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I’ve had a Gunbroker account since ebay stopped gun sales and Gunbroker’s interface bore a remarkable resemblance to ebay.
I haven’t purchased more than four guns during that period, but I have found parts, literature, and some period ammo. Mostly, I use their responsive web site on my cell phone as a research reference, especially completed auctions, prior to or at gun shows. Hardly definitive, but I feel more confident when making a gun show deal or passing on one.
My favorite local gun shows have been closed since March and I’m suffering from “gun purchase deprivation”, so I recently made a Gunbroker purchase from an “A+” dealer with 5,000+ ratings. The gun arrived non-functional, so I contacted the seller for details. I received a curt reply that it was “fully functional” when shipped. I replied that that was impossible and explained why, and then realized that the seller was setting me up to avoid having to honor the three day return privilege – his word against mine. I was stuck, so I field-stripped the gun and found and fixed the problem. It was a simple part misalignment, but clearly supported my conjecture that the seller had lied to me. Our relationship didn’t end well.
Has anyone else had that experience? If so, how did it turn out? Gunbroker experience(s) in general? As pointed out in another post, virtually all Gunbroker dealers are “A+” rated, so how to you find a good one? In retrospect, this bad dealer’s pre-sale communication was also curt and minimally informative, so that may be a good future indicator. All of my earlier experiences with Gunbroker were completely satisfying with excellent communication, prices I was happy with, and quick shipment, but maybe I was just lucky.
So did you leave him bad feedback? How did that affect his rating?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I’ve purchased, 40-50 long guns through Gunbroker and only had one bad experience. The seller deliberately did not take photo’s of 2 major defects on a rifle, he only posted pic’s of one side of the stock, the other side had a large set of initials carved in it. The second defect was the end of the magazine tube was mangled, which he conveniently also avoided. I immediately contacted him and he agreed to drop the purchase price by $175. A week goes by, nothing, two weeks, nothing. I made contact again and more promises, ya-da ya-da ya-da. Third contact and he falls back on his “as is”. I left him some free advertising in his feedback. IF i would of researched through his feedback prior to the sale, I would of discovered he had several “F’s for the same reason. This was also a seller with an A+ rating with several thousand feedbacks. The rating system is based on averages, if a seller has 3,000 positive feedbacks and 150 negatives he will still have an A+ rating. Research back through the feedbacks to see what he has for negative feedback and why… That’s the best advice I can give. My purchase was for a $400 item I needed parts from so I did not get stung too badly.
Erin
There are PLENTY of other places to purchase firearms, so there’s really no excuse to be using Gunbroker.
mrcvs said
There are PLENTY of other places to purchase firearms, so there’s really no excuse to be using Gunbroker.
My response is for all and I just wish to enhance what mrcvw has said.
There is no excuse for buying guns that you haven’t actually picked up. If I had 50 other people with me and we counted all the fingers this number would not be enough to cover the stories I have hear in the last 40 years.
I have to admit that I have bought a couple new guns through Gunbroker. Still a risk but I feel a lesser one since problems might be easier to fix.
Bob – I left an “F” feedback, but the seller’s rating is still A+ due to his other 5,207 ratings. He left me negative feedback, but I don’t care about that. He also blocked me from bidding on his auctions, and I told him I cried myself to sleep that night.
Erin – Excellent reminder to check the feedback first. I used to do that routinely in the early days of ebay and didn’t think of it here. Shame on me.
mrcvs – With gun shows having disappeared or scaled way back, I have been bidding at the major auction houses such as RIAC, but failed to win because I factor in the bidder’s premium. At a gun show, I most likely would have bid the hammer price or more for any of those lots. Other than absentee bidding at live auction houses and the Guns International site, what others are there? I don’t go to farm or household auctions, but maybe I should. I live in central PA and there are dozens of auctions every week, many of which feature firearms.
Chuck – As I had written, I buy primarily at gun shows for these reasons: reduced risk due to actually handling and occasionally field-stripping the gun, and because I like to strike an “out the door” price that I’m comfortable with.
[email protected] said
Chuck – As I had written, I buy primarily at gun shows for these reasons: reduced risk due to actually handling and occasionally field-stripping the gun, and because I like to strike an “out the door” price that I’m comfortable with.
My post as it says was just a general statement to all and not directed at you. Hopefully when the Chinese flu crisis subsides gun shows will open back up.
I personally know 3 auction house owners and have heard all of their stories. I don’t trust any auction house 80%. Be very careful..
It is true that some guns shows have been cut back. Vegas used to be 3 shows a year now just 1. Reno was 3 and now just one. Great Western the largest ever had at least 3 shows a year but it was shut down. Denver and Cody were always 1 show a year. We had a couple of Clubs that had shows 3 times a year in the Anaheim area and in Santa Barbara. Both are gone now. I have traveled farther east than Denver but not a lot of times. If you routinely visit shows like these you will see all the good guns you can handle. Also you can meet a lot of the major Winchester collectors and dealers.
But traveling is tougher for some especially right now.
[email protected] said
mrcvs – With gun shows having disappeared or scaled way back, I have been bidding at the major auction houses such as RIAC, but failed to win because I factor in the bidder’s premium. At a gun show, I most likely would have bid the hammer price or more for any of those lots. Other than absentee bidding at live auction houses and the Guns International site, what others are there? I don’t go to farm or household auctions, but maybe I should. I live in central PA and there are dozens of auctions every week, many of which feature firearms.
Friends don’t let friends bid on Gunbroker!
My primary route for acquisition of firearms is the auction route. Local auctions can prove productive, and you have the advantage of looking at something locally, but this is going to be a source of a decent firearm only rarely. It has to be what you want, and obtained locally, usually what doesn’t align with the stars. It helps if you have a somewhat local auction house that runs a firearms auction every now and again.
Major auction houses are the best route, but RIA is the equivalent of Gunbroker. Folks there have deep pockets. I’ve never won a firearm at RIA. Morphy’s is a decent option for you as you could examine items personally weeks before the auction. Other auction houses that specialize in firearms on a national scale are options as well. I, too, factor in all fees, commissions, sales tax, shipping, etc., before pulling the trigger on a bid, and set my limits beforehand. Others don’t and it’s fairly obvious. The way I bid, my success rate is fairly low, that is, items I bid on and actually end up with, but there’s always something else out there at a later date. I would hazard to guess my success rate must be around 10%.
Other options for you once shows start up again would be the Forks of the Delaware Show and the Baltimore Show. Few bargains at gun shows, but you never know! The best source is usually a private collector selling a few (or many) items.
In my case if I don’t sell on GB, I don’t have much of an audience. Yes there are gun shows in Alaska where Bubba and his kids with boogers and ice cream on their hands can maul your firearms. BTDT. I have had decent results selling and buying on GB. I did get one revolver from GB (not a collectible) that had been cold blued. I need to put some more stuff up for sale. I have way more than I currently want to store.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
I have bought and sold a lot of good guns on Gunbroker. Most people I have dealt with are very good people. If someone asks Me a question or wants more pictures, I send a reply. If I see a gun I’m interested in and want more pictures or info, I ask the seller for such. If they don’t reply or beat around the bush, I steer clear. We have a responsibility to look out for ourselves. I have sold guns to people that You couldn’t make happy with cake and ice cream. On the other hand, I have made a couple of friends and several very good business contacts from Gunbroker deals.
My ramblings on the subject.
Dana
Online
mrcvs said
Old Logger said
In my case if I don’t sell on GB, I don’t have much of an audience. Yes there are gun shows in Alaska where Bubba and his kids with boogers and ice cream on their hands can maul your firearms. BTDT. I have had decent results selling and buying on GB. I did get one revolver from GB (not a collectible) that had been cold blued. I need to put some more stuff up for sale. I have way more than I currently want to store.mrcvs said
Friends don’t let friends bid on Gunbroker!
My primary route for acquisition of firearms is the auction route. Local auctions can prove productive, and you have the advantage of looking at something locally, but this is going to be a source of a decent firearm only rarely. It has to be what you want, and obtained locally, usually what doesn’t align with the stars. It helps if you have a somewhat local auction house that runs a firearms auction every now and again.
Major auction houses are the best route, but RIA is the equivalent of Gunbroker. Folks there have deep pockets. I’ve never won a firearm at RIA. Morphy’s is a decent option for you as you could examine items personally weeks before the auction. Other auction houses that specialize in firearms on a national scale are options as well. I, too, factor in all fees, commissions, sales tax, shipping, etc., before pulling the trigger on a bid, and set my limits beforehand. Others don’t and it’s fairly obvious. The way I bid, my success rate is fairly low, that is, items I bid on and actually end up with, but there’s always something else out there at a later date. I would hazard to guess my success rate must be around 10%.
Other options for you once shows start up again would be the Forks of the Delaware Show and the Baltimore Show. Few bargains at gun shows, but you never know! The best source is usually a private collector selling a few (or many) items.
I agree there can be a lot of hazards with gunbroker. I’ve experienced them. However, there are exceptions. I would let any friend of mine buy from austinguns or chayns (both gunbroker sellers specializing in Winchesters). Now we get into the deep pocket competition. I have followed both these seller’s offerings for many years. They often have some very nice rifles – rare, high condition, etc. The fly in the ointment is there always seem to be plenty of deep pocket bidders present and the bidding usually tops out very high.
The Forks in Allentown has been a good source for me since the early 70s, and I became a life member just after their February show, the only one in 2020. I’d gone to the very impressive Baltimore show for about as long, but stopped a few years ago for reasons I don’t recall. I’ve become acquainted with several Forks dealers / fellow members upon whom I can count to bring things that I find interesting at prices I’m willing to pay.
Morphy’s showroom in Denver, PA is about an hour drive from my house, and I had forgotten about them even though I’ve seen them at the last few Forks shows. Thanks for the reminder. Alderfer in Hatfield, PA is also not a long drive, and they also preview at the Forks show. I actually won an item at one of their auctions. Another one I had forgotten about.
I appreciate the specific recommendations for austinsguns and chayns, and will check them out.
I’ll continue to use GB as a reference and be far more careful in the future when researching a seller. By the way, the seller under discussion had nearly 100% high feedback, but given my personal experience I now question the validity or value of that.
Allentown (5 times a year), Baltimore and Syracuse more than scratch the gun show itch. Also, try to get to a couple, select smaller shows during the year.
I have purchased five firearms through Gunbroker over the years. In all but one case did the purchases go through smoothly. The one that didn’t go well was for an 1895 carbine purchased from a store in the midwest. There were none available locally. It was falsely described over the phone and the pictures provided on Gunbroker were taken in a manner that obscured defects that were obvious in person. I can still remember that look on the FFL’s face when he saw me pick up the carbine for the first time. He asked me if I wanted to send it back. The seller didn’t argue when I told him that it was going back and why but I was still out for the return shipping costs as well as FFL fees. He was one of those who had a good sellers record on Gunbroker and sounded very forthright on the phone.
If you know what you are looking for and ask the right questions, I think that you can generally come out okay going through Gunbroker but every once in a while you will have a bad experience. I personally would rather buy in person but the local gun supply doesn’t always cooperate.
Foxdoublegunner
My thoughts on this are online auction buyers beware, especially 73 buyers. I’ve had bad experiences in the past purchasing 73’s online & at auction. My rule is toggle link purchases are in hand only.
I also think you are at the mercy of any seller you don’t know or bought from before. Yes I believe there are good sellers on GB &
online, but the longer you’re at this hobby, or profession, the sooner you come to realize not everyone is honest or mentions the issues. And if it’s too good to be true…it probably is
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