Posted by: izymic
Gunbroker is crap - 05/05/21 01:44 PM
Let me be clear -- I am no newbie to using Gunbroker. I have been on that site for 2 decades and bought and sold dozens of items in that time.
I found a piece I wanted -- the seller had an A+ rating and was "Verified".. Let's review what GB says that means: (See graphics attached)
Well, I bid on the handgun. Won. The seller emailed me about payment, and I confirmed the FFL I wanted it sent to. No problems. I mailed the payment via USPS priority mail and sent a USPS money order.
After they received it, they disappeared.
I called the phone number on the account (REMEMBER THEY ARE VERIFIED) and it is a "voice to text" service. Not a phone number.
I retrieved the VERIFIED MEMBER mailing address (it's their home address, remember?) and it's a PO BOX.
4 weeks ago I filed a "BUYER PROTECTION PLAN" claim with GB. I provided all of the requested info, and uploaded and faxed the required documentation -- proof of payment, proof of delivery, IC3 complaint file, etc.
In the last 4 weeks, they have not replied to me at all. The status on the BPP claim (as of today) is "waiting on buyer" (See screen shot (redacted))
I have emailed GB several times since filing the BPP. Nothing. No response. It has been over a month since I filed the claim and the only email I've gotten from them was the automated response on the same day.
What makes me MOST upset about this situation isn't the scammer -- they did what they do.
It is Gunbroker's response and broken promises:
1. Verified Member. Gunbroker says they verified the seller. That means GB got a copy of their driver license and other information such as a phone bill or second form of identity. Gunbroker SAYS they verify the identity and the HOME ADDRESS of the individual. Apparently, that is a lie. They even charge $2 to perform the verification. Here is what the site policy says about how they verify member information: (https://www.gunbroker.com/c/User/PrivacyPolicy/)
2. Buyer Protection Policy . It's been a month since I filed and provided all of the documentation and I have not gotten a response. The seller is long gone. Gunbroker's BPP is intended to protect against fraudulent sellers by providing a refund of part of your purchase price if you are cheated. See: https://support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/224766967
Here is the whole policy https://www.gunbroker.com/c/user/buyers-protection-program/
Suffice to say, it has been 30 days, and I have sent everything requested. Zero response.
I found a piece I wanted -- the seller had an A+ rating and was "Verified".. Let's review what GB says that means: (See graphics attached)
Quote:
A Verified Member is a member who passed our extended user verification security screening. These users will have the badge, , next to their user name when presented on the site. This distinction lets buyers and sellers know they are dealing with a user who has passed the GunBroker.com verification process. To become a Verified Member, please go to our Extended User Verification page. There is a fee to initiate the verification process.
Well, I bid on the handgun. Won. The seller emailed me about payment, and I confirmed the FFL I wanted it sent to. No problems. I mailed the payment via USPS priority mail and sent a USPS money order.
After they received it, they disappeared.
I called the phone number on the account (REMEMBER THEY ARE VERIFIED) and it is a "voice to text" service. Not a phone number.
I retrieved the VERIFIED MEMBER mailing address (it's their home address, remember?) and it's a PO BOX.
4 weeks ago I filed a "BUYER PROTECTION PLAN" claim with GB. I provided all of the requested info, and uploaded and faxed the required documentation -- proof of payment, proof of delivery, IC3 complaint file, etc.
In the last 4 weeks, they have not replied to me at all. The status on the BPP claim (as of today) is "waiting on buyer" (See screen shot (redacted))
I have emailed GB several times since filing the BPP. Nothing. No response. It has been over a month since I filed the claim and the only email I've gotten from them was the automated response on the same day.
What makes me MOST upset about this situation isn't the scammer -- they did what they do.
It is Gunbroker's response and broken promises:
1. Verified Member. Gunbroker says they verified the seller. That means GB got a copy of their driver license and other information such as a phone bill or second form of identity. Gunbroker SAYS they verify the identity and the HOME ADDRESS of the individual. Apparently, that is a lie. They even charge $2 to perform the verification. Here is what the site policy says about how they verify member information: (https://www.gunbroker.com/c/User/PrivacyPolicy/)
Quote:
a. Registration Information and Identity Verification Information.
The Site’s registration process requires Users to provide us valid and accurate contact Personal Information including name, street address, mobile phone number, birth date and email address (collectively, “Registration Information”). We use this information for fraud prevention at the time of registration.
We may verify your name and address provided at the time of registration through third-party identity verification service providers we use to assist us. This is done as an identity verification and fraud prevention measure. All information described in this Section is referred to as “Identity Verification Information.”
Credit Header Verification. One type of identity verification service is called “credit header” information. You may be required to answer a multiple-choice questionnaire compiled from information managed by consumer and business information sources. These questions can include elements from your financial history. We do not collect or store any Personal Information from the “credit header” process. All we receive is an indication of how many questions you answered successfully.
Pre-Fill Identity Verification Option. Another type of identity verification service we have uses your mobile phone “Subscriber Data”(as defined under Applicable Law) from your mobile carrier (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, or any other branded wireless carrier) to verify your identity. Your mobile phone Subscriber Data may include, without limitation, name, date of birth, postal address, billing zip code, telephone numbers, electronic mail addresses, last four digits of your Social Security Number, credit card numbers, Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI), location information, handset and mobile device identifiers (International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)) and other status details, if available, account information and credit information.
Identity verification using your mobile phone Subscriber Data includes a Pre-Fill Form Option for us to use to expedite verifying your identity. The Pre-Fill Form includes information verified by our mobile phone identify verification service provider. The Pre-Fill Form Option requires you to answer a question by submitting your mobile phone billing zip code. It also requires you to provide us your express opt-in consent by clicking on the “OK” button on the consent page.
When you use this option, you authorize your wireless operator to disclose your mobile number, name, address, email, network status, customer type, customer role, billing type, mobile device identifiers (IMSI and IMEI) and other subscriber details, if available, to GunBroker.com and service providers for the duration of the business relationship, solely for identity verification and fraud avoidance.
Manual Identity Verification Option: Where you do not agree to the “Pre-Fill Form Option” above or where your identity cannot be verified using that option, GunBroker.com can carry out a manual process to verify your identity before allowing you to become a Seller or Buyer on the Site. This requires you to submit written evidence of your name and address, including such documents as may be requested by GunBroker.com such as a copy of your driver’s license, utility bill or similar documentation as may be requested by GunBroker.com in its discretion.
The Site’s registration process requires Users to provide us valid and accurate contact Personal Information including name, street address, mobile phone number, birth date and email address (collectively, “Registration Information”). We use this information for fraud prevention at the time of registration.
We may verify your name and address provided at the time of registration through third-party identity verification service providers we use to assist us. This is done as an identity verification and fraud prevention measure. All information described in this Section is referred to as “Identity Verification Information.”
Credit Header Verification. One type of identity verification service is called “credit header” information. You may be required to answer a multiple-choice questionnaire compiled from information managed by consumer and business information sources. These questions can include elements from your financial history. We do not collect or store any Personal Information from the “credit header” process. All we receive is an indication of how many questions you answered successfully.
Pre-Fill Identity Verification Option. Another type of identity verification service we have uses your mobile phone “Subscriber Data”(as defined under Applicable Law) from your mobile carrier (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, or any other branded wireless carrier) to verify your identity. Your mobile phone Subscriber Data may include, without limitation, name, date of birth, postal address, billing zip code, telephone numbers, electronic mail addresses, last four digits of your Social Security Number, credit card numbers, Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI), location information, handset and mobile device identifiers (International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)) and other status details, if available, account information and credit information.
Identity verification using your mobile phone Subscriber Data includes a Pre-Fill Form Option for us to use to expedite verifying your identity. The Pre-Fill Form includes information verified by our mobile phone identify verification service provider. The Pre-Fill Form Option requires you to answer a question by submitting your mobile phone billing zip code. It also requires you to provide us your express opt-in consent by clicking on the “OK” button on the consent page.
When you use this option, you authorize your wireless operator to disclose your mobile number, name, address, email, network status, customer type, customer role, billing type, mobile device identifiers (IMSI and IMEI) and other subscriber details, if available, to GunBroker.com and service providers for the duration of the business relationship, solely for identity verification and fraud avoidance.
Manual Identity Verification Option: Where you do not agree to the “Pre-Fill Form Option” above or where your identity cannot be verified using that option, GunBroker.com can carry out a manual process to verify your identity before allowing you to become a Seller or Buyer on the Site. This requires you to submit written evidence of your name and address, including such documents as may be requested by GunBroker.com such as a copy of your driver’s license, utility bill or similar documentation as may be requested by GunBroker.com in its discretion.
2. Buyer Protection Policy . It's been a month since I filed and provided all of the documentation and I have not gotten a response. The seller is long gone. Gunbroker's BPP is intended to protect against fraudulent sellers by providing a refund of part of your purchase price if you are cheated. See: https://support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/224766967
Here is the whole policy https://www.gunbroker.com/c/user/buyers-protection-program/
Quote:
If you paid for an item and did not receive it, or the item was materially different than the description, subject to the Program Limitations below, you may be eligible to submit a Buyer's Protection claim through GunBroker.com. GunBroker.com will cover up to $500.00 on an item and all claims have a $100.00 deductible.
We do not cover:
Shipping cost
Transfer fees
Taxes.
Find the details of the Buyer Protection Program here.
If you wish to make a claim, follow our BPP Claim Process found here.
Review the BPP Limitations and Restrictions here.
You can submit a claim by filling out the BPP Claim Form.
We do not cover:
Shipping cost
Transfer fees
Taxes.
Find the details of the Buyer Protection Program here.
If you wish to make a claim, follow our BPP Claim Process found here.
Review the BPP Limitations and Restrictions here.
You can submit a claim by filling out the BPP Claim Form.
Suffice to say, it has been 30 days, and I have sent everything requested. Zero response.