What do you do when you get a friend that needs a "reality check"

[mwtdvm]

One of the people I work with came by today and said he had a Colt Series 70 with very few rounds through it. Wife did not want it around because of grandkids... Whatever. He thought it was worth a couple of grand.. I pointed him to gunbroker and we went over what was there and why there were differences in price. I also pointed out with great glee that these were what was the buyers wanted and there were a lack of bidders. This same guy has a 30-40 yr old 30-30 "like new" that he thinks should be worth "a lot". He is supposed to be smart in business but is clueless as to supply and demand. I suspect he wanted me to make him an offer. Not only do I not want a Colt 1911 but I am sure he would suffer from seller's remorse and I don;t want to hear that....
Si what would you do???

 

[old bear]

Everything you did. Stay away from that deal, nothing but a potential for heart break there.

 

[Rule3]

Have him take it to a few guns shops and get reverse sticker shock. True they will offer a lower amount than face to face retail as they need to re sell it, but tack on a fair profit.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Have him take the guns to the next show and try his luck selling them.

 

[GatorFarmer]

A nice series 70 probably can fetch a grand. More than that... well it would have to be a rare variation. The relaunch of the series 70 as a production variant and the generally poor economy are also factors that cut the price. Finding a buyer can be a problem.

An easy solution to his problem is to take the gun to a shop and list it on consignment - or else post it on Gunbroker - with an inflated price. Then he can tell his wife that he tried to sell it but no one wanted it.

 

[NE450No2]

I would have told him to grow a pair, take the gun home and Pistol Whip his wife with it.

I would tell him to do "that" with it unloaded, of course...

Sorry, I could not help myself...

Somewhere around here I have some of the handouts from my on the job, sensitivity training...
I guess I need to read them... Again.

 

[redlevel]

Not only do I not want a Colt 1911

Man, you're the one who needs help! Why would you not want a Colt 1911?

Kidding of course.

I looked a long time before I found a Series 70 in pretty decent shape for under a thousand. Them whats got 'em tend to hang on to them.

 

[cowart]

I pointed him to gunbroker and we went over what was there and why there were differences in price.

Instead of doing a search of guns for sale, do a search of completed auctions to see what the guns are actually selling for. You have to have an account to do a completed auctions search on Gunbroker, but the account is easy to set up.

 

[quneur]

I'd bounce his reality check and collect the overdraft fee. Wait, that's BoA.

 

[DeadAye]

I'd tell him to put the guns in a *safe place* and lock the ammo up somewhere else.
AND
Spend some time teaching the kids firearm safety!

 

[mg357]

I suggest he put the Colt in a safe place far away from unauthorized hands. Then at some point in the future teach the grandkids gun safety.

 

[9c1 lover]

I would have told him to grow a pair, take the gun home and Pistol Whip his wife with it.

I would tell him to do "that" with it unloaded, of course...

Sorry, I could not help myself...

Somewhere around here I have some of the handouts from my on the job, sensitivity training...
I guess I need to read them... Again.

i literally laughed out loud on that one.

I suggest he put the Colt in a safe place far away from unauthorized hands. Then at some point in the future teach the grandkids gun safety

if he is not willing to pistol whip her. this is the ONLY option that is okay.

if he does let his wife make him sell a gun for that reason, tell him to hand over his man card and you will punch it 3 times for that nonsense. maybe even 4, and remind him 5 is grounds for revocation.

 

[johnsonl]

Does he sit down to tinkle?
Seriously, what he did was come to you for advice and then reject your counsel. Wish him the best of luck and point him to the nearest LGS. Or, offer to "store" them for him, then shoot the heck out of 'em.

 

[NKJ nut]

Since he knows everything, there isn't much you can do or should do. let him take the guns and try to sell them at some gunshops, or he can get him an account on gunbroker and price them at what he thinks they are worth. They'd probably sell in a in a decade or two.

 

[Fishslayer]

Does he sit down to tinkle?
Seriously, what he did was come to you for advice and then reject your counsel. Wish him the best of luck and point him to the nearest LGS. Or, offer to "store" them for him, then shoot the heck out of 'em.

Does he actually call it "tinkle" and does he ask his male friends to accompany him when out as a group?

I like the "store it for him" option. Of course, it would require periodic Planned Maintenance, such as cleaning, oil, etc....

Seems a real waste of time & materials to clean a clean gun, soooooo.....

 

[Will Carry]

Look, I have a Smith and Wesson model 36 that is worth $3000. I would be willing to trade for the Colt. Even Steven.

 

[joeintexas]

Has he considered trading the wife instead? Lot of wives out there, not that many 1911 colts!

 

[Fishslayer]

Has he considered trading the wife instead? Lot of wives out there, not that many 1911 colts!

"I got a dog for the wife. Watcha think?"

 

[joeintexas]

"I got a dog for the wife. Watcha think?"

Sounds like a fair trade to me!

 

[sourdough44]

If he wants to keep it & the wife is totally concerned about storage issues he could partially dismantle it. Yes, it wouldn't be immediately usable but if it's gone it would be unavailable too. That may not be a long term solution, but an idea anyways.