Purchasing from Gunbroker

[Ira Whitten]

What has everyone’s experience been with gunbroker auctions? I put in a bid on a Parker on there and oddly it took me to the email about a similar gun that I saw on Gunsinternational. The auction seems like something odd went on and another account was just jacking up the price. If the gun description is legit then it’s a fair price. Just don’t have experience on that site.

[Greg Baylander]

PM sent, check your messages

[keavin nelson]

Be careful, there have been scammers on GB in the past and certainly there will be in the future. This is both from a buyers and sellers side. Was it the same gun listed in both places?

[Brian Dudley]

Some sellers may cross post and market their guns in both locations. But not very often.

A commonly seen scam is where someone will hijack photos from a guns international listing and crop off the GI watermark and then put up a gunbroker listing for the gun using those photos. Usually the descriptions are minimal. And the price will always be half what the gun is “worth” making it very attractive to bidders.
These scam sellers will usually be NR (no review) sellers on Gunbroker meaning they have no feedback rating. OR the ratings will be very low. Like 1 or 2. And usually those ratings are from other scam accounts. They work together to try and pad up feedback ratings to make their accounts look more legit.

Maybe if you share examples of the listings you mention, we can advise.


One company that is posting a lot of GI is Guns.com. And they have their own website and run their own auctions on there as well as fixed price sales. They are just using GI to try and boost their exposure. Which will just end up biting GI in the ass in the future as Guns.com is their competitor. And, They are BAD NEWS based on recent experiences I had with them.

[edgarspencer]

Check the seller's 'other listings'. If it's their only listing, send them a message, and ask that they reply to your email address. If they don't, they may not want you to be able to better identify them.
I don't look at GB too often, and have very limited buying experience off that site. My most recent experience was with a seller in upstate NY. The gun was a 30" DHE20, and turned out to be very much nicer than his good pictures suggested. I was the only bidder, and felt it was a very good deal.

[Jay Oliver]

All good advice/practices mentioned here. I'll also add that once gun is over around $2k or more, I usually want to talk to the seller on the phone(just to ask questions about the gun and get a feel for who I am dealing with).

That doesn't always happen, but if something doesn't feel right or if I need a few more details before I bid. I usually enjoy the phone call as good sellers don't mind talking about what they have listed. Good sxs relationships can start this way.

One last thing if something feels off, "cut and paste" the description(or parts of it) and see what Google will come up with. If it is double listed or something fishy is going on you'll usually find it, as scammers don't take the time to alter the description.

Some of you may remember. I bought a 28g VH that Brian restocked wonderfully that was initially listed on Guns International, but listed on GunBroker a few times as well.

[Craig Larter]

I look for lots of positive feedbacks on GB sellers. I have only purchased a few great items off GB but I watch it daily. If the seller is using the GB instant check out system that makes me comfotable since a credit card is required and some of the sellers on the check out system waive the CC fee.

[Phil Yearout]

Never have, doubt I ever will. There is simply too much that is subjective, too much stretching the limits of honesty for me to feel comfortable. I bought my first few guns at shows where I could at least handle the thing in person; all my later purchases have been from someone I know or at least is well known on the boards. My buying days are likely over anyway :).

[Brett Trimble]

FWIW, I’ve bought many guns on GB. Very few vintage guns, however. If I’m interested I send the seller an email. If they don’t reply I move on. If they do I usually ask for additional pics and/or a phone call. I haven’t had a problem yet.

The info that Brian shared is critical, IMO…

[John Allen]

I always look to see their other listings. If they have several photos with different backgrounds that is a red flag. Most legitimate sellers use the same background for all their photos. When they are mixed,they have been lifted from different sites.

[CraigThompson]

We sell on GB a good bit as a matter of fact we’re over $300k in sales for the year so far . And while there were or are some folks on there who might rob you blind , for the last year or two there’s been rampant run of deadbeat buyers and by that I mean folks that bid win and then don’t wanna pay after the fact with a good many never replying to emails etc . I particularly hate it when a person with no feedback bids on one of our items because they seem to harbor a good many of the deadbeat types . A couple years back there was a guy/group that were stealing pics from Gunsinternational or somewhere of higher grade very visible guns mostly Winchester levers and Colt single actions of my memory is correct . Anyway they had a location of IN or IL if memory serves and it turned out they were actually in the UK running their scam thru some fictitious address in the US .

[edgarspencer]

. A couple years back there was a guy/group that were stealing pics from Gunsinternational or somewhere of higher grade very visible guns mostly Winchester levers and Colt single actions of my memory is correct .

The "seller" often says he's out of the country, but his buddy can make the deal. A long while back, there was wonderful 1894 rifle, with NINE special order features, Deluxe .25WCF Takedown. He strung me along for the longest while. I was wandering down an aisle at the Baltimore show, and there was the gun. The real owner had no idea someone had stolen his pictures. I did the deal on the spot, and a week later sent the phony seller pictures and told him I found a better one. Crickets.

[Brian Dudley]

Whenever I see a gunbroker listing that I know is a scam, I like to hit the buy it now button to end the listing. Then I promptly leave negative feedback stating that the listing is a scam. Then I report the transaction to gunbroker and they will cancel the transaction within a few days. I am on the hook for nothing.

[Dylan Rhodes]

Wow, I always assumed guns.com was somehow in someway a scam. Either that or my money was being used to fund some nefarious organization.

Such a “seriously?” name for a website. But I suppose that domain probably gets a ton of searches…

[allen newell]

I'm too old to think about buying more guns. I should be downsizing. My 2 grandsons won't shoot clays. They only want to shoot live birds. So I take them to Markover.

[Paul Ehlers]

I've always been very cautious when it comes to gun broker or any online site for that matter.

My main issue with buying on GB is the taxation issue. There's just something that rubs me wrong when GB automatically tacks on your states sales tax to the final price of the item when they aren't the seller & only an intermediary of the transaction. With Colorado's newly enacted 6.5% excise tax for gun purchases on top of the regular tax this now puts just under 10% taxation on a gun purchased off GB. Then when you add in shipping & FFL transfer fee's, this can get expensive pretty quick.

Due to this state having universal background checks the FFL transfers fees can now be as high as $150.00. I just bought a gun off of GB & when all the dust settled, I ended up with just shy of a grand added to the purchase price of the gun from a private seller. Buyer be Ware!!

[Channing Will]

We sell on GB a good bit as a matter of fact we’re over $300k in sales for the year so far . And while there were or are some folks on there who might rob you blind , for the last year or two there’s been rampant run of deadbeat buyers and by that I mean folks that bid win and then don’t wanna pay after the fact with a good many never replying to emails etc . I particularly hate it when a person with no feedback bids on one of our items because they seem to harbor a good many of the deadbeat types . A couple years back there was a guy/group that were stealing pics from Gunsinternational or somewhere of higher grade very visible guns mostly Winchester levers and Colt single actions of my memory is correct . Anyway they had a location of IN or IL if memory serves and it turned out they were actually in the UK running their scam thru some fictitious address in the US .

We have noticed the exact same thing on Gunbroker and have moved more items to GunsInternational because of it. I'm not sure which I dislike more, the auction winners that completely ghost you after the auction ends or the ones that flat out lie that a payment has been sent, never provide tracking and then weeks later decide they "don't want the item". The Gunbroker checkout process is cumbersome for new buyers, but from a sellers perspective I wish they would just force buyers to link a payment method like eBay so we don't have to chase buyers to complete the "buyer review" or finish the checkout process. Some try to skip checkout to avoid the Gunbroker fees and taxes, but because Gunbroker is collecting those fees from us as the seller we have to include them. Sorry for the rant, I guess it could always be worse and Gunbroker could start charging a 22% buyers premium like the bigger auction houses!

[David C Porter]

Any time you're purchasing a gun on line, whether it's a gun store web site or auction site & you don't have the ability to inspect the gun prior to purchasing it can be a crap shoot. If it's a reputable store you've done business with before & feel comfortable that they will stand behind their gun;
great. But, quite often other sellers will not stand behind their guns & often they know the gun has issues and are trying to push their lame duck on to a buyer. So, simply put, buyer beware and only do business with a reputable seller you're comfortable with and know they will stand behind their gun.

[John Allen]

I have almost quit GB because of the tax situation. Tn has a 9.25% sales tax. When GB throws their fees on top of that I have to plan on an additional 16% added to the sales price. Makes it hard to bid. I much prefer GI. They encourage seller and buyer to contact each other and work out the selling price. It is just a much better way to do business.

[Bill Murphy]

I don't think all gunbroker sellers forward that state tax money to the states. Not too long ago, I purchased a medium high dollar shotgun after winning a gunbroker auction. The auction house never mentioned a word about sales tax. Does the tax situation apply to all states?

[Ian Civco]

I don’t really spend much time on Gunbroker because of the sales tax thing. First, why is a used item subjected to sales tax (again)? Secondly, it’s none of Gunbroker’s business about the sales tax. It’s the buyer’s obligation to submit sales tax to the state they live in, and if they don’t, they face the consequences (which are none). It gives an unfair advantage to those who live in states that don’t have sales tax. If I purchase a 10k firearm, I have to pay $600 in sales tax. Major salt in a wound. Use GunsInternational and avoid sales tax.

I think that Supreme Court ruling about sales tax was wrong. If you purchased outside of your state most sales taxes were non obligatory and it was your responsibility to settle up with your state.

[Stephen Hodges]

I don't think all gunbroker sellers forward that state tax money to the states. Not too long ago, I purchased a medium high dollar shotgun after winning a gunbroker auction. The auction house never mentioned a word about sales tax. Does the tax situation apply to all states?

It should only apply to state that have a sales tax. Here in NH we do not have a sales or state income tax, so we should be able to purchase tax free. "Live free or Die"

[Frank Srebro]

It should only apply to state that have a sales tax. Here in NH we do not have a sales or state income tax, so we should be able to purchase tax free. "Live free or Die"

It's my understanding that Gunbroker adds sales tax to the auction closing price only if the buyer's state has a state sales tax, and in that case it's added at that state's tax rate.

That’s a legal requirement. No different than buying most items on-line nowadays.

[Paul Ehlers]

The GB taxation thing is a hot mess if you live in a state they have to collect taxes for, its just something you have to be aware of & deal with accordingly.

Because of my situation, I also have to be careful with who I deal with out of state if they are a dealer. Colorado's gun & ammo excise tax has an added catch that the tax has to be paid & collected if the dealer you're buying from has sold over $22,000.00 in sales in Colorado in the past year. I ran into this when I was trying to buy a gun from Coles in San Antonio Tx. it was a direct phone transaction, and the deal fell apart when they told me that they had to charge the Co. sales & excise tax.

[Craig Larter]

My best GB buy--. Yea just have to keep looking and jump on the Buy It Now Buttom at times.

[Ian Civco]

My best GB buy--. Yea just have to keep looking and jump on the Buy It Now Buttom at times.

Details? Tell us the story. That’s a nice Parker shotgun.

[Craig Larter]

Details? Tell us the story. That’s a nice Parker shotgun.

I wrote an article about this gun in Parker Pages, I believe Spring 2025.

[Paul Ehlers]

I'm with Craig on getting some nice guns on GB. There was a time that the best deals I've had on vintage SxS's came off GB.

A couple examples are the two model-21's that I used as platforms for custom upgrade projects. One a 20ga the other a 16 both were 28" double trigger extractor guns in solid mechanical condition for less than 4k each. That was before the covid crazy buying price spike era and GB taxation days though.

[edgarspencer]

Unless you were born yesterday, you learn that certain old expressions last because there is a lot of truth in them.

A) "If it seems too good to be true, it usually is" requires that you really know what truth is.

B) "Experience is the best teacher" This almost always requires a 'bad' experience.

C) "Caveat Emptor" has become the rule. People have become lazy, and that has, unfortunately, translated into a seller telling you anything that gets his item sold. Integrity isn't what it used to be. See A. above.

Knowing C, above, is usually more costly than just the return postage.

D) "Do Your Homework". Know as much as you can learn, about what you are searching for. It isn't just what your mother told you when you wanted to go out an play. If you don't know as much as possible about what you're buying, You are ripe to learn what B, above means.

My favorite is " Ignorance is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result" This is what happens when we don't remember what we learned. It almost always happens every four years.

There is so much truth in what my favorite author, Mark Twain, said. If he was alive today, He'd probably make more money selling Motivational Posters. There are a lot more ignorant people today, than when he was around.

[CraigThompson]

Unless you were born yesterday, you learn that certain old expressions last because there is a lot of truth in them.

A) "If it seems too good to be true, it usually is" requires that you really know what truth is.

B) "Experience is the best teacher" This almost always requires a 'bad' experience.

C) "Caveat Emptor" has become the rule. People have become lazy, and that has, unfortunately, translated into a seller telling you anything that gets his item sold. Integrity isn't what it used to be. See A. above.

Knowing C, above, is usually more costly than just the return postage.

D) "Do Your Homework". Know as much as you can learn, about what you are searching for. It isn't just what your mother told you when you wanted to go out an play. If you don't know as much as possible about what you're buying, You are ripe to learn what B, above means.

My favorite is " Ignorance is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result" This is what happens when we don't remember what we learned. It almost always happens every four years.

There is so much truth in what my favorite author, Mark Twain, said. If he was alive today, He'd probably make more money selling Motivational Posters. There are a lot more ignorant people today, than when he was around.

You’d be somewhat amazed how stupid the possible buyers have become . I try and put every negative in anything I list as well as taking pictures of bumps bruises scratches and cracks . I also put in the pertinent info like barrel length chamber length choke DAC DAH LOP and weight , and you’d be surprised how many SOB’s cannot be bothered to read the damn description and must ask stupid questions that are answered in the description . While I don’t disagree with anything you said it’s a two way street both lazy and stupid are not a one way street .

[CraigThompson]

I wrote an article about this gun in Parker Pages, I believe Spring 2025.

Any Parker with an antlered critter on the floor plate is a winner for me :whistle:

[Craig Larter]

Everyone in our hobby makes mistakes. That gun that you now hate just stares at you from the gun safe every time you open the door LOL. I just sell it, take my lumps and move on and hope I learned a lesson. Know what you like and what you dislike, it can take a few mistakes to figure that out.

[edgarspencer]

Any Parker with an antlered critter on the floor plate is a winner for me :whistle:
Apologies for the poor quality of the picture. This is my 'little' 0 frame BHE. The dogs and birds are just one of the many things I love about this gun. All the grade 5 guns I've owned in the past, except for one, were 1 or 1 1/2 frame guns, and all had Craig T's favorite trigger plate subject. The one other 0 frame gun was my dad's 20Ga BHE that had 28" Acme steel barrels, and I must be honest; I do not remember much about it, apart from the straight stock. That is the gun I remind my daughter that I sold, when she announced she was staying on, after graduation, for her master's degree. insert big sigh here.

Everyone in our hobby makes mistakes. That gun that you now hate just stares at you from the gun safe every time you open the door LOL. I just sell it, take my lumps and move on and hope I learned a lesson. Know what you like and what you dislike, it can take a few mistakes to figure that out.
Well, I've made my share of less-than-well thought out purchases. Some I eventually grew to like and others had to pack their bags. The only remaining one still awaiting the return of the jury, is perhaps one of my most expensive purchases (there is probably a connection between price and regret). I keep telling myself that if I spend more time shooting it, eventually I will learn to like it more.