Gunbroker
 

Anyone have positive or negative comments on buying or selling on gunbrokers.com?

RE: Gunbroker
 

Every experience I've had buying has been good, and all but 1 when selling has also been good.

RE: Gunbroker
 

There looks to be some good deals to be had there if you poke around enough, but I share your concern about the possibility of shady characters there. I also wonder if the hoops and additional costs really make it worth buying online. You buy the gun, pay the shipper for shipping. Then you have to find a local dealer that will accept shipment on the gun, get a signed copy of his FFL to send to the shipper and pay the local dealer anywhere from $20-60 for recieving the transfer and, on arrival, doing the 4473 and NICS check. All said and done, between shipping (typically around $25), and the local dealers fees (usually around $25-45 average), plus the extra trip the the gun dealer, how much are you really saving? And in most cases, at least around here, the dealer will also charge you the 6% sales tax, so you're not even saving that. The only way I can see buying from an auction site is if the deal is very good, and/or you can't get the gun you want through a local dealer.

Mike

RE: Gunbroker
 

The above information is spot on. However, sites such as Gunbroker certainly do have lots to offer. If you can't find that particular weapon through your local LGS (or private sales) you can usually obtain it through Gunbroker. So, if you want something badly enough, if may just be your best route to obtain such.

RE: Gunbroker
 

Have bought a couple firearms through thier site. It'snot so much GunBroker to wonder about as much as it is the actual seller. Like eBay, GunBroker is simply hosting the auctions. Check the feedback of the seller and ask all your questions BEFORE bidding.

RE: Gunbroker
 

This is true. I would at least give a local dealer the chance to quote me a price on the gun I wanted and see if he can get it. If he can get it and he's within 5-7% of the online auction price, then I'll happily buy from him. If he can't at least get close in price, or he can't get what I want, then I might consider going online. I'd just be VERY cautious about who I bought from on an auction site. If the seller is an FFL dealer, you probably don't have anything to worry about. But I'd be very hesitant to buy from a private individual online. You just don't know what you're going to get, or if you'll have any meaningful recourse against the seller if the deal turns out bad.

Mike

RE: Gunbroker
 

I'ts a great place to look for lefty bolts. I bought a left hand Remmington 700 XCR last year and a couple of years ago, bought a complete upper for my AR-15 there as well. My dad has made a few gun purchases as well from GB. Stick with the dealers.

RE: Gunbroker
 

All good experiences selling and buying for me.

RE: Gunbroker
 

I've bought used guns thru Gunbroker but never anything new. Always had a good experiance. You can find some really great deals, IF you spend enough time looking. I agree that you absoulutley must consider all the additional costs when buying from any website, specially the shipping costs. It appears to be all too common for someone to post a good selling price and then charge a sky high price for shipping.

RE: Gunbroker
 

Well, I'm going to have my first personal experience with Gunbroker.com. I bought a NIB Remington 700 LSS .257 Weatherby (the special run gun, not an LSS Mountain) from a dealer in New York. Having it shipped to a local FFL nearby. The rifle cost $759 (MSRP $972), shipping is $20 and my local dealer will charge me $30 for the transfer with no IA sales tax. I'm not sure why some of my local transfer dealers listed on gunbroker.com charge sales tax and others don't. Either they are fleecing their customers and pocketing the 5-6% (depending on county), or they don't know better. IA does not (yet) require people pay sales tax on items purchased out-of-state and shipped in, so since the deal is directly between the customer (me) and the out-of-state dealer, the receiving store is not obligated to charge sales tax. Anyway, the total cost will be $809. If the gun were bought locally it would have cost $850 plus 6% sales tax would be $901, so I actually will save $92 which makes it worth while. That's a set of dies, shellholder and a box of brass.

I'll update when the transaction is complete. I'm praying everything goes smoothly. I'm sending my payment (a USPS Money Order) via the USPS, so I'll have some protection there against fraud since if he did scam me he's on the hook for a Federal felony, but I doubt it'd come to that. The seller contacted me soon after the auction ended and I get the feeling he's on the up 'n' up.

Mike

RE: Gunbroker
 

I have bought two guns from Guns America. It worked out well both times. Both were with reputable gun dealers. One gun was a rifle I couldn't find locally and the other was a really good price. I would shy away from buying from individuals. I think 95% of people are honest, but if you happen to get that one dishonest person, it will make up for all the good deals. The dealer that receives the rifle and charges the FFL fee shouldn't be charging sales tax.

RE: Gunbroker
 

I have used Gun Broker many times, so far no problems. I have bought brand new rifles at great prices, many are from Gun shops the are getting rid of inventory-----recently bought a brand new browning .325 for $475.00-----Sako 75 SS 7MM ULTRA MAG $649.00-----Marlin .450 $300(this was a private person who won this gun on a raffle)-----browning 375 H&H & 338 Stainless with Boss--both for---$1300.00. there are a few more. Just take your time and visit the site every day, and check the sellers feed back----deals are there is you look.

good luck

RE: Gunbroker
 

I really like gunbroker. I've had my mind set on three different guns here in the last three years and bought two of them on gunbroker. The first was a tikka t3 7mm rem mag and I found it on there for about $150 less than shops around here. Then just today I bought a NIBrock river AR for just above the retail price and it's being shipped tomorrow. The gun dealers around here said it could take them a year to get one from the factory...so, so far it's worked out great. The other gun I found by calling my local Cabelas (2 hours away..lol) and asking them to search their used gun database. They found 1 gun that matched exactly what I wanted (nef handi rifle in .22 hornet) in their used gun database from another store and had it shipped to the nearest one. That really surprised me that their databasewas that accesible for all used guns in cabelas' everywhere...I'd recommend that route too if one is looking.

As for my local dealers, unfortunately there isn't much of one locally (since the only goodlocal sporting good store shut down about 1.5 years ago), and I have never been that impressed withany of their customer service. I'd rather just figure out what I want (and get some serious expert advice around here...on occasion) then go find it and have it sent to me.

RE: Gunbroker
 

Partial update to my fist gunbroker experience:

The Remington LSS I bought has been paid, FFL has been faxed to shipper and the gun has been shipped UPS. Should get it Friday.

I also bought a NIB stripped Rock River Arms AR-15 lower receiver from a dealer in Nebraska off Gunbroker for $175. This is $5 over MSRP for the stripped RRA lower, but with the run on them I'm amazed I found one at all, so this price is a bargain. I'm seeing AR's going to 10-30% over MSRP right now and dealers and manufacturers still can't keep up. I wanted to get one before the AWB comes back (and I think that it IS coming, not right now, but soon) so I can (HOPEFULLY) be grandfathered in. The lower is also paid for and should be shipped soon.

Will update again when I get the guns.

Mike

RE: Gunbroker
 

Update,

The Remington is HERE!

I picked it up this morning from my dealer. I will say that the transaction went very smoothly, and was easier than I anticipated. I expected there to be more hassle and red tape, but both the dealer I purchased it from (Frank's Guns in Marcy, NY, goes by "Foreverfree" on gunbroker), and my local dealer (Fin & Feather in Iowa City) made it a very smooth and easy process. The rifle is as advertised, NIB and in perfect condition. Frank's Guns even added some extra packing material to the factory shipping box to protect the rifle better, especially around the barrel and muzzle. It was a pleasant experience, and I'd buy from Gunbroker again.

Mike

RE: Gunbroker
 

I have made a few purchases over the past 3 years and have had no problems with the site or sellers. It's a very good reference on gun value andexcellent place to find greatselectionsof hard to find or rarecollector firearms. In each case, I submitted offers to the seller and all were willing to work with me on price.