Why did no one bid my gun?

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Also don't be surprised if people don't bid until the last hour of the auction. I use auctions on very rare or hard to find items, but I usually just do a buy it now only option for stuff that is really common and easy to find. Make sure the ending auction time is in the late afternoon or evening when people are awake and online. I never do a reserve price because that turns people off. I just use a starting price of whatever my bottom dollar is.
 
efeng9622 said:
I posted an ad to sell a handgun in gunbroker 4 days ago, my starting price is $470.00 , no reserve price, I saw a same handgun already end of bid on 11/1 and the price was $504 .00 the bid history shows there are at lease three people who bided price high than $470.00 . but 4 days already passed , Why did no one to come to bid my gun or asked me question ?

thanks.
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Have you tried selling the gun locally? I wouldn't think it would be that tough to sell for that starting price or a bit more.
 
someguy2800 said:
I buy and sell a lot of guns on gunbroker and tons of car parts and other stuff other places online. The 3 biggest keys to selling stuff online is fair pricing, using the right keyword so people can find your listing when they search, and really good pictures. Take lots and lots of pictures in good lighting. For most guns I take between 10 and 20 pictures. The better your pictures are, the better the price you will get. Also its important to put in a good amount of text in the description and put in all the part numbers, sku number, UPC number ect... That way it will actually show up when people search for those things. Also work on your shipping charge. $50 is too much. If you sign up for an online shipping service like Pirate Ship, you will be able to ship it 2nd day air UPS for about $20-$30 with adult signature delivery.
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I checked online to create a pirate ship account , but the instruction didn't say they can ship the firearms for an individual who is not a FFL,
 
Reading all the details of the replies for selling and buying on GB just seems too much uncertainty and effort to me. This is why I use GI, why not sell it for what is the current market value? I realize one can get a good deal on a firearm through GB, so I understand the utility of this process. I think GI is a way better place to sell if you have it priced correctly.
 
efeng9622 said:
I placed my ad to our state selling ,trade and buy gun web, but only one person was interested .
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So was the buyer OK with the gun condition/pricing?

And have you considered posting on THR "Buy/Sell/Trade Handgun" subforum? (You will be posting on subforum that is target rich environment with buyers looking to buy. And since there is no auction/seller fees, may be able to offer at lower price but still make more than auction "net" proceeds) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-handguns.22/
 
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efeng9622 said:
do you mean my FFL will not ship this handgun for ground transportation because it will take too long time? I don't know, he didn't tell me that. the Gunbroker only provide two options: ground and other, maybe I should put " other"?
ground
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USPS wants handguns shipped Priority mail, which is going any way that is fastest or most economical. Fedex and UPS want 2nd day air for handguns for approved dealers. This might have made some potential bidders unsure if everything was legit, what was called a red flag in the thread.

As a recent immigrant I know myself that things can be confusing sometimes in a foreign country and foreign language but you have reached out to the good folks at THR to help you with your sale and maybe you can choose someone via PM to proof read your auction and check if your photos meet the expectations that prospective buyers have.

When my oldest son was in med school, I gave him a lot of my Anschutz parts to sell to support him. He observed that eventually everything will sell if the photos and description are good and if the price is okay.

I would recommend, that you make about 15 to 20 good photos and list the gun for the price simply as "Buy Now" for 30 days and automatic relisting. You could further encourage people to contact you with questions.
 
efeng9622 said:
Yes , I placed my ad to our state selling ,trade and buy gun web, but only one person was interested .
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Have you taken it to any gun shows? Posted it in the newspaper classifieds? Flyers at local hardware stores, grocery stores etc? I know Gaithersburg itself probably isn't the place to do that but some of the rural areas outside of it might be. And, as was discussed in your other thread, don't ask people to give you personal information that isn't required by law. That chases buyers away.
 
Chief TC said:
You can ship rifles but not pistols as an individual.
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bearcreek said:
You do if it's a handgun.
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It is legal to do so and UPS is still accepting them when brought to a UPS shipping center (not the UPS store). USPS will not accept handguns from non licensees but you can ship long guns through USPS within your state.

If you want to take any doubt from the process you can also use shipmygun.com
 
bearcreek said:
Have you taken it to any gun shows? Posted it in the newspaper classifieds? Flyers at local hardware stores, grocery stores etc? I know Gaithersburg itself probably isn't the place to do that but some of the rural areas outside of it might be. And, as was discussed in your other thread, don't ask people to give you personal information that isn't required by law. That chases buyers away.
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yes, I will go to Virginia sun shows on 11/18, I had sold several guns just in there, I can ask at least 15 -20 gun dealers , I can know the price between "directly sale to dealer" and private sale. About asking personal information, I knew that and will be careful .
 
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someguy2800 said:
It is legal to do so and UPS is still accepting them when brought to a UPS shipping center (not the UPS store). USPS will not accept handguns from non licensees but you can ship long guns through USPS within your state.

If you want to take any doubt from the process you can also use shipmygun.com
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UPS can take handguns from a non-licensee per ATF regs, but not all the shipping centers will do it, either from ignorance or not willing to deal with firearms. USPS will ship to other states from a non-licensee if the receiver is an FFL.
 
I've read here anecdotally about other members bidding on guns that had poor quality pictures and I myself have won ebay auctions for items that didn't get very high bids because the item pictures were bad. It really pays to find a place with great lighting and take more pictures as you're allowed to post, then pick the best ones.
 
Jimfern said:
I've read here anecdotally about other members bidding on guns that had poor quality pictures and I myself have won ebay auctions for items that didn't get very high bids because the item pictures were bad. It really pays to find a place with great lighting and take more pictures as you're allowed to post, then pick the best ones.
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I've rolled the dice a few times and gotten some incredibly good deals on gunbroker and ebay on auctions that either had no pictures or very poor pictures. The turbo on my racecar is $5000 new and I got it for $800 by taking my chances on an ebay listing with only one blurry cell phone picture.
 
efeng9622 said:
yes, I will go to Virginia sun shows on 11/18, I had sold several guns just in there, I can ask at least 15 -20 gun dealers , I can know the price between "directly sale to dealer" and private sale. About asking personal information, I knew that and will be careful .
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i suggest careful research into both federal and state laws regarding crossing state lines to actually sell, not just look or discuss price, at gun shows. per atf a non-resident, non-ffl can sell only to a ffl. a resident, non-ffl cannot buy from a non-resident, non-ffl. if the gun show is in virgina, as a maryland resident you appear to be a non-resident, non-ffl.

 
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And this Thread is why I never buy guns online! Not worth the countless worring and fees and warranties and condition. I was a big Laptop/Camera seller in the mid-2000 on ebay, stuggle is real!

Buy/Sell local!
 
Alternative to selling your gun yourself. try:

durysguns.com

Sell Your Guns - Durys Guns

We Purchase Guns from Across the Nation - No Collection Too Big or Small! Selling your guns at Dury's is safe, and easy, and you can be sure you are getting a fair and honest deal. There are three methods you can choose from to sell your gun. Each provides various benefits, and you
durysguns.com

they been in business for a long time. They take 30% of fare market value. Send them photos, they give you a offer. If you agree, they send you a shipping box and label (free) physical inspection the gun, and mail you a check.
 
Chief TC said:
UPS can take handguns from a non-licensee per ATF regs, but not all the shipping centers will do it, either from ignorance or not willing to deal with firearms. USPS will ship to other states from a non-licensee if the receiver is an FFL.
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That is wrong.

USPS requires PS Form 1508 filled out and signed for all handgun shipments and the shipper has to sign that he is a manufacturer or bona fide dealer of firearms shipping to manufacturers and bona fide dealers. Dogtown Tom had explained firearms shipping in great detail and it has been made a sticky but still misinformation is spread here.

 
I'd consign the gun with my LGS who takes 25-30% of selling price. Or sell to him for my rock bottom price. Simple and I like to support my small LGS who's struggling to stay in business in an unfriendly environment.
 
jstert said:
i suggest careful research into both federal and state laws regarding crossing state lines to actually sell, not just look or discuss price, at gun shows. per atf a non-resident, non-ffl can sell only to a ffl. a resident, non-ffl cannot buy from a non-resident, non-ffl. if the gun show is in virgina, as a maryland resident you appear to be a non-resident, non-ffl.

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Yes, I knew that, I only sell gun to FFL not resident on VA gun show . but I checked with MD police department, if I want to do private sale on Virginia,
I can sell the gun through a FFL to a VA resident, as same as gunbroker, I will ship the gun to buyer's FFL, but now I don't want to continue using gunbroker , too expensive I may use Armlist.
 
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My ad will be end on tomorrow, since I can't cancel it if someone already placed a bid . Will Gunbroker charge the final value fee immediately?
 
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