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Tracking down a G/Broker member?...

El MariachiEl Mariachi Member Posts: 389 ✭✭✭
edited June 2013 in Ask the Experts
Morning Kidz, any good ideas on what to do about an un-delivered firearm I bought on the G/B auction site about 20 months ago? We were in great communication for around eleven months or so (I've paid for the item but we had both agreed to hold off on shipping it as I had taken a job in Florida last year----but did not get 'residency status', so upon my return to Kali I arranged to have the pistol shipped to my 01 guys). To which he agreed to after I had supplied all of the pertinent FFL info and such. Then for the next 2-3 months after that I began to get the run-around from him, i.e. he went on an extended family vacation, then said he'd ship it 'that week' (three different times), then said that the Kali DOJ website would not take his info for 'shipping approval' (he's in Georgia and the pistol in question was definitely C & R eligible at that time), then said that no 01 dealer in his area would ship it for him......and then finally stopped returning both my e-mails and my phone calls around Christmas of last year. Since that time I've left at least a half dozen messages for him on his home/business line and his business partner's line. All have gone unanswered/unreturned----though his business phone message is still up and the recording has not changed in more than a year. I've repeatedly asked for him to either figure out a manner to ship it to my 01 guys, or to give me refund----hwatever's easier. But like I said, I've not heard a word from him since December.

Any good ideas from the pros here would be greatly appreciated......[:D]

Regards,

El

Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't mean to criticize, but doubtful after 20 months you're going to get much help from anybody in the legal community.

    In your post you didn't mention if he is/was a FFL. For all you know he might not be in business any more. The panic since the election, has adversely affected lots of the low volume dealers. If they can't get guns and ammo to stock and sell. Their customers are just going to go away, to someone who can.

    EDIT #1, Threatening to contact the ATF about a miscreant FFL does work. Years ago back in the peoples republic of cali. I had a FFL receive a out of state handgun for me. It never showed up, and he told me "He Didn't Know Anything About It". I gave him a call and told him I was going to contact the ATF with the serial number of the gun, "stolen" from a interstate shipment. Wonder of wonders, he gave me a call a couple of days later that the pistol had quite mysteriously shown up.
  • golferboy426golferboy426 Member Posts: 970 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you have his FFl call the ATF and report him. They call or pay him a visit. BTW if he is not an FFL he is not required to go thru the Ca doj approval process.
  • JunkballerJunkballer Member Posts: 9,294 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is he still doing business on here ? Did you keep copies of all communications ? Has G/B been of any help to you in this matter ?? As already stated, report him to the ATF and let him get a visit.

    "Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee

  • KEVD18KEVD18 Member Posts: 15,037
    edited November -1
    if i had to guess, i'd say he either sold it, damaged it, or is no longer in the game. of course, after nearly 2 years, your money has been spent, so he cant/wont just man up and refund you your money. this is exactly why i dont understand why people buy things they cant take delivery of immediately. i understand the idea of "im away from home and this is too good a deal to pass up", but to me the risks outweigh the rewards...

    if he is an ffl, then you can go the atf route. if he's still active on gb, they may provide some help, but it wouldnt surprise me to have them say you're on your own. they dont have a dog in a two year old fight.

    you should probably prepare yourself to lose this one. fight the good fight, but dont let it crush your spirit at the end when you're out the gun and the money...
  • El MariachiEl Mariachi Member Posts: 389 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Great replies, Gents.....but I don't have the desire to bring in the 'authorities'. Was really just wondering if he's still active on the auction site. I can't find a 'members' list over there, and he's not in this one---at least with the same stage name that used when he was selling stuff....
  • El MariachiEl Mariachi Member Posts: 389 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Actually, I just did some sleuthing and see that he now has two active listings----if I 'Ask the seller a question' about one of his items, would it be viewable to the other members over there? Or would it be kept private? I DON'T want the former to happen, just wanna keep it 'tween him and me......

    Gracias
  • dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by El Mariachi
    Actually, I just did some sleuthing and see that he now has two active listings----if I 'Ask the seller a question' about one of his items, would it be viewable to the other members over there? Or would it be kept private? I DON'T want the former to happen, just wanna keep it 'tween him and me......

    Gracias


    NO, your email to him will be just between both of you.
    If the powers on the auction side get in on it, they can get to them.
    You should have let them know what he did right away, not waiting this long.
  • El MariachiEl Mariachi Member Posts: 389 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I understand, DCS, but we were both having great communication with each other for over a year, and he had absolutely no issue waiting for me to figure out if i was gonna have it sent to Florida, or Kali. It was only after I decided to have it shipped here & had given him my FFL 01 guy's pertinent info here in Kali and everything else that he needed to have before sending it, that the problems (as outlined in my first post) began. The cessation in our communications started last Christmas. All questions, e-mails and phone calls since that time have gone unanswered. Which I don't think is right.....nor do I think 'too much time has passed'. In the slightest. Six months is nothing, and a deal is still a deal. Especially in this particular instance......
  • duckhunterduckhunter Member Posts: 7,687 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you don't want the help. Why ask????
  • El MariachiEl Mariachi Member Posts: 389 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by duckhunter
    If you don't want the help. Why ask????


    Wth are you talking about? I described an issue, asked how to find & contact the seller on G/Broker.....and found him.

    But thanx for playing.....

    EM
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