How To Win A Bid On Gunbroker

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I am an occasional buyer and even less frequent seller on Gunbroker. In the last 12 years or then I call up I accept a piffling over 20 transactions, so I am no skilful, for sure.
Buying:
When I am looking to buy an item, I do the usual search filters to separate the stuff I am not interested in and I expect for auctions without a reserve price. I like the "Buy it At present" feature and take used it a couple times when I thought the "BIN" price was near the value for the item and it was a specific item I was looking for.
I like the 'penny' auctions with no reserve. They are, IMHO, the measure of the truthful value of whatever particular on a particular day or inside a particular time frame.

Selling:
When I am selling, I want to sell. Something is but worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Information technology doesn't thing what I think it is worth, it only matters what the other guy thinks it is worth to him. There in lies the dazzler of the sale.
My strategy on GB is the 'penny' auction, no reserve. I start it at $0.01 and allow it become for whatever it goes for. So far, I have non been disappointed. Everything I have sold has met my expectations and but one detail failed to exceed my expectations.

So what strategies and results would y'all similar to share?
On the selling side, I've never had the guts to outset a penny auction. Things do go incorrect; a uncomplicated misspelling or model number fault may have the filters the buyers utilise exclude my list, except for one person. I know the lowest amount I'll accept for a gun, I cistron in sales commission and first there. I've never been disappointed either.
Penny starts, so I've heard, result in higher selling prices than stock-still prices or reserve prices.
I've been burned past GB, eBay, even a local auction site, then I stay clear of them now. There's too much rampant fraud - shill bids, etc. I also recently got burned in an online buy from a forum - not past the seller but by USPS. I only buy from established business if I tin can aid it so I have some recourse for returns or other fix.
Strange.
I have never had a trouble on GB. Not similar I take a lot of transactions, tho. I simply require payment exist deposited and cleared earlier shipment. On the buying side, I had ane item that was misrepresented. Fortunately, the shop was close enough I went to pick it up in person and institute a very poor repair to a Belgian Browning A5's butt stock that was not indicated in the photos. I declined the transaction and left appropriate feedback. Though the seller denied it, I believe the failure to mention and photograph the repair was intentional.
I haven't started a penny auction, but I did start items at well below market place value.
Inquiry is central - looking a several months worth of completed items that really sold - looking at not just the last auction price, only the keywords in the title and detail clarification, pictures, and the bid behavior.
(I'm still not sure whether is better to end on a weekday or weekend, just I endeavour not to end it in the middle of the workday.)

One more note: cashiers checks are surprisingly open to a nasty form of fraud. There'south a reason for specifying USPS money orders. Make sure you lot don't take cashiers checks for high dollar items.

Atla and boatdoc173 like this.
I accept cashiers checks and personal checks with the caveat that the item will not send until the check clears and the funds are in my account. So far, no problems.
I like the penny auction just because it seems to generate more interest. Besides, everyone thinks in that location is a deal to be had.
I bid what I think its worth and if someone wants information technology more than I exercise, I let them accept it.
At that place will likely be some other one along shortly.

Longest I take e'er had to wait was about a year and a one-half, for a relatively unusual part.
Bingo.. I've darn well-nigh stole a few guns because of typo'south...
People cannot exist protected from themselves. It is imperative, whether buying or selling, to exist equally authentic and complete as possible. If ane has the characteristic of "stupid fingers" when using the keyboard ( I sometimes practise) and then is is the individual'due south ain darn fault if things become south. I do non post my sale until I am sure it says what I want it to say and is spelled the way it is supposed to be spelled. I feel for those that learn the lesson the hard way, but then, every bit Volition Rogers explained information technology:
"There are three kinds of people when it comes to learning. Those that learn by readin', those that larn by observation and the rest of them accept to pee on the electric contend for themselves."
I oftentimes wait to place my terminal bid exactly at the 15 minute countdown point, resulting in a smooth jump to the front of the line without disrupting the timing of the auction.
Also, watching auctions that stop at very awkward times (9:00 pm 4th of July, Christmas Eve, New Yr'due south Eve, etc.) can event in other potential buyers beingness distracted.
gspn Member

Joined:

Jun 10, 2006

Messages:

2,407
The quality of any auction depends partly upon how many qualified and knowledgable people are participating in it. If 2 guys show upwardly y'all might sell your gun for $100. If 1,000 people show you lot up might sell information technology for a great bargain more.
What I think (or know) my item is worth, very much matters in an sale. Every bit an example, I one time listed a fairly rare WWII PPK on Gunbroker. The kickoff sale resulted in a high bid of $600, with someone emailing me later offering me "$650 greenbacks correct now". It did non sell at that level. The second sale might take got to $800. On the third auction the gun sold for what I know it to be worth...$2,500. There's no way I'd run a penny auction with no reserve unless it was on a junk gun I just wanted out of my house. Heck, I even sold one of those recently and got 4X the initial bids by putting a reserve on it. Information technology sold in the 2d auction. There just no way to know what type of crowd will see any detail auction.

I don't sell run-of-the-mill guns though, information technology's not worth my time and effort to deal with. For unique guns with higher values I fix a reserve or a minimum bid every fourth dimension. To do otherwise is basically throwing money away.

I've played around with different strategies with regard to using a reserve or a minimum bid. I've seen more than bid activity when starting an auction with a $0.01 starting bid and a reserve. If I showtime with no reserve but a high minim bid I go less action.

Having said that, "action" doesn't translate into "sales". You'll get tons of bids that are a full waste of time. Many people will bid next to zilch because it costs them cipher, and they wait they'll eventually get a "steal" on a gun.

My feel on GB has taught me to be a patient seller. My experience may be unlike than other considering I'yard mostly selling older and rarer items.
Interesting.
I take nonetheless to be disappointed in a penny auction with no reserve. It has been my experience such an sale on GB creates the maximum amount of involvement and views. I currently have such an sale on GB for a 6" Python. In less than ix days, it has had 1164 views. Like auctions with a reserve and/or high starting bids have nearly 150 views. One in particular on my sentinel list, for research and comparison sake, has a meagerly 154 views and 1 bid. He withal has three days on his auction where I take 1 solar day remaining on mine. I would have been happy with $2500 for my detail yet the latest bid was over $3k. That's $500 more than I expected and $1200 more than than the pawn shop offered for it.
Maybe it's just considering information technology is a Python? I dunno. I have a demand for cash to pay my married woman'due south cancer handling bills. I figure I'll sell my highest value stuff first. Then if necessary, the lesser valued items. There are a few I volition not sell as the sentimental/family unit value far exceeds the fair market place value.

The Python is not the only thing that has exceeded my expectations. I sold an Inland .xxx M1 Carbine with a penny auction, no reserve that I expected to get $800 for and I would take been happy with $600. It's last bid price was but over $1300. Who woulda thunk information technology?

Maybe I have been very lucky with my auctions so far. I don't think so, though. I recall there are hundreds, if non thousands of people that peruse GB looking for bargains and off-white deals. If something is priced appropriately, information technology will sell for its fair marketplace value. Will I notice that unicorn ridden past the leprechaun at the terminate of the rainbow sitting on the pot of gold? Nah, probably non. Just then I am not looking for him either. I am only asking for a fair price for the appropriate item. I believe an open, honest auction is the style to get there. After all, something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it, no?

ETA: Years ago, a friend of mine that owned a Ford dealership had a Bronco that would not sell. It was on the lot for over two years. They ran every special they could imagine to try and move that sucker and even tried selling it for less than they paid the manufacturing plant for it. No dice. Finally, he licensed it with the state and sold it on the sale block as a used car. Why, I asked, would you practice that? He said, 'it is locking up resource and taking up space of something that will sell. In other words, it has toll usa an unknown amount of profit to date. Enough is enough! Fourth dimension to cut the loss on that one off.'

Last edited: Jul 16, 2017
I actively participate in Gunbroker every bit a buyer and a seller. I have over 700 positive feedbacks then I've been around the block a few times.
Many love the penny auctions with no reserve. I concord that they do get the highest end event but every now and then you do become burned if the auction is run at a fourth dimension when the right buyers are not on the sale site. It is a gamble that often times pays off but does go out you vulnerable.
I practice not participate in nor view many auctions with a reserve. To me, it is a manner for the seller to run into what the market place will bear without trying to sell the item at a reasonable toll. It is a waste material of my fourth dimension and I don't humor the seller with a bid. I just accident by reserve auctions. If it is something I ain or am interested in and then I may watch it to encounter what the market says it is worth merely I won't bid on a reserve auction unless the reserve has been met and I see what the truthful selling price is.

When I list an item for auction, I enquiry to run across what a like item sells for and showtime well-nigh 25% below that (about wholesale value) with no reserve. This way a potential buyer can run into he could get it at a good deal if he bids on it. The secret is the more bidders y'all become, the better chance of getting pinnacle dollar due to the "action" of the bidding process. If I have a gun that sells for $650 new and $500-$550 used (in VGC) the I'll showtime the sale at $375 with no reserve. If I get 1 bid, then I control my losses but the chances are if it is a nice gun, more than 1 person will attempt to "steal it" until the price comes in about the marketplace value.

If yous desire to become more than market value for something and so you may have to relist it for weeks or months. It may never sell if you price information technology well in a higher place market value. It your expectations are in line with reality you should be able to become what you want for annihilation yous sell IF the pictures bear witness slap-up item and your write upward is honest.
I buy 'em cheap and sell up for a reasonable toll. I have about never lost money selling, if I practice, information technology'south very little. Gun Banker had immune me to get guns I'd never find otherwise.
S'been awhile, but ... on GB I post 7-twenty-four hour period auctions on Lord's day evening starting at the minimum that I am willing to accept for the item (never a Reserve). I provide a thorough & honest description along with too many shut-up, well-focused and well-lit digipics.
... and and then hope that (at least) two guys wander by and just Gotta Accept It!

EDIT:

Relative to Buying ... after ascertaining the Market Value of the item and deciding upon the GBExpat Value, I will place a bid for the most that I am willing to pay for information technology and walk away.

I do not participate in bidding wars.

If, at the fourth dimension that I find the particular, in that location has been no activity, I will make a note to return close to the auction date/time then that I don't stir-up whatsoever additional involvement by placing an early bid.

Terminal edited: Jul eighteen, 2017
Ownership: I rarely look at auctions with a reserve. I have a "elevation price" in mind, but generally don't bid it until late in the sale, as the proxy bidding tin can become me into a behest state of war earlier I'm ready. I adopt to let other prospective buyers concur the high bid position until afterward in the auction. E'er ready to let someone else pay more; I don't wait for "gotta accept it" items on sale. I tend to focus on "good deals" on things that look interesting and fun, that I volition be able to become my money out of again if they don't concur my involvement.
Selling: I don't run reserve auctions. On less expensive items, or things I didn't buy (e.g., the scope packaged with a rifle I purchased) I'll happily start at $0.01. For items of known approximate value, I fix the starting bid at the minimum I would have in a local sale and hope there are several who want it more than I value it; more often than not works out well. I will frequently include a BUY At present price slightly above what I hope to get. I won't practice this on something I don't know the market value of, though. I've been pleasantly surprised by items that went for waaay more than I predictable. I similar to run 10 day auctions that span two weekends and end at a reasonable evening 60 minutes. And I similar "view counters" on my auctions for popular items; I think it motivates the "gotta take it" guys. Lots of skillful quality pictures and thorough descriptions aid, too.

Final edited: Jul xvi, 2017
This is typically what I practice besides ... a lot of fourth dimension I'll offer gratuitous shipping only that is also factored into the starting price.
I like the view counters too so others can come across how many times its been looked at.

Terminal edited: Jul 17, 2017
That was my burn #2 on GB and why I don't use them any longer. I bid a max of $2,000 on a used Nighthawk How-do-you-do-Power that was listed without reserve and with a low start price, just without many details, some misspellings, and an incorrect outset couple of photos (of a standard Hi-Ability). I contacted the seller for more info and photos, got a suitable response and bid. My winning bid was under $500.
The seller refused to sell it for that. GB obviously can't make him sell information technology. GB didn't care. The seller kept his account and other listings. GB is very seller oriented with their protections, in their view that's where they brand their money - sellers pay commissions.
I buy and sell.
To sell I look upward the high and low selling price and cost mine in the heart. I never practise penny auctions. I burned myself several times.

Buying I sentry for shill bidders. I was Behest on a CZ 97 and I put in a decent bid. Cost got sew past two "people". Ane had no feedback and the other had under 12 but hadn't bid on anything in over a year.

I believe some sellers have many shill accounts, some old, to run upwardly the price.

I but bid the maximum I am willing to pay and if I win bully if not there will be a like item for sale in the futurity
Yes- Beware when you are in a behest war with person who feedback is "NR".
Interesting.
I bought a Rem. 783, new in the box on GB, for less than my lgs can buy it for (quite a bit less, co-ordinate to him). The add together said it came with a 3-9x scope. When the gun arrived, no telescopic. I contacted the seller (dealer) and he squealed like a grunter stuck under a gate because that wording was part of a cut'n paste/salve -as from an old auction. Not MY fault, says I. He honored his auction and sent the scope. POS Chinese Walmart thing in a blister package. Probably cost him more to ship it than he paid for it. I didn't care, because I had the scope I was going to put on it anyway. I
accept a buddy that likes to play with cheap stuff just to see if he can brand it perform as well as the better stuff. I gave it to him and he was tickled pinkish.

If the dealer had got his back up and kicked upwards a fuss, I wouldn't accept pressed the issue. But, at the time, I but couldn't resist the temptation to poke the acquit!
I've never had a problem with a GB transaction on the buying side. I have had problems when selling, due to screwups by my FFL sending information technology to the wrong FFL, and a heir-apparent sending me a copy of the wrong FFL license to send information technology to. So that FFL got $50 out of me to send it dorsum to my FFL. What a mess.
Where I have had problems is on Ebay selling some quondam radios. One guy flat out lied to endeavour to get me to refund office of the price. I didn't, and then he sent it back. There was nothing wrong with the radio at all, information technology worked fine when I got information technology dorsum and showed no signs of the problem he claimed information technology had. Another guy bought it and he nonetheless has it and it's worked fine for years. Another guy bought a radio and the fuse holder popped out due to UPS bouncing and and then the radio didn't work, he claimed he checked "everything", but when I got it back, the fuse was sticking out and all I had to do was push button it in and plow the cap and on it went. I put it back up and he tried to bid once more, but lost it. I was happy, as I got almost $100 more the second time around.
I had some similar problems on ebay. Guy bought two Beretta magazines. Claimed ane was defective. All he did was push the floor plate retainer up and slide the floor plate forward. He wanted a refund on the "lacking" 1.
Obvious scam. Told him I was reporting to the ebay fraud section and would send the returned magazine to the ebay product examination department for fraud resolution. No.such place. Lol. ever heard from him again.
Another bought 2 gas masks. I shipped both. Had the postage and weight of the package. Constitute i more and posted it for sale. The same day it was posted he sent me a bulletin he only received 1 mask. Funny after a calendar month and the day I posted the terminal one he noticed the missing 1. Obvious scam. Reported him to the fraud department and never heard from him again
My strategy as the frugal buyer on GB is do your homework. I filter for the completed sales first - there are far too many reserve and BIN auctions that didn't meet the sellers overinflated requirements and merely clog up the results. Not that anyone here has suggested they practice that, merely a reserve toll above the completed listings, or a BIN price that loftier and relisting it over and over is exactly the problem we see in GB at present.
No different than gun shows - some ( or perhaps far besides many) are just waiting out the crowd for that ane uninformed buyer with more money than patience. Because how few there really are it's amazing there are so many sellers doing it.

As the heir-apparent you just scrape them off the list and move on to the actual completed sales for that specific item. Then you go a good estimate of what is winning the bid war - the real action. There will be highs and lows, I bid toward the lower end expecting to become sniped. I besides bid knowing there's another gun in the pipeline in the adjacent day or two, don't bid two auctions - oh heavens no, you will be stuck for both - and look it out. No last minute changes. Two out of three times I might become outbid, but within the calendar month I will win one and unremarkably its for less than the amount I put in. Pennies have made the difference.

Every bit the frugal buyer I'm looking for a functional gun I will use, and a model that is proven and common. That means while someone from the coast with a college income who might be willing to bid more can win information technology, fine. Get them out of the way - no different than ownership horses, if the well attired dude in chaps wants that brownback because it has dappling, fine. There are three more in the corral and he'due south non buying them all.

It's not hard to see what a gun is selling for at that fourth dimension period, but expect as well long and you may run across things changing. A news effect, glory, or fifty-fifty a mail online can first others toward buying them as as nosotros all know, demand will increase toll. I aspect of gun option is to avoid being role of that rush by choosing something non in the limelight. I began looking for a .45 ACP concluding year, CMP wasn't going to exercise the job shortly enough. Research led me to the Due south&W 4506, and selecting the appropriately comfortable carry model the 4566 serial. The late production on those were ofttimes LEO upshot and the TSW model seemingly getting ignored on the marketplace. Bodily completed sales showed the price was slowly rising just one could exist had for under $500, cheaper than whatsoever Govt 1911 I'd seen in years. Since it was a shooter and the bullet is what really does the piece of work, why fidget over "yr make model?" Y'all need to get to piece of work, then to speak, a vehicle to exercise that doesn't demand to be a show motorcar track racer. I found a stream of auctions every bit they were slowly selling on the market, reviewed to see who were the flipping relisters and avoided them. Information technology came down to a few auctions to sentinel in ii weeks time, got outbid past a good margin on 1, got the next. Shipped and owned in ten days piece of work for less than $500 including FFL.

And, it's the terminal one I saw that inexpensive, the are pushing $200 more lately. The net collectors are now being forced to find them in the gun shop cases in out of the way places where traffic for them is poor.

Actual sale price of completed transactions, non relisters is where you target and research. It means scrolling thru some long lists of transactions on GB but information technology'southward the inquiry you need to buy where the market really is moving at bodily pricing. And of those auctions, nigh are penny sales no reserve.
is information technology just me, or does there appear to be significant shill bidding in many of these dealers' reserve auctions?