Never, ever use Gunbroker.

I have had a Gunbroker account for a few years now. A basic membership account without buying or selling privilidges because I don't submit my credit card info to anyone that does not have a valid reason to HAVE such info.


So earlier this week I decide to list my Polytech Legend on there for sale in an auction.

I go in to update my account & add the required Credit card info and it asks me a few computer generated questions on where I have lived, etc... Never does it ask for my Credit Card and the address on the card....

A message pops up after I answer two questions about where I live:


Your account has been flagged by the GunBroker.com security system as suspect. The information you entered could not be verified by our service.

In order to verify your identity send us a copy of your driver's license and a current utility bill. Please fax this information to 770-573-3671.

If you have further questions please contact customer support about your account.


I respond:

"I'm trying to register to sell my firearms, I have tried TWICE and get flagged for some reason. If you do not want the comission on my sales fine, otherwise please fix your system & let me register. I AM NOT, repeat NOT, faxing you a copy of my driver's license for identification purposes. If my valid Credit Card and phone number are not good enough for your site to verify identification then I will sell elsewhere".

Gunbroker's response received today:

We are sorry, but the service we use was unable to verify the contact information you provided. We would like to have you as a member of GunBroker.com, but at this time, you will need to forward two forms of identification which matches the contact information on the site to be manually verified.

So I posted on their Facebook page:

"Rest assused, I will never spend a dime on anything for sale on Gunbroker. After doing extensive research on my own over the last few hours and finding an alarming amount of dissatified sellers/buyers that have used your site, I can only conclude that I made the right decision & urge others reading this message to follow suit".

"I will also be posting this information on my local Mississippi firearms forum; MississippiGunOwners.com"

hmm never had that problem but then again i was a registerd FFL dealer on there at one time.. I never even had a bad thought about GB services = (

i too have used them in the past without any problems.
didnt they have a security breach dealing with some customer information? this could be a new policy that has come about b/c of that.

I tried to buy some ammo on GunBroker long ago.

I stopped when the web site demanded my credit card info.

Ummmmmm. No thanks. Too many folks hacking too many "secure" databases.

I contacted the seller and he sold it to me directly.

I have bought and sold many things on gunbroker and don't have any kind of credit card or bank account info on there.

I use auctionarms.com and do not have an problems.

I have not bought nor sold from Gunbroker in a long time and never had trouble. I buy from places like Bud's and others. Yeah, I'd tell someone where to go if they ask for my card numbers.

I've managed to live 52 years without using GB...I imagine I'll manage the next 52 without em just as well....

never had a problem with gunbroker....... have found many items i was looking for, that was not around our local market and prices were very competitive,,,,,, course i was just buying........ hard for me to polish off my finger prints off one for me to want to sell it

I only wanted to use them to sell a rifle I felt was limited to a very small market of buyers. (Polytech Legend).

After this experience I will never, ever use them again.

I'll be fored to use Auction Arms, Armslist or GunsAmerica but they don't have the traffic that GB gets.

I'm on GunBroker's site all the time and I've never had issues with them at all.

It sounds like they use a service to validate identity based on public records most likely. If you're "off the grid" or used false info on the site, then I would guess they couldn't verify you were who you say you are.

I know it's a pain in the ass, but it reminds me of being behind the guy in line at the store when they ask to see his ID for a credit card purchase that decides he's very put out by it.

Same guy would be yelling about why the retailer didn't protect him if someone came in with his stolen card.

I have a feeling if you had gotten scammed by someone that no one had bothered to check up on selling a gun on the site, using fake information, that you'd be as upset about why they didn't have checks like that in place.

Just My 2 Cents

Erik

I thought my first post illustrated how careful I am with my identity. Which is why I didn't want to give them my info. So I should be thankful that they are doing my job for me and in the process costing me money?

Anyway, welcome to the forum.

i know you said you wont use em, but maybe you could get someone who has an account to sell the gun on there for you?

is that even legal? i was ticked when they asked me that info as well... sucks. i did it, but it still sucks. they didnt have problems varifying my info tho. i would have refused as well.

Off topic, but, ...4Runner, a year ago you said they were way overpriced. Whatcha trying to get for yours? Pm me if you'd rather.

DirtyWorks wrote:Off topic, but, ...4Runner, a year ago you said they were way overpriced. Whatcha trying to get for yours? Pm me if you'd rather.

Yeah, I got one but it's more than I'd like to have invested in an AK, that's why it's for sale. I listed it here in the Classifieds. I've since adjusted my price. Will send you a PM.

Joe S. wrote:i know you said you wont use em, but maybe you could get someone who has an account to sell the gun on there for you?

is that even legal? i was ticked when they asked me that info as well... sucks. i did it, but it still sucks. they didnt have problems varifying my info tho. i would have refused as well.

I have no doubt I could circumvent their security measures & register under my wife's name with a different credit card, but it's a matter of principle now.

They are giving their customers the illusion of security. I'd just as soon not give them any business at this point because I'm the one at risk here, not them- by giving them full access to a copy of my Drivers License, home address, current bill & credit card #..... No, thanks. I'll pass on that.

I went thru the same thing with gunbroker. I didn't like the idea of leaving my credit card on file without actually purchasing anything.
scott

Here is where they lost me:

For fraud prevention purposes, users electing to provide as their sole email contact an email address from a free email service provider (such as Yahoo!® Mail, Google® Gmail, or Hotmail®) are required to enter credit card information at the time of registration, and the card is verified by authorizing a small amount through the credit card processing networks.

Obviously, they have a right to demand it, but I have a right to pass; so I do.

And they may have a perfectly valid reason; but so do I.

Never had any problems with Gunbroker - buying or selling - and rest assured - they dont get a rats ass about what you post on here.....

If you are really you why not give them 2 forms of identification? I would be HAPPY that they are trying to make sure that someone doesnt try to hijack my s**t instead you are pissed because they are making sure you are really you? I bet also you would be the first to bitch at GunBroker when someone signs up as selling under your name and screws people over huh?

Great response.

I'll be sure to remember that.

I seem to remember another gun related entity that got just enough bad press... Gunpal
My warning was for those interested and you have voiced your opinion. I hope you're never ripped off by GB having your info because you'll have no one to blame but yourself.