[maximvikers]

Hi, seeking some thoughts on the above situation. Bought a gun handgun off of gunbroker. Seller does restorations and asked him to do something extra to the broom. Which I paid extra to have done. This was in March of this year. Seller kept putting me off saying he was very busy. Well after repeated attempts to contact him. He will not return my emails. I figure I have been riped off for over 1K Contacted gunbroker but there appears little they can do since it has been more than 60 days.

This guy lives several states away. What are my options for dealing with this. Looking for some serious answers please. Thanks

 

[jonny c.]

Perhaps a call to his local police. I've heard of that working before.

 

[mr44]

sounds like a road trip to me

 

[Red Nine]

Besides contacting the PD in the seller's jurisdiction, I would also call the Postal Police. Be prepared and have records of your payment method, which you will need to backup your case.

 

[jjk308 In Memoriam RIP]

Only 7 months or so? I once waited 2 years for a stock restoration! 10 months for a Vetterli centerfire conversion. IMHO skilled gunsmiths exist in a time warp.

 

[oneshotman]

gunsmiths

Never give a big job to a gunsmith until you've given them a few very small one's.

I am still waiting after 5 years for a nickle plated ballastor trigger and hammer. Thank goodness I bought a replacement set before they dried up...

There are slow gunsmiths and sloooow gunsmiths. Most are slow...20% you will never get it back. I think they hope you will die so they can make some money. Also, the business is boom or bust so they can never say no.....always afraid it will slow down. They take everything and finish 10%.

Here's a good gunsmith...he won't make you wait forever and does great work.

http://www.rrguns.us/

 

[cpw]

I wish he was closer. I expect that I will need some work on a slide in the hear future (parts removed from oon slide and transferred to another).

The gunsmith locally is like water runnning uphill in the winter when t is 20 degrees below zero.

 

[Shermysan]

You can try to contact him by phone. Failing that, you can send him a letter certified return reciept and tell him what you want him to do and your intention to get the authorities into the situation if he does not act. You can then show the U.S. Postal Inspectors (the proper title of the Postal Police) that it looks like a case of fraud. Contacting the local police in his area may also work. I would opt to call him and see if he is in the hospital, died, moved etc. Shermysan

 

[Marzon]

I once bought a gun of gunbroker that was grossly misrepresented and I immediately contacted the dealer and returned it. After getting the runaround for months from the dealer on my refund, I finally told him that since I had paid by Postal money order I was contacting the post office inspector general to report a case of mail fraud and also that I was reporting the dealer to the BATFE. I got my refund two days later.

 

[Claddagh]

In addition to informing the USPS authorities and LEAs in his jurisdiction you might want to consider contacting the Attorney General's office (or equivalent) in his state with particulars and documentation. Since there is 'Interstate Commerce' here, there might even be some leverage to be had through DoJ. As was said, BATFE would likely be interested should the seller be an FFL holder.

If you have a home or business address other than a POB number, a Certified letter detailing your specific demands for redress and prospective actions in the event they are not met or should he fail to respond should get his immediate attention.

The main leverage you get with the credible threat of criminal charges is that, once initiated, he must know that their potential for rigorous prosecution is no longer dependent upon your personal perseverance or financial resources.

If that doesn't elicit some relief, follow through and file charges everywhere you can think of. Betcha he comes around real fast once he finds himself up to his neck in .gov lawyers.