First Gunbroker experience very sour

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 12:49 pm

I listed one Bobcat on Gunbroker as a trial. Got a winning bid for reserve price. Wrote the guy thanks, a total, which shipper? Then he writes me and complains about the shipping cost ($58.00). Says he just sent a .357 by two day for $23. Not possible by FedEx or UPS rules, if they knew it was a handgun. If he didn't tell them, he broke the law.

I wrote and told him that. I pointed out that I had put the shipping Hows, Whys, and cost in my listing. I gave him the link where Gunbroker's site explains it. No answer. I've written him twice asking if he intended to finish the sale or not. No answer. By Gunbroker rules I have to wait another week on him, before they cancel the transaction and let me re-list.

He can stay a member until he accumulates several negative feedbacks. Right now he's a +9. Ridiculous!!!!

KAZ · Post by **KAZ** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:31 pm

To bad ruger22, I've had 40 positive deals both buying and selling. One thing I have found out about pistols is that they are a different cat from long guns. First thing is I figure the FFL fee my FFL charges me ($20) into the listing price. My FFL then ships the pistol in a Priority Mail Small Flat rate box)$4) plus Insurance at a little over a buck per hundred, with delivery conformation (.50). So, I price my shipping charges up front for contintial US at $20 which no one has complained about. Your FFL fees are yours, and the buyers FFL fees are his. See if your FFL will do it that way. I take the pistol to my FFL in the Flat rate box ready to go. All he has to do is log it in his book and drop the box at the PO. Hope this helps. Regards

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:16 pm

KAZ, you are doing things the smart way, an FFL can do things with shipping that we can not. To run it through his books and have him ship USPS as we can not, still come pout less than the overnight required by FedEx or UPS.

greener · Post by **greener** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:14 am

$58 is about the going price for overnight FEDEX.

KAZ, your FFL is a jewel. I've heard that the ones around Richmond really stick it to you for these types of buys and sells. After all, they are in business to make $$ and seem to resent doing stuff like this.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:32 am

I asked my local gun shop about shipping a firearm if I sold one and he will do it for about the same price. Twenty bucks or so to run it through his books and whatever USPS parcel post costs.

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:55 am

It's been fourteen days since the auction closed so I can now leave negative feedback on the guy. It's retarded that I had the shipping cost and why spelled out in my listing, he wins and doesn't like the cost. It hit midway in my estimate, and he wouldn't complete the sale. Wouldn't even answer my emails and tell me so. I don't have an ounce of guilt in going negative on this.

Once I leave the feedback, I'm cancelling my GB membership. They won't even return my full payment, just a credit on re-listing. So it not only tied up the gun for two weeks where I couldn't do anything with it, I'm out five bucks as well.

For handguns at least, because of the shipping gouging, Gunbroker is just a nice online deal for FFL's. I can't compete, I quit.

bigfatdave · Post by **bigfatdave** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:04 pm

So ... to the gun show!

Jack D · Post by **Jack D** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:58 pm

I sold two on Gun Broker, a pistol and a rifle. No problems. My son, however, has a different story. He sold a Winchester 94, 1906 vintage, This old rifle had been in the family for almost 40 years and had been well cared for and was in VGC. It was probably about 90% with only a few blotches in the finish on the receiver. It sold and was paid for by the buyer. After it was received by the buyer he told my son that it was not original because it had Lyman sights and that two "gunsmiths" agreed with him that it was re-blued (it wasn't). He also said it was fired and seemed OK. He demanded his money back. My son was not happy. He didn't want to send money back.....without receiving the rifle and inspecting it first. I suggested he ask the buyer for signed statements from the "gunsmiths" along with their credentials. I doubt he did this. My son reminded the buyer that he had over a dozen photos in his listing and had answered all questions from bidders. He also pointed out the Gun Broker rules to the buyer. He also reminded him that the rifle was in our family for 0ver 40 years, but that meant it was not in the family for 60 some years. It was 104 years old (at the time) and believed to be all original. All of this was in the listing. The buyer left a very negative feedback for my son. Unfortunately, my son had already left positive feedback for the buyer. My son says "never again" will he sell on Gun Broker.

I would have handled it a bit differently than my son did, but the outcome would have been the same, I'm sure.

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 2:01 pm

Sorry, for your troubles, too. I have since been refunded my payment and cancelled my Gunbroker account. Like I told them, it's just a nice website for FFL's to sell on. They won't see another penny from me.