I think I got taken for a ride...

[searcher451]

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The situation is deplorable, Sheldon; sorry for your troubles. One thing is clear: Gunbroker is being less than standup here (and yeah, I'll remember this thread the next time I look at a gun there), and the seller should be, at a minimum, ashamed of himself.

[Sheldon]

Now they want me to go out and convince an FFL holder to transfer the gun to "their gunsmith" in Georgia in spite of the legal issues with the frame, who will charge me a premium to "inspect" it, in addition to the shipping and transfer charges. At this point, if and only if their gunsmith determines that what I've stated about the gun is true, they have said that they will pay the measly $400 buyer protection, keep the gun, and resell it on their site.

They seem to have no interest in looking at the legal problems with the gun, although they demanded I make and reproduce multiple inquiries with the ATF before to assess the gun's legality, apparently as part of "the run around."

I've already started drafting my complaint to the Better Business Bureau.

[searcher451]

Sorry again for your troubles. Thanks, however, for continuing to post the results of your difficulties here. It's a good warning to one and all who might be tempted to use the service in the future. Gunbroker's owners/operators should well be ashamed. As for the original seller ...

[isuolympic]

Disappointing to hear. I do a lot on Gunbroker and always thought they would do the right thing if needed. I'll exercise extra caution moving forwad. I am in Georgia and would be curious to know who is Gunbroker's gunsmith. PM me if you would. If you decide to send to their gunsmith, I have 3 NIB P-88s that I would be happy to take over to let them compare.

[AoxoMoxoA]

Originally Posted by isuolympic

Disappointing to hear. I do a lot on Gunbroker and always thought they would do the right thing if needed. I'll exercise extra caution moving forwad. I am in Georgia and would be curious to know who is Gunbroker's gunsmith. PM me if you would. If you decide to send to their gunsmith, I have 3 NIB P-88s that I would be happy to take over to let them compare.

That's a great offer from isuolympic that should be of tremendous assistance to Sheldon if the GB's gunsmith is located, and he/she is able to compare the sold as "Perfect NIB/NOS" spray & bake P88 to an actual NIB P88... Beyond the lack of serial number on the frame issue, the sheer fact that this gun was represented as new when it is clearly not, should be the underlying strength of your position.

Good luck as you move forward with this nightmare...

[MGMike]

Originally Posted by AoxoMoxoA

...

Good luck as you move forward with this nightmare...

All of this mud-wrestling could have been avoided by insisting upon an explicit and clearly agreed 3-day inspection, with return for any reason whatsoever for full refund, less shipping one way.

That is so common in transactions of this kind that any seller who will not agree to it should not be dealt with.

M

[Sheldon]

All of this mud-wrestling could have been avoided by insisting upon an explicit and clearly agreed 3-day inspection, with return for any reason whatsoever for full refund, less shipping one way.

That is so common in transactions of this kind that any seller who will not agree to it should not be dealt with.

Needless to say I will be MUCH more critical of deals like this going forward. The P88 was kind of a dream gun for me and I admit I was blinded to the possibility of fraud by that fact. However, the seller could just as easily have promised that inspection period and still refused a refund, which would have put me in the same position. GB wouldn't have a leg to stand on in denying buyer's protection, but they don't in these circumstances either (the gun was woefully and materially misrepresented even if you ignore the specter of legal problems it carries) and that has not stopped them from giving me a merciless run-around.

I think it's great what the internet has done for gun collectors, making it much easier and less time consuming to find particular uncommon firearms, but I would be lying if I said I'm not going to strongly favor FTF transactions and local gun stores from now on. There's just far more accountability in those deals than with F-rated businesses and out-of-state private parties.

[Milspec]

One note on the frame. I have a 1977 commercial (circle-no dot) Walther P-38 that I've posted here where the serial number is located on the right side of the slide only. There are the normal proofs and markings but no import stamp, export stamp, or serial number on the frame. I was told that it's a German commercial model...not intended for export so the frame would not be numbered. It was legally imported by a US service member.
.
Why the difference here? Did all German commercial P88's have serial numbered frames and was the gun in question import/export stamped? Just a thought but it might explain the lack of frame number.