Beware of this GB seller

[farmerwithgun]

I recently bought what was advertised as an "Original IMI Galil" handguard on Gunbroker from a seller named "Prestige West". I received a pop riveted reproduction, the picture in the auction showed a properly riveted IMI part.

I politely requested a refund for over a month via email and phone, recieved no response and just today saw that they gave me an F feedback on GB. Keep in mind that I was the buyer and didn't leave him any feedback prior to his. Here is what he posted and my response:

FFF+++ farmerwithgun blames others for his mistakes?? Original purchase 04/02/11! 05/15/11 Wants refund?? Hand guard is "original" latest/last IMI version! Some you just can't help! Enough whinning!!!

Response: (left on 5/20/2011) You're no businessman. You listed as Original IMI, It's pop riveted, reproduction. I emailed & called you for a month requesting a refund. Only mistake by me was not reading your feedback first.

I'm posting this because they still have the same item up for sale and i'm hoping to help someone from being taken as I was. I don't need to bicker with him over a $99 item, the last thing I bought on GB was a NIB SIG 550 a week ago. This guy is a fool and will mislead you and lie to get your money.

If this type of post is not allowed on Uzitalk, I apologize in advance. I'm just trying to help my fellow Galil owners from being suckered and then called stupid by someone who probably cannot afford to buy the rifles that his crappy reproduction parts are made for.

Farmerwithgun

 

[hagar]

Contact Gunbroker and complain. Since you are the buyer they will remove negative feedback. Enough complaints and he will get the boot.

 

[spamby]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Tenngalil]

"Diamond Dave"

Elite or prestige= run and hold on to your wallet.
Thanks Adipose the grey cells aren't what they used to be.

 

[adipose]

Sounds like Dave Mitchner is at it again.

Be thankful you didn't buy one of his Excellent builds!
He has a habit of welding an AK barrel into a galil rec. and calling it a 7.62x39 Galil.
If the head space isn't right he'll just gob some weld on the lugs of the bolt and call it good.
Never mind the gas leaking from the undersized barrel- we'll just drill the gas port bigger and it'll run fine.
Etc, etc, etc.

A good friend of mine bought an IMI Galil from him-original was the word used but a parts gun was recieved.
Took a long time to get that sorted out and took involvement from some gov't agencies.
The whole story is on here somewhere and a net search should show more fun experiences by many people.

Guys a scam artist and his wife is in the mix too.

Dave Mitchner is the owner of Elite Firearms; which I won't get into that one right now.

Actually the guy from "Prestige West" is Gary Broyles; whose email address is "nacona54@yahoo.com".

He sells alot of items claiming they are ultra rare or special; when indeed they came from Blackthrone; except the price is jacked up.

Granted; he does have some rare items (just like Blackthrone) that you cannot get elsewhere; but they come at a price and bad service.

Remember, those same handguards sold from Blackthrone have had bad issues and are junk.

If he doesn't want to correct a 99.00 purchase and make it right; they it shows the type of seller he is.

Buyer Beware and don't buy anything from him; pass the word on!!!!

 

[emerz]

Isn't he the one who describes all of his crap as "Stone Mint"?? LOL!

 

[Mr Folgers]

Isn't he the one who describes all of his crap as "Stone Mint"?? LOL!

Yes, but it's in all caps.

I never figured he was that low of a scammer. Granted, some items of his are rare, but definitely not worth his prices.

"STONE MINT" "ORIGINAL IMI MADE" RARE GALIL WOOD HANDGUARD $300
VS.
Original IMI Wood ARM Handguard, Excellent cond. $140

 

[riderboy]

He's not alone, the guy that screwed me with a "mint" .308 Galil was pretyy shameless about it too. And talk about nasty! Wheww, these guys have not one shred of honor or integrity in their bones. Now, the individuals I've dealt with on GB, not the dealers, have been great.

 

[farmerwithgun]

Actually the guy from "Prestige West" is Gary Broyles; whose email address is "nacona54@yahoo.com".

Yep, Gary Broyles, that's his name.

 

[strobro32]

I wonder how the dealers on Gun Broker get their negative review removed?

I did a bad deal with one of their members. He got a few bad reviews after the one I posted, 7 to be exact. Then after a few months, all the neg reviews disappeared. He showed up on another site claiming a flawless business practice.

I will not buy from that site again. You just cant trust their rating system.

 

[riderboy]

I wonder how the dealers on Gun Broker get their negative review removed?

I did a bad deal with one of their members. He got a few bad reviews after the one I posted, 7 to be exact. Then after a few months, all the neg reviews disappeared. He showed up on another site claiming a flawless business practice.

I will not buy from that site again. You just cant trust their rating system.

Yeah, I think that the almighty dollar speaks again. Profit for the auction sites has the same green color of money from a ripoff sale as from a genuine sale. The more sales they make from the most dealers, well Yippee! It really stinks and I think you have to be very careful buying there.

 

[farmerwithgun]

He's not alone, the guy that screwed me with a "mint" .308 Galil was pretyy shameless about it too. And talk about nasty! Wheww, these guys have not one shred of honor or integrity in their bones. Now, the individuals I've dealt with on GB, not the dealers, have been great.

I would agree with that 100%, most all of the individuals that I've dealt with have been class acts, but the dealers not so much.

 

[dbailey]

I wonder how the dealers on Gun Broker get their negative review removed?

I did a bad deal with one of their members. He got a few bad reviews after the one I posted, 7 to be exact. Then after a few months, all the neg reviews disappeared. He showed up on another site claiming a flawless business practice.

I will not buy from that site again. You just cant trust their rating system.

I agree strobro - I wish a better group of folks would have come up gunbroker b4 those guys did. It fills a need, but I think they have gotten money hungry and dont care about the little guy, or not as much as the dealers who spend big money. Any group of folks who hide their phone number as well as GB are suspect as best.

 

[raexcct2]

Prestige West. What a ripoff artist. Years ago I sold him a new Galil .223 barrel on Gunbroker and patiently waited for payment. After numerous e-mails, I finally got a hold of him and he said he sent payment and demanded I ship him the barrel ASAP as he needed it for a customers build. I said no way. No payment in hand = NO Shipment. I think it was 3-4 weeks later when I finally received payment. I had already blown him off as a non-paying bidder when the US Postal money order finally arrived. I see he hasn't changed his ways since then. Buyer Beware.

 

[White Phosphorus]

It's ironic that the sellers who use words like "rare" are usually crooks. I think something of true value sells itself.

I've also had the experience of GunBroker removing negative feedback from dishonest sellers. I had great experience with GunBroker for a while but things have gone bad in the last year or so. It seems there's too many folks selling their defective junk these days.

I was over at Auction Arms the other day and read over their user agreement. You get a three day inspection on any firearm. I think I'll be giving them a try.

V.

 

[Morissey]

These guys sound as bad as Florida Gun Works. NEVER do business with that outfit--no way to contact them and most of the advertised inventory is vaporware.