Gun Broker: Tips for a New Seller

TheSubieNinja7 · Jul 13, 2020

I am interested in selling a rifle on GB. I usually like to avoid the hassle and sell/trade with my LGS, but they can't come close to the price I could get in a private sale/online auction.

I have never used GB before and I'm curious if there are any tips that would be useful for a new seller to know. How to ship? How to receive payment? When to receive payment before shipping? Using an FFL to ship as a seller?

I searched for similar threads on this, but the info was a bit dated. Anything new I should be aware of?

MattTheGunslinger · Jul 13, 2020

I have been screwed once on a sale and nearly screwed on a second sale on GB. I don't care what the GB rules are. If something feels off DO NOT SHIP THE GUN. Just document everything. Research the FFL you are shipping to. Go through proper shipping channels such as UPS or Fedex and get shipping quotes before the buyer pays. I don't believe USPS accepts guns. At least they didnt when I was selling on GB. Payment will most likely be in form of money order or check. Just make sure they clear before shipping. I dont mean to sound negative, but there are things to be careful of. The vast majority of my dealings on GB were very good. Also, my experience was 10+ years ago. I was young and dumb. I assume things have changed and got better.

kolohekanaka · Jul 13, 2020

Guns.com

I've had good buying experiences on Gunbroker.com but I've never tried using their site to sell anything. Guns.com is worth checking out if you're selling a gun. And as with any commercial buyer, understand that they're buying your gun to sell later so their offer reflects that. Guns.com sends you everything you will need to ship your gun to them. You send them photos of your gun along with pertinent details about it. They responded within a couple days when I submitted photos and details of my S&W 686. I declined their offer because it was $100 less than the offer from a local gun shop.

DutchV · Jul 13, 2020

Or sell it on Armslist, and accept cash only.

John from MD · Jul 13, 2020

I have sold many guns on GB and had no issues with any. Just spell out your requirements, make sure you get an FFL and specify a Postal Money Order. Don't send anything until all terms are met.

I have found that listing lower shipping charges gets more sales. People have a thing about paying full shipping for some reason. Eating up to half of the shipping can get you faster sales.

Oswaldo87 · Jul 14, 2020

See what the going buy price is using the advanced search option. It will help see what others have paid and what condition was bought. You can always do a reserve for a small upcharge, just make it reasonable. I usually do buy it now as well. Sometimes it works out. I recently fouled up when scheduling my auction and had it end the evening of July 4th. Makes me think I didn’t get the full price I could have. Some guys choose to only deal with members that have x number of transactions. Makes me weary of a first time buyer but again use your common sense and follow the rules like mentioned above. The bids usually come the last day in my experience.

John from MD · Jul 14, 2020

Before the 'Rona came, I would say time your auction to end at 6pm Eastern on a Thursday. Many people bid from work so I felt I got more competition doing it that way vs letting it end around 8 or 9 at night when some people don't turn on their computers.

K31 · Jul 14, 2020

Make sure the buyer's FFL accepts shipments from private individuals, some do not, which means you will have to pay one on your end.

Make sure your post office understands the rules if you are shipping a long gun by USPS. I've read a lot of horror stories about one's that do not know the rules and their fallback position seems to be that it's the BATF's job to tell them how to interpret PO rules.

woodline · Jul 15, 2020

I like to time my sales so that they’ve been up for a few days right before heavy drinking holidays. I usually include a “buy it now” option just slightly over what is reasonable to expect from an auction.

Am I a bad person for doing this? Probably, but it seems to work. Don’t drink and Gunbroker, folks.

somd_mustangs · Jul 15, 2020

John from MD said:
Before the 'Rona came, I would say time your auction to end at 6pm Eastern on a Thursday. Many people bid from work so I felt I got more competition doing it that way vs letting it end around 8 or 9 at night when some people don't turn on their computers.

Most successful "true" auctions ($1 no reserve) are timed to end between 7-10 PM on Sunday.
I don't know why, but it's been pretty consistent.
All the big boys do this (except Grey Blanket, but that's another story).
Don't end on a Friday or Saturday evening.

If you have something unique, rare, etc (e.g. with limited audience) then you're better off with a BuyNow rather than an open auction, especially if you are a new seller with "no rating" (feedback).

Everyone hates auctions with a reserve. GB even went so far as to penalize you for using them by charging fees up front ala evilPay.

Make your listing neat, concise and easy to read while still covering a complete description of the item. No one wants to wade through 6 paragraphs of BS to get to your one-line vague description.

Make sure to have clear, crisp pictures with good lighting, and especially show interesting markings and any flaws.

Good pictures = good sales.
Crappy pictures = well, you can guess.

Alphabrew · Aug 3, 2020

The price you get on GB is almost double the local price.

cap6888 · Oct 3, 2020

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I am getting ready to list something GB. With the panic, I know I will get more than what one of my coworkers offered. Is the best way to accept payment via USPS money order? And is it accepted that the funds have to be received and cleared before you ship?

Trepang · Oct 3, 2020

cap6888 said:
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I am getting ready to list something GB. With the panic, I know I will get more than what one of my coworkers offered. Is the best way to accept payment via USPS money order? And is it accepted that the funds have to be received and cleared before you ship?

I just bought two Marlin 1895 Guide Guns off GB. Both specified USPS money order. After contacting sellers they agreed to a bank cashiers check on the stipulation they would not ship gun until check had cleared. I sent them NFCU cashiers checks via priority mail. I didn't want the hassle of withdrawing that much cash and taking it to the post office and I didn't mind waiting a few days on it to clear.

BTW the one from Alaska was mailed to my FFL via USPS.

cap6888 · Oct 3, 2020

Thanks!

DanGuy48 · Nov 19, 2020

I’m also trying to get myself in gear to sell my Calico stuff. I read something on gunbroker.com site about seller being responsible for sales tax. I assume that applies to retailers only, is that correct? Selling a one off gun as an individual through an FFL, is there sales tax responsibility on my part? This is my first attempt at selling anything on line.

Mike OTDP · Nov 19, 2020

Having both bought and sold, here's my advice on selling:
1. Pictures sell. Lots of good pictures. Crop your foot out of them...and anything else extraneous.
2. Avoid reserves. Set a high initial bid if you like, but reserves make it a guessing-game. Buyers don't like to play.
3. Take a close look at completed auctions. You can reasonably start the bidding at 75% of those.
4. Set up to end on a Sunday evening. Maybe a weekday evening. Avoid Friday and Saturday ends like the plague.
5. If you list it and it keeps not selling, you've either got it overpriced or it's really rare. Maybe both.
6. Have the shipping lined up. If it's a pistol, you may be better off to pay a local FFL to ship it for you.
7. Certified funds are fine - cashier's check or USPS money order. Personal checks are OK, but you need to allow time for the check to clear. Most purchasers are OK with that.

BossmanPJ · Nov 19, 2020

Mike OTDP said:
Having both bought and sold, here's my advice on selling:
1. Pictures sell. Lots of good pictures. Crop your foot out of them...and anything else extraneous.
2. Avoid reserves. Set a high initial bid if you like, but reserves make it a guessing-game. Buyers don't like to play.
3. Take a close look at completed auctions. You can reasonably start the bidding at 75% of those.
4. Set up to end on a Sunday evening. Maybe a weekday evening. Avoid Friday and Saturday ends like the plague.
5. If you list it and it keeps not selling, you've either got it overpriced or it's really rare. Maybe both.
6. Have the shipping lined up. If it's a pistol, you may be better off to pay a local FFL to ship it for you.
7. Certified funds are fine - cashier's check or USPS money order. Personal checks are OK, but you need to allow time for the check to clear. Most purchasers are OK with that.

Couldn’t have said it better. All solid advice. I buy and sell on GB all the time. One other thing to ad is if you are selling anything collectible, do not hide or forget to mention any issues. If you label something as genuine and correct it better be. I have received quite a few military arms that were supposed to be all original only to find out they were not. Most sellers on there are understanding and will take items back.

Gun Broker: Tips for a New Seller

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