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Misinformation on GB

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And, (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but I don't think a seller can end an auction early if it has bids. The only way an auction ends early is if a buyer pays the "Buy it Now" price.
That's my understanding.

Some sellers are making a few bucks extra by overcharging on fixed shipping. Bidders just have to watch out for that and either accept it as part of the price or else not bid on those auctions. I left a comment about it once in the seller's feedback (and I didn't even dock a single star from their rating for it) and they got all huffy and self-righteous about it in their response to my feedback. :rolleyes:
 
I've bought from gunbroker a few times. Only had one issue. Person had "actual shipping cost" they tacked on 50 bucks for a revolver. The shipping cost is added to the total then taxed. Since I sell on there also, I hate to cause trouble to a seller. The invoice cannot be changed once its made. So I wouldn't get reported as a non paying buyer. I paid. Now I ask for the shipping cost, if they don't respond I don't buy or bid.
This happened to me too! I always ask for the shipping cost now. Lesson learned!
 
I only started collecting Colt 2nd gen percussion revolvers in earnest back around 2010. Prior to that I had purchased one of the first C series 1851 Navies when they came out in 1971. Later on in 1975, I got a C series 3rd model Dragoon and then in 1978 or 79 got one of the first F series 1860 Armies. Then I got married so life and family pretty much put my Colt 2nd gen collecting on a permanent halt. I missed the 3rd gens and didn't even know they existed until much later.

By 2010 I had been divorced for 5 years and retired for 3. I discovered Gunbroker and the Colt forum. Having picked up several of the Dennis Adler coffee table books and a copy of Dennis Russell's Collector's handbook and price guide for 2nd generation percussion Colt revolvers, which included all the history of how the line came to exist, how it was produced, and distributed plus all the items that were cataloged--including the 3rd gens. Armed with this info I was able to navigate Gunbroker and online live auctions to end up building a pretty good collection. I have maybe 30 or more 2nd gens including 2 or more of all the standard catalog items. I bought the majority on Gunbroker.com.

The fact that so many people including most sellers know very little about how these were produced was an advantage to me. Up until the pandemic, the prices were still quite reasonable compared to common Uberti's and Pietta's. Besides, I was buying these as collectables and not to shoot. I had less expensive Uberti's and PIetta's for that. Now, I couldn't afford any of the fancy engraved Ivory gripped models that came out of the Colt custom shop but I've got pretty much everything else I wanted and at prices that one can't touch these days. I didn't try to collect the 3 stainless steel models because they never existed as a 1st gen original. I did pick up two 3rd gens---a cased Walker and a Pocket 1849. The Walker because the case duplicated the famous Danish Sea captain Walker that sold for about 2 million several years ago and the 1849 because Colt sold more of those than any other pistol back in the 19th century--even the 51 Navy.

Still, I would routinely scour GunBroker every day for bargains that would pop up. I would actually look for items that were listed incorrectly because that was sometimes where the real gems were hidden. I never had an issue with any Gunbroker seller that wasn't resolved to my satisfaction in all that time. I knew that I had the proper written resources for all the 2nd gens and even 3 gens that I needed and that I didn't have to pay much attention to the constant misinformation that most sellers used to describe them. I have two or three of most of these along with seven 51 Navies out of either a Lee or a Grant set along with plenty of custom-cased sets

Every post deserves a little gun porn to look at so here ya go:

All eleven of the standard 2nd gen models with the exception of the F series 51 Navy and 3rd model Dragoon since I alread had those in the C series. Also none of the short runs (100 or less) that Colt produced to cover production errors and part overruns.

View attachment 331380
The cased Walker is a 3rd gen picked up on Gunbroker with all accessories and original Colt inner and out boxes for $700. Of course the long barrelled SAA to its right is not a Colt. It'a Uberti movie replica of the revolver that Kirk Russell used in the movie Tombstone
View attachment 331381
Here's a case that was one of 25 made to house and electroless nickle 1860 Army. I won the case minus revolver in a live auction out of Gettysburg about a year ago so I just stuck one of my regular 2nd gens in it. However, the shoulder stock attachment hook and knurled knob plus the sling ring are have the same nickle finish that the original revolver had. I doubt I'll ever find one of those long gone electroless nickel 2nd gen Armies.
View attachment 331382


Cheers

Meanwhile, over here in UK and in much of Europe, each and every one of these lovely handguns is classed as an individual firearm on a firearms license, and in the Republic of Ireland prohibited totally.....
 
This happened to me too! I always ask for the shipping cost now. Lesson learned!
I think it should be like ebay, put the shipping cost. I've noticed when a seller has "actual shipping cost" they don't get as many bids as one showing the cost. A lot of buyers don't like "surprises" Some use the shipping cost to cover their fees. I can understand that.
 
Unlike Ebay, the end time of a GB auction is the time set by the seller OR 15 minutes after the last bid, whichever is LATER.
I prefer the GB system as it eliminates"sniping" or the use of computer software to get a bid in at (literally) the last second. It is more like an in-person auction where the bidding is not over as long as people are bidding.
 
..... I've noticed when a seller has "actual shipping cost" they don't get as many bids as one showing the cost. ....
As far as I'm concerned, "actual shipping cost" is an auction plus. I've got a pretty good idea of what the ballpark should be for actual shipping cost, and anyway, when the seller says "actual shipping cost" that amount gets added into the final invoice before you commit to payment.
 
As far as I'm concerned, "actual shipping cost" is an auction plus. I've got a pretty good idea of what the ballpark should be for actual shipping cost, and anyway, when the seller says "actual shipping cost" that amount gets added into the final invoice before you commit to payment.
Yes, but the thing is, you've already committed to buy. No matter how much the seller adds for shipping. Gunbroker adds the shipping plus the item cost and user fee, adds tax to that. You either pay that or get a non paying buyer plus bad feedback.
 
.... You either pay that or get a non paying buyer plus bad feedback.
True, but if when you receive the item and the shipping fee was NOT what you were invoiced for then you have a legitimate basis for bad seller feedback plus a dispute with GB, and perhaps with your CC if that's how you paid.

I think a seller is highly unlikely to cheat on "actual shipping cost" because it's too highly likely to be a major PIA for them. And I've never had it happen to me in my experience with sellers. Whereas, I have had it happen to be overcharged for "fixed shipping cost" and there's no recourse for that, because the cost was stated up front in the auction detail.
 
True, but if when you receive the item and the shipping fee was NOT what you were invoiced for then you have a legitimate basis for bad seller feedback plus a dispute with GB, and perhaps with your CC if that's how you paid.

I think a seller is highly unlikely to cheat on "actual shipping cost" because it's too highly likely to be a major PIA for them. And I've never had it happen to me in my experience with sellers. Whereas, I have had it happen to be overcharged for "fixed shipping cost" and there's no recourse for that, because the cost was stated up front in the auction detail.
I see. I didn't know that. I just bought two items together about a month ago. Thought I had a good deal. $569 for two Spiller NIB. Seller added the actual shipping if $65. After it was all done, that shot the good deal. Wound up paying $674.52 . Yes I know, I should have asked before buying. I jumped the gun thinking of a darn good deal. Bet I won't do that again.
I did ask the seller about the shipping, but I got nowhere with them.
 
As an Etsy seller, fixed shipping eliminates a lot of hassle on the seller's end and you know up front how much it will cost. An auction sale only makes it worse.



Unlike Ebay, the end time of a GB auction is the time set by the seller OR 15 minutes after the last bid, whichever is LATER.
I prefer the GB system as it eliminates"sniping" or the use of computer software to get a bid in at (literally) the last second. It is more like an in-person auction where the bidding is not over as long as people are bidding.
I like that function too, wish Ebay had it.
 
Never good to generalize. The good dealers far outweigh the idiots, but there are plenty of idiots. I recently bought a .45 Seneca from a Florida dealer. I emailed him to request he remove the barrel from the stock before shipping. He called me... to ask how to remove the barrel as he had never seen this before. He is an FFL shop. I walked him through the 8 second process and he was like "Wow, I had no idea it was that easy.". Nice guy, but had no idea what he had. I find that from time to time on GB and Ebay. People post stuff not knowing one model from another, thinking everything is a "Hawkenssssss". Extra 's' intended there.

You know the fools that post guns for ridiculous prices. They either over value things and are too lazy to look at market prices or they actually do not want to sell anything, just get a quick high from listing it. Sometimes a seller has no idea what they have and price it way too low... their loss. Snag a bargain when you see it. Ebay is far worse with people having no idea what they have and I have actually emailed sellers to correct their misinformation when it was truly egregious. They generally reply kindly and fix their adds.
The ones that chap my butt are the ones charging $60 shipping. Don’t know why they can’t be honest and just add $40 to their minimum price. I know for a fact that you can ship pretty much any long gun anywhere in the lower 48 for $25 or less. Exception would be an extremely long barrel.
 
The ones that chap my butt are the ones charging $60 shipping. Don’t know why they can’t be honest and just add $40 to their minimum price. I know for a fact that you can ship pretty much any long gun anywhere in the lower 48 for $25 or less. Exception would be an extremely long barrel.
25$ LMAO
If I have to buy a box to ship your gun in depending on which one it is.
The cost of the boxes 48x6x6 is 9 bucks the other one is 48/96" expandable 9 x 9 12$
That doesn't take into account that I have to go pick the boxes up.
Packing,tape,print label,drop off to ship.
Insurance
Area shipped to IE city,town, Hootersville.

Like I told a few people they didn't like the cost of shipping. You go to UPS online. You pay for a shipping label based on the dimensions and the weight of the box I give you. Plus 20$ for my time & material on top of the final cost.
You include that label with your payment and I'll put that label on your box.


 
One current listing is quoting $70 to ship. That is excessive for a TC. I buy/sell a fair number of TC MLs each year and I have never had to pay nearly that much. I buy boxes in bulk, 25 for $83 to my door. Rolls of bubble wrap, 700 feet for $11 to my door. If you are doing one-off sales, sure, it's more money especially if you buy the packing materials from the post office or UPS, etc. but no where near $50, $60+.

Granted, I use 4x6x36 boxes and remove barrels from the stock to greatly reduce the risk of damage. Longer items will cost more, no argument there. To each his own in what he charges and what the other guy is willing to pay. When buying, I always factor in all the variables and have a max price I will go, all in. Many times I don't bid or bail early because the shipping and handling and/or buyer premiums are ridiculous, which makes my price point lower.
 
I quit GunBroker for several reasons. I only used them basically for buying rifles/handguns shooting modern powder (S-less) that were never or rarely available in my area from gun shops/gun shows. Firearms produced mostly 1900-1955 for rifles, 1950-1980's. Think my first buy was around 2010 or so and last 2022. What black powder revolvers/rifles I wanted and yearned for I could acquire through private sales, on-line sellers, etc.

What soured me on GB was 1) States got greedy and demanded sales tax be paid which added a good chunk of change to the buy. 2) GB started charging the buyer a fee for the sales when they were already charging the seller. 3) The shipping charge con where the seller charged as has been discussed overly high and excessive shipping charges. If you would look at multiple sales, some sellers were $25 while others were $50 plus for the same type of firearm no matter if it was sent to the buyer 100 miles away or 1000. I have sent firearms several times and have checked with USPS and UPS what the cost would be from a possible seller to my FFL dealer and many of those sellers are being dishonest in their claims. The last and 4th reason I quit GB was that my longtime FFL dealer lost his FFL due to the evil and dishonest ATF being run by a corrupt and evil DOJ department that went around America eliminating as many FFL dealers as possible, part of their 2nd Amendment control.

Those mainly on the 'hit' were smaller dealers such as mine. Ya, I'll say there are some FFL dealers here and there that don't follow the rules and they should be penalized, but when FFL's are taken away for not having the minor T's not crossed and I's dotted, that's Gov't intrusion. My FFL dealers records were gone through and two minor instances that previous ATF inspectors had advised my dealer they were of no concern were targeted by the new ATF hench-woman and she took his license. My dealer only charged $10 for a FFL transfer fee. Checking around at other dealers in the area the fee's ranged from $40-60, no way. My dealer advised me once that the $10 he charged was adequate enough for no more than it entailed.

So after all of the greed by the costs associated with the above items 1-4 that would increase the cost of a GB buy maybe $100-150 plus, IMO and as far as I'm concerned GB and all of those associated 'with the greed' can pound the proverbial sand.
 
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