Be careful when buying on GunBroker!!!

[sparky123321]

Be very cafeful!!! Gunbroker is allowing Sellers to automatically add up to almost 10% to your purchase price for shipping insurance. We all know shipping insurance doesn't cost almost 10% for the value of the item being shipped.

This is a sneaky and deliberate practice by unscrupulous Sellers to list their items at a lower price than more honorable sellers.

I've requested that GunBroker stop this practice immediately or at least highlight these ridiculously high insurance fees in the Immediate Checkout box just as they currently do for Credit Card Fees.

 

[DShortt]

It appears to me that Gunbroker is getting a big enough that they just don't care about service/cost complaints anymore.

Between that and all the problems with shipping.......

I'm done with them.

 

[sparky123321]

Well, I already filed a complaint with the BBB and I'm going to see about filing a complaint with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

I also did a little research. USPS charges approximately 2% for package insurance. FedEx and UPS charge approximately 1.2%-1.6% for package insurance.

This is absolutely a sneaky and deliberate attempt to make you believe you are paying less for an item than you actually are. Remember, this is not an optional fee. It is automatically added to your final price. If you're going to make a purchase on GB, just make sure you look VERY closely for any additional fees.

 

[Syncrowave]

Gunbroker is allowing Sellers to automatically add up to almost 10% to your purchase price for shipping insurance.

So up to $150 for a $1500 gun? That's crazy! It's bad enough that sellers tack on 3.5% or more for credit cards...

Now Virginia Democrats are trying to tack on another 11% (or 22%) for the few items they haven't yet banned...it just goes on and on and everybody's got their hand out.

 

[Jpete]

You have to read the sellers shipping and insurance costs in the fine print now, some are charging 70.00 for shipping plus a handling fee. I do not think some bidders take those costs into consideration

 

[JSH]

Something that has bugged me for a while is the tax collected, I sometimes wonder how much is actually going to “tax”.

 

[Walt Krafft]

READ THE FINE PRINT. I have sold on Gunbroker and the number of people that ignore the shipping costs and other terms is insane. Blame your state for the sales tax bs.

 

[Evlshnngns]

Shipping insurance isn't Gunbrokers doing. That is all the seller, and its awfully scammy.

 

[Tommie]

Beware of listings that say “actual shipping cost”. I got nailed by that one. Yes, read the fine print.

 

[DGP4]

Ten years ago, I could find plenty of good deals on Gun Broker. Nowadays, they are far and few in between. Lots of unscrupulous sellers both on charges and description of the item.

 

[RCE1]

As a seller, it always shocks me as to actual out-of-pocket costs for shipping a rifle. Because my state requires FFL to FFL transfer, there is an added fee. Shipping is almost always UPS ground.

Then, there are the boxes. Finding decent (strong) boxes is often difficult and I prefer not to have the FFL do the packing. Right now, I've been using telescoping 8x8" boxes which are very nice. I always reinforce the ends and pack the rifle in a soft case with the bolt removed.

Any other accessories such as scopes, dies or brass go in separate boxes, frequently USPS FR. I always purchase insurance for the value of the transaction and never mark up the shipping costs. In fact, I generally throw in the soft case if I have one to spare.

When I tell potential buyers that shipping is generally around $100 (and it's usually a little more than that) plus $20 for the box and another $25 for the rifle case, well, people who don't know me figure I'm taking advantage of them. I don't ever charge for my time spent on my (admittedly elaborate) packing.

 

[Evlshnngns]

As a seller, it always shocks me as to actual out-of-pocket costs for shipping a rifle. Because my state requires FFL to FFL transfer, there is an added fee. Shipping is almost always UPS ground.

Then, there are the boxes. Finding decent (strong) boxes is often difficult and I prefer not to have the FFL do the packing. Right now, I've been using telescoping 8x8" boxes which are very nice. I always reinforce the ends and pack the rifle in a soft case with the bolt removed.

Any other accessories such as scopes, dies or brass go in separate boxes, frequently USPS FR. I always purchase insurance for the value of the transaction and never mark up the shipping costs. In fact, I generally throw in the soft case if I have one to spare.

When I tell potential buyers that shipping is generally around $100 (and it's usually a little more than that) plus $20 for the box and another $25 for the rifle case, well, people who don't know me figure I'm taking advantage of them. I don't ever charge for my time spent on my (admittedly elaborate) packing.

I know you are right. Non business shipping is crazy.

Puts a lot more value in buying Local.

 

[Presis Skytter]

I’ve bought several things on gunbroker. I’ve also had several I’ve been disappointed with.

Now I just stick to the forums on here and other similar sites. Yet to have a bad transaction… and I’ve had many.

 

[ISS]

this has become my only truly trustworthy place to buy/sell anything firearms related.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I just shipped a 22 rifle with 3800.00 insurance from Wv to Nebraska with UPS at 210.00 bucks i only allowed 150.00. Shipping is out of sight now

 

[nakneker]

I buy frequently on GB. I always look at the shipping rates, CC fees and ask for shipped price before committing. Too many sellers hook ya with a low price and then pad the shipping and other fees. It’s pretty easy to navigate that if you just pay a little attention. I also pay attention to the feedback on buyers on GB. Lots of solid sellers on gunbroker. It’s like having a huge gun store with a used section at your fingertips just have to avoid the pitfalls part if which is your own due diligence.

I agree that they shouldn't be able to add 10% insurance fees, lots of games get played.

 

[Ranger188]

You look closely at the sellers shipping charge and it will state that they add a percentage
of the price to the cost. Some do, some don't.
Sometimes you can find the sellers website and contacted them directly.
Not going through Gunbroker.
Won't use Gunbroker, no way no how.

 

[spencerhenry]

Often times the tax charged is incorrect. When I lived in Colorado I would get charged city sales tax, city bus tax, and some others. I lived 20 miles out of town, the tax collectors for gunbroker and other businesses would not adjust it. I called, and stated that they were charging me more than if I went into a store and bought it, by a percent or two, they didn't care.

I wrote off gunbroker several years ago, I had bought and sold lots of guns on there. The last straw for me was when I sold a Colt AR-15. The buyer never paid, gunbroker tried to charge my credit card every month for 2 or 3 years for the tax. Fortunately for me, their system was unable to charge my card even though all the information was current and correct. I had filed a non-paying bidder report, emailed gunbroker, called gunbroker and got nowhere. I even posted a thread on here about it, and it was deleted.

The only thing I use gunbroker for now is to locate someone who has something I want, then I reach out to them directly.

 

[Knotwild]

I quit with them 15 years ago just because I didn’t like the atmosphere their policies create.

 

[GetReal]

Also beware the " too good to be true" deal.

Found some Sig MCX / MPX stuff at a great price. Seller never indicated product was coming from overseas and would hafta go thru customs.

After over a month of waiting and some nasty emails, I got my parts.... loose, wobbly, garbage Chinese knockoffs.