This one has risen from the grave, but I recently bought a new AR through Gunbroker and was pleased with the whole transaction, price and all. Having said that, I'm a firm believer in using local gun shops, hardware stores, etc., where possible, because it won't be long before the mom & pop stores go by way of the dinosaur if we don't support them. I'll pay a little more, within reason, to keep them in business.
Gunbroker sucks.
- Thread starter proud2deviate
- Start date
- Status
wojownik
Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2009
- Messages
- 2,086
Gunbroker is an auction site, nothing more nothing less. Some of the things offered are outlandishly priced, some are bargains, some are junk, some are treasures. Pretty much an electronic version of a gun show (many of which have also deterioriated), but with extra shipping and FFL fees involved.
I've had some good luck on gunbroker - a AK clone, Bushmaster patrolman, Russian makarov, all at OK prices. I'm waiting on some Polish Wanad P-83 mags I won from a someone in Poland - we'll see how that works out, but the e-mail exchanges with all these sellers have been polite, professional and (in one case) multilingual.
I do take issue with gunbroker customer service (so-to-speak) and management. They are are reputed to be generally unhelpful to the buyer, biased to the seller. I do have direct experience with them being extraordinarily rude.
I also take issue with gunbroker's inability to police relisted auctions. I won a Pietta blackpowder revolver, but the dealer (and I had to track them down, since they had the wrong contact info listed in their profile) said they had sold that pistol long ago. Gunbroker's CS response was basically, so what, go find something else to bid on....
And, p.s. I do support my local gunshop, as each transfer will inevitably generate the FFL fees, ammo purchases, magazine and accessory purchases, etc. For me, Gunbroker is for the oddball guns/accessories that you can't normally find, the local gun store does not stock, or the occasional lucky deal (beware of those deals that are too good to be true, though....)
I've had some good luck on gunbroker - a AK clone, Bushmaster patrolman, Russian makarov, all at OK prices. I'm waiting on some Polish Wanad P-83 mags I won from a someone in Poland - we'll see how that works out, but the e-mail exchanges with all these sellers have been polite, professional and (in one case) multilingual.
I do take issue with gunbroker customer service (so-to-speak) and management. They are are reputed to be generally unhelpful to the buyer, biased to the seller. I do have direct experience with them being extraordinarily rude.
I also take issue with gunbroker's inability to police relisted auctions. I won a Pietta blackpowder revolver, but the dealer (and I had to track them down, since they had the wrong contact info listed in their profile) said they had sold that pistol long ago. Gunbroker's CS response was basically, so what, go find something else to bid on....
And, p.s. I do support my local gunshop, as each transfer will inevitably generate the FFL fees, ammo purchases, magazine and accessory purchases, etc. For me, Gunbroker is for the oddball guns/accessories that you can't normally find, the local gun store does not stock, or the occasional lucky deal (beware of those deals that are too good to be true, though....)
CoRoMo
Member
Why did you use your first post ever, to dig up this corpse of a thread?
Your member name, combined with the thread you chose, your post, and the link you included might make people here believe you are a trolling spammer for GunsAmerica.
Your member name, combined with the thread you chose, your post, and the link you included might make people here believe you are a trolling spammer for GunsAmerica.
GunsAmerica Fan
Member
Supporting your local gunshop is the biggest thing. That is why I refuse to use the gun auctions. At least GunsAmerica has a full suite of gun dealer tools. They even have an automatic website tool for stores. All these stores are created by and hosted by GunsAmerica's system. The dealers post the gun/item once and it goes into GunsAmerica and the gunshop's own website. It's really cool. I turned my local dealer onto it.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/LiveStorefronts/StoreList.aspx
that is the list of stores and
http://www.gunsamerica.com/stockingDealers.htm
is a list of the other things they have for dealers.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/LiveStorefronts/StoreList.aspx
that is the list of stores and
http://www.gunsamerica.com/stockingDealers.htm
is a list of the other things they have for dealers.
CoRoMo
Member
Do you work for, or are you otherwise affiliated with GunsAmerica? Why are you plugging them in this way?
Last edited:
Tim the student
Member
Thats what I believe, until proven otherwise.
Full Metal Jacket
member
i've never found a deal on gunbroker that couldn't be beat in a local gunshop. (same goes for gunsamerica) that site is worthless for me.
LMAO!--i wonder if GUNSAMERICA FAN just might be an employee of the same site...
LMAO!--i wonder if GUNSAMERICA FAN just might be an employee of the same site...
mcdonl
Member
Says the guy who tried to sell one round of ammo on GB for $1,000,000....
smoketheresfire
Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2009
- Messages
- 93
Isn't the point of buying online to get a better deal? GunBroker's prices are nothing special. If you live in a big city, nearly any high volume gun shop can beat their prices by a considerable margin, especially on new guns.
I wish they had a more extensive 'parts listing' subsection, because nothing sucks like looking for a good deal on a gun whilst wading through 300 pages of parts for said gun.
Although I haven't found a screaming deal myself, I've bought two guns so far for what I would say was still less than the going price anywhere else - even after shipping, transfer, and CC 3% surcharge. I've yet to see anything in any part of Virginia that comes close to what I can find on gunbroker with a substantially lower BuyNow price in ten minutes, in my experience.
What I do not like are overly optimistic sellers that put a high BuyNow price with a very high reserve on a gun that is clearly nowhere worth either. That, and outrageous shipping charges. Read a user feedback who got charged $50 for shipping, and it came in a $12 uninsured box. It wouldn't be so bad if such did not comprise about 80% of the listings. Oh well...
as said, caveat emptor is definitely in effect. If you use gunbroker, be patient and read between the lines (or just do what I do and don't buy from individuals looking to make a rip-off buck and just stick to the online dealers who are much more reasonable), and ask a lot of questions.
Although I haven't found a screaming deal myself, I've bought two guns so far for what I would say was still less than the going price anywhere else - even after shipping, transfer, and CC 3% surcharge. I've yet to see anything in any part of Virginia that comes close to what I can find on gunbroker with a substantially lower BuyNow price in ten minutes, in my experience.
What I do not like are overly optimistic sellers that put a high BuyNow price with a very high reserve on a gun that is clearly nowhere worth either. That, and outrageous shipping charges. Read a user feedback who got charged $50 for shipping, and it came in a $12 uninsured box. It wouldn't be so bad if such did not comprise about 80% of the listings. Oh well...
as said, caveat emptor is definitely in effect. If you use gunbroker, be patient and read between the lines (or just do what I do and don't buy from individuals looking to make a rip-off buck and just stick to the online dealers who are much more reasonable), and ask a lot of questions.
mcdonl
Member
Ding Ding Ding... we got a winna!
That is the same philosophy pawn shops use. People think (haha... yeah sure they do...) that if you are buying it from a pawn shop, Ebay, GB, etc... that it will be cheaper then retail. The sellers take advantage of this.
I just purchased another Lee Classic Handloader. Bought it new from Cabelas for $21, free shipping because it went to a local store. Ebay has the same item for $35. I see this stuff all the time.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I use GB for Mauser receivers,barrels and parts. I find what I want and for a price I'm willing to pay. No complaints here.
84B20
Member
Try to beat the deal I have on GB. I posted my first listing on the site. At least I've had some response, albeit, questions from potential buyers. It is listed on this site but no one has even replied. It is all a matter of volume. I'm sure there are many more visitors on their site. Not every gun buyer has the same in depth interest in firearms as we do.
I have two:
bought a Russian SKS, Tula refurb for only $330 after shipping and transfer. I've yet to see even a rusty PoS Russian SKS around me for under $400. The last gun show had even my favorite milsurp dealer selling a similar-condition one for $420.
I also won an auction for an Underwood M1 Carbine last night. The stock is like-new, the bore was very crisp and shiny, and it was apparently a Bavarian Police re-arming issued carbine; pretty much in Service-grade condition from how it all looked. Assuming everything goes as planned, I'll be saving close to $130 on it compared to what you can get through CMP after two months of waiting plus the wait to be considered eligible to purchase from them.
And even though they weren't my deals to have, I saw three fully-done SGL-20 Saiga conversions go for under $550 with $30 shipping (compared to getting them for $600 plus shipping from K-Var's little year-end clearance)
as said, if you're patient, the deals are there. If not, you can still probably at least match what you'd pay for it online anywhere else.
84B20
Member
Isn't that the case for whenever you are buying a firearm? I can't see window shopping for a gun.
Zoidberg523
Member
Craigslist is getting terrible as well. I don't need 50 e-mails every time I post an item, that read like - "I would like for to purchase your beautifully, wonderful Yamaha RBX bass - Great Deal from you. One problem though is..."
Why do they even send those? I mean, if you are trying to screw me out of my hard earned money, at least TRY. Don't send me an e-mail which I know to delete before I even open it.
NinjaFeint
Member
I never use Gunbroker because the prices are above what they are here locally. Well above in some cases.
I have bought on GB only about 30 times and have had no problems what so ever. Great place to find unusual and old guns I buy for my collection. I have never had any problems on E-Bay either and I am up over 1000 transactions. One is wise to know what they are looking for.
nwilliams
Member
I've sold many guns and gun parts on Gunbroker over the past couple years. If I have a gun or something gun related that I want to get rid of I always manage to sell it on gunbroker.
That said, I have never bought a gun using gunbroker. I don't like dealing with the whole transfer thing, I'd rather buy guns that I can hold first and buy on the spot.
That said, I have never bought a gun using gunbroker. I don't like dealing with the whole transfer thing, I'd rather buy guns that I can hold first and buy on the spot.
Airburst
Member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2006
- Messages
- 233
I have had tremendous success as both a seller and buyer. I typically will start my auctions with an amount I can live with, like noted above and will offer a buy now option, sometimes paying for the shipping. I have been disappointed only once with an RPK style AK 47 built on a Hesse receiver. The gun had rivets ground flush from someone removing the scope mount and other rivets were not flush with the receiver. Needless to say, the gun went back to the seller, who was very cool about the whole thing and my entire purchase amount was refunded. I have bought a few smaller items that didn't work as I had hoped, but what the hey it happens.
gearchecker
Member
I have had no issues with GB. So far 100% satisfied.
The biggest thing to GB is realizing it is an auction. You win some and you lose some.
If you are buying on auction you should really bid what it is worth to you. If you don't win the auction it just proves that somebody wanted it more.
I have purchase 11 items on GB 9 were auction, 2 were buy it now items.
I have bid on at least 25-30 different items, just to get the few I've won.
I am 100% satisfied on what I paid for every item. I've purchsed Rifle Scopes, a rare to find rear ramp sight for one of my 60 year old rifles, front sights, pistol and rifle stocks and a couple holsters.
The buy it now items were both magazine holsters. One for my XD-45 and the other for my S&W 669.
I've thought a couple sellers were a bit too high on their shipping rates, but I figured that into my price I was willing to pay.
Like the member here that loves GunsAmerica I keep a constant eye on the items I'm looking for. If it comes up for auction I watch it and then bid on the last day only. I usually won't bid until the last hour or less. That way I'm not wasting my time getting over bid too often. Sure it happens, but that's the thrill of an auction.
The biggest thing to GB is realizing it is an auction. You win some and you lose some.
If you are buying on auction you should really bid what it is worth to you. If you don't win the auction it just proves that somebody wanted it more.
I have purchase 11 items on GB 9 were auction, 2 were buy it now items.
I have bid on at least 25-30 different items, just to get the few I've won.
I am 100% satisfied on what I paid for every item. I've purchsed Rifle Scopes, a rare to find rear ramp sight for one of my 60 year old rifles, front sights, pistol and rifle stocks and a couple holsters.
The buy it now items were both magazine holsters. One for my XD-45 and the other for my S&W 669.
I've thought a couple sellers were a bit too high on their shipping rates, but I figured that into my price I was willing to pay.
Like the member here that loves GunsAmerica I keep a constant eye on the items I'm looking for. If it comes up for auction I watch it and then bid on the last day only. I usually won't bid until the last hour or less. That way I'm not wasting my time getting over bid too often. Sure it happens, but that's the thrill of an auction.
- Status
