Kynoch
member
It's a SCAM. It's just another excuse to charge a few points.
Which of the following bother you most about on-line gun sellers?
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
Maybe you've never received payment by credit card. Whether it's a credit card processing company or PayPal, they all get their piece of the money for processing the transaction between the seller and the buyer.
I don't know how GunBroker or the like works, but I do know how eBay works. eBay gets their percentage of each sale, and PayPal gets their percentage for processing the payment. It all comes out of the seller's money, which the seller has to realize when that seller prices an item.
The small company I work for has to use a credit card processing company and we used to add that cost on top of the price. We quit doing that since we just hide that cost in the price now. Our prices went higher to cover this cost and NO ONE gets the previous Cash Discount.
Strangely enough, our customers would rather pay the higher price than be given a cash discount price.
There is only one local store I frequent that actually offers a discounted price for using a debit card or cash. I like it a lot and I save a little money.
Kynoch
member
You can try to spin it any way you like but it's a scam. It's just a means to grab a few more points at the end of the sale. Either the seller gets the 2-4% or they don't have to wait to get their money from the credit card company. Either way it's a scam at the buyers' expense.
I have paid the extortion myself before because if the gun would not have been as advertised, I could have simply called Visa and let them deal with the seller if they refused to make it right with me.
PistolPete45
Member
I was lucky my guns were in great shape BUT If I had inspected them I would have held out for one with less imperfections . slight finish flaws and such
Mosin Bubba
Member
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I don't see what there is to get upset about. The surcharge goes towards paying the seller's credit card fees. The business is walking away with the same amount of money from the sale, where you pay through cash or plastic. You are right that the consumer is stuck paying the fee, but you are at every other business too - most of them just choose to hide that cost in their prices.
Regarding online sales, I do not like buying guns sight unseen. Sometimes it turns out OK. I found an SKS that looked pretty rough online. The seller's only pictures were close-ups highlighting the worst of the damage to the gun, even though the rest of the rifle was in pretty average shape for a milsurp. Probably just because of those pictures, I got a decent SKS for a beater price. On the other hand, an AK I got online was defective right out of the box. If I had seen it in person beforehand, I might have been able to spot some issues, or at least take it back to the gun shop once I realized that it was busted. As it is, I got stuck with it, and it's been a nightmare trying to return it.
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medalguy
Member
I didn't see a choice for "All the above".
Guys, don't kid ourselves. Any business paying more than about 1.5% in CC fees is either not paying attention or just lazy. My business which I sold a couple of years ago took CC payments for years and we never paid more than 1.65% for any card transaction. The actual rate varies with each type of business, and depends on the average ticket amount, chargebacks, and a few other things. Gun sellers should have pretty high average tickets and there should be very little chargeback. All that goes into calculating your merchant rate.
If any of you have businesses and pay more than that, you need to look for another processor. Heck, even Square will do CC transactions for 2.75% with absolutely no minimum volume or minimum transaction amount at all.
Guys, don't kid ourselves. Any business paying more than about 1.5% in CC fees is either not paying attention or just lazy. My business which I sold a couple of years ago took CC payments for years and we never paid more than 1.65% for any card transaction. The actual rate varies with each type of business, and depends on the average ticket amount, chargebacks, and a few other things. Gun sellers should have pretty high average tickets and there should be very little chargeback. All that goes into calculating your merchant rate.
If any of you have businesses and pay more than that, you need to look for another processor. Heck, even Square will do CC transactions for 2.75% with absolutely no minimum volume or minimum transaction amount at all.
Only bad experience was buying a Sistema pistol from CDNN. I paid more for a "hand select", and they sent me one with a slide so beat up I had to trash it and use the frame for a Frankenpistol build. When I see other people show their beautiful, almost stock versions, I still get upset.
All of those issues are very common. but theres some you havent managed to include. Please let me list them for you
1. spend a week dickering with someone for a rifle, everyone agrees that 700 is fair to both, and then the seller decides to inform you, its only the STOCK your buying.
2. spend a week or so arranging a trade/purchase, to have the other guy tell you he already sold it 4 DAYS ago.
3. sending you follow up photos that are pictures of an entirely different gun, because the gun in the original ad photos did not have a big crack in the wrist...
4. Deciding that because you showed interest, that he has to add 1,000 to the "make best offer" price you give him.
1. spend a week dickering with someone for a rifle, everyone agrees that 700 is fair to both, and then the seller decides to inform you, its only the STOCK your buying.
2. spend a week or so arranging a trade/purchase, to have the other guy tell you he already sold it 4 DAYS ago.
3. sending you follow up photos that are pictures of an entirely different gun, because the gun in the original ad photos did not have a big crack in the wrist...
4. Deciding that because you showed interest, that he has to add 1,000 to the "make best offer" price you give him.
JRH6856
Member
All of the above are bothersome.
I have made 3 online purchases of firearms, 2 from private sellers, 1 from a dealer. The problems listed were not a factor in any of the transactions.
I have made 3 online purchases of firearms, 2 from private sellers, 1 from a dealer. The problems listed were not a factor in any of the transactions.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
From a seller's point of view, it's not spin. It's a cost of business. The seller is charged the credit card fee regardless of how the seller passes on the cost to the buyer.
Just like having the product shipped in and sitting on a shelf, that shipping price is going into the cost of selling the product as well if it is not charged separately.
At my job many of our customers had the same reaction as you have. That is precisely why we just put the card processing cost into the sell price, which raised the sell price.
If there is anyone to be mad at, be mad at the banks, the card processing companies, and the credit card companies themselves. They are the ones adding that cost to every transaction we make on any credit card no matter where we shop.
It sucks, but it's true.
Twiki357
Member
For the most part, all of the above. You omitted my biggest pet peeve. The inflated asking prices. Add in the credit card rip and the shipping plus the local FFL transfer fee and every gun I’ve ever been interested in comes up way overpriced. Yes, I’m a cheapskate.
More than enough rant for one afternoon. It's a free market. No one is forcing you to do business under circumstances unsatisfactory to you. And those who try to deal on broadly unsatisfactory terms won't, and shouldn't, get much business.
Ultimately the market decides what's acceptable.
Ultimately the market decides what's acceptable.
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