GB question****Scam or legit????

Retired LTC, USAR · #1 11-25-2011, 10:07 AM

Was bidding on a gun on GB. Did not "win" the gun.

Just received an e-mail from "seller" stating if I am still interested in buyinf the item to let him know.

Scam or legit offer and is there is any way to determine for sure?

Mike1957 · #2 11-25-2011, 10:16 AM

If the guy has a good feedback rating it`s likely the winning bidder backed out on him. If he doesn`t have a good rating,...... who knows.
Also possible that if the seller was just a bit sleezy, he had someone trying to run up the price for him and they pushed too far and won the auction instead of just driving up the price.

oldafsp · #3 11-25-2011, 10:18 AM

Well, you probably aspire to the same though process as many of us do...if it looks like a fish....

Something made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up...as mine would too.

Shill bidding is a common problem...the seller uses mulitiple email/indenties to push the auction price up. Then lo and behold, there was a problem with the high bidder.

He contacts you or whoever was in the bidding. They look for someone who placed at least 3 bids, showing an interest in the item.

Take it from there if you will....it would be resonably hard to prove it, but most of these guys aren't that smart.

There are ways of figuring out how many times they do this, but it is time consuming.

Most sellers are pretty honest....and some that aren't.

You didn't make it to light bird by not being able to read people....

s&wchad · #4 11-25-2011, 10:43 AM

A careful review of his feedback and the bid history, both on this and a few previous items may offer some insight. Also consider whether the selling price was good, average or high.

I recently sold some items on ebay and the high bidder on one never contacted me or paid for the item. After filing a "complaint" and waiting the mandated amount of time, I made an official "second chance offer". The item was immediately purchased, I shipped it that day and both the buyer and I were very satisfied.

If the offer is outside of the auction site and simply thru email, I'd decline.

truckemup97 · #5 11-25-2011, 12:44 PM

If it was a dealer with a new item, he may have had two (or more) and decided it would be easier to sell one to you at your price than run another auction.

stanws6 · #6 11-25-2011, 01:09 PM

A few months ago I had a gun for sale on Gunbroker. When it ended the winning bidder backed out. I asked Gunbroker if I could offer it to the next highest bidder and they said no, I had to relist it. I could not even get the second bidders e-mail address. How did he get yours?

Retired LTC, USAR · #7 11-25-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanws6

A few months ago I had a gun for sale on Gunbroker. When it ended the winning bidder backed out. I asked Gunbroker if I could offer it to the next highest bidder and they said no, I had to relist it. I could not even get the second bidders e-mail address. How did he get yours?

That's a good question????

JayCeeNC · #8 11-25-2011, 04:21 PM

I bid on a revolver on GB some time ago. The "Reserve Price" was not met, but the seller emailed me and sold it to me at my bid because I was the closest to his reserve. So it might be legit.

arjay · #9 11-25-2011, 05:01 PM

Will the seller accept a credit card?

nicky4968 · #10 11-25-2011, 05:08 PM

Offer him your opening bid and see what he says.

1 old 0311 · #11 11-25-2011, 05:19 PM

When in doubt I tell them to re-list it and I will buy it at the buy it now price.

handejector · #12 11-25-2011, 05:33 PM

Many scammers work ebay and GunBroker.

A few months ago, the second place bidder on one of my auctions contacted me. I tell people how to find my website in my auctions, so he got my phone number there and called me. He said I had offered the gun to him via email because the buyer backed out.
I HAD NOT.
He was about to mail a M.O., but not to me.

IF the seller has other items currently listed, there is a very simple way to find out if the seller really contacted you. Go to one of his active auctions and click on the "Ask seller a question" on the auction page and ask him IF he emailed you. DO NOT ask by replying to the email.
It will help to give him the auction NUMBER and Title you are referring to.

Retired LTC, USAR · #13 11-25-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

Many scammers work ebay and GunBroker.

A few months ago, the second place bidder on one of my auctions contacted me. I tell people how to find my website in my auctions, so he got my phone number there and called me. He said I had offered the gun to him via email because the buyer backed out.
I HAD NOT.
He was about to mail a M.O., but not to me.

IF the seller has other items currently listed, there is a very simple way to find out if the seller really contacted you. Go to one of his active auctions and click on the "Ask seller a question" on the auction page and ask him IF he emailed you. DO NOT ask by replying to the email.
It will help to give him the auction NUMBER and Title you are referring to.

Thanks Lee, I will do that.

smitty_bs · #14 11-26-2011, 12:23 PM

One more thought. On AuctionArms, they have what they refer to as a "Haggle". If you are the high bidder on a reserve price item, but the reserve price was not met, the seller can contact the you and offer a "haggle" price and you can go back and forth with him.

I normally don't bid on reserve price items, but one time I did. I was the high bidder but the reserve price was not met. The seller contacted me with an offer price $10 higher than my bid, so I said what the heck and bought it. Worked out fine. I don't know if GB has that but the seller may have been making an honest effort to sell the item.

Retired LTC, USAR · #15 11-26-2011, 01:14 PM

Took Lees advice and found another item he is selling and asked him if he sent me the e-mail. Waiting for a reply. Will keep you informed.