I've Had Enough (A little Whine)

[papalondog]

I have been truely blessed with a great collection of guns obtained, from gun shows, friends, forum members, gun shops (especially my dealer), and yes the internet. I have made up my mind that unless I have done business with the outfit in the past, I am not be making any internet purchases. The last three are as follows:
1. The Winchester saga as told on an earlier post where I was scammed and have luckely recouperated most of my money back.

2. A Remington pump .22 that was grossly misrepresented and the seller will not respond to my emails. I have put this one back on the same auction site with an honest description to recoup part of my money back.

3. An absolutely beautiful Winchester model 61 .22 pump that I was tickled pink with until I went to clean it up yesterday and found it had a bulged barrel. This came from a reputable dealer that is refunding my money plus shipping.

When you see a good deal on the internet sites, ask yourself why the gun isn't being sold locally or what is the story behind it??? I still contend that 95%+ of us gun nuts are as honest as the day is long, but I am tired of the other 5%. From now on, I want to see the guns in person or KNOW someone that thinks like me that has. Good luck to all.

I feel better now.
Lonnie

 

[spricks]

Lonnie, I don't blame you a bit for the way you feel. It truly is sad that everyone seems the need to scam someone. It's like you won't notice, eh! I have to pick up the gun and examine it myself first. What they consider VG condition is poor in my evaluation.

spricks

 

[snowman]

I would be pretty upset too if I were in your shoes. The problem for some of us is that the internet is the only place we can find the guns we're looking for. For instance, the only shops within reasonable driving distance from me very, very seldom have a used Smith revolver in stock. I told the owner of one of them recently that I stopped in just to see if he had any used Smiths, and he laughed at me. 'That'll be the day' was the message. The story is similar at shows, which likewise are few and far between in these parts. The bottom line for me is, if I don't buy off Gunbroker and etc., I'm going to have to do without.

Andy

 

[buser]

I agree somewhat. Yes, I like to handle the gun I'm buying but the gun I'm interested in is not always available locally. Local shops have limited inventory and it usually doesn't change too much from week to week.
Also, if I have something to sell, if I list it online I have a much larger group of interested buyers. Yes, it is too bad that there are some scam artists out there. I have been very lucky as I have only had one person have buyer's remorse over a sale. I offered a full refund including shipping and he refused. He must not have been too dissatisfied as he wanted to keep the gun. I think he was looking for me to offer some of his money back. As far as buying, I have never been disappointed. Most guns were better than advertised.

 

[gizamo]

Lonnie,

I concur. It's a tough way to do business. Handling a gun in person is the way to go...even then your not guaranteed not to have problems. We've all gotten our purchases home to find that something goes wrong. Twice I've bought single actions to find welded up parts inside. One weld broke on the transfer bar after about 7 rounds down the barrel... It was a hard one to find a replacement for...and was months before I had the gun back together again.

So even handling, examining, and inspecting a gun in person cannot keep me out of trouble...

 

[gunnut44]

I am with you 100%. When I am putting my hard earned money out I want to see it in my hands, not saying this forum as I have had perfect dealings with everyone here. I am talking about the auction sites where sellers just want to make a buck and could not care a bit about you. Just like most of the dealers at gun shows. I saw a guy take a gun in on trade and he low balled him big time threw it out on the table when someone else came and asked a question you would think he had that gun since he was a kid he knew everything about it. Don't trust anyone is my motto!

 

[m657]

Good plan papalondog.....we'll see how long those plans last!

 

[Wyatt Burp]

That's not whining. There are a couple horror stories that are at another handgun forum I'm on, and they are intentional rip offs. I feel totally tainted on internet sales because of this even though I've had great results with big money items. It's too bad you had to personally deal with it, and so many times. I would not hesitate to deal with forum members unless they just signed up, though.

 

[Frank237]

I can relate....

I have totally stopped looking at Gunbroker type internet sales sites. The last several deals ran 50/50. A few were as stated, no issues...the other three were NOT. Ended up sending one gun back, having another sent in for a new cylinder, and another the seller did drop the price due to over estimating the shape of the pistol. Lots of time wasted with those 3 deals.

I have zero issues buying on this site from posters with some history. I have only been scammed a single time here...and that was many years back. Sent a member some older S&W catalogs as he was going to scan them and start a data base of the 1960-present catalogs. NEVER saw my catalogs again...he dropped off of radar.

My local gunshop that used to be fair with pricing of used items has now picked up "internet pricing" and everything is sky high. They get in say an 85% 4" M-19...the used gun guy sees a similar gun go for $505 on Gunbroker...so now ALL 85% M-19's in their store are priced at $505.

FN in MT

 

[FrankD45]

Lonnie:

I can totally understand and don't think you qualify as a "whiner". I had been a long time lurker at GB and was really afraid to take the plunge for fear of being "taken". Last year I took the plunge and bought a Model 29-2 in nickel with the 6.5 inch barrel for $708.

When it arrived it was better than expected. Not only did it come with a fair presentation case but it also had the original package with the S&W labels. I think I used up all of my luck on that one deal and have not tried again.

FrankD

 

[tripledipper]

I had all intentions of bidding for three different items on GB auctions the last few days and watched them go way past my monetary limit so I never got into the game as nothing could justify the final selling prices. I will continue to deal with established forum members who so far have not disappointed and maybe look on AA for a sleeper now and then.

 

[bk43]

I didn't worry about buying on the internet until year before last when it cost me almost $500. Not for goods but for postage and fees on items returned when not as represented. Even though the sellers made good it still cost me a lot of money. Now I'm real leery but I still do it as it's the only way for me to get some things I collect.

Bob

 

[wbraswell]

I just started buying online last year. So far, I have had good luck, some better, some not quite as good as I had expected, but no " clunkers" as of today. Then, last month I made a purchase FTF with an individual, then got it home and started looking at it and wondered to myself, "Why did I spend good money on this POS?" If it had been online and I saw the photos, I would never have bid on it. Boy, did I feel dumb.

 

[judge]

If the seller will not offer a 100% take-back, pass on the deal. You have the right to be completely satisfied, after all it's your money. Seller's have to stand behind the item sold regardless of the cost. Cheap used holster or $1000 revolver, makes no difference - you the buyer must be satisfied or the deal is over.

 

[Moonman]

Real nice 29-2, Good Luck if you try again but the WORLD is full of SCAMMING HUSTLERS now days.

 

[def4pos8]

I'm With You

I've purchased a few revolvers lately on GunBroker. 9 of 10 were as described (or better!) but the final one was a kick in the 'nads.

The seller admitted in a follow-up e-mail that he "wasn't a S&W expert" and knew mostly Winchester rifles. This is the sort of fellow who doesn't know how to use a "shift" key when composing a message. He had "trusted the owner" to write the description, so the "like mint condition" 66-2 showed up looking as though someone had attacked it with a center punch and five-pound hammer. I was amazed at how stainless steel could corrode like that!

Of course, after HE shipped that piece of garbage, I was supposed to jerk about begging the fraud for a refund/discount after he had happily taken my money. I gave him an "F" feedback and, lucky for me, had the skills to repair the gun.

I doubt I'll return to GunBroker before January of 2011, if ever.

 

[buser]

If the seller will not offer a 100% take-back, pass on the deal. You have the right to be completely satisfied, after all it's your money. Seller's have to stand behind the item sold regardless of the cost. Cheap used holster or $1000 revolver, makes no difference - you the buyer must be satisfied or the deal is over.

Does your local gun shop offer a 100% take back? Not only are there bad sellers, there are bad buyers.

 

[canoesmith]

Well I had a really good internet/forum/long distance deal last year. I was looking to buy a really nice Model 19 P&R 2.5" blued for my Dad and I bought one from a great guy out in Oregon - with Executioner Stags on it. It makes my Dad so happy to hold and show off and shoot that gun. It is his pride and joy.



Oh, by the way, that smooth and great deal was done with Papalondog.

 

[roscoesheater]

Ditto, concur, second and you are absolutely right, I for one will never again buy anything from a Gun Broker/web again!!!!!!!! If this ruffles a feather, then you can give me the lost money and I will reconsiderRH

 

[Faulkner]

I've actually had some very good experiance buying guns on line, though I admit I am very picky about who I buy from.

I bought this extremely nice Colt Pocket Pistol off Gunbroker not long ago at a fair price, but the gun showed up in significantly better condition that I expected.