Gunbroker is rather perplexing

AL45 · May 21, 2022, 09:26 AM

The prices on gunbroker and the way people bid is amusing. On a new firearm, there will be a "Buy it now" listing for $1200.00 and on another listing of the same gun, there will be a "Starting bid" of $1500.00, and people will be on that listing in a bidding war when they could simply buy it for less. And do sellers not check out prices on other listings? I saw the same new firearm listed several times and the prices for it ranged from $800.00 to over $2000.00. My favorite though, was a guy selling a cardboard box that a pistol was shipped in. The starting bid was $250.00. I wonder if that price included shipping.

sako2 · May 21, 2022, 11:07 AM

It's called stupid. I saw a auction for Retumbo. Same listing it had a buy now price and a starting bid. They ran the bid over what they could have bought it for.

Logs · May 21, 2022, 01:34 PM

I have been watching a few guns and noticed that someone may have a Buy It Now for $1,200, but the gun only sells for $850. You just have to be patient.

I have been trying to pick up a Smith 5906 and they are going for crazy high prices.

Butzbach · May 22, 2022, 12:18 AM

Seller credibility can add a wrinkle to some of the auctions.

**44 AMP** · May 22, 2022, 12:32 PM

It's an auction. Not a bargain shop. If you get a bargain, consider yourself fortunate.

ballardw · May 22, 2022, 01:35 PM

Ever go to live auctions?

The first one I went to was a local sporting goods store going out of business.
I remember old truck window rifle racks being offered multiple times. One box would sell for $3 each (case of 12 or some such), the next box $9 (almost retail at that time), the next $5 each.

Sometimes that "high" price may come because of something you are not interested in but affects some collectors "I need it" bone.

2123 · May 22, 2022, 04:27 PM

Gun Broker is now owned by new people. Some of the rules on the auction side have been changed.

I haven't sold or bought anything on it for a very long time. When I was buying / selling, I don't recall any issues or problems.

Sevens · May 22, 2022, 05:40 PM

The newest 1% ridiculous clerical fee isn’t big money but it’s obnoxious. But when they went ahead with sales tax, it ruined the Gunbroker experience.

I cannot sit here and blame Gunbroker specifically for the sales tax, but it’s has ruined the experience.

FITASC · May 22, 2022, 06:39 PM

Add in the fees and taxes and GB is a "No Thank You" for me.

ATN082268 · May 22, 2022, 07:43 PM

Shill bidding is easy to do and hard to catch on auctions unless you're really stupid.

BornFighting88 · May 22, 2022, 07:58 PM

GunBroker is a strange animal, for sure. I, too, have seen some guns brand new be listed at the “Buy It Now” price set at retail or very close to it. I have also seen $0.01 starting bids and they go SKYROCKETING above the other one. Guess the allure of starting at a penny draws people in like moths to the flame. I try to do my research before bidding. I will bid up to what I think it is worth (even if it is retail) and then cap my bidding. If I get outbid there, I go try my hand at the “Buy It Now” version to see if they still have it before someone else snatched it up.

The sales tax thing and the added clerical fees are a damper, for sure. I will still use it once in a blue moon, and I burn so much spare time perusing the listings. Almost, almost like a necessary evil.

May 21, 2022, 09:26 AM	#1
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 690	Gunbroker is rather perplexing The prices on gunbroker and the way people bid is amusing. On a new firearm, there will be a "Buy it now" listing for $1200.00 and on another listing of the same gun, there will be a "Starting bid" of $1500.00, and people will be on that listing in a bidding war when they could simply buy it for less. And do sellers not check out prices on other listings? I saw the same new firearm listed several times and the prices for it ranged from $800.00 to over $2000.00. My favorite though, was a guy selling a cardboard box that a pistol was shipped in. The starting bid was $250.00. I wonder if that price included shipping.

May 21, 2022, 01:34 PM	#3
Logs Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 1999 Location: BLUEGRASS STATE KY USA Posts: 1,757	I have been watching a few guns and noticed that someone may have a Buy It Now for $1,200, but the gun only sells for $850. You just have to be patient. I have been trying to pick up a Smith 5906 and they are going for crazy high prices. __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER

May 22, 2022, 12:18 AM	#4
Butzbach Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2021 Location: Texas Posts: 134	All sellers are not created equal Seller credibility can add a wrinkle to some of the auctions. Last edited by Butzbach; May 22, 2022 at 07:20 AM.

May 22, 2022, 12:32 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 25,294	It's an auction. Not a bargain shop. If you get a bargain, consider yourself fortunate. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

May 22, 2022, 01:35 PM	#6
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,090	Ever go to live auctions? The first one I went to was a local sporting goods store going out of business. I remember old truck window rifle racks being offered multiple times. One box would sell for $3 each (case of 12 or some such), the next box $9 (almost retail at that time), the next $5 each. Sometimes that "high" price may come because of something you are not interested in but affects some collectors "I need it" bone. __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

May 21, 2022, 11:07 AM	#2
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 657	It's called stupid. I saw a auction for Retumbo. Same listing it had a buy now price and a starting bid. They ran the bid over what they could have bought it for.

May 22, 2022, 04:27 PM	#7
2123 Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2014 Location: It changes.....a lot. Posts: 355	Gun Broker is now owned by new people. Some of the rules on the auction side have been changed. I haven't sold or bought anything on it for a very long time. When I was buying / selling, I don't recall any issues or problems. __________________ Airborne Rangers Lead The Way.

May 22, 2022, 05:40 PM	#8
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 11,625	The newest 1% ridiculous clerical fee isn’t big money but it’s obnoxious. But when they went ahead with sales tax, it ruined the Gunbroker experience. I cannot sit here and blame Gunbroker specifically for the sales tax, but it’s has ruined the experience. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

May 22, 2022, 06:39 PM	#9
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,140	Add in the fees and taxes and GB is a "No Thank You" for me. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

May 22, 2022, 07:43 PM	#10
ATN082268 Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2013 Posts: 968	Shill bidding is easy to do and hard to catch on auctions unless you're really stupid.

May 22, 2022, 07:58 PM	#11
BornFighting88 Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2021 Posts: 442	GunBroker is a strange animal, for sure. I, too, have seen some guns brand new be listed at the “Buy It Now” price set at retail or very close to it. I have also seen $0.01 starting bids and they go SKYROCKETING above the other one. Guess the allure of starting at a penny draws people in like moths to the flame. I try to do my research before bidding. I will bid up to what I think it is worth (even if it is retail) and then cap my bidding. If I get outbid there, I go try my hand at the “Buy It Now” version to see if they still have it before someone else snatched it up. The sales tax thing and the added clerical fees are a damper, for sure. I will still use it once in a blue moon, and I burn so much spare time perusing the listings. Almost, almost like a necessary evil.

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