What about online sellers that say "No Returns" in their ads

[NHccop]

I've found a few guns on GB & GA that I was interested in but the seller states in the ad, "No Returns". Because of that, I don't buy.

From I've seen, these sellers are private individuals and not FFL's. And they usually have no feedback or prior sales.

Do you automatically disregard those ads or just take the chance the gun will be OK, or what?

 

[Moonman]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

You answered your own question.

The slightest questions you have on ads,

or it seems to good to be true, RUN AWAY, DON'T WALK.

 

[tork'd]

every place around here you can buy a firearm has a sign that states "all sales final"
i see no difference.
buyer do your homework

 

[jaykellogg]

Zero feedback is a big red flag. Some folks will reference their eBay feedback. Even if they say they will accept returns, how can you be sure they will? I think individuals would have to go through an FFL on their end to accept a return. Therefore it makes sense to me to have no returns. I think Gunbroker and eBay work surprisingly well. If you have concerns, ask for more pictures, clearer pictures closer pictures, etc. If the fellow grabbed the picture off the internet he won't be able to send them to you. I have bought two guns off Gunbroker. One from a dealer and one from an individual, but that was so low priced there was no incentive to cheat me. (I paid $8.00 with shipping.)

 

[timn8er]

Comparing buying online to buying at an LGS is of course, apples &
oranges. I'm nervous enough sending hundreds of dollars across the
country to buy a firearm that I haven't held in my hand. If I see "No
Returns, No Inspection Period, All Sales Final", I have to pass. Especially
if there's no feedback. Having said that, I am three for three on my
purchases from Gunbroker & GunsAmerica. All the guns were exactly
as represented & I'm very happy with all of them.

 

[hiredhand]

Let me say up front that I do not sale guns on-line.
But I can see the other side of the discussion. Once you send a firearm to someone you have no control anymore. If they drop it and damage it while taking it out of the package, your word against theirs. Worst case, the arm is used for a dishonest purpose and sent back to you afterwards (it has happened). Or the person is getting rid of an inheritance and just wants the gun to go away.
It just comes down to what you feel is right on both ends of the deal. And FYI, one of the best deals I ever got was from someone selling their first arm. Everyone has to start at zero sometime in their life.

 

[NFrameFred]

Like they've said, no feedback and no or few transactions are major red flags. On the other hand, to play devil's advocate, I know of a pawn shop that had to institute that policy because a buyer returned a gun and for about $15.00 worth of shipping fees was found to have swapped out a hard to find replacement part for the completely serviceable one in the gun. Ripped off the shop and probably saved himself about $75 bucks. Not a lot the shop can do. The crook knew the distance of being several states away and the cost involved to recover the loss made it very likely he wouldn't be held accountable. Works both ways.


So I can understand the other side of the coin as well and see where some would make it their policy to sell "as is". If the gun is sold as working and serviceable and that turns out to be a fraudulent claim, most of the auction sites are supposed to help with that to make the seller make good on it and accept the return. The threat of rescinding their ability to sell on line is the "stick". With a new seller who is a hit and run artist or a buyer who just wants to mine a gun for parts there's little incentive to comply. I agree, to depend on that is a crapshoot.

 

[Arik]

I use GB often for price comparison but i rarely buy or sell. I bought one thing in years and just 3 weeks ago had my 1st sale. So technically i have 2 feedbacks. When i received the MO i shipped the next day. We gotta start somewhere.

I also list "all sales are final" simply because i dont want to deal with buyers remorse or someone who is way too picky or expected something different. I take plenty of pics and do my best to describe the firearm (when selling on gun forums) often i make it sound worse then it is so that there is no mis understanding and i price accordingly. But there are those who still expect the item to be new or like new and will point out that once they got the gun and put it under a 400x microscope there were an extra 41.6 scratches and that i didnt inspect it thoroughly enough and thus mis represented the item. Or they show it to their SO and she gets mad and now i have to take the firearm back.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[ar15ed]

there is just no easy answer. if you are the potential buyer, you just have to do your homework. how are the pics? how easy are communications with the seller? what does the feedback look like? if anything smells, run away, fast.

as for basing my decision solely on the buyer's stated decision not to accept returns, i really wouldn't blame them. you actually MIGHT be missing out on some of the best guns/sellers. believe me, buyers are just as dumb and/or devious as sellers.

when you buy or sell on the .net, you can't just rely on the walmart plan. you have to put in a little research. and you STILL might get bit!

my best advise is that if you don't feel comfortable doing something, just move along to the next one. it will save you some headaches!

good luck,
ed

 

[Fishinfool]

I have sold / purchased about 25 firearms on line in recent years, so a few thoughts-

Seller feed back is important, and a good indicator of the type of person you are dealing with.

Numerous SHAP, CLEAR, DETAILED pictures is important. I wont even
take the time to deal with someone who cant be bothered to advertise a gun with nothing but a poorly focused cell phone picture.

Buyer / seller communications. If a seller refuses to talk to you on the phone, to discuss any relevant questions or concerns before a sale, then walk away.

A "no return" policy makes sense for the private seller. To many people have buyers remorse when buying expensive items on line, and have the "I'll just send it back" Walmart type mentality. Personally, I will accept a return, but it's pending my inspection for use / damage, and the understanding that the buyer pays in advance the insured return shipping costs, as well as any FFL fees I will incur prior to my refunding his money.

All the above can really help ensure a smooth transaction, though there was this one guy I sold a 1940's Winchester 71 in .348 Win., that I talked to numerous times on the phone with prior to sale, making it clear exactly what he was getting. Still left me a poor feedback because even though the rifle was "great", there was no owners manual......

Larry

 

[gjgalligan]

I won't buy any used item unless I can personally inspect it first.

 

[beemerphile]

I have bought many and sold many. The only time I ever got hosed was from a dealer with lots of good feedback. It was totally misdescribed. I sent it back and it cost me the transfer fee and return insured shipping. But, I have had first time sellers do me fine with no return policy. As Popeye sez: "Ya pays ya nickel and ya takes ya choice". If I only shopped locally my meager collection would either have cost more, or would be much less interesting.

 

[mtgianni]

I would not want to sell a gun, have someone run 250 questionable loads through it, then tell me they did not want it.

 

[mstuhr]

Difference

every place around here you can buy a firearm has a sign that states "all sales final"
i see no difference.
buyer do your homework

Howdy,
The difference to me is a hands on inspection as opposed to looking at pictures.
Unless the seller has a lot of good feedback I won't buy from someone who does not have an inspection period.
I have never had to return anything but I'd hate to open a package and find something not as it is supposed to be and just be out the money.
Thanks
Mike

 

[GKC]

The only time I have bought guns from online sources were from Gun Genie (four times) and from Bud's (once.) In all cases, I was able to fully inspect the gun before I accepted it and completed the transfer; in the case of Gun Genie, you've only paid a deposit anyway, not the full price. These were new guns, so they were all in good shape, as you'd expect.

I wouldn't buy from a private party unless I could inspect the gun first (FTF sale) or unless the seller allowed at least a spot inspection at the FFL before completing the transfer, and the ability to refuse the gun for a full refund. I can understand that once you take it out of the shop, it's yours.

All the gun shops I deal with have signs saying "All sales final" but they also work with regular customers to resolve any issues that may arise before sending it back to the manufacturer. Of course, I mostly only buy new guns.

 

[BillyMagg]

I've found a few guns on GB & GA that I was interested in but the seller states in the ad, "No Returns". Because of that, I don't buy.

From I've seen, these sellers are private individuals and not FFL's. And they usually have no feedback or prior sales.

Do you automatically disregard those ads or just take the chance the gun will be OK, or what?

I am picky, gun condition is a very subjective issue, I am waiting on a refund from a fellow forum member, so no I would not deal with a sight unseen weapon with no return priveledges. Pre anythings have fifty years worth of dings and a few have been dropped, be very upfront with fellow members, the one I sent back had been dropped and the left hand outer seration was flattened and metal disturbed to the outside and into the groove of the serration, a little more than light handling marks? I think so, so back it went. Billy Magg

 

[Practical]

I don't see it a problem. EVERYONE has to start with NO rating. The buyer just has to be mature about it and take the risk he is willing to.

In some cases the individual CANNOT take the gun back for financial or legal reasons.

 

[old bear]

No inspection policy.

Do you automatically disregard those ads

If a seller is not willing to offer an reasonable, non shooting, inspection period I'm not interested in doing business with them.

I may have lost out on some good deals do to this, but I've never been skinned in an Internet deal either.

 

[Xfuzz]

To answer the question...yes, I would still but the gun.
Based on good pics and strong, positive feedback.
Buying and selling on the internet is not for the faint of heart.
If you get burned you must be able to absorb the hit and move on.

With that said, I've done over 130+ transactions on GB and more than a few on this very forum. Never had a deal go south or an item that was not as described.
I have received guns from this forums members BEFORE I paid for the dern thing.. (you know you you are).
Follow your gut.

 

[tork'd]

Howdy,
The difference to me is a hands on inspection as opposed to looking at pictures.
Unless the seller has a lot of good feedback I won't buy from someone who does not have an inspection period.
I have never had to return anything but I'd hate to open a package and find something not as it is supposed to be and just be out the money.
Thanks
Mike

Mike..
i understand your position.
that is why i said "buyer do your homework"
we all have to stay in our comfort zones on these types of things. i do business on the internet daily, so my tolerance is higher than most. i have had only one questionable purchase over the net and things worked out in the end.

 

[chazc]

coolest LGS

The owner of my LGS is the greatest. When I want something he finds it and calls me when he gets it. It I like it I buy it. If not he knows he"ll sell it anyway. Save me from searching all over the net. And saves me from myself. It I spend time looking for an item I"ll probably find 10 other things to buy I didn't know I wanted.