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Rock Island Auction Company

otter6412
Anyone had any experience buying or dealing with the Rock Island Auction Company? Are their descriptions and estimates accurate? How about their online bidding system? Customer service OK?

Thanks
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • duckhunter
    Nothing but GOOD things to say about this company.
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  • Laredo Lefty
    I have bought guns from them and have been happy with the experience.
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  • rhmc24
    Good to deal with. Bought a 1905 Colt beater from them. Came with a part missing. I sent in an email complaining, that I would have to charge $150 to make that part for a client. They sent me a check for $150.
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  • nmyers
    Read their guarantee. They guarantee only the description in the top line of a listing, nothing else. So, the item can be damaged, repaired, altered, refinished, or just about anything, & the buyer has no legal recourse. Sure, they pay the small claims quickly, but what about the high dollar item that turns out to be bogus?

    OTOH, their realized prices indicate to me that it's a great place to sell rare, expensive items. They appear to have a lot of customers willing to pay outrageous amounts for guns that I think are worth a lot less, based solely on a few photos & a vague description which may or may not be accurate.

    Neal

    "Keep your expectations low enough, & you will never be disappointed." --- Neal
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  • GuvamintCheese
    There is one hell of an auction coming up in Sept. Get your checkbook out. Buyers premiums still suck though.
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  • Laredo Lefty
    quote:Originally posted by rhmc24
    Good to deal with. Bought a 1905 Colt beater from them. Came with a part missing. I sent in an email complaining, that I would have to charge $150 to make that part for a client. They sent me a check for $150.


    Wow, thats very nice of them to do that. Something they did not have to do. Pretty much all auctions sell their lots "as is" and "Where is" meaning they make no claims as to the shootability or function of a gun. They only post an overall condition to grade the piece for the bidders.
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  • validator
    I have nothing but good things to say about them. I've acquired some excellent pieces there over the years but the story that I have to tell is about the one BAD one that I got there. It was a Korean-war vintage 4.2MM SN Springfield Garand. I bought it as a restoration project for around $650.

    When I got around to examining the rifle, and that wasn't for a month or so after it arrived, I got kind of excited (in a bad way) to discover that the internal guide ribs inside the receiver had been milled away. Evidently someone had thoughts about turning it into an M-14, never finished the job, and kind of forgot to explain this when they consigned the rifle for auction.

    I wrote a polite letter to RIA explaining the situation and they immediately took the rifle back and refunded my money in full. And in their next auction, with the rifle fully disclosed as a full-blown POS, some dimbulb paid $750 for it so everyone made out OK.
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  • Snaggletooth
    [xx(]I just bought a Luger described as excellent mechanically. When it arrived the front site slide out of the holder and the bore was is bad condition. I would never buy anything from them without inspecting it in person. But I can't since I live in CA. I called them and they said they'd get back to me. They never did. I sent it to Tom Heller for all needed repairs. Don't buy from them unless you see the gun in person. If you call them they will paint a flowery picture of the weapon to you in order to inflate the price. It's called conflict of interest. Buyer beware!
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  • drsck
    Several years ago, I selected them to sell a life-time collection. I contacted them by phone and we made an appointment for me to deliver the collection. I can't recall the number of items but it was substantial. I rented a truck, loaded it up and delivered it myself. I didn't even have an inventory of what I was giving them. I trusted them and my trust proved well placed. I was very pleased with the outcome of the sale. Since that time, I have purchased several items from them. The satisfaction has not been the same. It is extremely unlikely that I would ever purchase anything from them again unless I attended the auction, inspected the item in person and placed my bid myself while the item was being sold. I hope that helps.
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  • slumlord44
    The thing that bothers me about them is that they sell in lots, not invidual guns. Why would I want to buy guns in lots? One at a time is all I can afford. Makes no sense to me.
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