Some GB sellers - I just don't understand their attitude

[Cannibul]

I for one get a feeling the biding is a scam.
I think sellers have other accounts or friends to drive the prices.
Recently was bidding on a gun. No reserve but a buy now price. Bidding was getting near the buy now price and I let it go. After its sold I wanted to see what it sold for. It actually went at the buy now price, but had already been relisted no reserve same buy now price as before. Seems odd to me.

If the item sells they owe GB the fees. That can add up real quick.

 

[CDW4ME]

3 questions you say.
Have you checked if the spare cylinder fits the gun? No, .... well I think it does .... AAAAhhhhhh..
Is the spare cylinder numbered to the gun?
Could I get a partial serial number so that I can date the gun?

 

[SSN Vet]

Never underestimate the stupidity or laziness of people.

 

[Captcurt]

I for one get a feeling the biding is a scam.
I think sellers have other accounts or friends to drive the prices.
Recently was bidding on a gun. No reserve but a buy now price. Bidding was getting near the buy now price and I let it go. After its sold I wanted to see what it sold for. It actually went at the buy now price, but had already been relisted no reserve same buy now price as before. Seems odd to me.

I have seen that too, but on the other side, there are times when you get a non-payer. I have had that as many as 2 times on the same firearm. It really burns my biscuits. Then I have to claim non-payment with GB and try to get my listing fees credited. It is a real PITA. I do turn them in and they are supposed to be banned from future bidding.

 

[lightman]

I imagine that people on GB are a pretty good sample of people across America. Some honest, some dishonest, some smarter than others, some with a reading comprehension problem, ect. I sold a few guns on GB back in the Winter and all but one went without a hitch. This guy was from another state and wanted to meet on I-40 several days or maybe a week after the auction closed. It seems he traveled I-40 for work and I agree. Never heard from him again and after a few weeks I relisted the rifle. I provided good pictures, an accurate description of the guns and answered any questions as honestly as possible. A lot of the questions were answered in the description.

 

[748]

They're dealing with a lot of n00bs and clueless buyers now that the anti gun people realized that they can't depend on the police to protect them and are they themselves buying a gun or guns.

 

[Virginia Jim]

When asking a seller a question, make sure MAKE SURE the answer is not already in the text. This is very annoying.

 

[film495]

twice I've made purchases where the gun that came was actually a little better than I expected. a couple times I was a little disappointed at first, but - they grew on me... once I just sent back. usually, I'll ask one question that isn't answered in the description, and if they can answer it directly and clearly - I'll consider a bid, if not then I just move on. sometimes if you really want it - you just have to take a chance and deal with the results.

 

[redneck2]

If you believe the phrase “there’s no such thing as a stupid question”, list a gun for sale

Years ago, I had a Savage 99 for sale. I had listed it on another forum a long with THR. I’ll bet I got fifty messages and emails.

Could you take pictures, of the crown, of the receiver, of the sights? Every friggin part. What model is it? What year was it built? How many rounds? How am I supposed to know the round count for a rifle that’s older than me?

I had included multiple pictures in the original description, but it was never good enough. I had slow internet, and each picture download took maybe 12-15 minutes. After maybe five stupid requests from people that admitted that they didn’t really want to buy, they were “just looking”, I stated in the ad that I was done replying. I had put hours into non-buyers.

So then I was a scammer because I wouldn’t answer their endless stupid questions. It was a $400 rifle, not The Hope Diamond.

 

[Ignition Override]

JT_AR_MG42:
The seller probably hopes that you are an ignoramus about that specific gun type or you're committed, and you're gonna attach your Ego to Winning the bid,

 

[wiscoaster]

I've done three dozen transactions on Gunbroker and have been screwed zero times and have had to give negative reviews twice. I'd say that's a pretty good track record. I think the OP's rant applies to such a small fraction of GB sellers that if a buyer is just cautious and uses some common sense dealing with them you're going to come out fine.

 

[skoro]

I've made maybe a dozen GB purchases over the years and never been disappointed.

BUT, I ALWAYS email a valid question to the seller. Not some nonsensical time waster. If I get a reasonable response, I place a bid. If no answer, then I pass. I figure that if the seller won't respond to my question , he may not be Johnny-on-the-spot getting my purchase shipped, either.

Just my own method, but like I said, I've never been disappointed.

 

[lsudave]

Maybe it's because I'm looking used and want a good deal, but I generally do a fair amount of research on the gun (model) before I bid. I then take into account cosmetics vs function, and look for bargains. Anyway, I usually get enough info from the listing, and then stick to a price I can live with. I'm the guy who grabs those Ugly Gun Specials for under $200 , and usually I'm happy.

 

[dogtown tom]

When asking a seller a question, make sure MAKE SURE the answer is not already in the text. This is very annoying.

When asking who?

 

[Mosin77]

I have run into this kind of thing several times on Gunbroker in the past ~20 years.

If my 2 or 3 specific questions (never a question that requires disassembly) do not receive a specific & satisfactory response, I move along.

On most of these occasions, the unsat responses have indicated to me that the Seller is dodgy.

Many of these have involved my requesting descriptive condition of the bore, suggesting some possible responses like "frosted", "dark", "pitted", bright&shiny", etc. (for those who might have trouble crafting such a description) ... and the Seller will respond with something non-specific like, "The bore is good/fine/OK" ... sometimes adding a truly worthless, "...for a 50/60/70 years old rifle."

I interpret such a response as: The bore has Issues ... since this chucklehead refuses to provide a specific & candid response.

I never like to talk about the bore. Why? It causes more problems than it solves. If it’s a sewer pipe I mention it for full disclosure but otherwise I leave well enough alone.

Scenario 1: I include a bore description with the listing. Maybe even a photo. This description takes time to formulate, and involves the use of another guy to hold a light/work the breech while I eyeball/try to get my cellphone positioned for a photo. Maybe I need to clean the bore to get a good idea of condition. Especially if it’s full of cosmoline. Time is money.

Now... the auction is live. I get about a dozen guys asking me for more/better photos, or asking me to clarify just what “frosted” means, or what I mean by “small amount of debris” in the lands.

Now the auction has ended. If the bore is amazing, I get maybe $15-50 more for my gun than I’d have gotten if I didn’t even address the bore. If the bore is not amazing, I get $50-$200
less than I’d have gotten if I just said nothing.

Now the winning bidder has his gun. Now I get the email “What in blazes were you thinking, calling this a great/decent/OK/acceptable bore? A blind man could see the pitting/debris/discoloration/rounded lands/whatever in this barrel!” In short, almost everyone’s standards of what constitutes an acceptable bore are different. Trying to convey this over the Internet doesn’t work well and usually leads to an upset customer.

Scenario 2: I don’t mention a bore condition. The same dozen guys ask “How’s the bore.” Annoying but I can just ignore them or send them a polite sentence or two saying I have no idea. They think I’m a hopeless excuse of a dealer who is too lazy to get off his keister to look down the barrel of a rifle they would like to pay real yankee dollars for, and may or may not bid. I don’t care. Someone else will. Gun sells for basically what it would have if I’d talked up the great bore. And I have less labor in it because I didn’t have to clean it, describe it, try to photo it, and physically handle the rifle 12 times trying to formulate a more exact description for buyers who will most likely shoot half a box of ammo out of it and put it in the safe anyway. And the customer is thrilled because they got a neat gun at a fair price, and if the bore is acceptable (it almost always is) they feel like they really won the lottery.

Perhaps the foregoing explains the curious reticence of many gunbroker sellers to mention the bore condition of their wares.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Like any retail or service industry, there are business people who are more helpful than others. When I don't like the way someone does business, I go elsewhere.

 

[Trey Veston]

I've bought a few guns off of GB and sold one. I have never bought a used gun off of GB and I probably never will. I have noticed that when looking at used guns on there, the seller's idea of "excellent condition" and mine are usually vastly different.

My one experience selling a highly sought after lever-action years ago on GB went without a hitch. But, I've noticed lately that selling anything to the general public on sites like Craigslist and GB is a crap shoot full of morons.

I bought a used gas stove that came with about 9' of triple wall chimney that I didn't need. Stuff is about $80 per three foot section. I asked $75 and listed the exact dimensions and applications.

I got a call from a woman saying she would take it. I asked what kind of stove she had to make sure it would work for her and she said it was a wood stove. I told her it wouldn't work. She called me a dirty word and hung up. The guy that ended up buying it showed up with a Toyota Camry to carry 9' of chimney 75 miles back to his house.

I've listed bunches of tires on CL and every single time, I get questions about if they will fit their vehicle. The size is listed clearly in the photos and the description. Take 30 seconds to search the internet to see if they fit.

To see how dumb people are these days, look at any holster on Amazon. 90% of the time, the make and model of the firearm it fits is listed in the description. Then look at the questions asked of the seller. Most of the questions will be people asking if it fits a firearm that isn't listed as it fitting. I could understand that for a generic nylon or leather holster, but for a molded Kydex or leather holster for a specific model??

I now take my used tires and wheels to my folks house and let my retired dad sell them for a cut of the profit. He is a retired Chief of Police and is used to dealing with stupid people.

 

[Brutuskend]

My guess is that they just figure that they have such a wide group of people out there looking and bidding that they don't really have to be all that responsive to questions. If you don't buy it, someone else will. I have had the same issue, both on GB, and ebay, same mind set both places.

 

[wiscoaster]

I never like to talk about the bore. ... <big snip> ... the foregoing explains the curious reticence of many gunbroker sellers to mention the bore condition of their wares.

As a buyer, photos are the best. Photos don't lie and aren't subject to subjective interpretation. It is a shame how many Gunbroker sellers cannot take decent photos and/or don't take enough photos of the parts of the firearm buyers are most interested in examining. Those auctions I usually avoid bidding on.

 

[Outlaw75]

To see how dumb people are these days, look at any holster on Amazon. 90% of the time, the make and model of the firearm it fits is listed in the description. Then look at the questions asked of the seller. Most of the questions will be people asking if it fits a firearm that isn't listed as it fitting. I could understand that for a generic nylon or leather holster, but for a molded Kydex or leather holster for a specific model??

Or better yet, the Safariland holsters that are adjustable. You get "It's too tight to draw" or "It's so loose loose it rattles" and you know they never read the instructions on how to used the tensioning screw and the hex key provided by the manufacturer.

 

[Captcurt]

I never like to talk about the bore. Why? It causes more problems than it solves. If it’s a sewer pipe I mention it for full disclosure but otherwise I leave well enough alone.

Scenario 1: I include a bore description with the listing. Maybe even a photo. This description takes time to formulate, and involves the use of another guy to hold a light/work the breech while I eyeball/try to get my cellphone positioned for a photo. Maybe I need to clean the bore to get a good idea of condition. Especially if it’s full of cosmoline. Time is money.

Now... the auction is live. I get about a dozen guys asking me for more/better photos, or asking me to clarify just what “frosted” means, or what I mean by “small amount of debris” in the lands.

Now the auction has ended. If the bore is amazing, I get maybe $15-50 more for my gun than I’d have gotten if I didn’t even address the bore. If the bore is not amazing, I get $50-$200
less than I’d have gotten if I just said nothing.

Now the winning bidder has his gun. Now I get the email “What in blazes were you thinking, calling this a great/decent/OK/acceptable bore? A blind man could see the pitting/debris/discoloration/rounded lands/whatever in this barrel!” In short, almost everyone’s standards of what constitutes an acceptable bore are different. Trying to convey this over the Internet doesn’t work well and usually leads to an upset customer.

Scenario 2: I don’t mention a bore condition. The same dozen guys ask “How’s the bore.” Annoying but I can just ignore them or send them a polite sentence or two saying I have no idea. They think I’m a hopeless excuse of a dealer who is too lazy to get off his keister to look down the barrel of a rifle they would like to pay real yankee dollars for, and may or may not bid. I don’t care. Someone else will. Gun sells for basically what it would have if I’d talked up the great bore. And I have less labor in it because I didn’t have to clean it, describe it, try to photo it, and physically handle the rifle 12 times trying to formulate a more exact description for buyers who will most likely shoot half a box of ammo out of it and put it in the safe anyway. And the customer is thrilled because they got a neat gun at a fair price, and if the bore is acceptable (it almost always is) they feel like they really won the lottery.

Perhaps the foregoing explains the curious reticence of many gunbroker sellers to mention the bore condition of their wares.

To be honest, a person can't give an accurate answer on the bore condition unless they have a good borescope and know how to read the results. Copper in the lands and grooves is easy to see, but there may be micro cracks near the chamber that only a trained eye could decipher.

 

[daniel craig]

As a buyer, photos are the best. Photos don't lie and aren't subject to subjective interpretation. It is a shame how many Gunbroker sellers cannot take decent photos and/or don't take enough photos of the parts of the firearm buyers are most interested in examining. Those auctions I usually avoid bidding on.

That’s the one that gets me. Decent photos aren’t that hard these days yet it seems like a lot of people still use actual film and then scan the pics in to a computer from a disposable camera.

 

[Mosin77]

To be honest, a person can't give an accurate answer on the bore condition unless they have a good borescope and know how to read the results. Copper in the lands and grooves is easy to see, but there may be micro cracks near the chamber that only a trained eye could decipher.

Agreed. Most dealers (myself included -I work for a gunshop) just don’t have the knowledge, or the equipment, but the big one is the time. If I buy an old rifle for myself you can bet I get out the patches, ballistol and other solvents to get that bore as spotless as possible. But it just doesn’t make a lot of sense on a rifle someone’s making $100 on. And it’s a moot point with modern guns anyway. Anything made in the last 50 years is likely to have a very nice bore unless it was neglected in a barn.

 

[casimer]

If the seller's feedback is otherwise good, it could be that they're under water right now. Maybe they've got an employee or family member just responding to emails(?). It doesn't make sense to reply with a non-answer- why waste the effort just to antagonize someone?

 

[il.bill]

...

It will likely ruin his day and he'll take months if not years to recover.

I laughed out loud at this response