Do You Buy Guns on Gunbroker.com and Gunsamerica.com?

[glockfu]

I've been doing some shopping on these 2 sites but have noticed that the majority of the people on these sites only take checks or money orders... No credit cards and no paypal.

I buy a fair amount of things online (not gun related) and I've been burned my fair share of times. I've learned a few things over the years through experience. Two of the main things is, do not buy from an individual (only stores) if they are big purchases that will hurt if the deal goes bad and ALWAYS pay electronically, that way if they try to pull a scam, you can still have a chance to fight it out and recover your funds. I don't feel safe making a purchase with a money order or check.

Have you guys bought a firearm from someone that doesnt take credit card or paypal? How do you protect yourself from being scammed? Do you just roll the dice and hope for the best?

[NeoWeird]

Paypal is anti-gun and can freeze, and has, your bank account and all money in it.

Also, many people on these auction sites are people just like you and me, trying to get as much money for their guns rather than take it to a shop that has to undercut the price to make any money. I personally can't take credit cards.

I've used both places, Gunbroker more than the others, and have never had a problem. Of course, the general rules of online auctions still apply, such as if it's way too good to be true, it probably is (so seeling someone offer a complete Colt ar-15 for $500 buy it now should probably be avoided).

Also, you shouldn't be too worried, as scamming someone on Gunbroker with a gun is kinda of silly. Postal fraud and firearm theft are two MAJOR felonies. You'd be silly to try and scam someone that way.

You could always use Postal Money order. If they screw you, you contact the USPS and they will send their Postal Inspectors after them. VERY serious business and your money is insured that way too.

[Ford8N]

Paypal is anti-gun and can freeze, and has, your bank account and all money in it.

Also, many people on these auction sites are people just like you and me, trying to get as much money for their guns rather than take it to a shop that has to undercut the price to make any money. I personally can't take credit cards.

I've used both places, Gunbroker more than the others, and have never had a problem. Of course, the general rules of online auctions still apply, such as if it's way too good to be true, it probably is (so seeling someone offer a complete Colt ar-15 for $500 buy it now should probably be avoided).

Also, you shouldn't be too worried, as scamming someone on Gunbroker with a gun is kinda of silly. Postal fraud and firearm theft are two MAJOR felonies. You'd be silly to try and scam someone that way.

You could always use Postal Money order. If they screw you, you contact the USPS and they will send their Postal Inspectors after them. VERY serious business and your money is insured that way too.

I do this.

Never had a problem yet and I check out the ratings of the sellers. Dead beats do not last long on the GunBroker. Most of the people on that site are really cool, just regular gun owners selling their stuff.

[Rogerbutthead]

I have bought on both sites. No problems so far. Over the past 5 years, I have seen a few sellers on Gunbroker who were frauds - one was using reference pics from well known books to try to sell rifles. Others were using pics of past sales. None of them ever had a sale before and they were all unmasked by someone before I ever saw a sale go through.

It is safer to ask for pics of specific parts of the weapon on auction before you make a bid. People who do not respond with pics that I request, I never bid on their stuff.

[geeknow]

To answer the OP, most dont use Paypal because they will STEAL your money if they even get a whiff that you are buying (gasp) guns through their site. IMO, they are nothing more than 2-bit crooks.

Like the others have said, if buying from an individual, i will usuall ask a few follow up questions and engage the seller in some conversation to guage his intent.

The gun community is unusually honest, and those that arent usually get bounced pretty quickly.

regards,

[Max-the-Silent]

I've purchased firearms from sellers on both sites w/o problems. Like any online auction site, check the feedback, call the seller to get an idea of who you're dealing with, and make sure the Vinny the Chin and Jimmy Cha-Cha are available to go visit the seller if there's a problem...

Edit: as others have pointed out, Paypal is to be avoided for a number of good reasons, the first being that they aren't bound by the usual banking laws and can and will sieze any account associated with your use of their service, far in excess of the dollar amount involved with any "problem" they identify - I do use paypal for certain non-gun purchases, but have a dedicated account set up to do this, with a minimum amount of money in the account at any time. If they sieze it I can walk away - vafanculo! -and I won't miss the amount they steal.

[glockman19]

I purchased one gun from a poster on Gunbroker.com. I called him direct and actually got a slightly better deal going direct.

[Beelzy]

Paypal is Anti-gun for one. Credit cards have up to 5% fees for transactions,
for two.

Wait until you start doing 5-10k bank wires, that will curl your hair!

[HowardW56]

I have bought many guns on gunbroker and have never had a problem...

I always pay with USPS money orders...

I won't deal with anyone with low single digit feedback...

[damndave]

i bought my 1st gun from grunbroker, and used a money order

[gtmmark]

I sell a bit of stuff on Gunbroker I only accept USPS money orders they protect both the buyer and the seller.

[1919A4]

I love gunbroker.Make sure you use a US postal money order or credit card. My best buy from there was a M1A Scout for $1030 bucks.
You just have to be patient. The deals do show up.

[corrosively_armed]

I make my living on ebay and with a local shop I own. Paypal cannot freeze your bank account. They can put your PAYPAL ACCOUNT in limbo though if there is a dispute. Likewise if you have sold an item say for x amount of money and joe buyers remorse blow decides two weeks later that he wants his money back and manages to win through the paypal dispute process they may reverse funds and take the money back from your bank account and if your bank account balance is not great enough then you will incur fees from your bank for being overdrawn. Paypal is itself not anti gun. Ebay is antigun. Paypal specifically allows itself to be used for ammunition etc as is specified in their rules. I've used auctionarms to buy collector cartridges primarily.

Paypal is anti-gun and can freeze, and has, your bank account and all money in it.

Also, many people on these auction sites are people just like you and me, trying to get as much money for their guns rather than take it to a shop that has to undercut the price to make any money. I personally can't take credit cards.

I've used both places, Gunbroker more than the others, and have never had a problem. Of course, the general rules of online auctions still apply, such as if it's way too good to be true, it probably is (so seeling someone offer a complete Colt ar-15 for $500 buy it now should probably be avoided).

Also, you shouldn't be too worried, as scamming someone on Gunbroker with a gun is kinda of silly. Postal fraud and firearm theft are two MAJOR felonies. You'd be silly to try and scam someone that way.

You could always use Postal Money order. If they screw you, you contact the USPS and they will send their Postal Inspectors after them. VERY serious business and your money is insured that way too.

[corrosively_armed]

Furthermore, if you are concerned about using your bank account through paypal then just use a credit card through paypal or use an ebay mastercard which you can choose as your funding source when making a paypal payment. I've literally bought and sold thousands of items through paypal and by and large it is a very very good service.

[glockfu]

Thanks! This is all great information. What exactly is it that makes it safer to use USPS Money orders? What protection does it offer to buyers?