ANGRY needed to vent

novalty · #1 04-13-2011, 12:42 PM

Well just received a call that sent me over the edge. Guy had a some guns posted in local swap and sell. Was selling 4 and I made an offer on 2 of them. He tells me he needs to think about it. Calls me the next morning, and says I'll take your offer, but he is located over 2 and a half hours away, and says he will take my word on them and hold them for this weekend. Just got a call from him, saying the guy that came to buy the other 2 and bought them all. Told me "the guy gave me what I wanted for them." I am absolutely livid, physically shaking mad.

CAJUNLAWYER · #2 04-13-2011, 12:48 PM

Let's see....Guy with 4 guns 2.5 hours away who doesn't know you. Agrees to sell 2 for an offer, which I assume was NOT more than his asking price. Lo and behold somebody shows up with cash in hand and buys all of the guns for his asking price. As far as this occurance rating on the CS scale-I agree very high. But nothing worth getting worked up over. Get over it and move on. Hate to tell you, if it was me, I'd a done the same thing. At least he gave you the courtesey of a phone call. Now if you had driven over there only to be told that they had been sold then you would have someting to get truly worked up over.
Life it too short.

novalty · #3 04-13-2011, 12:55 PM

Well I only was looking to buy one of the guns, and he said he wanted to sell as a group. When he called to tell me he accepted my offer on 2, he said another guy called and wanted the other 2. So combined I think it was higher than his original price for all 4. The one gun I actually wanted was for my son, so both son's could have matching guns. It is out-of-production, and so just finding another one in the shape he had and for a fair price ain't going to be a simple thing. Have to give him credit, he did wait 2 days before he went back on his word.

luangtom · #4 04-13-2011, 01:09 PM

Sorry, but I would haffta say that cash-in-hand trumps a promise over the phone. Fate was not on yer side this time. Move on and locate one close to home.

novalty · #5 04-13-2011, 01:17 PM

I agree about the cash-in-hand, but to tell me he got what he wanted from them, when he called me to tell me he would accepted my offer.

CAJUNLAWYER · #6 04-13-2011, 01:31 PM

Post a want to buy on the classifieds for what you were looking for....who knows someone may have what you want in nicer shape for less than you would have paid.............I mean it don't cost ya nuttin; knowwhatimean

novalty · #7 04-13-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAJUNLAWYER

Post a want to buy on the classifieds for what you were looking for....who knows someone may have what you want in nicer shape for less than you would have paid.............I mean it don't cost ya nuttin; knowwhatimean

Thanks Caj! Starting to calm down some. Took you up on your suggestion.

GKC · #8 04-13-2011, 01:52 PM

It is very frustrating, I agree...and disappointing...but consider it from his perspective as well. He has a buyer with cash in hand, ready to take them right now...and you might not ever show up. (Not saying that you would renege on your word, just saying that he doesn't know you and how does he know you will follow through?) You know you would have done what you said you would do, and that is what makes it disappointing to you...unfortunately, in today's world, having someone honor their commitment is not the norm. Of course, he didn't honor his word to "take you at your word" either.

Maximumbob54 · #9 04-13-2011, 02:02 PM

Witness the power of cash in the hand. I bet he took less for them than you think.

nogoodnamesleft · #10 04-13-2011, 02:06 PM

Hope you never have any real problems in life ....

feralmerril · #11 04-13-2011, 02:08 PM

Happens to all of us if you are around guns for anytime. War story time: Around 1969 I seen a model 29 for sale in the want ads. Called the guy up about 3 miles away, and he said come on over. It was on a sunday. I was going elsewhere after seeing him. I didnt have a ATM card in those days. I had a satchel full of handguns with me. A friend and his wife pulled up as I was leaveing the house and tagged along with me. The 29 probley was one of the very first made! It was pristine with everything, and had extra ammo, holster etc but showed no wear. (6 1/2" barrel). The guy had been a teacher up in alaska, bought the gun and stuff, never used it. I DIDNT even dicker. Told him I wanted it but the bank was closed it being sunday. I farther asked him if he would hold a couple of revolvers I had to guarntee I would be back! He was nice, declined to hold my guns, and said it would be there tomorrow. My buddys wife must have thought she heard something else. She was a big mouthed pushy type to start with. She butted in and told the guy something like, whats the problem? He told ya he would leave a couple guns here! He looked and recoiled like he had been slapped! I wanted to choke her out! I tried to smooth it out and got out of there. The next day I went back with cash in hand, and with venom, he says "IT`S GONE"!

novalty · #12 04-13-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodnamesleft

Hope you never have any real problems in life ....

Diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis at 7 years of age. At age 23 diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis that detroyed my hips bi-lateral hip replacements at age 24. Oral cancer age 27, 3 years cancer free. Have had my problems thanks.

bitstream · #13 04-13-2011, 02:15 PM

That's nothing. My parents were RV shopping a few years back. They found one they liked and put a couple of hundred down on it to hold it until they could go to the bank and get the loan stuff (a few days with the weekend). They were driving past the lot the next day and it wasn't there. The stopped to see, thinking the dealer probably moved it to the back to get it ready for delivery. No. He sold it to someone else. He took their deposit to HOLD the vehicle and never even gave them a courtesy call to tell them he had another buyer. They probably could have ran over and hurried the bank or used another bank to finance if they would have just been told. Then, to top it off, he didn't call them afterwards to tell them it was sold.

VM · #14 04-13-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novalty

Well just received a call that sent me over the edge. Guy had a some guns posted in local swap and sell. Was selling 4 and I made an offer on 2 of them. He tells me he needs to think about it. Calls me the next morning, and says I'll take your offer, but he is located over 2 and a half hours away, and says he will take my word on them and hold them for this weekend. Just got a call from him, saying the guy that came to buy the other 2 and bought them all. Told me "the guy gave me what I wanted for them." I am absolutely livid, physically shaking mad.

I'm sorry you missed out but this is a very good lesson for anybody buying SOMETHING from a stranger.
When you strike a deal with a total stranger over the phone, you drop everything and immediately go make the deal...........it's the only possible way to seal the deal before someone else makes the purchase.
And if the seller doesn't want to do the deal immediatly, "don't count your chickens before they are hatched".

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff

SFCHAINLEY · #15 04-13-2011, 02:35 PM

Would you let us know what you are looking for, maybe one of us can help. Thanks Joe.

novalty · #16 04-13-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFCHAINLEY

Would you let us know what you are looking for, maybe one of us can help. Thanks Joe.

Thanks for the gesture Joe. I didn't want to post in here as to have be a conflicting post for moderators. The gun I was intending to pick up Saturday was a S&W 2206.

Fishslayer · #17 04-13-2011, 03:10 PM

Definitely a breach of man law ettiquette. A deal should be a deal. The seller is a doooooshe.

OTOH... the seller didn't know the buyer from Adam (I presume) and there was the cash in hand.

One of the biggest beefs on CL & other ad places like this is the buyer not showing up.

Two sides, but I would have honored the accepted telephone offer.
At least the guy called you & didn't waste your time & $4/gal gas.

Might be something for the "What do you miss..." thread. A handshake or verbal deal was good enough.

Bill_inBouse · #18 04-13-2011, 04:21 PM

At one time a man’s word was his word, no handshake needed. An oral contract is an oral contract. Shows the depth of this seller’s character does it not? Something to think about guys.

luangtom · #19 04-13-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_inBouse

At one time a man’s word was his word, no handshake needed. An oral contract is an oral contract. Shows the depth of this seller’s character does it not? Something to think about guys.

Sorry to say, but those are bygone days and will never be seen again.....

BLACKHAWKNJ · #20 04-13-2011, 07:42 PM

I agree, poor form and discourteous, but some people have no manners.

novalty · #21 04-13-2011, 07:50 PM

Well I was wrong in my previous posting about him waiting 2 days before backing out on the deal. When he called my cell phone around noon today, I missed his first call and called him back. He had left a message that he sold the guns yesterday, just calling me today, as a courtesy I guess, to let me know he wasn't keeping his word.

computeruser · #22 04-13-2011, 07:54 PM

Been there, done that. Anymore if I ask a guy to hold, it comes with a price bump enough to make it worth his while OR I have him drive to me now, on my dime.

As a seller of things on CL, I no longer wait - first with cash wins. Otherwise I get strung along probably 1/3 of the time with delays and other BS.

crsides · #23 04-13-2011, 08:27 PM

#1. Try to get the guy's name and # that bought the guns and see if you can buy the one you wanted.

#2. I've done gunshows and watch shows for years ... I have had two guys out of hundreds that came back to get the gun/watch they wanted. We call them "I'll be backs".

#3 What is a CL.

Charlie

Fishslayer · #24 04-13-2011, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crsides

#3 What is a CL.

Charlie

CL = Craigslist. Free ads for anyone.

There are websites devoted to CL flakery, both buyers & sellers.

m1gunner · #25 04-13-2011, 10:03 PM

I learned 35 years ago that something isn't sold till it "goes over the curb". It sounded harsh when it was first explained to me, but as I age I see the wisdom in the words.

There have always been flakes, tire kickers, Be-Backs, etc, and there are even more of them these days with the internet.

Sorry you got disappointed, it is the goofs that have ruined it for the rest of us.

VM · #26 04-13-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novalty

Well I was wrong in my previous posting about him waiting 2 days before backing out on the deal. When he called my cell phone around noon today, I missed his first call and called him back. He had left a message that he sold the guns yesterday, just calling me today, as a courtesy I guess, to let me know he wasn't keeping his word.

Well atleast he's honest about {NOT} "being a man of his word"

Onomea · #27 04-14-2011, 12:11 AM

My view is that the seller should not have accepted the OP's offer if he did not intend to keep the bargain. He could have said, "I will sell it to you if no one else gets here before you with cash in hand," but he did not. He said "I will take your offer," and then he broke his word.

Yeah, it happens. But that does not make it right.

cudamank · #28 04-14-2011, 02:04 AM

Craigslist is usually first come first serve with cash. I once drove three hours to buy a 300 Gallon aquarium, set up a time for pickup, price and everything, only to pull up to the house to watch some guys load it in a back of a pickup. Asked what happened, well I new you were coming but they could be here sooner.

Oh well, karma is a particular thing. It comes and goes when you least expect it.

Tom K · #29 04-14-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_inBouse

At one time a man’s word was his word, no handshake needed. An oral contract is an oral contract. Shows the depth of this seller’s character does it not? Something to think about guys.

What I've heard is that an oral contract isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

glenncal1 · #30 04-14-2011, 10:38 AM

Novalty-I am with you. If I promise to sell something to someone I hold it until they buy or flake out. I do take bake ups and let them know if the original falls through I will call them. I thinkhe should have called and said something like "Guy is here who will take these guns, do you still want them".

novalty · #31 04-14-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenncal1

Novalty-I am with you. If I promise to sell something to someone I hold it until they buy or flake out. I do take bake ups and let them know if the original falls through I will call them. I thinkhe should have called and said something like "Guy is here who will take these guns, do you still want them".

Yeah that was what really irritated me, was that I had told him when I originally called that I was looking to buy the .22 for my son as a beginner gun, which he told me he wanted to sell all together, so I made offer on another. He said he would think about it and called me the next morning to say he accepted my offer. Wish he had called me and given me an opportunity to at least buy the .22 when the other guy was allowed to buy all of them.

luangtom · #32 04-14-2011, 01:24 PM

I guess I am learning to live by what my grandpa said..."Don't have expectations of folks and y'all won't be disappointed."

feralmerril · #33 04-14-2011, 01:54 PM

Back in the early 70s I bought a s&w model 40 NIB from a local gun dealer when I lived in california. I didnt shoot it, just stuck it in the safe. A month or two later I was at a big gun show. I ran into the salesman there that sold it to me. With a low key offhand demeaner he casualy asked me did I still have the model 40. He said he would give me full price that I paid if I would bring it in as he had a customer that wanted one and he didnt have one in stock at the time. Since I had just seen something else at the show I wanted, I said okay, as it would kind of give me a mental excuse to go buy it. A little later I seen another guy I knew running a table and mentioned it. The guy said, hey, s&w just announced they quit makeing them and they have been going out of sight! Right after that I ran into the salesman again and told him I knew why he really wanted it. I said I am still going to bring it in tomorrow bacause I gave you my word. I took it in the next day, and really didnt need the money either!
I have always tried to keep my word even if the other party is a sleezey crook. My short theory has always been my soul is worth more than money, and I always have gotten by anyway, and usualy seem to get blessed and get it and more back later. Life is too short to be a === You know what!
Yes, you might get to me this time, but I will survive and will come out far ahead of you real soon! It`s worked for me numerous times.

Onomea · #34 04-14-2011, 04:02 PM

Yep, Feral. You got that right. Your honor is something no one can take from you. You can only give it up yourself.

luangtom · #35 04-14-2011, 04:28 PM

Yup, many folks laugh at the Asians for their karmic beliefs. Yet, Americans have many that firmly believe in the old agage, "what goes around, comes around"........I know that I do.

ChattanoogaPhil · #36 04-14-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feralmerril

I have always tried to keep my word even if the other party is a sleezey crook.

Around here we call that having self respect.

If the guy said he would sell the guns to Novalty, then doing otherwise is wrong, period. The notion that it's understandable cuz some other guy showed up, or maybe Novalty would have not shown up or.. or.. or.. is nothing more than rationalizing away the value of your word. If your word is meaningless to you, what is it worth to others?