GunBroker Mobile Apps No Longer Allow Bidding and Buying

Important Information for Gunbroker Users
The Gunbroker Mobile Apps for Android and iOS users are no longer fully functional. You can see listings but you cannot bid or buy. The reason is that “big tech” — Google and Apple — are no longer supporting the Apps. So, you can still look at auctions, but in order to bid on an item (or purchase it), you need to go to Gunbroker.com using your internet browser on your smartphone or tablet. You want to stop using Gunbroker’s mobile Apps and you should probably remove them from your mobile device.

Gunbroker Tech Support NOTICE
Last Updated 4/27/2020

Mobile App Users: Bidding and Buying is no longer available in the apps.

Bid and Buy functionality for the mobile app has been disabled. All bids and purchases must be done on the responsive website. If you try to bid or buy you will see this message: “You do not have permission to use this operation.” This permission has been taken away from everyone and cannot be restored.

Due to policy changes within their companies, Apple and Google have chosen to not support our apps at this time. Unfortunately, that also means we cannot provide needed updates and fixes or new access to the app. We hope you will continue to use our site via your mobile browser, which we are making more responsive to phone users.

To better serve our users who are increasingly using mobile devices and tablets, we are working daily to make our site responsive and mobile-friendly. Our enhanced site is designed to work effectively on mobile devices including phones and tablets. We recommend you add the GunBroker.com web site to your phone’s home screen. If you require assistance in creating this shortcut, please CLICK HERE for instructions[.]

Here is the explanation of Google’s action removing the Gunbroker App from the Google Play Store:

Why Google Removed Gunbroker Android App
Gunbroker notes that: “Unfortunately, Google has removed our app from the Google Play store. They state our app violates their guidelines. Here is what they told us:”

After review, GunBroker.com, com.gunbroker.android has been suspended and removed from Google Play due to a policy violation.

Issue: Violation of Dangerous Products policy

We don’t allow apps that facilitate the sale of explosives, firearms, ammunition or certain firearms accessories. We also don’t allow apps that provide instructions for the manufacture of explosives, firearms, ammunition, restricted firearm accessories, or other weapons.

Why Apple Removed Gunbroker iOS App
Apple has modified its “Objectionable Content” policy. New Item 1.3 now specifically targets gun sales:

1.1 Objectionable Content:
Apps should not include content that is offensive, insensitive, upsetting, intended to disgust, or in exceptionally poor taste. Examples of such content include:

1.3 Depictions that encourage illegal or reckless use of weapons and dangerous objects, or facilitate the purchase of firearms.