Can gun be listed on Gunbroker saying "I might not sell unless at least X $$"

[bushmaster1313]

Can gun be listed on Gunbroker saying "I might not sell unless at least X $$"

I do not like bidding or listing "reserve" auctions.

But I am also not comfortable listing for a very low price. Is it allowed to list a no reserve auction but to state clearly in the body of the Description that you reserve the right to pay the Gunbroker fee but not complete the sale if the gun does not sell for at least a certain amount.

For example, you list a 5" Pre-27 with a $0.01 starting bid , but you state clearly in the auction that you reserve the right to not complete the sale if the bidding ends below $900.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

I don't think their rules permit that. An alternative would be to start the bidding at $900 with no reserve.

 

[bushmaster1313]

An alternative would be to start the bidding at $900 with no reserve.

Exactly

But it is nice to get a little action. Moreover, if the highest the bidding goes is $875 I might be willing to sell at that price, but I would never know with a starting bid of $900.

 

[Wyo]

I don’t think the rules allow such a thing and, even if they did, I would never enter a bid in any amount under such conditions. If you want at least $900 then set a $900 opening bid. If you might sell for $875 then set a minimum bid of $875. If you can’t decide before you list it then don’t list it at all. It is totally unfair to leave the bidders at your whim.

 

[hittman77]

Indecisive much?

Seems clear you don't want to sell it.

 

[Ozark Marine]

Set a starting bid at your minimum you would take for it let's say $875.00 and a "Buy It Now" at $950.00.
Make's sense to me.

And I see a lot more sellers padding the shipping cost.
By $10.00 to $25.00.

 

[Zipdog]

Using those kind of tactics makes it not an auction in the pure sense. Very few buyers would be interested in bidding. Probably no one at all.

 

[arjay]

I do not like bidding or listing "reserve" auctions.

But I am also not comfortable listing for a very low price. Is it allowed to list a no reserve auction but to state clearly in the body of the Description that you reserve the right to pay the Gunbroker fee but not complete the sale if the gun does not sell for at least a certain amount.

For example, you list a 5" Pre-27 with a $0.01 starting bid , but you state clearly in the auction that you reserve the right to not complete the sale if the bidding ends below $900.

If you don't complete the sale GB will suspend your account

 

[sigp220.45]

I haven’t sold any guns on Gunbroker, but I have sold some pricey items on eBay. Always a very low (under 5 bucks) starting price and no reserve. I made sure I had a good title that would turn up in searches and good pictures. I never got burned, and I’m sure I got more on most than I would have with a reserve.

Its not for the faint of heart, though.

As a buyer I don’t even look at auctions with a reserve.

 

[Ozark Marine]

Using those kind of tactics makes it not an auction in the pure sense. Very few buyers would be interested in bidding. Probably no one at all.

Are you playing a Halloween prank?
A man want's to sell something and knows what he wants for it.
The minimum bid is always the price he wants.
Anything after that is gravy for the seller who has to pay a premium to the site and ship it.
Penny auctions are great for volume sellers like SMS who has sold 190009 gun's and accessories to date and quite a few to me.
Not a man selling 1 gun.

 

[twodog max]

You need to decide first if you really want to sell and if so what is your bottom dollar. I usually pay no attention to reserve auctions unless it is a real desirable or interesting item. I rarely bid one and have never won one. What you suggest is against gunbroker rules and even if it were not I doubt any serious buyer would give it a second look.

 

[Ozark Marine]

You need to decide first if you really want to sell and if so what is your bottom dollar. I usually pay no attention to reserve auctions unless it is a real desirable or interesting item. I rarely bid one and have never won one. What you suggest is against gunbroker rules and even if it were not I doubt any serious buyer would give it a second look.

I agree.
Set a opening bid and a buy it now price.
If that don't work rent a table at a gun show and haggel in person.
No shipping cost or FFL fees. Easy.

 

[Absalom]

Your situation is exactly why the idea of the reserve auction was even created. And only for that. Way too many idiots don't realize that and stick a reserve on every $200 gun they put up, just because.

But if you truly need or want to feel out the market for a relatively high-price item without risking a too-low sale, but also without spending weeks or months dropping your too-high minimum bid five bucks at a time toward your bottom line, a reserve auction with a low minimum can be justified.

Some people won't like it, but in my experience the "I never bid on reserve auctions" huffers and puffers are a lot less prevalent than the noise they like to make in forums might lead you to believe. Serious buyers will look at the gun first, not the formalities.

 

[df06]

Set a minimum bid at what ever you are willing to sell it t for

 

[JH1951]

I would not bid on an auction where someone proposes to make a decision about selling after bidding is done. I am not ever in the mood to be played with in that fashion, so I move on to other things. I also don't bother much with people at gun shows who don't put prices on their merchandise. Also, I usually just pass on auctions with a reserve price. Kinda like 'why bother'....
When I list something for sale, I make sure the description will capture as many searches as possible, and list the starting bid at $0.01, which gets a lot of bidders involved. Typically once they are "in" on the bidding, they are somewhat invested in the process, and will often bid more than they initally intended to - just like a real live auction when 'bidders fever' sets in. This advice from a guy who has done eBay and GunBroker for well over two decades.
It takes some faith that you can usually only muster up from experience.
Bottom line is if you have a nice piece, listed in the right category, with a very good description, accompanied by a lot of good clear pictures, overall leaving nothing to the imagination, the piece will sell at or above 'market value'. Honestly, I have never been let down by buyers. Like I said, it takes some faith, and add in some skill, you are likely to hit a home run. One caution or two: This comes to pay you off as a result of having some experience. This means you are comfortable with making a good listing, taking and providing sharp pictures, etc. And keep in mind "feedback" is important for the buyer/bidder and seller. If a seller has "0" feedback, I, and many others, will really hesitate to bid because it is a **** shoot. Dealing with someone who has little to zero experience does not create a comfort zone for a buyer. I guess I am saying Gunbroker likely won't provide one-hit instant gratification. Work with it, and it will work for you.
As my witness, please check out the "prior sales" on GunBroker. Good listings from good sellers get good prices for good stuff. Maybe had I just said that it would have saved me ten minutes.....

 

[Targets Guy]

I give my bid; if it doesn't meet the reserve set on it, I'm done. Lots of guns out there.

 

[glenwolde]

You say you won't bid on a reserve auction...would you bid on an auction such as you describe?

 

[SweetMK]

Set a minimum bid at what ever you are willing to sell it t for

That is a MUST,,
I purchased a 3 point hitch post hole digger at a consignment auction,,

The PHD was exactly what I wanted,, and I planned to bid to $600 to get it.

Well,, every time someone else bid,, I immediately rebid.

The auction closed at $250,, I was happy,,,

It turned out that the seller was a kinda close neighbor,,
he was more than mad at the low price,, he too thought the price would be over $500.
He complained to me about that PHD price each time he saw me until 5 years later,
he died in a tragic farming accident.

Make sure you have a mechanism to get the $$$ that is youur minimum,,,
that bad feeling of selling too low can last a L O N G time,,,

 

[WaywardSon]

I have sold a few hundred guns on Gunbroker and have good feedback. The proposal by the OP is nonsense. Write an honest description of the gun. Take the best pictures you can that clearly show any problem areas. Start the auction at the lowest price you would be happy with...no reserve...and I don't do "Buy it Now" auctions. Limits your upside. Respond to any questions from a buyer immediately. Service after the sale is important...don't take forever to ship. If you have the money and the paperwork the gun should ship next day at the latest. Simple eh?

 

[DWalt]

I do a lot of buying and selling on eBay, and I absolutely detest auctions which have an unknown reserve to the degree that I normally won't bid. When I sell, I provide a starting bid with no reserve which is the minimum I will accept. I also usually put in a buy it now price which is usually at least 50% above the starting price. My experience has been that the "buy it now" option is very often exercised. I will never use a reserve price.

Just this week I sold some Colt ephemera with a BIN price double the starting price, and it sold immediately. I was happy and I guess the buyer was also.