Gunbroker Is Crazy
- Thread starter AC Man
- Start date
I have purchased three firearms on Gunbroker; a 3" Model 657, a .45 Colt Mountain Gun, and that 25-9 mentioned above. I had good experiences (or good luck) for all three and got them at very good prices. However, that was nearly a decade ago...haven't been back for many of the reasons outlined above.
Old Corp
Member
There for awhile, I probably needed the '12 step plan' - but did learn from it......
Learned to avoid the combo of 1. - Laptop open to GB, 2. - More than one adult beverage and 3. - after 8-9pm.
Nope, for me that was just a bad combination and recipe for hurting my bank account.
- Have had overall good experience with ~98% of the sellers. Lucky I guess.
Learned to avoid the combo of 1. - Laptop open to GB, 2. - More than one adult beverage and 3. - after 8-9pm.
Nope, for me that was just a bad combination and recipe for hurting my bank account.
- Have had overall good experience with ~98% of the sellers. Lucky I guess.
Protocall_Design
Vendor
I call it "Gone Broker" and don't go to that playground.
Green Frog
Member
I have bought 5 guns off GB that were intended to become Project guns so they came in a little lower than they would otherwise have been because they were somewhat "condition challenged". As things went, two of them didn't work out for their intended uses, so I did a minimal amount of work on them and actually showed a small profit when I resold them, because I bought them right.
My point is, if you are "bottom feeding" and willing to accept less than pristine examples, GB can be a good resource. People have "lesser" guns they just want to get sold. For higher grade guns, you may have to be ready to contend with other buyers who want them more than you. In that case, run the price up to what you are actually willing to pay, then be willing to let them go, knowing that somebody had to pay more than you think it's worth!
That's my strategy for pretty much all auctions, YMMV.
Froggie
My point is, if you are "bottom feeding" and willing to accept less than pristine examples, GB can be a good resource. People have "lesser" guns they just want to get sold. For higher grade guns, you may have to be ready to contend with other buyers who want them more than you. In that case, run the price up to what you are actually willing to pay, then be willing to let them go, knowing that somebody had to pay more than you think it's worth!
That's my strategy for pretty much all auctions, YMMV.
Froggie
8shot
Member
You didn't give any numbers!
shil
Member
I think GB is more trouble than it's worth.
Ackley1952
Member
People who don't buy from gun broker don't ever get what they're really looking for . Watch what you're doing read all descriptions and carefully look at pics. It's the greatest gun shop I've ever entered. I browse everyday.
hkcavalier
US Veteran
I hate on it from time to time, but it is a lot of fun to peruse. Same with Auctionarms though their 'velocity' is much lower and they have lots of guns that just sit with high reserve prices.
Just assume all sellers are cheats and you'll be fine.
They lost me as a customer several years ago when they started charging the BS "admin fee" and sales taxes. Several sellers have advised me they have no idea where/how/who the sales taxes go… I have an idea! Too many other online sellers that do as good a job listing items w/out the silly fees…
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Earlier this week I was watching a particular revolver. It didn't have a reserve or "buy it now" price. I don't bid early-that never made sense to me so I went on yesterday to place a bid as it was still a day or two away from ending and it was gone LOL. Maybe someone threw an offer to the seller and it was accepted-oh well.
Forgot to mention that it doesn' show up in the completed transactions-hmm, perhaps withdrawn by the seller.
For the most part I look there now just for giggles.
Forgot to mention that it doesn' show up in the completed transactions-hmm, perhaps withdrawn by the seller.
For the most part I look there now just for giggles.
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Bullet99
Member
Gunbroker has done ok by me. I have bought several guns on there. Some gun prices go through the roof though.
Bullet99
Member
I've seen this several times lately..
I have bought many items on Gun Joker, and all but one was exactly what I expected, or better. The one was early on and as much due to my inexperience as it was the unscrupulous seller. With a little patience and due diligence, great deals abound. I will agree however, the fees are getting out of hand and are why I have stopped selling there. Honestly though, my biggest issue has been with the post office screwing things up.
hemiram
Member
I have a nearly foolproof method of winning auctions on GB. Place the bid, and do not care at all if I win it. EVERY time I've done it, I win! If I really want a gun badly, I would say my batting percentage is .500. Same goes for if I put a bid in and realize there is a problem with the gun, or I don't want it for some reason, I end up losing it only about half the time. The higher the price, the more likely I am to win.
Oldengineer
Member
We had a saying at Ford Engineering, "you want it bad, you usually got it bad". Just another version of being patient and thoughtful.
Tom
SWCA 3823
Tom
SWCA 3823
James K
Member
A local auction house continually posts on GB. Sometimes you'll see a good buy happen but not too often. The best part is if you do score something, there is no shipping and no FFL transfer fee so the total costs are down compared to an out of state buy.
Jcon72
Member
Not long before Covid hit us I took a similar chance on a 57-0 on GunBroker, Chip. As in your case, the seller's posted less than excellent photos and it sold below what most similar 57's sell for. Not being a big fan of nickel guns in the first place, I was nervous and expecting to be disappointed when it arrived but was very pleasantly surprised to find the finish was in better condition than the pictures indicated. Not quite perfect, perhaps, but extremely nice. The stocks needed refinished but of course that wasn't a big problem to take care of and it's now one of my favorite guns.
Jcon72
Member
One of our LGS runs ALL of their used guns through GunBroker. You cannot walk into their store and buy a used gun over the counter. As a result, I always watch their listings and have picked up several very good deals, especially since there are no shipping or FFL transfer fees involved.
Was there any bids on it? Sometimes if there are no bids and the end of auction gets close buyers will call with offers to buy it now. If I see a gun I really like I will bid a few times to hopefully keep me in the game. Many sellers once a bid is made will play it it out. I lost a gun or two by not bidding at all.
