GunBroker Buyer's Protection Program: buyers always lose
Buyers always lose money to scammers, even when GunBroker approves their claims.
The loss curve
Under the GunBroker Buyer's Protection Program, buyers always lose between 20% and 100% of their payment to scammers. Buyers lose over 80% of their payment at most price points:
The curve is under-stated because it does not include shipping, insurance, and sales tax. The Program never covers those losses.
Incomplete coverage
The GunBroker Buyer's Protection Program is quite limited:
- $100 deductible
- $400 maximum reimbursement ($500 maximum coverage minus $100 deductible)
- No coverage for shipping, insurance, or sales tax
If you pay less than $100, you lose everything. If you pay more than $100, you lose at least $100. You may lose your entire payment, because GunBroker may not approve your claim.
It's also worth noting the Buyer's Protection Program does not protect sellers. GunBroker sellers are vulnerable to chargebacks and various scams.
Not all claims approved
GunBroker often denies claims for Buyer Protection. For example, GunBroker won't approve any claim where payment was made by Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, etc.
See our case study of two GunBroker scams by the same scammer. One buyer relied on the GunBroker Buyer's Protection Program, but GunBroker denied his claim. He lost his entire payment. (The other buyer relied on GunTab, and lost nothing.)
Hypothetical scenarios
Analyze how much you will lose to a scammer if you rely on the GunBroker Buyer's Protection Program. You will always lose between 20% and 100% of your payment.
| Scenario | If GunBroker denies claim | If GunBroker approves claim | If using GunTab |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$100 price + $10 shipping + $9 sales tax = $119 paid |
$119 lost (100%) |
$100 protected – $100 deductible = $0 reimbursed $119 lost (100%) |
Zero lost |
|
$500 price + $0 shipping + $0 sales tax = $500 paid |
$500 lost (100%) |
$500 protected – $100 deductible = $4000 reimbursed $100 lost (20%) |
Zero lost |
|
$1,000 price + $40 shipping + $82 sales tax = $1,122 paid |
$1,122 lost (100%) |
$500 protected – $100 deductible = $400 reimbursed $722 lost (64%) |
Zero lost |
|
$4,000 price + $50 shipping + $204 sales tax = $4,254 paid |
$4,254 lost (100%) |
$500 protected – $100 deductible = $400 reimbursed $3,854 lost (91%) |
Zero lost |
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:
-
"I am very disappointed with the verdict on my BPP claim."
- bullyote375
-
"I have applied for the GunBroker buyer protection program but until needing it I did not realize that this covers a maximum of $500.00 with a $100.00 deductible so $400.
Essentially half my money."
- Double-aught Buck
-
"Gunbrokers buyer protection is only up to $400-500 and they are a pain ... to work with and get a hold of."
- Darkside-six
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"I consider GB "buyer protection" like I consider cell phone insurance: worthless."
- Valmet
-
"They 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
-
"I would be careful buying on Gunbroker right now.
Lots and lots of new sellers and, when it comes down to it, gunbroker won't help you out."
- abarsrecon
-
"So if my total order on GunBroker doesnt even meet $100, then I lose out if it's fraud?"
- nunn
-
"Gunbrokers "buyer protection program" is worthless.
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
-
"Help from Gunbroker? Get real!
Applying for their "buyer protection" got me no replies from Gunbroker, nothing, zip, nada."
- denton
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