Been burned on buying a firearm online?
- Thread starter RamItOne
- Start date
Justice06RR
New member
If buying guns online within the state, I absolutely see no problems with buying firearms. I do it all the time in my local trading online site. Bought and sold multiple firearms in one day no problems.
Out of state sales need to go through FFL's; have not tried it myself but Buds and Gunbroker seem to be pretty reputable sites.
Out of state sales need to go through FFL's; have not tried it myself but Buds and Gunbroker seem to be pretty reputable sites.
I got the Taurus revolver in 327 Federal Mag at Bud's. I would have not buy this gun if I've seen it personaly. The chambers were so rough that I could not eject first 6 cases. I rented the reamer to extend my SP101 in 32 mag to 327 Fed so I also reamed the Taurus to smooth it out. Now it shoot OK.
Onward Allusion
New member
Heh, off topic, but I bought a pair of 'em - both work ok BUT Man 'O Man - the workmanship on them is...um, what workmanship??? cylinders rough, trigger heavy and gritty, gun (SS finish) still had sharp edges all around. I never would have purchased them if I held them first.
Have bought 4 guns online
I have purchased one pistol, two rifles, and one shotgun online. The pistol and once or rifles were purchased direct from online sellers. One rifle and one shotgun were purchase through gunbroker and both were "previously owned".
I have been very pleased with all of the transactions. Now, on the gunbroker transactions I did check out the seller's ratings before purchasing and both had sold several guns and had excellent ratings. Both of my guns arrived in better condition than what was described and I have enjoyed shooting both of them.
Many people have mentioned Bud's and they do offer very good pricing. However there are several other sites which sell online that also offer excellent pricing.
Enjoy your shopping but just be "an educated buyer" before you purchase from anyone.
P.S. Many people have suggested using credit cards and it does offer more protection than a USPS money order, but I just hate paying that extra 3% so have not used a credit card for any of these purchases.
I have purchased one pistol, two rifles, and one shotgun online. The pistol and once or rifles were purchased direct from online sellers. One rifle and one shotgun were purchase through gunbroker and both were "previously owned".
I have been very pleased with all of the transactions. Now, on the gunbroker transactions I did check out the seller's ratings before purchasing and both had sold several guns and had excellent ratings. Both of my guns arrived in better condition than what was described and I have enjoyed shooting both of them.
Many people have mentioned Bud's and they do offer very good pricing. However there are several other sites which sell online that also offer excellent pricing.
Enjoy your shopping but just be "an educated buyer" before you purchase from anyone.
P.S. Many people have suggested using credit cards and it does offer more protection than a USPS money order, but I just hate paying that extra 3% so have not used a credit card for any of these purchases.
jimmythegeek
New member
Bought two pistols, got good deals
Both were on GB, and the sellers had at least a sideline business selling guns and used GB for a web presence.
The first is a CZ-75 Kadet (full-size .22LR trainer) NIB for about $150 less than retail from Grabagun.
The second is a used HK USP .40S&W. It was in pretty good shape, probably carried a lot, fired very little (up to now!). That was an ok deal, too.
I've lost some auctions by just a few bucks, but who knows how high the other bidder's max bid is? Gotta stick to your high bid.
Both were on GB, and the sellers had at least a sideline business selling guns and used GB for a web presence.
The first is a CZ-75 Kadet (full-size .22LR trainer) NIB for about $150 less than retail from Grabagun.
The second is a used HK USP .40S&W. It was in pretty good shape, probably carried a lot, fired very little (up to now!). That was an ok deal, too.
I've lost some auctions by just a few bucks, but who knows how high the other bidder's max bid is? Gotta stick to your high bid.
OMG!! A while back I was in a thread where the FFL dealers were just moaning to high heavens about how much work it was to FAX or mail an FFL, open a package and make an entry into a bound book. All that work was "worth" at least $75.00.
What a bunch of greedy crooks.
Really, the only time I've been burned online was on eBay a number of years back. I purchased a barrel from a lying scumbag in Utah (you know who you are) for a Browning A5 Light Twelve. Claims he got it directly from some guy who worked at Browning a number of years ago (in SLC at the time), and it was "like new." When I got it, it was reblued, and had four deep gouges inside the barrel as though someone had pounded a square iron bar down the bore from the chamber end. Refused to refund my money. Whatcha gonna do????
Stringfellow
New member
I was burned, but in a different way--I was burned by a local dealer/FFL who got all snarky about the fact that I bought the pistol online from Bud's.
They made me wait a few extra days just because they could. They lectured me about how I should have purchased it from them. Then they proceeded to call the ATF on me and create some drama for what really was an administrative issue. The ATF was gracious and pretty much laughed it off, but the shop still succeeded in making the transaction a pretty miserable experience.
What the shop lacked in substantive product knowledge and customer service, they made up for in tactical attire, attitude, and high prices.
They made me wait a few extra days just because they could. They lectured me about how I should have purchased it from them. Then they proceeded to call the ATF on me and create some drama for what really was an administrative issue. The ATF was gracious and pretty much laughed it off, but the shop still succeeded in making the transaction a pretty miserable experience.
What the shop lacked in substantive product knowledge and customer service, they made up for in tactical attire, attitude, and high prices.
I can't agree... at least not with the way you've put it.
In almost any service you might need or want, you can find someone in the yellow pages who will do it to vary degrees of satisfaction using varying methods, tools and components. And you will find a very wide range of fees for any service.
Any gun shop that wants to do FFL transfers for $75 has every right to ask that and they will probably also get it from at least a few people. (they'd never get it from me)
Doesn't make them crooks and I don't think it necessarily makes them "greedy" either.
Big local gun store here where I live has a number ticket thingy like you get at a busy deli. Walk in to this place and head to the gun counter in a Saturday and you will wait 15 minutes just to talk to a gun salesman. Not one single guy in the shop will answer any question about a gun in a display case or in the rack behind the counter if you don't have a "pick a number" ticket and your number is on the red number board.
That's how their business is on Saturdays. As far as I know, they don't do FFL transfers because they don't have the staff and the staff they do have doesn't have the time. I wonder if you offered them $75 to do one, if they would? They sell boatloads of handguns daily and they never have to worry about what some goof on the other end of an unknown transfer is going to send them and if the paperwork is in order.
If they offer the service and provide the service... I don't know how you can call them crooks. This is still America, man. If they advertise a service at any price and deliver it, and YOU choose to go that route... it might make you an idiot but it doesn't make them crooks.
These companies that continue to sell bottled water aren't crooks, but they sure are getting a lot of stooopid people to spend good money for a product that hardly costs any money at all.
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Smilin Jack
New member
I've bought about a dozen firearms on GB and never had a problem. GREAT deals and no hassle. Just be careful and if the feedback isn't all but perfect, run don't walk away. But the largest gun shop here in Baton Rouge.......nothing but hassle. You buy it, you own it.....send it back to the factory and don't bother us with it. NO customer service at all except to take your money. Can't wait until Bass Pro , Cabelas and Heberts chokes them to death....so sad. It didn't used to be this way years ago.
Jbar4Ranch
New member
I've bought & sold probably a hundred guns online through gunbroker, auctionarms, and various Web boards, and have experienced only one single problem, and that wasn't even on a gun transaction. Back during the AWB, I found a decent deal on G17 magazines that the seller claimed were "Glock G17 magazines", not "magazines for a Glock 17" or somesuch. When they arrived, they were actually Sherer magazines with Glock floor plates - still a good magazine. The guy wouldn't respond to numerous emails, and, being Sherer mags, I didn't get screwed exactly, but they weren't "as advertized".
No, but I got good advice. I almost bought a very nice, very-well-priced Arisaka off of GB as my first purchase. I hesitated and it was gone.
I opined about this loss to a friend who had much more gun show/gun buying/selling experience than I and he shrugged "there will be more." He is right. If you do your research and you don't back yourself into a corner where you convince yourself you absolutely need X right now, then you will have a much smaller chance of making a deal that you will be burned on.
That said for psychology, to avoid the intentional fraudsters, you can do a few things:
1. Research the item you are looking for.
2. Don't immediately jump into bed with some seller that has very few sales to their credit. GB allows you to look up previous items bought/solds by other users.
3. If you have a doubt about the description that weighs against your research, send an email and ask. The reply, or lack of reply, will help you avoid ignorant/malevolent sellers.
4. Always mentally add the cost of the Xfer fee to your FFL, the cost of shipping and the cost for you to go pick it up. That's real money also.
5. Don't deal with people "outside the lines." If someone wants you to make an exception just for them, don't.
I opined about this loss to a friend who had much more gun show/gun buying/selling experience than I and he shrugged "there will be more." He is right. If you do your research and you don't back yourself into a corner where you convince yourself you absolutely need X right now, then you will have a much smaller chance of making a deal that you will be burned on.
That said for psychology, to avoid the intentional fraudsters, you can do a few things:
1. Research the item you are looking for.
2. Don't immediately jump into bed with some seller that has very few sales to their credit. GB allows you to look up previous items bought/solds by other users.
3. If you have a doubt about the description that weighs against your research, send an email and ask. The reply, or lack of reply, will help you avoid ignorant/malevolent sellers.
4. Always mentally add the cost of the Xfer fee to your FFL, the cost of shipping and the cost for you to go pick it up. That's real money also.
5. Don't deal with people "outside the lines." If someone wants you to make an exception just for them, don't.
Smilin Jack
New member
My FFL at the local pawn shop charges $15 to transfer a firearm. That's it. When I asked why so little he said that $15 is $15 which is better than nothing and it gets me into his shop where I might buy something else. Now THAT man understands how to run a business. He made oner 1000 transfers last year from his tiny little shop. $15,000 for a little paperwork and a few phone calls.....no inverntory to keep, no shipping, no hassle......not bad. So all of the other whiney a$$ FFL's out there, take notes, this is how you make money.
I've bought several guns at gunbroker.com but I've only been burned once. I bought a Savage 99 EG, late 40s vintage for $400.00. Gun looked good for its age. We finished the transaction in person as we were both from the same state and area. It wasn't until I got it home and tried cycling some ammo through it that I discovered that its innards had been screwed with and it cost me an additional $200.00 in gunsmith fees to restore the gun to shooting condition.
I was in a gun shop yesterday and Intersted in trading my Taurus PT 24/7 Pro 45ACP Duo-tone(98% good condition) for a Springfield Armory XDM 45. The guy told me he would do it if I gave him $474(non-stainless) and my Taurus. What he failed to understand is I am going to buy a Stainless Springfield XDM 45 it is just a matter of who or whom I am going to buy it from. I tried to give the local LGS a chance but they don't even come close to the online dealers. Buds will have my business the middle of October.
Dr. Strangelove
New member
I don't cotton to the idea of blindly supporting local business. The big LGS here has ridiculous prices on new guns and worse on used guns. It's a business, I understand that, but I'm not paying 25-50% more for a gun just to buy it there, it's just business, same as they are doing.
I bought a Socom 16 and a Colt Python on GB. The Socom 16 even though brand new had a frozen rear sight. That dealer did issue a $100 credit to my card and I brought it to Smith Enterprises for a $125 fix (plus gas for 200 miles).
The Colt Python was listed as "like new, flawless" but after firing the first round the hammer would not cock on the second round. The stock were also totally mis-matched. I made the mistake of not using a card credit for the Python and the seller ( and Gunbroker who said there was no "Buyers Protection" because I fired the weapon) would not stand behind his word and refused to take it back. It cost me an extra $250 for Colt to fix plus new grips for $200.
I might buy sight unseen if I could use a credit card again but really I
want to look at what I buy before hand.
The Python seller had 7 positive feedbacks but most were for buying not selling.
The Colt Python was listed as "like new, flawless" but after firing the first round the hammer would not cock on the second round. The stock were also totally mis-matched. I made the mistake of not using a card credit for the Python and the seller ( and Gunbroker who said there was no "Buyers Protection" because I fired the weapon) would not stand behind his word and refused to take it back. It cost me an extra $250 for Colt to fix plus new grips for $200.
I might buy sight unseen if I could use a credit card again but really I
want to look at what I buy before hand.
The Python seller had 7 positive feedbacks but most were for buying not selling.
Crazy Carl
New member
Never been "burned", but if/when my Spide-y senses tingle, I'll back out in a heartbeat. That said, all my online transactions have been fine.
I have a great LGS & try to do business with them whenever possible. Basically, if they have it in stock, their price comes out to about $5 - $10 more than if I buy online, pay shipping, transfer fee, gas, etc. I know some don't have it that good, so I appreciate a good LGS & support 'em whenever I can. Hell, their prices on reloading components are cheaper than you can find online, especially factoring in shipping & Hazmat fees.
My 2nd preference is FTF deals, off my local shooters forum. I know/have met most of the guys IRL & never any issues.
I'll use GB as a last resort & have only bought 2 guns off GB. 5.5" Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .41, reasonable BIN price- NIB, as described, great comms, quick shipping, too easy. Just won a '59 Marlin 39A, last week. Should be at my FFL tomorrow or Tue. So far, no sweat.
Nice thing is, my FFL primarily does transfers & is happy to do so, for $20/sheet (not per gun). Loves to jaw about guns & has a nice little range in his backyard, if ya wanna test drive yer new toy right quick.
I have a great LGS & try to do business with them whenever possible. Basically, if they have it in stock, their price comes out to about $5 - $10 more than if I buy online, pay shipping, transfer fee, gas, etc. I know some don't have it that good, so I appreciate a good LGS & support 'em whenever I can. Hell, their prices on reloading components are cheaper than you can find online, especially factoring in shipping & Hazmat fees.
My 2nd preference is FTF deals, off my local shooters forum. I know/have met most of the guys IRL & never any issues.
I'll use GB as a last resort & have only bought 2 guns off GB. 5.5" Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .41, reasonable BIN price- NIB, as described, great comms, quick shipping, too easy. Just won a '59 Marlin 39A, last week. Should be at my FFL tomorrow or Tue. So far, no sweat.
Nice thing is, my FFL primarily does transfers & is happy to do so, for $20/sheet (not per gun). Loves to jaw about guns & has a nice little range in his backyard, if ya wanna test drive yer new toy right quick.