Do you ever use Auction Arms?

[Barn Boy]

I usually spend my time and some money on Gun Broker first and Guns America second. I decided to give Auction Arms a go. I bid two days ago on a model 36 that had one other bid on it. No activity after my bid of two days ago and I was high bidder.
So today I am watching it count down with no other bids. I hit refresh with 2 minutes to go. Still high bidder. Hit refresh with 1 minute to go. Still high bidder. Hit refresh with 15 seconds to go and I have been out bid by $5 more than my max bid.
Two things run through my mind immediately:
1. I HATE last minute auction snipers who only show up at the end of an auction. Especially less than a minute before it ends.
2. I don't like the Auction Arms auction business model. No 15 minute reset like Gun Broker.

To add insult to injury Auction Arms sent me an outbid email notice time stamped two minutes after the auction closed. And then they won't let me send them an email about it because I haven't gotten 3 positive feed backs on their site. I don't think that I will be bidding on Auction Arms guns any more.

^&$xO Randy

[44wheelman]

Sure, it's more annoying than GB or GA, but because there is less traffic, you can get stuff cheaper than the other sites.

[walter o]

DO not worry about last minute snipers make your highest bid (what you are willing to pay) and forget it . If someone out bid's you they were willing to spend more money than you.

[willy]

Like walter o said, place what your hughest bid would be then forget about it!
Anything else will just drive you nuts.
Don't ask how I learned this bit of wisdom.

[deadin]

Would you have bid again if there had been a 15 minute rule in place?
If so, you didn't bid what you were willing to pay.
If not, you have nothing to gripe about. You were outbid and it doesn't really matter whether the winning bid was placed in the last 10 seconds or two weeks ago.

[perrazi]

personally, i like auction arms for just that reason. as stated before, bid what you are willing to pay and don't worry about it. have gotten some nice deals there.

[Firehouse]

Personally, I hate the 15 minute reset. Bid what you want to bid and forget it. It cuts both ways. I've sold things less than what I could have gotten on GB, but I've bought things cheaper than I could have gotten them on GB. To each their own. Both GB and AA have their pros and cons.

[deanpf]

I got four of five guns off of Auction arms last year and will do it again. No hassles, better prices than GB, and the guns I got were better than described.

[Barn Boy]

Originally Posted by deadin

Would you have bid again if there had been a 15 minute rule in place?
If so, you didn't bid what you were willing to pay.
If not, you have nothing to gripe about. You were outbid and it doesn't really matter whether the winning bid was placed in the last 10 seconds or two weeks ago.

I might have bumped it by $15 or $20 more. I understand what you all have said about setting your limit and seeing what happens. I guess that I need to have a different strategy for AA than I have been using on other sites. I have gotten caught up in the heat of the chase on GB and have gone a little too far a couple of times with the 15 minute reset.
What really frosted me is how the sniper got in there in the last 60 seconds of the time limit. Live and learn...
Randy

[doublesharp]

I like AA and I get better deals by sniping. I'm not going to put my max out a couple days in advance and let bidders chip away driving my price up.

I dislike Guns America. Too one sided. The buyer makes a commitment but he has no clue whether or not he's bought a gun.

[ladder13]

I've bought a few on AA, less inventory to choose from but better prices.
And that "jackthedog" fellow sure has some quality stuff, but everyone now seems to know it.

[M28]

....the other thing I like about AA is that they mandate that the seller has a three day return policy. Some GB sellers will do the same, but some don't, as is their option.

Brian~

[M28]

Originally Posted by ladder13

And that "jackthedog" fellow sure has some quality stuff, but everyone now seems to know it.

As well, Mark is a very decent guy to do business with.

Brian~

[Suwannee Tim]

I have bought several items off their auction, I have made several suggestions to correct bugs and improve the site. The site is the same as it was several years ago, same bugs, no improvements. I don't think they will be around in ten years. You can't stay still online and expect to survive.

[gunsmith11]

bidding is an art forum,,,dont bid untill the last minute, and make the bid a fee that you can live with,,,,,If you get outbid,so what,,,you were not wanting it bad enough

[mountaingun629]

I have only bought one gun on AA, but I like the defined ending time rather than the floating ending time on GB. If you are used to Fleabay, just bid the same as you would on their auctions.

Myron

[kleinkaliber]

I prefer AA over GB but have and will continue to buy from both. As I am a buyer and not a seller, I don't like the 15 minute rule. I feel it favors the seller as it gives more time for buyers with "auction fever" to "battle." In GB's favor, they have alot more items up at any one time. I feel both sites should limit the number of times an item can be relisted at the same price. If a standard Model 10 doesn't sell the tenth time at $1500, why should it the twentieth time?

[Class III]

I've bought over thirty firearms on AA. Have I ever sniped a bid? Sure. Have I ever been sniped? Many times. With the defined ending time of the auction, if an item is already more than I am willing to pay I just leave my bid alone or do not try to snipe bid. If an item is below what I am willing to pay I'll put in my max bid and wait to see where it goes. I like AA more than GB primarily for this reason as I hate the 15 minute rule. Also there is less traffic on AA so prices seem to stay lower.

Class III

[spearcrow]

Bought several guns off this forum, but never one of the auction sites. I just have never found a gun on GB especially that I felt I wouldn't be significantly overpaying for. I prefer to deal within this closer-knit group. I have looked at auction arms a lot recently and it seems to be a much more fairly priced auction site, fwiw.

[tripledipper]

This forum, especially for the less experienced buyer, is the way to go. The most satisying purchases I have made were from forum members. I have also dealt with and won bids on GB and AA which were OK but if you don't know your guns and prices you are vulnerable.

[H Richard]

I've actually bought more off AA than GB. I like AA with the set ending time. Bid the max you want, the system will only raise you $5 at a time if another bidder submits, and won't go past your max bid. You won't pay max if no one else bids. It's straight forward and direct. Can you get sniped? Yes, but then you didn't bid your max, or the other bidder is willing to pay more than you are.

[M28]

Originally Posted by H Richard

Bid the max you want, the system will only raise you $5 at a time if another bidder submits, and won't go past your max bid.

I'm not trying to be anal, but I want to set the record straight for those who are not familiar with AA and might be thinking about jumping in. Isn't it true that the seller sets the incremental bid increase and it's not always $ 5? I agree wholeheartedly with all your other points and use AA much more than GB.

Brian~

[mountaingun629]

I agree with kleinkaliber that re-lists should be limited. I have seen items re-listed for many months at ridiculous prices without a bid. One item I have been watching has re-listed every 24 hours for several months. In fact, this dealer has 79 items currently listed, all are 24 hour listings, to be re-listed the next day if not sold.

Myron