Remington Hepburn on Gunbroker with the following line in the description…

‘The action performs correctly based on visual inspection.’

I have read a lot of gun ads, like we all have, but thats a new one to me. Struck me funny. 

There is one very active seller on GB and they often describe a bore in a black powder barrel as "some stubborn fouling in the bore" AKA RUST???? LOL!

As an online seller, such statements are vital when it comes to dispute resolution with ebay or gunbroker or other third party.

Buyers have unrealistic expectations of the sellers.  For an example, I liquidated a very large mechanics estate on ebay, his insurance file had over $120,000 of receipts from Snap-on.  Thousands of items.  One ratchet that I sold, for about $30, the buyer filed a not as described claim.  He said that upon taking apart the ratchet, the teeth of the gear were worn, and a prudent seller would have taken it apart, inspected the internal parts, and described the wear.  I had described it as "works as it should", which I had tested to make sure it reversed, didn't skip, and was functioning.  I won that dispute based on the fact that I had only described it as working and what the item was.  I try to spend less than 5 minutes testing, taking pictures, listing, and shipping an item.  No way I'd take it apart and inspect for a $30 sale, of which I profit maybe $5.  I would have gladly take the return but the buyer didn't want to return it, he wanted to keep it and still get a refund.   

I've entirely quit describing my items, and only refer to "see photos for exact item you will receive".  I will answer reasonable questions about condition if a potential buyer asks, but if they ask more than 2 times for increasingly detailed descriptions, I ask them not to purchase my item, and in addition, block them from buying any of my items.  I have found that those buyers inevitably are dissatisfied.

Now, if I sell here in the for sale forum, where I am selling because of a personal interest, not as a primary profit center, I try to describe as well as I can, and will answer questions to the best of my ability, and will make some substantial effort to make sure what I describe is accurate.  The difference between a hobby and a business transaction.

I find it amusing that Joe D, one of the most knowledgeable sellers on gunbroker, has a disclaimer that he is not an expert, and you need to rely on your own judgement.  But, he has the disclaimer for the same reason I list the way I do.

The statement in the original post is there for the same reason, to disclaim a detailed inspection, and to state that that a cursory inspection seemed okay.  For a lot of resellers, they've had the item in their hands for only a few minutes while photographing it, and have no detailed knowledge of it at all.

marlinguy wrote yesterday at 11:00am:


I know the exact seller you're referring to Vall.
I even offered to send him a cleaning kit one time and he just laughed at me!

Steve 😉

I can remember reading the Ye Old Hunter ads in the back of Am Rifleman magazines “a teeny weeny little gnat could fly down the barrel without damaging its delicate wings.” 

rifleman wrote yesterday at 7:15pm:


Since I wont ship guns I sell I wont need to go through that hassle.