I have just purchased my second firearm on line and for the second time been disappointed. The first time was through Gun broker it was a Savage 99 in .308 the add said 95% front sight missing so I think no big deal I'm going to scope the rifle so no biggey. Well I get rifle not only is front site missing about four inches of barrel is also. So I ask you how is this a 95% rifle I tried to return never could get seller to reply. So that kinda put me off as far as on line deals for maybe three years I would not consider on line purchase , well I see this beautiful B-78 on Guns International for sale {this is Cabelas for the best I can tell} so I take the leap ,I receive a rifle that had what I feel was a little more wear than they advertised but was still a nice rifle . I go buy a 459.00 Leupold vxIII take to range and guess what shells will not eject . I take it apart to realize the whole ejector mechanism is missing after several E-mails and four to five weeks I get a response that they can't locate all the parts that they will send what they have and that a gunsmith should be able to make the missing spring and hammer sear pin . And they will pay for gunsmith .Now I guess that maybe Cabelas has been as good as anyone but man what a hassle for a rifle I already have 1509.00 in. So I reckon my on line gun buys are over.

It's not for everyone.

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

Try Joe Salter. He's gotten a little pricey the last year or so, but he's honest, tons of photos, and if you don't like it, he'll take it back.

If I can't hold it and inspect it before buying, I'll pass.

I have bought five online and have not been dissappointed so far. However it could happen to anyone. I guess I have just been lucky.

I've bought a few over the internet and had relatively good luck except for one dealer in TN that totally misrepresented the gun and would not stand behind it whatsoever.
All in all, I feel fortunate and continue to shop online but remain somewhat leary.

Have you personally talked to either of the sellers before purchasing?
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I've purchased quite a few guns online and I've not really been disappointed in any of them, except one that was advertised as "200 rounds through it" but it looks to me like quite a few more but what the hey.....

I always look very closely at pictures, and ask questions if I'm unsure about anything. Be wary of blurry pics or any pics that don't show any part of the gun very well. Sometimes an area missing in the pics is missing for a reason. And try to talk to the seller if you have ANY ideas or are nervous about anything.

Alternatively, deal with very reputable sellers like Joe Salter or Fugate. I've bought several guns from each and always been very satisfied, once I got past the price.

I have bought at least 40 guns online in the last 3 years or so. I have yet to be "unsatisfied". I have had one or two that were a very small amount of "less-than-I-thought" but still worth the money.

I look at the description first, then pics (there has to be quality pics), then feedback, then payment methods and availability of "return rights". I do not always get return rights but do not worry if all else is "good". As a last resort, if need be, I email and ask questions. It helps if my online purchases are done with a credit card. That provides leverage if a deal goes bad.

I watch the auctions a lot, even if not buying, as such there are several "sellers" on Gunbroker and AuctionArms who do a thriving business. But, I am not adverse to buying from someone "new", if the emails and even phone calls are "good".

I do admit to being lucky though. Any day I could get a lemon.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Never a problem buying online. Gun Broker Guns America and private dealer sites. Only complaint could be high shipping from some sellers. But if it's something you can't live without it's worth the price. Seems to be more crooks at gun shows than on Gun Broker.

Ted

I've bought two, got one in better shape than the listing led me to believe and one listed as "Fair" that is now being rebarreled as it had not even a vestige of remaining rifling. Seller said "I just grabbed one that looked good and boxed it up." No option to exchange it. But then, both were Milsurps. One dealer I will deal with, one I steer people away from now.

Haven't had any bad experiences, or been disappointed buying guns online from individuals and gun dealers.
Only advice I have is to do homework upfront to avoid any surprises. I also recommend talking to the seller before making a decision.

I have bought 35-40 on Gunbroker over the years and never had a problem.

I've had pretty good luck with on-line purchases. I usually check the feedback well and I won't buy from anyone unless they:

1. are an FFL or ship through an FFL
2. allow returns for items that are not as described
3. don't have any negative feedback for at least 120 days
4. state up front what the shipping charges are
5. return any email questions or phone calls in a timely fashion
6. provide a lot of good clear photos
7. provide a good narrative descriptive listing of the item for sale

anyone who doesn't do the above isn't worth the time.


Pete

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Don't tread on me

What possible advantage is there to insisting on buying via an FFL, other than the lower shipping charges? There is no federal legal requirement that the sender have an FFL.

I'm not an FFL and I have sold several guns here, shipping them directly to the buyer's FFL. Nobody has had any complaints.

You cannot return one back to seller if he is not a FFL or will provide you a copy of one to mail it back. I have only had one bad transaction but it changed my outlook on online buying.

Thanks for your input guys, I think that you bring up some good points about contacting sellers and checking out by telephone conversation witch is something that I'm guilty of not doing . I would probably be much more incline to do business in the classified section of a forum like this one where you can get more of a read on person your dealing with, but as far as auctions on line I think I'm done.

it's too bad to hear you had bad experiences, I've been fortunate. I have purchased a good number the last 2 years online, at GB, on this board, on Northeastshooters.com and have gotten what I expected everytime. Maybe a hiccup or 2 here and there, but the product has been right on. I just had one almost bad experience for an AR preban receiver, something just wasn't adding up with the seller and the price was tooooo good.. no history on the seller anywhere and when I said I'll take it, he said OK, are you ok with shipping to a FFL.. well that didn't quiite sound right either.. in Ma, it has to go either FFL to FFL or face to face with a FA 10 form... I did my usual and asked for a number I could reach him at, he never responded.. hmmm, ok something wrong, either way the deal didn't go down and I didn't lose anything. That is my key, I have to talk to the seller, I have to know exactly what and from whom I am buying. They have to have some kind of history, something I can grasp that makes me feel comfortable..

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Jack C

I've bought 5 guns online and have always been very happy with what I received. A couple of them were actually nicer than I expected. But, like any other used item you buy online, there's always a chance you'll get less than you expected. It's unfortunate that some sellers will do and say anything to make a dollar.

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Misty

The 6 that I have purchased online/GunBroker were much nicer in my hands then they depicted in their ad. So MY experiences have been great.
Randy

We're pretty close to 50/50 on buying guns in person vs buying online. Until just a couple of days ago, all the guns we've bought online we bought from Bud's Gun Shop or Bud's Police Supply. I bought an S&W 3913NL the on GunsAmerica.com the other day and haven't received the gun yet, so the jury is still out on that one.

So far, we have had only one issue with a gun being something different than what was represented by the seller. That was a Dan Wesson CCO from BPS that turned out to be a 'Blem'. Bud's made good by replacing it with a new gun that's perfect and not a blem so it's working out OK in the long run.

Unfortunately, there is a potential for problems even with buying a brand new gun from a local dealer. For example, my SA 1911-A1 Trophy Match turned out to have a problem with the barrel. Never noticed the problem until after I had owned and shot the gun for several months. So, I shipped it off to SA just before Thanksgiving and am anxiously awaiting its return.

Of course, there is a bigger risk when buying a used gun online since it's condition is an issue. High quality photos are one of the best ways to deal with the condition question. I know that whenever I sell something in an auction, I post several high resolution tack sharp photos of the product so the buyer can see very clearly what I have for sale. No out of focus 'soft' images that can hide faults. Unfortunately, high quality images are not something many sellers post, or perhaps even capable of, so I make a point of asking the seller if there are any faults or problems with the product, are there any cosmetic issues that are can't be seen in the photos, etc. Or I ask them to take more photos and either post them with the ad or email them to me.

A lot depends on:

1. How risk adverse you are. Many folks these days spend more time and energy focused on the guarantee that comes with something than on the product itself.

2. Whether your expectations are reasonable or not. Many buyers are looking for the deal (steal?) of the century. I got a phone call the other day about a Walther I have for sale. The buyer seemed miffed that I was asking 80% of what he can buy a new one for on the Internet. First, I've sold most of my used guns for 100% of current street price - not such a bad deal considering that there is no FFL expense, no sales tax and no gov't record of the sale, which is totally legal where I live. A lot of folks want to buy a good gun but don't want to be in any gov't data base. So, they get the intangible benefit of buying a gun under the gov't radar plus save money compared to buying from a dealer.

3. Whether you're looking for a new gun or a used gun and how honest the seller may or may not be.

4. Whether you have handled that type of gun before. For example, I bought my both of my 1911's online. While I'd handled many 1911's and carried one in the service for 20 years, that's not the same as handling a Springfield or Dan Wesson CCO. So, while both guns are excellent examples of 1911's each is a tad different than I'd expected and maybe, just maybe I'd have made different choices if I knew then what I know now - just in terms of how they feel and look.

I think the majority of online deals go very well, but I have seen some bad deals. Recently I have been the receiving FFL for some guns that were anything but how they were described. One was supposed to be a "near mint" early Marlin rifle. It arrived with 20 something dents in the stock, an old repair to the forend using a hardware screw and the front sight and top of the barrel at the muzzle looked like it had been used to drive nails. The transferee wanted to send the rifle back but I couldn't send it directly to the seller who claimed he couldn't find an FFL to receive it. After about a month he did send $60 back to the buyer but there was no satisfaction received for the money he spent.

Not saying anyone would have problems with someone who is not an FFL shipping direct to my FFL - I'm just saying "I" will not buy from someone who isn't an FFL or doesn't use an FFL.

Pete

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Don't tread on me