Online auction sites taken over by dealers

[Aesop]

It's tough to be an informed buyer in a poker game with three card sharps who're all sharing notes.

[Greg]

It's tough to be an informed buyer in a poker game with three card sharps who're all sharing notes.

If you're trying to 'beat' them, yes. But the analogy breaks down....

It's not all that hard to learn what the going rate for something is. No matter how clever they are, they still can't make you pay more than going rate for something. You have to do that to yourself.

[Vonz90]

I think it depends on what you are trying to do. If you are looking for screaming bargains that are way below market price, that situation never lasts in any mature market.

Auctions are great because they give an avenue for a few of things:

1. Price check vs local gun shops
2. Place to find things you cannot find locally
3. Place to find rare things or which are not regionally available
4. Place to find things which in a shortage when you have price flexibility (like buying powder/primer that you need when everyone is out of it - paying above normal retail is better than getting nothing)
5. Buy quirky things which are valuable to you but not to most consumers

Gunbroker is useful for all of these things. I have used it to buy an AR lower at a fairly reasonable markup back during the panic when none were locally available at any price. I've bought some random gun parts at good prices which otherwise would have been very expensive. I've bought some 4895 at a heavy markup, but it was better than having nothing (and still cheaper than buying loaded ammo - not that it was available to buy). I've often used to to sanity check prices on stuff I am looking at locally.

It is useful. It is not a magic free gun website (I wish it was) - but so what. People are on it to make money, I'm okay with that. If they sell me what they say they are selling at a price I'm willing to spend, it is all good.

[evan price]

Like any transaction, you have to know instinctually what something is worth before you start playing. Gunbroker is kind of like "the price is right" but with real funds & guns.

[blackeagle603]

Good discussion. Begs the question, what about the little guy selling on these sites. What's the best game plan for listing firearms in light of the online dealer activity? How to get to the top of the list?

[Rod]

Good discussion. Begs the question, what about the little guy selling on these sites. What's the best game plan for listing firearms in light of the online dealer activity? How to get to the top of the list?

You get to the top of the list by paying for it, which I won't do. I've found the best advice is have clear pictures, a very good description, and a reasonable price. Start fairly low and have a reserve that's close to what you want. Buy it now price should be even closer to your bottom line. Finally, expect to put it up three or four times.

[evan price]

Good discussion. Begs the question, what about the little guy selling on these sites. What's the best game plan for listing firearms in light of the online dealer activity? How to get to the top of the list?

Penny start, high reserve auctions are the equivalent of people who put "AAAA" in front of their business name to get to the top of the yellow pages listings.

Start your auction at a low price. Have plenty of high quality pictures. Mention complete information. Point out the flaws and the features. Know what closed auction prices of similar items have been pricing out at. If you have something common know it won't bring high prices unless you get lucky. If you have something unique be prepared to list out multiple times until you find the buyer who knows what it is.
I cant overstress the need for plenty of pictures. Buyers cant hold the item. Your pictures need to let them do it in their heads.
Recently saw a gun I was interested in. guy said it came with a free holster.
Two fuzzy pics of the gun. Four pics of the holster. Priorities!
For pics of the free holster.