How to Sell on GunBroker.com: A Complete Guide for Sellers

GunBroker.com is an online marketplace where sellers can list firearms, ammunition, accessories, collectibles, and other permitted items for sale to qualified buyers.

GunBroker.com provides the marketplace and tools that allow buyers and sellers to connect and complete transactions. GunBroker.com does not own or sell the items listed by independent sellers.

As a seller, you are responsible for the items you list, the accuracy of your listings, complying with applicable laws, and completing transactions according to the terms of your listing and GunBroker.com policies.

This guide walks you through the basic steps of listing, selling, and completing a transaction on GunBroker.com.

1. Create and Set Up Your GunBroker.com Account

You must have a registered GunBroker.com account before you can list items for sale.

Complete the registration process and any required account or seller verification.

As part of seller onboarding, sellers are required to add a Bank Account before listing items for sale. This account is used as part of the settlement process for sales activity and tax.

Once your seller account is set up, you can create listings and manage your selling activity through My GunBroker.

2. Know the Requirements Before You Sell

Before listing an item, make sure you are legally permitted to sell it and understand any requirements that apply to the item.

You are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This is especially important when selling:

• Firearms
• Ammunition
• Firearm parts and accessories
• NFA/Class 3 items
• Knives and other regulated items
• Items subject to state or local restrictions

Review Gun Laws and the Shipping Guide for additional information.

Selling a Firearm

When a firearm must be transferred through a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, do not ship the firearm until you have the appropriate FFL information for the receiving dealer.

The receiving FFL can be verified before shipment. See Verifying an FFL for additional information.

You are responsible for ensuring that the item is shipped and transferred in accordance with all applicable laws.

3. Understand Selling Fees

Before creating a listing, it is important to understand the fees that may apply when your item sells. Knowing your selling costs in advance can help you determine your pricing and terms before committing to a sale.

There is no charge for a basic listing on GunBroker.com. When an item sells, a Final Value Fee is assessed based on the selling price and category of the item.

Additional fees may apply depending on the Optional Services selected and FFL Processing Fee.

For complete and current information, see Fees.

Final Value Fee

There is no cost for a basic listing. If your item sells, you will be assessed a Final Value Fee as shown below:

You can use the Final Value Fee Calculator to estimate the Final Value Fee for an item before listing it.

FFL Transfer Processing Fee

Firearm transactions are also subject to an FFL Transfer Processing Fee. This is a fixed fee based on the seller's FFL status and the type of firearm transaction.

Sellers who hold a Federal Firearms License should make sure their FFL number is registered with their GunBroker.com account. Registering your FFL identifies you as an FFL in the GunBroker.com system and ensures the appropriate FFL Transfer Processing Fee is applied.

See FFL Transfer Processing Fee and Register Your FFL Information for additional information.

Optional Services

Basic listings are free, but sellers can choose Optional Services to provide additional exposure or features for a listing.

Optional Services are not required to sell an item and may have separate fees. Review the current Fees for Optional Services before selecting an upgrade so you understand the additional cost. Optional Service fees are charged upfront, regardless of whether the item sells, and are non-refundable.

Payment Processing and Other Fees

Additional transaction-related fees may apply depending on how the transaction is completed. For example, a payment processing fee may apply to eligible credit card transactions completed through a supported payment processor.

Review the current Fees information for all charges that may apply to your transaction.

Fees and Taxes

Sellers are required to maintain a valid Bank Account. Charges, such as applicable Optional Services or other seller fees, accumulate on a monthly basis and appear on your account via recent activity view or from the monthly statement. Sellers are required to collect Sales Tax, when applicable, from the buyer and GunBroker will collect the tax from you to remit to the appropriate state. See Marketplace Facilitator Sales Tax Collection 

Understanding these costs before creating your listing can help you select an appropriate selling price and avoid unexpected charges after the item sells.

4. Create Your Listing

When you are ready to sell an item, use the GunBroker.com Listing Tool to create your listing.

You will provide information about the item and establish the terms of the sale.

Your listing may include:

• Category
• Title
• Item description
• Item condition
• Photographs
• Quantity
• Starting Bid or Fixed Price
• Reserve Price, if applicable
• BuyNow! Price, if applicable
• Payment methods
• Shipping information and costs
• Return or inspection policy
• Other terms of sale

You may also choose Optional Services to provide additional exposure for your listing.

Before submitting your listing, review all information carefully. Make sure the item description, photographs, pricing, shipping information, and terms are accurate.

5. Choose the Correct Category

Selecting the correct category helps buyers find your item and improves search results.

Use the Listing Tool to locate the category that best describes the item you are selling. You can browse available categories or search for categories related to your item.

If you are unsure where an item belongs, review the Category Description information for guidance.

If an Item Is Listed in the Wrong Category

If an item is listed in an incorrect category, the listing may be moved to the appropriate category upon request or as part of GunBroker.com's review process.

Do Not Duplicate the Same Item Across Categories

The same item should not be listed in multiple categories simply to increase exposure.

Choose the single category that most accurately represents the item.

For example, a holster should be listed in the appropriate accessories category rather than duplicated across multiple firearm categories.

6. Write an Accurate Item Description

Your listing should clearly and accurately describe what you are selling.

Include information a buyer would reasonably need when deciding whether to bid or purchase, such as:

• Manufacturer
• Model
• Caliber or gauge, when applicable
• Condition
• Included accessories
• Known defects, damage, modifications, or missing parts
• Relevant identifying or distinguishing features
• What is and is not included with the sale

Do not assume photographs alone adequately describe the item.

The description, photographs, item condition, and other listing details should be consistent with one another.

Accurate listings help buyers make informed purchasing decisions and can help prevent disputes after the sale.

7. Add Clear Photographs

Photographs are an important part of your listing and allow buyers to evaluate the item before bidding or purchasing.

Use clear, current photographs of the actual item whenever possible.

Photographs should accurately represent the item's condition and show important details, including any visible wear, damage, modifications, or other characteristics that may affect a buyer's decision.

Make sure the photographs and written description represent the same item.

8. Choose How You Want to Sell the Item

GunBroker.com supports different selling formats. Choose the format that best fits how you want to sell your item.

Auction

An Auction allows buyers to compete for the item by placing bids.

You establish the Starting Bid and, if desired, a Reserve Price and/or BuyNow! Price.

When the auction ends, the highest qualifying bidder wins the item, provided any applicable Reserve Price has been met.

Once a buyer has won the item, the seller is expected to complete the transaction unless completing the sale would violate applicable law.

Starting Bid

The Starting Bid is the minimum amount a buyer can bid when an auction begins.

Every auction has a Starting Bid.

If there is no Reserve Price, the highest bidder at the end of the auction wins the item.

When selecting a Starting Bid, consider the lowest amount you are willing to accept if there is only one bidder.

Reserve Price

A Reserve Price is the minimum amount you are willing to accept for an auction item.

The Reserve Price is not disclosed to bidders.

Buyers can bid below the Reserve Price, but the item will not sell unless bidding meets or exceeds the Reserve Price.

Reserve Price auctions may be less attractive to some bidders. Consider setting your Starting Bid at an amount you are willing to accept instead of using a Reserve Price.

For additional information, see Pricing, Reserve Price, and Starting Bid.

BuyNow!

A BuyNow! Price gives a buyer the opportunity to purchase an auction item immediately at the displayed price while the BuyNow! option remains available.

This can be useful when you have a specific price at which you are willing to sell the item immediately rather than waiting for the auction to end.

See BuyNow! Price for additional information.

Fixed Price

A Fixed Price listing offers an item at a set price without bidding.

The buyer purchases the item immediately at the listed price.

Fixed Price listings can also be used to sell multiple quantities of the same item. Buyers can select the quantity they want to purchase, subject to the quantity available.

If only part of the available quantity is purchased, the remaining quantity may continue to be offered for sale.

See Fixed Price versus Auction Listings for additional information.

9. Set Your Shipping and Sale Terms

Clearly state the terms buyers must follow when completing the transaction.

Your listing should identify applicable information such as:

• Shipping method
• Shipping cost
• Geographic shipping restrictions
• Accepted payment methods
• Payment requirements
• Return or inspection policy
• Any other conditions of the sale

For firearms and other regulated items, make sure your shipping terms are consistent with all applicable legal requirements.

Review the Firearms Shipping Guide before shipping firearms, ammunition, or other regulated items.

Clear terms help buyers understand their responsibilities before they bid or buy.

10. Review and Submit Your Listing

Before submitting your listing, review it carefully. You will see an estimate of the listing cost before submitting.

Confirm that:

• The item is in the correct category.
• The title accurately identifies the item.
• The description is complete and accurate.
• The condition is correctly represented.
• The photographs show the correct item.
• Pricing is correct.
• Quantity is correct, if applicable.
• Shipping costs and restrictions are correct.
• Accepted payment methods are correct.
• Return or inspection terms are clearly stated.
• Any other terms of sale are accurate.

Once you are satisfied that the information is correct, submit the listing.

11. Monitor Your Listing

GunBroker.com tracks your selling activity through My GunBroker.

Use your selling activity to monitor current listings, sold items, and unsold items.

Depending on the status of a listing, available actions may allow you to:

• Review listing activity
• Edit eligible listings
• Add information
• Add photographs
• Manage the listing
• Relist an unsold item
• Review completed sales

See All Selling Overview for additional information about managing your selling activity.

12. Changing a Listing

A seller can make changes to a listing only while the listing is eligible to be edited.

Before a Bid Is Placed

If there are no bids on the listing, you can make changes to the listing, including applicable listing details and pricing.

After a Bid Is Placed

Once a bid has been placed, the original listing details are frozen and cannot be changed.

After a bid has been placed:

• You cannot change the original listing details.
• You cannot extend the listing duration.
• You cannot end the listing early if there is a qualifying bid.
• You cannot remove existing photographs.
• You can add additional photographs.
• You can add additional information to the listing.

Any additional information added after a bid has been placed is identified with a date and time stamp so buyers can distinguish it from the original description.

Additional information should be used to clarify or supplement the listing — not to substantially change the item being offered.

If you discover a significant error that materially changes the item, contact GunBroker.com Support for assistance.

See Change Listing for additional information.

13. Selling the Same Item Somewhere Else

If you offer the same item for sale through another location, such as a retail store, you are responsible for ensuring that the item remains available to the GunBroker.com buyer if the listing receives a qualifying bid or purchase. If you list items that are also for sale in your store and you wish to sell it locally, you will need to make sure there are no valid bids on the item before selling it locally. If the item has no bids, and you have a local buyer, you will need to immediately end the listing. If there are valid bids placed on the item, the auction cannot be ended and you will be obligated to sell the item to the winning bidder.

Once the item has a qualifying bid, consider the item committed to the GunBroker.com transaction.

Do not sell the item elsewhere after it has been committed to a GunBroker.com buyer.

Sellers are expected to complete successful GunBroker.com transactions according to the terms of the listing and GunBroker.com policies.

14. Ending a Listing Early

A listing can only be ended early when it is eligible to be ended.

A seller may end an auction early if:

• There are no bids on the item; or
• The highest bid has not met the Reserve Price, if applicable.

Once there is a qualifying bid, the item is considered committed to the GunBroker.com transaction and cannot be ended early.

GunBroker.com generally does not recommend ending listings early. Buyers may be watching an item and planning to bid later in the listing.

If an item is no longer available or you discover a significant problem with the listing, review the available listing options or contact GunBroker.com Support for assistance.

15. Your Item Sold — What Happens Next?

When your item sells, review the order through My GunBroker.

Confirm:

• Buyer and order information
• Final selling price
• Shipping charges
• Applicable taxes and fees
• Payment status
• FFL information, when required
• Any other information necessary to complete the transaction

Do not rely solely on an email notification to determine whether an item sold. Completed sales can be reviewed directly through your GunBroker.com account.

For firearms requiring an FFL transfer, verify the receiving FFL information before shipping.

16. Receiving Payment

GunBroker.com does not accept or collect payment on behalf of sellers. Sellers are responsible for collecting payment directly from the buyer using a payment method permitted under GunBroker.com policies.

Before listing an item, choose the payment methods you are able to accept and clearly identify those methods in your listing.

Choosing Your Accepted Payment Methods

Sellers may choose from permitted payment methods they are able to accept, such as:

• Credit Card
• USPS Money Order
• Certified Check
• Other permitted payment methods

Make sure you are able to process any payment method you select before offering it to buyers.

Accepting Credit Cards

To accept credit card payments directly, you must have a merchant bank account and be established with a compatible payment processing service.

GunBroker.com supports several payment processing services that can be connected to your account through a payment gateway. Setting up a supported payment gateway allows eligible buyers to submit credit card payments through GunBroker.com's Immediate Checkout process.

For additional information, see:

• Immediate Checkout - Supported Payment Gateways
• Checkout Settings and Setting Up a Payment Gateway

Important: If you are not established with a credit card processing service, do not select credit cards as an accepted payment method for your listings.

GunTab Escrow

Sellers who do not accept credit cards, or buyers and sellers who want additional transaction protection, can use GunTab Escrow as an alternative payment option.

GunTab is designed for firearm-related transactions and provides an escrow service that can help reduce fraud risk by holding funds as the transaction is completed.

For items that cannot be purchased using PayPal, sellers may consider GunTab as a gun-friendly alternative.

Visit GunTab for Sellers for additional information about its services, fees, and transaction process.

Prohibited Payment Methods

Person-to-person money transfer applications may not be used to collect payment for GunBroker.com transactions involving firearms, firearm accessories or parts, or ammunition.

Prohibited payment methods include:

• PayPal
• Zelle
• Venmo
• Cash App
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Ria
• Walmart2Walmart
• MoneyGram
• Other person-to-person money transfer applications

These services may prohibit firearm-related transactions under their own terms of service. Using them for prohibited items is also against the GunBroker.com User Agreement, Site Rules, and listing policies.

GunBroker.com also does not support wire transfers. Wire transfers generally cannot be disputed or reversed and do not provide the protections available with supported payment methods.

Payments made using prohibited person-to-person payment applications or unsupported payment methods are not covered by the GunBroker.com Buyer's Protection Program (BPP).

For additional information, see:

• PayPal / Venmo / Zelle / Apple Pay Policy on Firearms
• Buyer's Protection Program

Before Shipping the Item

Do not ship an item until you have confirmed that payment has been successfully received and, when applicable, cleared.

Be cautious if a buyer asks you to:

• Accept a payment method you did not offer in the listing.
• Use a prohibited person-to-person payment application.
• Complete payment outside the agreed transaction terms.
• Send money back or forward a portion of a payment to another person.
• Ship before payment has been confirmed.

Keep transaction-related communication associated with the GunBroker.com order whenever possible.

If you receive a suspicious payment or unusual payment instructions, do not ship the item until you have verified the payment and are satisfied that the transaction is legitimate.

17. Shipping the Item

Once the applicable payment and transaction requirements have been completed, prepare the item for shipment.

For firearms, ammunition, and other regulated items, review the Firearm Shipping Guide before shipping.

When an FFL is required:

• Confirm the receiving dealer's FFL information.
• Verify the license when appropriate.
• Ship only to the legally permitted destination.
• Follow applicable carrier requirements.
• Comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

See Verifying an FFL and the Firearms Shipping Guide for additional information.

When tracking information is available, provide or record it as appropriate so the shipment can be monitored.

18. Leave Feedback

After the transaction is complete, leave feedback describing your experience with the buyer.

Feedback helps other GunBroker.com users evaluate prospective transaction partners.

Feedback should be:

• Factual
• Relevant to the transaction
• Professional
• Free of personal attacks or unrelated information

Use the Feedback tools available through your GunBroker.com account to submit feedback for completed transactions.

19. What If There Is a Problem With the Buyer?

If a buyer does not complete the transaction or another problem occurs, first attempt to communicate with the buyer through GunBroker.com.

Problems may include:

• The buyer does not respond.
• Payment is not received.
• The buyer refuses to complete the transaction.
• There is a disagreement regarding the terms of the sale.

If you cannot resolve the issue directly with the buyer, use Resolving Problems with the Buyer for the appropriate next steps.

Do not simply relist or resell an item associated with an unresolved transaction without following the applicable GunBroker.com process first.

20. Relisting an Unsold Item

If your item does not sell, you may be able to relist it.

Items that do not sell can be relisted at the same level of options without an additional listing charge.

You can generally choose to relist the item using the existing listing information or edit eligible information before relisting.

Before relisting, consider reviewing:

• Starting Bid
• Reserve Price
• Fixed Price
• BuyNow! Price
• Item title
• Description
• Photographs
• Shipping cost
• Payment options
• Other terms

Adjusting the listing based on buyer interest and current market conditions may improve the likelihood of a future sale.

Unsold listings and available relisting options can be managed through your selling activity in My GunBroker.

21. Manage Your Seller Account and Billing

You can use My GunBroker to review your seller account information, transaction activity, balances, and statements.

Sellers are required to maintain a valid Bank Account.

Charges, such as applicable Optional Services or other seller fees, accumulate on a monthly basis and appear on your account via recent activity view or from the monthly statement. Sellers are required to collect Sales Tax, when applicable, from the buyer. The sales tax and listing fees are billed separately. We run billing on a one-month delay, so January transactions are billed in February, February transactions are billed in March, and so on. There are 2 billing cycles per month. Billing for Fees occurs around the 22nd of each month and billing for MPF Taxes occurs around the 13th of each month. 

We send tax statement on the 1st of the month letting you know what will be billed on the 13th. Selling fee statements are sent on the 5th of the month and that billing occurs on the 22nd. 

If your Bank Account becomes invalid, your ability to create additional listings may be restricted until valid bank information is provided.

Seller accounts with past-due balances may also have account privileges restricted until the balance is paid.

See Making a Payment and the current GunBroker.com billing information for additional details.

22. Information for Licensed FFL Dealers

If you are a Federal Firearms License holder, register your FFL information with your GunBroker.com account.

Registering your FFL identifies you as an FFL in the GunBroker.com system, allows the FFL badge to appear on your listings, and helps determine the appropriate FFL Transfer Processing Fee.

Joining the FFL Dealer Network

To appear in the GunBroker.com FFL Dealer Network as a receiving FFL:

1. Claim your profile with Master FFL.
2. Set your Master FFL Transfer Preferences to indicate that you accept FFL transfers.
3. Register your FFL number in your GunBroker.com account.

FFL licenses are registered by adding the FFL number to your GunBroker.com account; the license does not need to be uploaded directly to the account.

See Master FFL – Claim Your Profile, Register Your FFL Information in your GunBroker account, and FFL Transfer Processing Fee for additional information.

Tips for a Successful Sale

Before listing and selling an item:

• Make sure you are legally permitted to sell and ship the item.
• Understand the fees that will apply if the item sells.
• Choose the correct category.
• Use a clear and accurate title.
• Describe the item completely and accurately.
• Disclose known defects, damage, or modifications.
• Include clear photographs of the actual item.
• Select a selling format and price you are comfortable accepting.
• Clearly state your accepted payment methods, shipping terms, and return policy.
• Only offer payment methods you are actually able to accept.
• Do not use prohibited person-to-person payment applications for firearm-related transactions.
• Review your listing carefully before submitting it.
• Keep your Bank Account information current.
• Monitor your selling activity through My GunBroker.
• Manage the Order from your Sold Orders Grid in the Selling Dashboard. 
• Confirm payment before shipping.
• Make sure you collect the Fees and Taxes from the buyer when applicable. 
• Verify the receiving FFL when required.
• Use appropriate shipping methods for firearms, ammunition, and other regulated items.
• Communicate with the buyer through GunBroker.com.
• Complete successful transactions according to the terms of your listing and GunBroker.com policies.

Remember

GunBroker.com provides the online marketplace where buyers and sellers connect and complete transactions. GunBroker.com does not own or sell the items listed by independent sellers and does not collect payment on behalf of sellers.

As a seller, you are responsible for accurately representing your item, understanding the costs associated with the sale, establishing clear terms, collecting payment from the buyer using permitted payment methods, complying with applicable laws, and completing the transaction according to your listing terms and GunBroker.com policies.

Taking the time to understand the costs, create an accurate listing, clearly communicate your terms, and use appropriate payment and shipping methods can help buyers make informed decisions and help prevent problems after the sale.