Gun Broker ?

Some sellers just like to go to shows and visit.

FishDFly said:

Some sellers just like to go to shows and visit.

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Exactly.

QuinnTheEskimo said:

There are sellers at gun shows that do the same thing. I’ve seen the same dealers with the same guns and high prices for years at the same shows. The tags on their guns are worn and faded from being looked at. I don’t get it but they aren’t really interested in selling.

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I gues they haven't heard about a fast nickel being better than a slow dime!

Walt

If you are going to bid on an item on Bunbroker first figure the maximum amount you are willing to pay with shipping and tax included. Then add up the shipping and tax and subtract that amount from the max amount you are willing to pay. That is the max bid you submit.

Hawk54 said:

If you are going to bid on an item on Bunbroker first figure the maximum amount you are willing to pay with shipping and tax included. Then add up the shipping and tax and subtract that amount from the max amount you are willing to pay. That is the max bid you submit.

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Exactly! Without that, you can easily get sucked into paying way more for something than you should!

Walt

A couple of guys brought up a great point. Take the time to scroll through and read a seller's reviews. I also ask plenty of specific questions. Most happily answer. If someone answers back with a snarky reply, or something like "the description says it all." I don't watch or bid and just keep looking. I also avoid sellers with less than ten reviews. Yeah, everyone starts at 1, but let others take the chance.

Earlier this year I was looking for a certain unmentionable. I was patient and avoided "Gotta have it now" syndrome. I passed on a couple that might have been fine, but I waited and finally scored on a real nice one. The seller had a 100% rating with glowing reviews. He didn't disappoint and the rifle was exactly as described and what I was looking for.

Sometimes the online Gunhoo.com sites may be your only option to find what you are looking for. Make it work in your favor, not your frustration.

I’ve made 25-30 purchases on Gun Broker over the years and all but one went off without a hitch. Even the one problem was not so big a deal. I purchased a name brand AR as advertised by the buyer and it turned out only the lower was the name brand. The upper was from another manufacturer that was of somewhat lower company. The Seller who had quite a few positive transactions on the site just disappeared from it a few weeks later. I ended up trading the upper and buying a nicer one and wasn’t out too much.

I will say I am careful who I deal with as a seller. I look for those with a longish history of selling with few if any negative feedback. I read all negative feedback even though there may not be much. On more than one occasion I decided not to bid after seeing a sellers not so nice responses to even just a handful of negative feedback.

I also usually stick to sellers who take credit cards. They charge you a fee to use it (usually 2-3%) but you do have that added protection. Those who offer an inspection period after the sale are also what you want to

I did get two of my favorite flintlocks from GB. Both were beautiful used but recently made and nice shooters, but it is something of a buyer beware transaction. Now that they charge sales tax it would seem to be preferable to go to a local dealer if the item in question is not something rar, unusual, or hard to come by.

You have to be choosy, attentive and lucky but deals can be had. I’ve bought two muzzleloaders off there at really great prices. I recently bought a NIB unmentionable for several hundred below the lowest anywhere else and $450 lower than around here.

Ok, I finally looked over the MLs on GB for over 20 minutes, gave up before I saw them all.

And yes, in my opinion, they are overpriced. And I really didn’t see anything that grabbed my attention. But that’s just me.

I've had a couple hundred GB purchases and never had a seller not come through.

For me, the difference is this. I can go to a Show and be seduced by a gun I never knew I wanted. That has yet to happen on GunBroker.

Both GB and Ebay have changed drastically how firearms enthusiasts do our thing. Back in the day, companies actually existed whose sole product was collectible firearms, accessories, etc. and published monthly/quarterly catalogs. Robert Abels was a good one. Gunshows and catalogs were really, about all we had other than word-of-mouth and gunstores.

Finding a specific firearm, part, or accessory required a LOT of time, money, and effort. Internet "spoiled" some things, for sure. Today, we can "shop" world wide from a recliner in boxer briefs with a glass of iced tea, smoking a pipe. Where once we might have spent months, even years, trying to locate something, now with a few clicks ...find a dozen. "Rare"..not these days.

The one great advantage gunshows and brick and mortar stores have over the internet thing is ...trading. Swapping something you're tired of or moving in a different direction via good, old-fashioned horse tradin' just doesn't happen much. Which is one reason I like gunshows & real, honest to goodness local businesses. Time Change. Sometimes it's better.

I have learned to wait on BIG SKY RAMBLER.

Have bought and sold on GB. Really have had no problems with sellers but number of buyer issues have increased in last 24 months. Some do not read ads or look at detailed pictures. Others are unaware sellers can leave feedback or block future bids as well.

Over the past 10 years I've sold a LOT of ML rifles and pistols on GB and take pride in my feedback rating. It makes me happy when a buyer responds that the item was better than described. Not all sellers are as picky about listings defects so as in all things bought unseen, be cautious. Ask for additional pictures or details, a reputable seller will be quick to supply the information. If the item description is vague and item only has a couple of fuzzy pictures - run.

I used to shop on Auction Arms with good results. Then it changed to Gun Auction and went down hill. I've had nothing but good experiences with GB. Sellers state clearly shipping costs and inspection and return policies on items I bid for. I like to window shop, and it doesn't bother me how many Sellers are after gold. I just won the bid on a W M Moore and Co 10 gauge percussion shotgun from the 1800s. Heck yeah I'll shoot it !

I wonder if bad buyers get their info sold to vetting services?

Salty said:

Burned once. Never again.

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Best reason why I won't buy from GB or any other internet site. It Is an easy way to get rid of junk guns.
I want to handle the gun, put the lock & triggers thru its simple paces and definitely be sure it isn't loaded before purchase. Otherwise...I'll pass even if its "too good to be true" pricing wise.

I buy and sell on GB. I have 249 good reviews and no bad reviews. I've had a few bad experiences, but no more than I have had a walley'world.

At 2K ,I'm afraid that My Bob Tingile .45 cal unfired Half stock Ser.# 28 . would be GONE..Be Safe>>>>Wally