Buying a rifle online

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wiiawiwb

wiiawiwb

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I'd like to get a Marlin 1895 GBL online as the price is way more competitive than the local gun shops. The problem I'm running into is that none of the online stores I've contacted can confirm that the ones they have for sale were manufactured in 2015. I asked if I could get the serial number to confirm the date mf'd before I bought it but they all told me they ship from a warehouse so that's not possible.

I could go ahead on a wing and a prayer and assume their stock is only recently manufactured rifle but I'd upset if it was an older rifle manufactured during the Remington/Marlin transition time period.

Any thoughts?
 
I read about Marlins on a regular basis and it appears they are getting their quality back in order. I still wouldn't order one unless I found an online merchant who was willing to get personally involved. If you do order one, just make sure you don't accept it until after a thorough inspection.
 
Keep in mind after you pay shipping and FFL fees, buying one at a LGS so you can inspect it first hand might be worth the little bit extra you pay at the LGS to make sure you are getting exactly what you want.
 
And that pretty much sums it up. Is $50-100 in the pocket worth taking a chance versus inspecting carefully and knowing exactly what you bought?
 
rromeo said:
And that pretty much sums it up. Is $50-100 in the pocket worth taking a chance versus inspecting carefully and knowing exactly what you bought?
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I pretty much agree with your sentiments, but recently it meant a net $300 and change less for me with an online gun purchase. My main impetus was no local dealer could assure me they could get me what I wanted in a reasonable time period if at all. Some had no interest in even trying. When it boils down to online or nothing, online sometimes is the better deal. I'm all in favor of supporting local vendors, but I expect reciprocity.

It's not just guns, it's everything you buy online from iPads to socks and reloading components: you'd better know what your getting into, do the research and be prepared for that eventual disappointment.

In the case of hand loading components, the closest I can buy anything at anywhere near a reasonable price is 150 miles from me. The last time I checked bullets at the local Cabelas, they were selling Berry's bullets at 2.5x what I could get them online for. And Berry's doesn't charge extra for shipping above a certain amount. Seriously, 2.5x as much at Cabelas. And this is one those rare times I could find anything I needed.

I like buying locally, but it's a fallacy to think all local purchases are always the best deal or the highest value.
 
Just be careful of where you buy, I would definitely not recommend Bud's, as I've ordered a rifle from them, using a certified cashiers check from a large bank (nation wide) about two weeks ago and they still haven't even started to ship it. What a bummer. Never again from Bud's.
 
Some of the online dealers drop ship from time to time, so the problem may be where it is being shipped from. I have had great service from Buds. Maybe call them and see what the delay is.
 
No way I'd buy any Marlin GBL without inspecting it first hand. I've seen very good specimens and some awful ones. YMMV.
 
Bama Joey, Incidentally, I did call them and they said it was coming from a different warehouse, and would ship the first part of the week. That was a week ago, and still they are asking for my patience stating they are sorry for the delay. Quite frankly they are wearing on my patience. Tomorrow morning I'm going to give them another call and try to find out what the reason for the delay is. So sorry for venting, but I get a bit irritated after sending them money and getting the run around.
 
I've ordered a rifle from them, using a certified cashiers check from a large bank (nation wide) about two weeks ago and they still haven't even started to ship it. What a bummer. Never again from Bud's.
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This is one reason I have moved my business to Grabagun.com. Buds often takes weeks to ship, whereas Grabagun ships within a couple days.
 
"...price is way more competitive than the local gun shops..." Add shipping. You don't buy from your local guy and eventually he'll be gone. Plus there's no guarantee anybody will have anything made this year.
Most of the online dealers don't actually ever touch the stuff they sell. Isn't purchased from their wholesaler/distributor by them until it's sold.
"All items advertised on www.budsgunshop.com or www.budspolicesupply.com are NOT necessarily in stock or on display at our retail store."
Bud's also uses E-Bay. E-Bay funds the people who want places like Bud's shut down.
 
using a certified cashiers check from a large bank (nation wide)
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Sorry, but my local bank told me that none of that means squat. I wouldnt accept a cashiers check until it had definitely cleared (about 2 weeks), just like a personal check. No matter how much a certified cashiers check impresses you, they didnt impress my bank in the least. They said theyve had them cancelled, and not clear on a couple of occasions. I sent one back and insisted on a US postal money order, which is what I had wanted in the first place. I wont accept a cashier check for anything long distance, theres no reason to have to wait on them.

Paying by your credit card is instant, as is paypal.
 
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I recently purchased a rifle from grabagun.com. Customer service was EXCELLENT, and they have a return policy if you don't like it, so no worries.

The rifle arrived and it was just as promised. My local shop had no issue processing the transaction for $30. Pretty good way to go if your local brick and mortar either can't or won't get you what you want at a competitive price.
 
I recently purchased a rifle from grabagun.com. Customer service was EXCELLENT, and they have a return policy if you don't like it, so no worries.
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Same here. There was an issue with my FFL and one brief call to Grabagun and it was taken care of immediately. It sure is nice calling customer service, speaking to someone who actually speaks clear english and resolves the issue with expediency.
 
I hear so many people say if you add in shipping cost and FFL fee the difference in purchasing online vs local is not that much. The vast majority of the time it is for me. If you purchase from an out of state dealer you don't pay tax, most of the online dealers I've purchased from have free shipping and there are many FFL's who only charge $25.00 for the transfer fee. I work the gun counter at Cabela's and still save significant money purchasing online and would save significantly even if I didn't have the luxury of free transfers.
 
I hear so many people say if you add in shipping cost and FFL fee the difference in purchasing online vs local is not that much. The vast majority of the time it is for me.
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I agree. Shipping is usually free or very cheap from vendors such as Grabagun's $6 shipping. Add in a $30 transfer fee, fuel driving to pick it up and your around $40. AND no state sales tax (almost 9%).

Bottom line: If local dealers cant (or wont, which is often the case) compete then they SHOULD go out of business. Its capitalism, the free market will decide.
 
So far, I have had good business dealings with Bud's, but I ALWAYS use a US Postal Money Order. I have purchased 2 pistols and a rifle-the rifle is due in tomorrow and the pistols were just fine. I do inspect them closely, and will refuse the shipment in a heartbeat if it is not 100% the way I want it.
 
I ordered a rifle from Bud's about a year ago, but used a Credit Card and they shipped fairly promptly. However this is getting to the point where it is ridiculous over 2 weeks since they received the check. I just saw an add, where Bud's were stating "Black Friday same day shipping" kind of like "when donkeys fly".
 
If you want to make sure its 2015 production wait until 2017 to order.
I have noticed the local Cabelas stocks recent production Marlins. Within 6 months for example.
 
I've yet to ever buy online mainly because the added cost of shipping, the time it ships, and the FFL transfer makes it unpalatable overall. The only time I'll do it, which may happen in the next week as long as this GB auction stays withing my price range, is when there's a gun that is no longer manufactured and I'm buying used.

Other than that, I generally stick with my local dealers because it's usually cheaper. They sell most guns right at the same total price that they would be online after shipping and FFL, sales tax not included of course.
 
In my case, if I include sales tax, FFL fees, and shipping, the difference in price is $798 locally vs $633 online. That's $165 which is a 21% difference.

I think I will try to buy locally after hunting season, when there is less demand for a .45-70, if I can get the local dealer to move on his price. He seemed to have his heels dug in before and wouldn't move an inch.
 
I bought a Mossberg 4x4 through Grabagun and i was concerned about getting one of the later models. I asked a few questions and went ahead and ordered it. I had them ship it to the Grabagun retail store twenty minutes from my office. I inspected it before i accepted it and it was exactly as they described it.
 
Well sorry, $798 out the door is a robbery. I guess the problem is your local stores. That gun down here is $600-675 in the local shops.
 
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