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I don't understand why people complain about Gunbroker ad nauseum . If you have any kind of common sense, set a maximum amount you are willing to pay for something and don't bid any higher than that. I long ago established two simple rules for buying guns off of Gunbroker.
1. Establish the maximum I was willing to pay factoring in shipping and tax.
2. Always pay via credit card. That way if the gun shows up not as described, or doesn't show up at all, I can dispute the charge.
I never buy new guns from a GB auction, only the collectable (used) stuff I am interested in and I know what those things are worth.
For new guns and accessories, it is almost always cheaper to get then straight from an online retailer through your local gun store. My local store charges $25 to receive and transfer a third party gun. Lots of time I will give them the price I can get it for and they will match it, or at least come close enough to not really matter.
Shill bidders? If they run the bid up, I drop out and won't buy from that particular seller ever again. I had that happen recently on some early Glock magazines a couple weeks ago. Once the bid got to a certain point and then a new no rating bidder got into the action and started to run up the price, I let it go. I am sure I can find more somewhere else.
If you get screwed it's usually your own fault for not doing your homework. Gunbroker has this easily accessible function where you can look at completed auctions and get an idea of what a particular item actually sold for. Then you can bid accordingly.
As for restocking fees, that is up to the seller. It is your responsibility to know what you are buying and not the sellers job to hold your hand if you screw up. I speak from experience here and have had to eat a restocking fee myself a time or two. If it's my fault, I suck it up and write it off as a learning experience.
1. Establish the maximum I was willing to pay factoring in shipping and tax.
2. Always pay via credit card. That way if the gun shows up not as described, or doesn't show up at all, I can dispute the charge.
I never buy new guns from a GB auction, only the collectable (used) stuff I am interested in and I know what those things are worth.
For new guns and accessories, it is almost always cheaper to get then straight from an online retailer through your local gun store. My local store charges $25 to receive and transfer a third party gun. Lots of time I will give them the price I can get it for and they will match it, or at least come close enough to not really matter.
Shill bidders? If they run the bid up, I drop out and won't buy from that particular seller ever again. I had that happen recently on some early Glock magazines a couple weeks ago. Once the bid got to a certain point and then a new no rating bidder got into the action and started to run up the price, I let it go. I am sure I can find more somewhere else.
If you get screwed it's usually your own fault for not doing your homework. Gunbroker has this easily accessible function where you can look at completed auctions and get an idea of what a particular item actually sold for. Then you can bid accordingly.
As for restocking fees, that is up to the seller. It is your responsibility to know what you are buying and not the sellers job to hold your hand if you screw up. I speak from experience here and have had to eat a restocking fee myself a time or two. If it's my fault, I suck it up and write it off as a learning experience.
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