GunBroker Buyer's Protection
GunBroker is a huge marketplace, but its buyer protection is incomplete. If you want full buyer protection, you need to pay a different way.
Incomplete protection
If you paid for a GunBroker item and did not receive it, or the item was materially different than the description, you may be eligible to submit a Buyer's Protection claim through GunBroker.com. If GunBroker approves your claim, it will reimburse up to 80% of the item price. That's because all claims have a $100 deductible and a $500 maximum, so you will lose between 20% and 100% of the item price:
Missing coverage
The GunBroker Buyer's Protection Program does not protect:
- Item prices below the $100 deductible
- The portion of item prices above the $500 maximum
- Shipping cost, insurance, fees, or taxes
- Payments made by "cash, Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal Friends and Family (PPFF)"
For example, most payments include shipping of around $30 and sales tax of around 8%. Those amounts are not protected.
Not all claims approved
GunBroker does not approve all claims for Buyer Protection. For example, GunBroker won't approve claims for payments through PayPal. If it does not approve your claim, it will not reimburse you at all.
See our case study of two GunBroker scams by the same scammer. One buyer relied on GunBroker Buyer's Protection, but GunBroker denied his claim. He lost his entire payment. (The other buyer relied on GunTab, and lost nothing.)
No seller protection
Sellers also need protection when transacting online, but the Buyer's Protection Program does not protect sellers. Generally, GunBroker sellers are vulnerable to chargebacks and payment scams.
Hypothetical scenarios
Imagine you paid for a GunBroker item and did not receive it, or the item was materially different than the description. These scenarios show how much of your payment you would lose if relying on GunBroker Buyer's Protection, versus relying on GunTab for protection:
| Scenario | If GunBroker denies claim | If GunBroker approves claim | If using GunTab |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$100 price + $10 shipping + $9 sales tax = $119 paid |
$119 loss (100%) |
$100 protected – $100 deductible = $0 reimbursed $119 loss (100%) |
Zero loss |
|
$500 price + $0 shipping + $0 sales tax = $500 paid |
$500 loss (100%) |
$500 protected – $100 deductible = $4000 reimbursed $100 loss (20%) |
Zero loss |
|
$1,000 price + $40 shipping + $82 sales tax = $1,122 paid |
$1,122 loss (100%) |
$500 protected – $100 deductible = $400 reimbursed $722 loss (64%) |
Zero loss |
|
$4,000 price + $50 shipping + $204 sales tax = $4,254 paid |
$4,254 loss (100%) |
$500 protected – $100 deductible = $400 reimbursed $3,854 loss (91%) |
Zero loss |
Quotes from actual GunBroker users
The following quotes are from actual GunBroker users across many years. These comments were posted on various websites, including GunBroker's own forum:
-
"they have responded 2 years later"
thraex33 on Reddit -
"I am very disappointed with the verdict on my BPP claim."
bullyote375 on GunBroker Forum -
"I have applied for the GunBroker Buyer Protection Program but until needing it I did not realize that this covers a maximum of $500 with a $100 deductible so $400.
Essentially half my money."
Double-aught Buck on Suvivalist Boards -
"GunBroker's buyer protection is only up to $400-500 and they are a pain ... to work with and get ahold of."
Darkside-six on Sniper's Hide -
"GunBroker said since the broken part was small and inexpensive they would do nothing.
They ignore the fact that the gun would need to be completely disassembled to replace the broken part."
jrmac on Ripoff Report -
"So if my total order on GunBroker doesnt even meet $100, then I lose out if it's fraud"
nunn on GunBroker Forum -
"Have to wait 30 days to file a claim among other hoops, and only pays up to 500 but has a 100 dollar "deductible"."
captiarry on Gon Forum
Pay with GunTab
If you want full protection, pay with GunTab. It includes full buyer protection on every transaction, guaranteed. No deductible, no maximum, no missing coverage. (It also includes full seller protection.)
GunTab is fully compatible with GunBroker - you can use it to pay for any GunBroker item. Plus, it includes built-in compliance checks for regulated transactions, and automations like FFL search, shipment tracking, and text message updates.