. He says he will close the other auction down once he gets a bit on the other. Still, if I was the seller, I would be nervous that I would get bids on both. Obviously he is not very good about checking his emails from the delay in getting responses to my questions.

 

[earlthegoat2]

would be nervous that I would get bids on both

That is why it takes monumental vigilance on the part of the seller. Like I said, he probably doesnt know what the consequences are if there are bids on both. He cannot just close one down when there is a bid on it. If you do that on GB you just sold the gun to the bidder and all the binding contracts that come into play with that.

 

[Flame Red]

ok - he canceled the other auction and I placed a bid. Now a week of waiting...

Thanks for all the feed back