Gunbroker Auctions Can be Fraudulent

[haris1]

Mostly my GB experiences have been pleasant but i must caution dont bid unless there is a return priviledge. I have to cringe when i come across the obvious fakes.

Another seller is selling a 624, 3 inch tapered barrel with a square butt , pre lock.These were never made by the factory.
But his ad reads "Smith & Wesson never cataloged a 3 inch square butt gun therefore this has to be a special order gun or a custom shop gun. "This was done in the sellers custom shop garage and I have e mails from him to prove it. He has been selling barrels that he takes off square butts and then installs short ones and sells them at outrageous amounts as special order guns. I have been stuck before and know what it feels like.
In contrast and I am not looking for Brownie points, but forum deals have always been above board and the only gun I ever sent back when a reblue was in question ended up with the seller graciously refunding my money with no questions asked.

PS. originally i discussed a gun where the "original" box was not numbered to the gun. I am retracting that discussion after receiving a second e mail that the seller sent me stating the box does number.

 

[vytoland]

there are all kinds of clowns out there trying to separate you from your money. all you have to do is.....walk on by.

 

[utahvaughn]

G.B.auctions can be fraud

Thank you, the custom garage would have had my cash.

 

[redbos]

Yeah, a bunch of stuff sometimes looks even to good to be true, but I have always been lucky on GB so far. Found a LNIB 17-2 for a great price from a NR seller, just got lucky I guess.....

 

[fyimo]

I have bought several S&W revolvers on GB and I have been lucky that I have never been burned. There are honest dealers up there, dishonest dealers up there, and private sellers with some of them that are either dishonest or they don't know much about their gun. That's the nature of auction sites like GB for firearms and Ebay for other types of items. However, both auction sites have seller feed back ratings that you can check and you can decide whether to buy or not.

I have seen things like a Nickel 28-2 up there and when I sent the seller an email and asked for the serial number and whether he had the gun lettered he wouldn't respond. I've seen others like that up there and if you know your stuff they are pretty easy to spot.

Anyway, I think it's just the nature of an internet auctions.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Why do I bet this guy is my fellow Floridian again...

 

[gkitch]

DANGER! WARNING WILL ROBINSON!

1. Does the seller offer an inspection period? If he actaully specifies "NO RETURNS" or "ALL SALES FINAL" why would he do that? These are major danger signs.
2. Does he claim to know very little about it? "I do not know much about these kinds of guns but I'm told...." Most sellers research their guns carefully.
3. If he claims it is rare and original, where is the letter? If there are no other danger signs (see 1 &2) one might ask the seller to allow you to return it if it fails to letter properly.
4. ALWAYS check seller's past sales feedback.

 

[rollin_hot]

GB auctions

So far my success rate on GB auctions is about 75% good and 25% bad.

Haris knows all to well my saga I had with a particular seller who waited a month to ship because he claimed me sending a PMO certified mail caused him a tremendous inconvenience.

He actually threatend to withhold the gun from me and my FFL and at one point stopped all communication with me claiming he would not deal with a novice even though he already had my PMO.

It was'nt until I threatened to involve the US postal Service and the ATF that he made it right. He even sent me a $30 check because he did not ship in a timely fashion.

I also had a guy send my FFL a 629-2 I had purchased in nothing more than the mailing box. The gun was sliding around loose in the box and no attempt was made to protect or secure the weapon from getting damaged.

 

[rollin_hot]

1. Does the seller offer an inspection period? If he actaully specifies "NO RETURNS" or "ALL SALES FINAL" why would he do that? These are major danger signs.
2. Does he claim to know very little about it? "I do not know much about these kinds of guns but I'm told...." Most sellers research their guns carefully.
3. If he claims it is rare and original, where is the letter? If there are no other danger signs (see 1 &2) one might ask the seller to allow you to return it if it fails to letter properly.
4. ALWAYS check seller's past sales feedback.

I like the guy that does'nt know anything about the gun but knows what it is worth and what they are selling for.

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

Yep, most of my transactions have been good but there was that one time; when a thief tryed to take my money on a non-existent PC1911.

He did take some members on guns that didn't exist. What he was doing was copying legitimate ads then running them as his own, and yes, he was in Florida.

 

[TNDave]

There was a Marlin Marauder in 35 Remington on there not long ago with a replacement butt stock. He wanted top dollar. It didn't sell.

 

[681ismyfavorite]

i have made about a dozen or so purchases on GB over the past 10 years or so......not many but enough to know what to look for in a seller.

 

[redbos]

Actually, I got burnt once. Thought I was buying a LNIB 14-4( thought I was getting a smokin deal at $425.00.. The gun had rust and both grip where cracked. When the guy gave me some attitude, i told him I would call the ATF Station Chief in Atlanta, he sent my money back quickly, I almost forgot.


QUOTE=redbos;136069681]Yeah, a bunch of stuff sometimes looks even to good to be true, but I have always been lucky on GB so far. Found a LNIB 17-2 for a great price from a NR seller, just got lucky I guess.....[/QUOTE]

 

[kbm6893]

I shut down a gunbroker seller who was selling guns that were obviously refinished and polished as "factory new" and "100% factory finish". He was obnoxious to every question i asked until I noticed he had 34 active auctions and no FFL. Gunbroker even told me he was partnered with a gun restorer who also sold on their site. I emailed and told him he would be getting a visit from the ATF since he's selling that many guns without an FFL, and he cursed me and pulled his auctions. Haven't seem him since then.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I shut down a gunbroker seller who was selling guns that were obviously refinished and polished as "factory new" and "100% factory finish". He was obnoxious to every question i asked until I noticed he had 34 active auctions and no FFL. Gunbroker even told me he was partnered with a gun restorer who also sold on their site. I emailed and told him he would be getting a visit from the ATF since he's selling that many guns without an FFL, and he cursed me and pulled his auctions. Haven't seem him since then.

I was just looking for that guy's stuff. I wanted to see what new listings he had.

 

[Fishinfool]

Couple of tales from GB

Auctioned a .45 SAA. Guy bought it, no questions asked, then, refused to pay the advertised shipping, as it was to much. Insisted I just mail it to him USPS, no FFL needed. Ripped up his Money Order.

Another guy bought a Browning 71 I was selling. Mint w/box, but no owners manual. Talked to him on the phone before the sales, and he was aware of that. He then left me a negative feedback because of the lack of the owners manual.

Then the was the guy who went nuts on a .22 Colt SA NF I sold him, claiming it was not the original box, and I was a thief. A copy of an original Colt advertisement of that gun with the correct box calmed him down. He actually apologized. He thought ALL Colt boxes were blue.

Point being, buyer and seller beware...

Larry

 

[stang1911]

BEWARE OF BAIT AND SWITCH! MAKE SURE PICTURES ARE OF ACTUAL GUN OR PART.HAVE BEEN BURNED ON THIS BEFORE.

 

[haris1]

two sellers selling the same gun

One guy in Florida claimed he was not a gun guy and was selling a $4000 less Baer for $2000 because he received it as a gift and you had to pay by MO.
I spotted the same gun ,same serial number on another web site and called Les Baer who verified that the other web site was one of their dealers. GB shut down the crooked seller who copied the other auction. I called ATF and they said he was breaking no law as he had no guns to sell and that he was a fraud but not violating and firearms laws. They said I should call the attorney general in that state. Seller are anonymous so good luck!!!!

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Point being, buyer and seller beware...

Larry
Like ...................................................unquote

As it is most everywhere. I have a problem sending a 100% NIB gun to someone I do not know and offering to take it back. There are some real winners out there. Glad to know the good guys outnumber the bad, as GB will help weed them out.

Paid a pretty penny on GB for one in my collection, which I kept awhile in an uncontrolled environment. There was extensive muzzle wear that had been reblued as good as new. Now there is brown coloration over the worn areas near the muzzle. Even had a letter with it. Never called the guy. Point is, if it got by me it could have gotten by him, too.

Some folk do the darnedest things. There are some guys really good at being bad. The good guys win in the long run.

 

[toroflow1]

I also had a guy send my FFL a 629-2 I had purchased in nothing more than the mailing box. The gun was sliding around loose in the box and no attempt was made to protect or secure the weapon from getting damaged.

I had a guy ship my FFL a 686 no dash 2.5" in that same fashion. In an 8" square USPS box sliding around with nothing in the box but the gun. He wasn't even a FFL holder (seller) and used US Post Office! This seller was/is on GunsAmerica.

As for Gunbroker, I have had 100% success. Never a problem, although I have a knack for spotting reblued and/or reworked guns.