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.

 

[wrhk33]

I wanted to buy a nice revolver from a member on this forum but it only had one so-so pic.
I stated that I would take it if I could have a 3 day non-firing inspection period. That was too much to ask for and it was sold to the next guy.
Previously I have had good luck purchasing from members here and have always found sellers up to now that offered inspection periods.

 

[m4bgringo]

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

Dude, been there done that ****!

I did get my money back, not all of it, but what a *******' nightmare my FFL and I went through!

Since that first transaction I have been very satisfied with the rest.

I HATE people that LIE!

 

[Inspector-Callahan]

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 unfortunately have seen guns shipped that way (or close to it) as well. It really makes you wonder what kind of intelligence someone has to sell you something you paid for and then sacrifice completing the transaction and also having to pick up the shipping when the reason you are returning it is due to inadequate packing? Then the seller has a devalued/damaged gun he has to resell??

It just amazes me sometimes.

IC

 

[luangtom]

I have had one major disappointment on GB and it was not from a private-party. It was from an established dealer in NY. I bid, supposedly won, and was informed to send payment. Instead, I called to set things up via phone. They did not like it. They could not find the firearm in question in their inventory. They offered me a similar firearm, but at $100 more than my bid. Come to find out, they do this ploy often. I am fortunate in that I did not send them any money or take their offer of another, higher-priced, firearm. So, yes, GB can sometimes be a disappointment.

 

[DCWilson]

Lucky so far on Gunbroker, maybe 8-10 transactions in the last three years. No bad experiences. A couple of times I was about to to bid on something interesting (Pre-17 with 8-3/8" barrel, for example), but couldn't get a relevant response to basic questions (consistent serial numbers on gun parts). Not everybody is expert on a firearm they may be trying to sell, but you can usually recognize an honest effort to provide requested information. If the effort is not honest, or if a specific question is answered with a general reply, I thank them for their time and move on.

 

[dlbx2]

I still would like a clear, concise, in English, definition of the word "minty". I've seen minty with a cylinder ring completely through the bluing, with the checkering worn almost slick, and with nickel missing spots.
DLB

 

[DCWilson]

I still would like a clear, concise, in English, definition of the word "minty". I've seen minty with a cylinder ring completely through the bluing, with the checkering worn almost slick, and with nickel missing spots.
DLB

minty, adj. (MIN-tee): (1) "Looks pretty good to me, the far from disinterested seller." ; (2) 99% or better in the proprietary tri-level valuation system of amateur sellers (Bad; OK; Minty), where "Bad" = 0-10% in the standard system, "OK" = 10-75%; and percentage ratings 76-98 are not used.

Hope that's clear now.

 

[Inspector-Callahan]

MIN-TEE: Not to be confused with any other "official" NRA grading condition!!!

Hypothetical exchange:

Gun Buyer who has just received their gun:
"Ahh, excuse me sir, but I just received my gun in the mail and I see this large gouge in the barrel. I thought you said it was in mint condition?"

Seller: "Well my listing specifically said MIN-TEE, not MINT. Minty is different. It's MINT except for the gouge and well within reason for a MIN-TEE gun. If i said MINT, then that's a different story"

Buyer: "Oh, sorry my mistake."

IC

 

[stang1911]

GB WISDOM

THERE IS NO SUBSITUTE FOR MULTIPLE ANGLE, SHARP, CLEAR, REAL I MEAN REAL CLOSE UP PICTURES. USED AND NEW!

 

[Kelly Green]

Mostly my GB experiences have been pleasant but i must caution dont bid unless there is a return priviledge.

Return policies are not always what they appear to be.

Last year my nephew bought a Chief Special on GB that was advertised as unfired and in original box. When he brought it out to my place to test fire it, I could tell that it had been fired, possibly a lot, and the box that he received was not original to the gun.

When he contacted the seller, he was told that the gun was unfired when it left his possession and if it had been fired then my nephew had done the firing. He also stated that the box was the one he received when he bought the gun. Sorry, no refund.