Gunbroker -- Suspicious Sale then Relisting

[jimmymac]

From my view, GB is shill bidder city.

Agreed.

 

[nakneker]

Did the $1800 rifle get relisted? So many times I've seen guns bid up, listed as sold, then relisted by the original seller. From my view, GB is shill bidder city.

Certainly plenty of that on GB.

 

[Downhill]

Same kind of crap at a heavy equipment auction. Auction company will have people run up bids, if "that" bidder wins you will see the same piece of equipment at the next auction. Same on GB, if the seller doesn't like how the auction going, gets a buddy or employee to run up the price. Then it gets relisted. Make note of the seller and send them no future business.

 

[hogpatrol]

From my perspective, the only way to bid is determine your highest bid and stop there. Bidding wars are for suckers.

 

[rockhound78]

I bid on an item on GB and thought I had it, but kept getting bid up by one person. I played the game for a bit, but finally let the other person have it.
Next day the seller said the other person wouldn't pay for the item and I could have it for my last bid. Told them since the other person wouldn't pay, to take away all their bids and I would buy it for my last bid, before the other person started running up the price. Seller was pretty nasty about things then.
Guessing a Shill bidder

 

[hogpatrol]

Just an FYI, GB bidding can work the other way. I put in a bid on an old 6BR benchrest rifle and figured I'd get outbid. I was the only bidder and won. Long story, short, that rifle cost me a ton of money.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

A lot of auctions go for silly prices, human nature I suppose to let one’s competitive nature get the best out them or their ego. A little bit of shopping when on gunbroker can be worth a person’s time but evidently there are people who get tunnel vision and fixated on the prize.

I’ve never had a problem on GB. I try and buy from guys with history and positive feedback but if a firearm pops up I want and the price is right I will simply reach out and ask to have a conversation about the said firearm. There have been a couple of times I backed off because things didn’t seem right but the flip side to that is I’ve also landed a few rifles I’ve looked for years at a reasonable or even much less the item was worth. I picked up a Tikka Master sporter in 222 last year at a much reduced price on a buy it now listing. The guy had zero feedback and the rifle was pristine. A few questions with the seller and I sealed the deal. I think I have a little less than 300 transactions on GB and have never been burned. Had a couple items come that were nit as described and the seller made it right.

Nakneker, I think I remember your 222Rem! Great purchase. A person does have to be careful, the small fees, shipping and taxes add up.

 

[jdh47]

Things can get crazy at any auction and online auctions are worse than onsite. You can't see who's bidding on you. I was at a machinery auction once in Dallas. I bid on a DoAll Tap Zapper and lost out to some guy that was bidding on line from California I was told later. After the auction the auctioneer came up to me and said would you like to have the item for your last bid. I said ok but why. He said that that guy does this to him all the time. He bids and wins something then demands the auctioneer to ship to him and the rules clearly state onsite pickup.

 

[hoz53]

Certainly plenty of that on GB.

ive been thinking of signing as seller on GB to sell a few personal guns. they dont make it easy. im in the process but still working on it. i sold there a little years ago so dont know if id have a trade count or not. for sure low trade count would work against me like you say but i think it can be overcome to a certain extent. I guess from a sellers perspective it would be worth a try. Its hard to get ahold of them for sure but they have answered my requests lately. one things for sure- if i list something to sell there and it doesnts sell i wont list it there again.
thanks for sharing your experience there nakneker.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have observed two things with gb. One, a lot of listers don't care if their item sells. Their starting price is over market price. Two, the number of dead beat buyers is about one in five, definately more than one in ten. They will not read the terms and want you to take a credit card or ship someplace you can't. I had one that wanted to use three credit cards and drive 300 miles from two states away to pickup a handgun.

 

[nakneker]

ive been thinking of signing as seller on GB to sell a few personal guns. they dont make it easy. im in the process but still working on it. i sold there a little years ago so dont know if id have a trade count or not. for sure low trade count would work against me like you say but i think it can be overcome to a certain extent. I guess from a sellers perspective it would be worth a try. Its hard to get ahold of them for sure but they have answered my requests lately. one things for sure- if i list something to sell there and it doesnts sell i wont list it there again.
thanks for sharing your experience there nakneker.

I’ve sold quite a few items on gunbroker and have never had a negative experience. Good luck Hoz53!

 

[hoz53]

I’ve sold quite a few items on gunbroker and have never had a negative experience. Good luck Hoz53!

thanks

 

[6Creed73]

I've bought several guns from GunBroker, the key is to set your max and be willing to walk away if bidding goes past your max...shill bidder or not. I've gotten lucky a couple of times and got guns for the starting bid price.

I won a Ruger Precision Custom Shop in 6CM for $1435 out the door. That rifle sells in retail shops for $1900, not including tax. Also got a Bergara B14 HMR Wilderness for $780. On the flip side, I've been outbid countless times, but walked away as soon as it went over my max.

 

[hoz53]

I've bought several guns from GunBroker, the key is to set your max and be willing to walk away if bidding goes past your max...shill bidder or not. I've gotten lucky a couple of times and got guns for the starting bid price.

I won a Ruger Precision Custom Shop in 6CM for $1435 out the door. That rifle sells in retail shops for $1900, not including tax. Also got a Bergara B14 HMR Wilderness for $780. On the flip side, I've been outbid countless times, but walked away as soon as it went over my max.

thanks