Gunbroker payment

[Impureclient]

Is it safe to buy a gun from Gunbroker using a money order or certified check? I have never bought anything without a credit card online. In this day in age, why would a firearm seller not have that option?
As a construction contractor, I went for 14 years without the option to take cards and only took personal checks or cash. I had a couple customers who wanted the option to use a card but still paid by
check anyway. Even then I still got a mobile merchant account to take credit cards and I only have taken one in the last year so I don't lose any sales. How can you run a business online where 99.99%
of the time people are using a card? Is this giving the seller a way to hide from repercussion if things don't go his way? The seller has a A+ rating with about a hundred transactions but not taking cards has me skittish.
The item in question is very in demand right now and is the last one available in any auction at the moment online. I watched every other one the last couple weeks be purchased while this lone one still stands.
The only thing that separated this one and the others is that the seller doesn't take cards.

 

[akv3g4n]

I've been in the same boat as you. There were a few Gun Broker auctions in the past that have been really good deals on a firearm that I wanted but the seller didn't take ccards. In my case I just passed. I concluded that the risk really wasn't worth it in the end.

There have been a few posts on forums (including thr) where people had issues with sellers and had some issues getting assistance from Gun Broker. At least I know that I have some recourse if I use my ccard. Bummer but it seems like too big a risk for me.

 

[dogtown tom]

Impureclient Is it safe to buy a gun from Gunbroker using a money order or certified check?

If "safe" means you will get what you paid for any method of payment is as good as any other.

The method of payment doesn't matter as much as the sellers feedback history. If he has zero feedback history or his only feedback is as a buyer...........I look elsewhere.

In this day in age, why would a firearm seller not have that option?

Because not every seller on Gunbroker is set up to accept credit cards. Few sellers on GB are dealers, most are individuals selling their personal firearms.

Many dealers do not accept credit cards because they don't want to pay a percentage to a CC processor.

 

[jackblack86]

I always look at there history and if they are a ffl and what customer have bought and said In feedback, I have yet to have a problem.

 

[12131]

Seller's feedback is important, but it's not the only thing. These are what I also take into considerations, when wanting to bid.

1. Does the seller include lots of clear and detailed pics, or does he just throw up a couple of blurry ones? Lots of clear/detailed pics = you're not hiding anything.
I stay away from crappy pic auctions.
2. Does he answer my questions? No answers = no bid.
3. Is he willing to take additional pics, when asked. If he does, it's very reassuring. It's another way of weeding out potential scammers who steal pics from elsewhere.

 

[bwdilli]

Safe, as in you'll get your money back if the seller screws you over? Nope. Don't fall for the USPS Money Order means if they rip you off the Post Office will go after them for mail fraud thing. They won't do anything for you. They aren't interested unless it's many thousands of dollars of fraud.

If you go with a certified check, ask if they defraud you if you can stop payment. I'm betting the answer will be no. They might be able to recover the funds but it's no where as secure as using a credit card.

Point being if you don't know them, they don't have lots and lots of positive feedback with a long history of selling, don't buy from them. You might could chance it with a credit card but don't do it any other way. I speak from experience. Let me tell you about the $800 pistol I bought thinking I was covered by a USPS money order. I eventually got the guy busted by his local police department and he did serve jail time for this and other things. But I never got my pistol or money back.

 

[Impureclient]

That answers that then. Doesn't take cards, then no gun. Not worth the risk.

 

[YZ]

12131 has it pretty accurately. You'd think A+ means literally outstanding, but in gunbrokerese it stands for "Anything".

As a seller, twice I have been graded lower that A+. Guess what it was. Two F's. Apparently this seller is either supreme outstanding, or ugly beneath contempt, nothing in between. One was a non-respondent high bidder, the other a listing error with an immediate and full refund (buyer felt I was screwing him out of a $15 deal) On the other hand, as a buyer, when the seller wasn't truly A+, I often leave no feedback at all.

Whether it is safe or not to send a MO is your judgement every time. The longer the seller has been doing it, the more he/she would care about future business. An FFL definitely a plus. I have skipped many great deals because they were offered by a NR seller or someone with a short history like A+(1) or A+(2).

Call it a gamble or calculated risk, it's a personal decision depending on your risk tolerance (as real brokers like to say). To me it actually is more honest not to accept credit cards at all than charge customers for using them. This reflects low industry standards, compared to mainstream retail, but that's a topic for another day.

 

[marsofold]

Twice in the last 18 months I bought stuff on Gunbroker with my Visa credit card and a week later had bogus charges appear, necessitating a new card issue. No proof of a direct connection, but both times the bogus charges were for college textbooks in another state (not mine). Chase didn't pursue it to my knowledge. In the future I'll use a one-time throwaway card if I HAVE to use Gunbroker for something I can't live without.

 

[Armymutt]

I've bought several rifles on GB using money orders with no issues. They have to agree to meet face to face though. Since it's all C&R stuff, state lines don't matter. If they have no issues with that, then I feel pretty safe sending them a check.

 

[Elkins45]

I limit my searches on Gunbroker to my state of residence. I only bid on guns within driving distance that I can pick up face to face. It's limiting, but it really cuts down on the chance of fraud.

 

[bwdilli]

Yeah, let me get into Gunbroker's rating system. They will remove bad ratings on bad sellers if they're making money from the seller.

My last purchase on Gunbroker was for a Remington 121. Talked to seller. He claimed it was in good working order but a little dirty. Gun arrived dirty. Not a problem. Only issue I cleaned it up and found it had a broken firing pin and the barrel had multiple rings in it. Never fired the rifle and was within the 3 day nonfiring inspection period as stated on the ad. I notified the seller and was told to "F off", I've cleaned it up a bit. Notified Gunbroker and left bad feedback. Gunbroker "investigated" and removed the feedback. I put the feedback back up and I opened up another ticket and got the same results. Made another complaint and promptly had my account canceled.

Yep, I was the one sold a misrepresented firearm, followed their procedures, they covered it up for the seller, and booted me. Turns out this seller was a pawn shop in Missouri and sold a lot of stuff through Gunbroker. Gunbroker likes making money and don't care if they have to step on a few buyers to protect their product.

Yeah go ahead and trust their feedback numbers.

 

[SunnySlopes]

I bought a lot of guns off gunbroker and have never used a credit card. Either a cashier's check or a money order.

I don't buy from sellers with little or no feedback, or if the feedback is as a buyer only. I haven't had any problems yet. (Knock on wood.)

 

[hAkron]

I've never used one, but I hear that postal money orders are very safe. Kind of a hassle compared to the speed of a credit card transaction, but some dealers get a crap rate on CC transactions and just don't want to deal with it.

 

[Dean1818]

I use them all the time with 100 percent satisfaction.

I have also sold a few things as well..... No problems


I always ask a lot of questions......

 

[TRX]

I've made about 40 purchases on Gunbroker in the last three years. All of the sellers wanted a money order or a check.

 

[larryh1108]

I sell on Gunbroker. I am a private guy who buys and sells. I don't take credit cards because I am not set up for it. I have looked into it but it does not pay off for a little guy. Pay Pal and USPS money orders covers most cases without an issue.

 

[Krusty783]

-A few of the large CC companies will allow you to make a temporary "shop-safe" CC number that is only good for short amount of time. That way you can buy something online, but then the "virtual card" expires to mitigate the risk of shenanigans.

-Also, most of the GB merchants I've seen that do take credit cards charge an extra 3-5% (or more) because they are passing the transfer fees directly on to the purchaser. This may be the reason this is the last auction standing.

The extra CC transfer fees and jacked up shipping rates are why I browse GB a lot to check prices, but I doubt I'll ever buy anything from them.

dilli, if you still have a copy of the auction and the messages between you and the seller, I would contact the USPS and then the FBI/ATF. They may not follow up, but this seems like a slam dunk case of mail fraud. Stories like yours are also a good reason to use credit cards, because you could have gotten your cc to issue a charge back against the dealer and gotten your money back.

 

[larryh1108]

There are Visa and MC cards you can buy at Walmart, Walgreens, etc where you can load $XXX on it (reloadable cards) so when you wish to make an online purchase you add that amount to the card and then use it up, leaving a $0 balance. Parents buy these for their kids or kids away at college to keep the spending under control but provide an emergency supply of money if needed.

 

[Walkalong]

stay away from crappy pic auctions.

Amen! Pics are paramount. Some folks idea of 97%, or great condition, etc will vary 100% from yours. (And some folks just plain fib) If the pics don't show it, it isn't so.

I have bought several guns off GB and paid with USPS MO's with no problems, but, like 12131, I have learned to be picky about auctions.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Is it safe to buy a gun from Gunbroker using a money order or certified check? I have never bought anything without a credit card online. In this day in age, why would a firearm seller not have that option?

A private firearms seller doesn't really have that option. There is PayPal, but PP doesn't allow firearms transactions.

 

[skoro]

Is it safe to buy a gun from Gunbroker using a money order or certified check?

I've made several purchases on GB where I've paid with a money order and never had a problem. I think the key to avoiding issues is to check the seller's feedback. I look for more than 100 feedbacks with an A+ rating. I also make it a point to email the seller with some sort of basic question before placing as a bid. If they can't be bothered to respond, then I can't be bothered to bid. I learned that little move from my years on eBay. So far, that's worked a hundred percent for me.

I'm very suspicious of brand new sellers offering good items at low prices and not accepting CC payment. If the seller has an NR rating, I pass.

 

[medalguy]

Credit cards are difficult for individuals to use if they don't sell a lot every month. This pretty much disqualifies individuals selling occasional guns and collection pieces. Now that Square won't accept gun related transactions I'm still trying hard to find a CC processor that doesn't require either a lot of dollar volume every month or high fees, that I can use at gun shows. So far not much luck.

I have bought quite a few guns on GB, and I'd also recommend looking at CLEAR pictures, stay away from fuzzy phone pics, and look at the feedback of the seller. A seller with 100 positive feedbacks is most likely a reliable seller, but then remember everyone has to start at zero at some point. I have also called sellers before to discuss the gun in question if I had ANY question about the gun or the condition. You can get a pretty good feeling quickly on the phone in my experience.

 

[YZ]

A private firearms seller doesn't really have that option. There is PayPal, but PP doesn't allow firearms transactions.

PayPal is boycotted by some and utilized by others without declaring the item changing hands.

There are Visa and MC cards you can buy at Walmart, Walgreens, etc where you can load $XXX on it (reloadable cards)

Excellent idea. Do you know if VISA/MC provide the same protection (in case a transaction is disputed) as for the revolving CC accounts?

 

[KTXdm9]

I've bought several things on gunbroker with a money order or certified check with no issues. I tend to stay away from sellers with little or no feedback. I'd imagine most vendors don't want to pay the credit card fees.