Buying Used Guns Online

J

JTShoots

Inactive
I'm a gun enthusiast on a budget (I'm probably not alone). What is your opinion of buying guns on-line through sites like Gunbroker.com without seeing them first? Also, I've found a newer site that sells used guns from pawn brokers called Deal4It.com. They seem to have some good deals, but has anyone else had experience with them and what was it like? Thanks
 
jt, 3/30/12

I've bought about 15 used guns online off Gunbroker or Auctionarms and have had no problems. You just want to make sure that the seller has good feedback and that they allow a 3 day inspection and return if you are not happy. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow
 
I've had pretty good success with the auction sites. My best advice: always—literally always—talk with the seller by telephone before you settle the deal. If the guy feels at all unreliable, irresponsible, unresponsive, flaky, or anything else less than perfectly trustworthy, cancel the sale. I've found it doesn't hurt to play a little dumb to gauge his knowledgeability. If the guy sounds all right, I'll take a chance, providing, of course, there's a three-day return clause. If he sounds the least bit less than all right, I'm gone.

Best of success to you, eh?
 
I've bought one used Springfield Loaded used off of GunBroker and while the round count is hard to verify, the gun seems to be everything he said it was.

I bet we had 50 or 60 back and forth with the seller being very forthcoming with info and sending very detailed pictures of a minute idiot scratch and pictures of the gun from every angle.

I have about 1000 rounds through it now and have never had a failure of any sort. It's been a great purchase.


Sent from my DROID RAZR
 
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If they do not offer IN WRITING a three day, no fire, inspection do not bid!!

If you do not have CLEAR pictures of SER # or chamber or trouble spots DO NOT BID.

I know a guy on another forum that bid and won a HIGH dollar Colt python Over $1400 i think and the dealer sent him an ENTIRELY different python with damage. he did not have a 3 day period in the listing and Dealer will not take the gun back.

ALWAYS get pics with SER# and a return policy in writing to avoid this.
 
I've bought quite a few guns from GB and other online sites. My best advice is to look at all the photos and if any of them are fuzzy, ask questions. There may be a reason it's fuzzy. Also check the seller's feedback, read the full description and be sure you understand it completely, and be sure you know what you're buying.

I've never had a serious problem with a gun bought this way, although there have been a couple of times when we might not have seen eye to eye on the "98%" condition of a particular gun.
 
ive bought some used and new guns online.....gunbroker, cdnn, summitgunbroker.com, etc. For the most part ive had good experiences, one or 2 used guns were a little rougher than i thought originally, one mans excellent is another mans good. The prior posters gave you great tips, use them and you should be fine.
 
Photographs. Lots of photographs. And they must be good quality.

One guy was a dealer who posted his ads on GB and on another forum. His photographs were always, literally always, out of focus, poor lighting, etc. And the guns he sold were always, again literally always, inferior to his description.

So many members on the other forum complained, that he got mad and quit. Fine. We don't need crooks and liars on gun forums.

I have bought on the net, and high quality fotos are a must.

Also, the seller must, absolutely must, have a solid reputation. None of this 0 feedback nonsense. And he must have a solid reputation as a seller. Not a buyer. I've heard of guys with a zillion positive feedback, but all as a buyer. Then the one gun they sold, they burned the buyer.

Also, if it's on gunbroker, I like to deal with a brick and mortar store. I'll deal with individuals (based on the above criteria), but I lean toward brick and mortar stores. If two sellers are selling the same thing (that I'm looking for), I'll buy from a store before an individual.
 
I once used gunbroker. Ya know how you get that I'm being put on the latter feeling when you bid on an item. Well, in a couple of instances, I saw unusual bidding and when I got to less than I was going to pay, I quit bidding, leaving whom I suspect was a schill bidder holding the bag. Guess what, two weeks later the item was relisted due to non paying bidder. This happened twice on the same item. I contacted gunbroker and told them of the situation, to no avail. They more or less ignored my complaint. I no longer go on that site.
Buyer beware!
 
I brought a pre-ban Springfield M1A on AR15.com; very satisfied too. Along w/a few pics, Feedback of the Seller is what will ultimately bring you to your decision on whether or not to buy. Just remember, Caveat Emptor... Best of Luck...
 
Buying guns online

I've bought several guns online from different auction sites as well as gun forums. To-date, I have been pleased (damn, I hope I haven't jinxed myself).
I have had a couple of occasions where the gun wasn't in as good a shape as the pictures depicted (maybe it was the lighting, or whatever). Anyway, I continue to buy. Just know what you're looking for and what is a reasonable price to pay.
 
I've bought off of Gunbroker, SummitGunBroker, Samco, and J&G and had great results every time. One gun off of GB was from a private seller who paid the shipping on his end. Everything else was from a dealer who took their business very seriously. When dealing with private sellers, as other posters have mentioned, it is important to talk to that person on the phone. I won't send a private citizen a check until I'm sure he's actually got a gun for me to buy!
 
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