Online Auctions

Handloader · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:10 am Post subject: Online Auctions

GunBroker's format is the easiest to use for me and over the past several months I have "won" three gun auctions. That's three out of 34, but, hey, its fun and I enjoy looking at all the pretty pictures.

There is ample protection for both buyers and sellers to assure that items are properly represented and that the transactions proceed according to protocol. In my case, the two older S&Ws and Winchester M70 I bought were as advertised and I got them for less than fair market.

My observation, however, is that most firearms offered are with fair market reserves or initial starting bids that approach fair market. Often, bidding won't meet reserve price and the item is relisted or, often, the bidding mania strikes and items are sold over fair market value. Frequently, items listed are simply the total inventory of gunshops wanting to expand their marketing and sales. But, for the persistent, there are some good firearms to be had at good prices. My purchases:

K-38, 95% $212
M60, 90% $197
FWT M70 7X57 NIB $335

Non firearm items are plentiful, too, and I have found some excellent values in hard to find grips and magazines.

Have any of you used the online auctions? If so, what is your opinion of them?

Gil Martin · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Online Auctions

I have browsed AuctionArms, GunsAmerica and GunBroker, but never got involved in buying on-line. The local gun shop owner sells a lot of guns on the gun auction sites and gets prices that are well over market values. He says he may eventually close his doors and just sell on-line. I like to see and handle guns before I buy them and prefer to get discounts. I have always done better in gun shops. All the best...
Gil.

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Online Auctions

I use gunbroker as a means to value firearms...It gives a good idea of what some people think of their guns. But if you sort through the chaf you can come up with a reasonable value of a particular firearm...I guess you might say that I use it as reference material... Very Happy

roklok · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: Online Auctions

I just bought a set of discontinued Butler Creek grips and a 223 encore barrel off of Gunbroker.The grips I could find nowhere else and the barrel was 190 dollars delivered new in box.Pretty good deal, I thought.

1895ss · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: Online Auctions

I have never bought a rifle on an online auction but I buy 1/16 th scale tractors on ebay at times to add to my collection. Like all auctions you have to be carefull or you could pay more then what something is worth.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

I bought a rifle from Gunsamerica.com. I talked to the guy at length about it, traded pictures via email etc before I bit the bullet and went a head and got it. Imagine my surprise when I got the rifle and found he threw in Leupold rings / bases and RCBS dies for free.

I found another rifle on the internet (forget the source... think it might have been gunsamerica.com as well) that I also got lots of info on, traded picts and bought.

Very satisfied with both rifles.

-DallanC

1895ss · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:13 am Post subject: Re: Online Auctions

There sure are some nice rifles on GunsAmerica that I'd like to have in my gun cabinet, but they are all from the U.S. and I'm sure it would be hard to get them across the border with all the new laws, ON BOTH SIDES. Confused