Author Topic: Ebay to end all firearms related auctions (Read 2803 times)

mtnbkr · « **on:** July 30, 2007, 05:16:23 PM »

Or at least anything required to make the gun fire...

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200707301000452.html

Chris

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:23:03 PM »

Tell me about it. rolleyes

I've been selling reloadable brass through them for a long time, and built a small clientel. I'll have to make a mailing list and let them know as of mid-August, they'll have to buy from my website.

I just contacted one of my favorite cast bullet suppliers there, he's going to work with me through direct sales, person-to-person, now that eBay decided his wares are evil, too.

It's stupid that they think the Virginia Tech massacre has anything to do with brass, bullets, and gun parts sold on their auctions. However, it's their corporate decision, and as much crap as they move through their auctions, I'll wager their bean counters will hardly miss the gun-related sales, or the pissed-off boycotters.

It should result in a nice boost for AuctionArms and Gunbroker, though.

Standing Wolf · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:36:52 PM »

I don't ever do business with anti-Second Amendment bigots.

The Rabbi · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:39:29 PM »

Good. More business for GunBroker and AuctionArms.

Nitrogen · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:26:07 PM »

eBay should ban all photography-related auctions, because photography equipment could be used to make child pornography.

mountainclmbr · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:44:03 PM »

The cars they sell on there could be used for high-speed police chase evasion with helecopters crashing and secondary accidents trailing behind them.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:45:33 PM »

Ebay or Eban?

Manedwolf · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:47:02 PM »

Yet they allow baseball bats, knives, swords, and items that are most often used to smoke illegal drugs.

Their business, their agenda, their hypocrisy.

Manedwolf · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:47:28 PM »

Quote from: Manedwolf on July 30, 2007, 05:47:02 PM

Yet they allow baseball bats, knives, swords, and items that are most often used to smoke illegal drugs.

Their business, their agenda, their hypocrisy.

Gun auction sites REALLY need a better engine, though.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:52:49 PM »

Quote from: Manedwolf on July 30, 2007, 05:47:28 PM

Gun action sites REALLY need a better engine, though.

Yup. It's why I've purchased items at Gunbroker only twice. AuctionArms is even worse IMO.

One good thing about this, I'll end up spending much less money. Between dumping Paypal and Ebay, a lot of my impulse purchases will go away.

Chris

Antibubba · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2007, 07:57:04 PM »

Good. Now shooters can stop throwing their money down the PayPal cesspool, and eBay can feel the sting of less revenue. It's incredible there are still gun owners who don't realize how much money they've given to the socialists (FWIW when I do buy on eBay I NEVER use PP, and I don't patronize sellers who only accept it).

mtnbkr · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2007, 04:17:56 AM »

Antibubba, I doubt they'll feel much sting. I'm sure they considered the loss of revenue and also factored in that most will not care or will come back under new identities after a while. It is a rather unique service. It really bugs me because only a tiny fraction of my transactions at eBay were gun related. Of the rest, eBay really was the only source for a particular item short of getting lucky at a flea market or yard sale (such as vintage camera gear).

Gunbroker is a joke. People post overpriced guns and accessories and let them sit until some sucker finally buys them. Lately, I've been shopping for Contender barrels. On eBay, you stood a good chance of getting a deal. At Gunbroker, most of the barrels start at prices you'd pay for new barrels. Of the few that started at reasonable levels, they were either rough looking or had ridiculous restrictions such as "must ship to FFL" (for a barrel?). I saw better prices on Contender barrels at this weekend's gun show.

Hopefully AuctionArms will be better.

Chris

Manedwolf · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2007, 04:22:25 AM »

In my experience, eBay has been getting less and less stringent about scam auctions, too. As long as they get their cut, they really don't care if the auction for "PS3 $200 WOW" really has a thing at the bottom in 2pt text saying "not for actual item, you will get information on how to get PS3 for $200!" ...and such. And hundreds of positive shill feedbacks, mostly out of China.

There's that sort on nearly every prestige item and gadget, now.

K Frame · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2007, 05:32:38 AM »

I ended up playing an XBox game against the owner of AuctionArms a few months ago. He saw my screen name (Kframe 3220) and that got us to talking.

I hit a lot of the high-point complaints that have been registered here.

The guy's a nice guy, Marine Corps veteran, but he and I didn't see eye to eye on either the search engine or my contention that there are people abusing his website by staying parked with outlandishly overpriced items.

I've bought several guns from AuctionArms and Gunbroker and have gotten decent deals (I've been happy with them) every time. All three were dealer sales, though, not individuals.

The Rabbi · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2007, 05:49:13 AM »

I dont know what the beef against AA is. I think their search engine is a lot better than GB's.
As for overpriced stuff, it's a market. No one is forcing anyone to buy. If it is too expensive, it wont sell. I have cut prices on all sorts of things to get it to move.
My favorite tactic is just a 1 penny start with no reserve over 7 days and a view counter. In fact I will be offering a Dan Wesson Pistol Pack this week like that. Since especially GB is such a big forum, it constitutes what I think of as a true marketplace.

K Frame · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2007, 06:13:27 AM »

I agree, AA's search engine IS better than GB's.

Unfortunately, that's not saying a whole lot.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2007, 06:15:15 AM »

You're right TR, but it's still frustrating. For example, 7mmTCU Contender barrels sell for $100-$175 on eBay, but many of them on Gunbroker have either a $200+ starting bid or rediculous restrictions (such as shipping to an FFL). I think it's the ability to repost items at no cost until they sell that allows for that.

I need to look more closely at AA. I always forget about them when I would go to Gunbroker for stuff I couldn't get at eBay.

BTW, let us know when the DW Pistol Pack is listed...

Chris

The Rabbi · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:12:13 AM »

Hmm, you can get Contender barrels on eBay for $100 or you can get the very same thing from GB for $200. What to do, what to do??
What do you think will happen to those sellers on eBay when they can't sell there anymore? Will they just decide, "oh, we can't sell anymore. We'll just have a firesale and go out of business"? Or will they think, "screw eBay. We're gonna list on GB. And we aint taking PayPal no more either"?
And I am still waiting for someone to tell me what's wrong with AA's search engine.

K Frame · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:23:27 AM »

How about you tell us what's so right about it?

AJ Dual · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:37:10 AM »

Well shucks. There goes my online work-from-home "bullet tip" business I was going to start. undecided

Anyone interested in 10,000 bullet tips, wholesale? It's not whole bullets mind you, just the tips.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #20 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:38:06 AM »

Quote from: The Rabbi on July 31, 2007, 06:12:13 AM

What do you think will happen to those sellers on eBay when they can't sell there anymore? Will they just decide, "oh, we can't sell anymore. We'll just have a firesale and go out of business"? Or will they think, "screw eBay. We're gonna list on GB. And we aint taking PayPal no more either"?
And I am still waiting for someone to tell me what's wrong with AA's search engine.

I hope they do go to GB and AA, we'll have to wait and see. Until then, we're stuck with the "market" we have, which means GB is mostly a wasteland.

As for AA's search engine, I've never had much luck finding what I want. I've confirmed it was the search engine by browsing manually for items and finding them. I have the same problem with GB as well. I'll admit I haven't looked at AA in over a year at least, so they may have improved. GB hasn't in that timeframe.

Chris

mtnbkr · « **Reply #21 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:46:10 AM »

I just had a rude thought...

I have business in SW Va this weekend. One of the shops Cho bought a gun at is in the town I'll be visiting. I should spend some money there, scan my receipt, post it on my server, and send the url to the fine folks at eBay.

Chris

K Frame · « **Reply #22 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:51:44 AM »

Do it.

Manedwolf · « **Reply #23 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:11:07 AM »

Kittery Trading Post's used guns site has an interesting database interface that lets you see what's available by manufacturer, caliber, action, etc.

AA could use something similar.

charby · « **Reply #24 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:17:00 AM »

I think I found Monkeyleg a new line of work, create a libertarian version of Ebay

Host it in some more freedom loving states like Montana, Texas or New Hampshire.

News:

Author Topic: Ebay to end all firearms related auctions (Read 2803 times)