Gunbroker Warning

[calieng]

I had a seller on Gunbroker refuse to ship to CA because he mis-understood rules about shipping C&R pistols to CA. I tried to explain to him but he was really being an a-hole about it. OK no problem but then he filed a non-paying bidder claim on me to get his fees back even though he was the guy who refused to complete the transaction.

End result - my account was suspended. Now I have no access to my purchase history including a couple items that have not even shipped to me yet while my payments clear.

What a bunch of dick heads that run that site. They could just restrict your future bidding but to eliminate access to all your account information is pretty bad especially when you have purchases still being finalized.....

They don't even have a customer servicer phone number so you can call to discuss!

[Jwalt]

Did he say up-front that he didn't ship to CA? A lot of them do.

I've had one refuse to ship me a front-stuffer because California. I asked him before bidding if he would make an exception, though. His choice to lose out on my bid, so be it.

Is there an appeals process? Never had bad feedback there.

[The Gleam]

Not "victim blaming" you, but starting about 10 years ago, once I started seeing sellers post "will not ship to CA" on items, and then later when CA set up the CFLC requirement that out-of-state gun dealers "register" with the CA DOJ for approval to ship a gun to CA, I knew it would lead to a lot of sellers pissed off if a buyer in CA dropped that on them.

So any time prior to buying, even for C&R, I would email the seller in advance to be sure and clarify they would be cool shipping to CA and ALSO not have a hyper-reaction to the CA DOJ's CFLC madness.

https://www.gunlaw.com/licensee-check/

As of July 1, 2008 California Penal Code section 12072(f)(1) requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) wherever located, other than Type 03 FFLs (Licensed Collector of Curio or Relic Firearms) or Type 06 FFLs (Licensed Manufacturer of Ammunition) intending to deliver, sell, or transfer firearms to a licensed firearms dealer, pawnbroker, importer or manufacturer in California to obtain prior Firearms Shipment Approval from the California Department of Justice (CADOJ).


What Purpose Does The California Firearms Licensee Check Serve?

The approval process, called CFLC for short, ensures that the intended recipient of the firearm(s) has a valid Federal Firearms License and currently meets all California and local requirements for lawfully dealing in firearms. If the receiving FFL has met all of these requirements they will be already be enrolled on the CADOJ Centralized List (CL) of approved firearms dealers, and they will have a five digit Centralized List number which the transferor will need to know to request Firearms Shipment Approval.

[audiophil2]

I deal with that all the time. Calgunners usually have no problem asking the seller to ship to me.

[timdps]

A bit late now, but the "shipping to CA" question needs to be dealt with BEFORE any bidding happens. Far too many sellers will not ship to CA on general principle. As The Gleam says, this have been going on for quite a while.

T

[Barang]

I go to GunsAmerica first then Gunbroker last.

[calieng]

Good advice on asking about CA shipping first. Had not thought it was an issue for C&R.

But anyway the complete restriction to accessing your account is terrible considering they provide communications with sellers thru their site and even take the payment thru their site on many of the purchases....what am I supposed to do about the current purchases in progress if something goes sideways....

Really crap customer service (or lack thereof) on that site. And the fact they do not even provide a customer service number is pretty bad. I guess I learned the hard way about that site.

[calieng]

I go to GunsAmerica first then Gunbroker last.

Now you tell me....

[200Apples]

....what am I supposed to do about the current purchases in progress if something goes sideways....

Really crap customer service (or lack thereof) on that site. And the fact they do not even provide a customer service number is pretty bad. I guess I learned the hard way about that site.

Have you thought of composing a calmly-written email to describe your plight? That you may have made a mistake regarding the CA shipping Q by not asking before bidding, and may you please simply have access to your deals pending?

Keep it brief and keep it polite... and this is why a laptop or desktop machine is still useful. It can be difficult to hammer out an email which exhibits good form while typing it on a phone...

[G38xOC]

that place is shady . I was buying some 22WMR . and come to find out after doing some research .. they're few screen name that always bumps the price up . and repost if it doesnt sell . I had to learn my lesson the hardway .

[alwaysbest]

Lol.. you are using GB the wrong way, I actually email the buyer/seller and directly cut a deal with them

[Z ME FLY]

A bit late now, but the "shipping to CA" question needs to be dealt with BEFORE any bidding happens. Far too many sellers will not ship to CA on general principle. As The Gleam says, this have been going on for quite a while.

T

[sigstroker]

Even when I lived in CA I wouldn't sell to CA buyers. Too easy to sell to people in other states to deal with the possible hassles.

[Matt P]

It’s rather simple for the seller to not be charged the fees. Gun broker will refund those.
As I remember it the system does not have an selection for your situation that the seller can choose.
No surprise that it has suspended your account temporarily.
Once you explain through email what occurred you should have no problem being reinstated.

But, for sure Gun broker doesn’t deserve being blasted by you.
Having been a user on both GB and G&A I can easily say GB is better populated and well worth your shopping efforts.
It’s a fantastic resource and very easy to buy or sell on it.

It’s unfortunate for any business to suffer needless criticism when the 2 parties involved do not work for gunbroker.

[Guns and guitars]

Even when I lived in CA I wouldn't sell to CA buyers. Too easy to sell to people in other states to deal with the possible hassles.

This.


I have a high GB rating and sell monthly.
Like many I prefer to not deal with anything sent in Ca and usually put it on my auctions even though I live here.

Its just easier to not deal with the horrid laws, and entitled gun owners who have no problem crying and threatening to sue or ban other gun owners yet have no balls when it comes to getting their constitutional rights back from Sacramento.

Sucks but its your bed, you made it, now sleep in it or move!