Rant on GB website

[AudieMurphy]

OK here goes, Having an account on Gunbroker for at least 20 years or more. Since Ive been having trouble with my listed email account.I went to my account page on GB to put down a new email address. NOT SO FAST!! GB locked me out and now cant even see if I have any questions or sold any of my listings...They seem to make every thing as complicated as possible....Yea, sure even my bank and cell phone provider can send a text code to verify your identity....But NOT GB! They want a selfy with your drivers license tapped to your forehead or chin...you know the little card that has ALL the personal details on it....Like organ donor,endorsements, height and weight and the license number? then on top of that a utility bill no later than 90 days....I mean doesn't the vast majority pay online? who writes checks in this day and age, ok...I admit it, some still do.... while Im on a rant about GB ...Am I the only one who's tired of the 15 minute rule...come on! who's the joker that waits til the last minute to throw in a bid? you know yourself if you've enjoyed this skill an auction can go over a few hours AFTER the posted ending time.....why cant GB limit the times a bidder can do that? say like 2 times.....thanks for reading and have a nice day and GOD BLESS TEXAS!!

 

[LVSteve]

As ever, blame the fraudsters who began to infest GB for the ID proofs required to do anything these days. 2FA would be much better, particularly as a good hack of GB would reveal to all kinds of nefarious people data on who has guns. No thanks, the 4473 is bad enough.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

I feel for the Op with the login issues.

But the 15 minute bid rule is great. I wait til that 15 minute to do final bids and have often gotten great deals by not getting into bidding wars earlier in a listing. Plus it's much better for sellers to let prices go as high as people are willing to pay instead of bidding sites like eBay that end with sniping but no ability to let competitors keep bidding up and up.

 

[LVSteve]

I feel for the Op with the login issues.

But the 15 minute bid rule is great. I wait til that 15 minute to do final bids and have often gotten great deals by not getting into bidding wars earlier in a listing. Plus it's much better for sellers to let prices go as high as people are willing to pay instead of bidding sites like eBay that end with sniping but no ability to let competitors keep bidding up and up.

I also approve of the 15-minute rule. Allowing sniping is just a test of one bidder's Internet speed and latency against another.

 

[Kinman]

While I will admit to using G.B. for a few of my purchases I find the fifteen-minute rule at least gives you a bit of a break if you are not actively sitting in front of the computer in the final moments. I have lost a few items recently because I thought I had it in the bag and got sniped at the last minute, I was complacent enough to not check and irritated with myself for not camping on the site at the end as what I was bidding on was something I am actively pursuing and will end up paying more for less in all truth.
I hate it when I get into a bidding war with someone, I often think some just hate to loose whatever it is and have more money than cents. But then again auctions are what they are. I have and usually do put up my last and final offer which is usually below what I would actually pay if it was in front of me. I have learned my lesson on some stuff and bid way over what I would pay, one the item and pleasantly surprised that I got it for much less than I bid.
The auction business is just what it is, and as my wife often points out when I am irritated at loosing something and complaining about some guy beating me out by five bucks at the last minute. She says, "It's nothing personal, that guy is not even thinking about you." She is probably right but it still irritates me as you say. For some of us we don't want to spend another fifteen minutes tied up on an auction, if it's important enough we have no choice and just have to suck it up and play by the rules.

 

[Narragansett]

GB is a necessary evil. They have the listings. You just need to know, that you are never going to get a response or help from them. You are in it by yourself

 

[AudieMurphy]

I also approve of the 15-minute rule. Allowing sniping is just a test of one bidder's Internet speed and latency against another.

Theres a web site that bids for the buyer and can be set up to the last second. One joins and sets up an account...they do the rest...you dont have to "camp out" at the keyboard....instead of pecking away at minscule bids. The point I was making is even if the next bidder doesnt raise the highest bidder to theirs the 15 minute rule still kicks in....doesnt make sense. so if another bidder throws in a bid BUT it doesnt raise the existing bidder the 15 rule still kicks in.....hope I explained that the best i could

 

[Tom S.]

Theres a web site that bids for the buyer and can be set up to the last second. One joins and sets up an account...they do the rest...you dont have to "camp out" at the keyboard....instead of pecking away at minscule bids. The point I was making is even if the next bidder doesnt raise the highest bidder to theirs the 15 minute rule still kicks in....doesnt make sense. so if another bidder throws in a bid BUT it doesnt raise the existing bidder the 15 rule still kicks in.....hope I explained that the best i could

Yep. I used to use it on ebay items that ended late at night so I didn't have to stay up and was successful probably 70% of the time. There is a small fee for the service, but I can't even remember when the last time I used it as I don't remember the last time I bid on an ebay item.

 

[Major 2]

I no longer use GB, last time was in 2021, that outcome was harmonious.
But fees and scams and lack of GB policing have turn me away.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Am I the only one who's tired of the 15 minute rule...come on! who's the joker that waits til the last minute to throw in a bid? you know yourself if you've enjoyed this skill an auction can go over a few hours AFTER the posted ending time.....why cant GB limit the times a bidder can do that? say like 2 times....

I am not sure about Gunbroker's "15 minute rule", but that's pretty common anymore. Most auctions have what's called a "soft close", which extends the time on the auction by 1 minute, 2 minutes or whatever the seller chooses. As a seller, I like it, because it can cause a bidding war between bidders and keeps extending the time, thereby maxing out what my item sells for...As a buyer, obviously not so much.

However, I routinely don't bid on items until the very last minute...In fact, there is an auction item that I am about to bid on and it closes in 48 minutes. It has been listed for a ten day auction. I am going to wait until the last 6 minutes to put a max bid on it...Why? Because it has a five minute soft close, and by bidding early it allows other potential bidders to ponder it and bid my bid up over the ten days...it still has a five minute soft close, so if they are planning ahead like me and watching it, they might still bid me up, but not as likely. I have done well over the decades with this strategy.

 

[usmcsgt]

And if you live in Hawaii you can game the time zone advantage of when the auction is ending, early evening here- everyone’s in bed on the mainland so no one awake to see the 15 minute bids. Not that I would do such a thing, just saying.

 

[usmcsgt]

While I will admit to using G.B. for a few of my purchases I find the fifteen-minute rule at least gives you a bit of a break if you are not actively sitting in front of the computer in the final moments. I have lost a few items recently because I thought I had it in the bag and got sniped at the last minute, I was complacent enough to not check and irritated with myself for not camping on the site at the end as what I was bidding on was something I am actively pursuing and will end up paying more for less in all truth.
I hate it when I get into a bidding war with someone, I often think some just hate to loose whatever it is and have more money than cents. But then again auctions are what they are. I have and usually do put up my last and final offer which is usually below what I would actually pay if it was in front of me. I have learned my lesson on some stuff and bid way over what I would pay, one the item and pleasantly surprised that I got it for much less than I bid.
The auction business is just what it is, and as my wife often points out when I am irritated at loosing something and complaining about some guy beating me out by five bucks at the last minute. She says, "It's nothing personal, that guy is not even thinking about you." She is probably right but it still irritates me as you say. For some of us we don't want to spend another fifteen minutes tied up on an auction, if it's important enough we have no choice and just have to suck it up and play by the rules.

Yep, you can easily get caught up in a bidding war- just like being in a Casio-I usually write down on a note pad the max I’m willing to pay and if the bidding exceed that I don’t counter bid.

 

[Greyman50]

Been years since on GB due to poor, non existence service.

 

[Cities n Dust]

GB is crap! I do use it and have been burned once as I didn't thoroughly look at the pictures well and missed something ever so slight. because of that I lost $180 on the deal. My fault, but someone did some creative wording on the gun. Buyer beware! The 15 min rule is a blessing or crap. I'm with the others on why wait a full 15 just to bid. If I want the gun, you are not going to wait me out. what I don't like is a 13-day auction all that does is help a seller who is shill biding anyways. It is absolutely stupid to bid early IMHO. Why just so you can be in the lead? If someone bids at the end of the 15 mins I bid right away and put it back to them ASAP! Restraint is key with GB if it goes to stupid money then let them have it Smiths are not disappearing. From what I see REAL Collectibles are not that big on GB there are few that pop up from time to time for sure. Besides if it is a real collectible, I want to see it in my hands not a pic on GB. So, in short (LOL) 15 mins ok once or twice after that you are wasting someone's time at 5 bucks a pop!

My 2 pennies but not for long!

Cities

 

[bamashooter]

Stopped using it several years ago when it headed down the road of BS. Before that, used it often.

 

[SFury79]

It's just an auction site. It's very similar to ebay in how it has been setup and functions. I wish they had a better MFA setup than what they have, but what can you do?

I used it recently and had no issues with the service.

I actually like the 15 minute rule. Although, unlike some bidders, I bid my maximum I'm willing to pay right away. That way if I get outbid, it's OK with me. I actually enjoy watching auctions to see what some guns go for. It helps me understand what to expect to pay for the guns I am interested in. I've seen some crazy bidding wars on a few auctions.

 

[45Smashemflat]

I watch Bring A Trailer auctions for fun getting down to the wire. Especially on some of the high dollar rides. No, I’m not bidding, but it’s fun to watch two big wallets duke it out sometimes.