Annoying advice requests

[jkc]

I'm increasingly reluctant to respond to posts requesting advice on equipment, as it seems that the requests are very seldom honest or candid in their expressed objective. Typical examples ask for recommendations for "the best" accessory for some particular purpose, and only later do we learn that the poster doesn't really want (can't afford, or is too cheap to purchase) "the best".

A recent query asked for "the best" small, lightweight, robust red-dot sight (for a long gun, I think). The Aimpoint Micro was my recommendation, and you'd have thought I was proposing pedophilia, apostasy, or something equally offensive and disturbing, when the price came to light. Turns out the person requesting the recommendation didn't want to hear about the "best", but instead wanted some magical way to cheat the "get what you pay for" reality. This seems to be all too common. People might at least have the courtesy to specify price parameters with these requests, so that those of us who have long since accepted the "get what you pay for" axiom aren't wasting our time replying to poorly stated requests for info.

Tell me up front that you want a recommendation for a scope for your new $1,000 rifle, that you'll be using on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt costing a month's wages and two year's accumulated vacation time, with a $200 budget for the optic, and I'll save my breath, so to speak...

 

[bushmaster1313]

People might at least have the courtesy to specify price parameters with these requests, so that those of us who have long since accepted the "get what you pay for" axiom aren't wasting our time replying to poorly stated requests for info.

When I made an advice request to a smart and robust relative in her nineties about her longevity, she said:

"Don't have too many things you don't like."

 

[David LaPell]

I have had these discussions with my nephew a lot. He is in his 20's and when he calls, they always start with "I have a question." He wanted a nice WWII era revolver so I told him to save his money and get a Victory, instead he gets a Nagant revolver, which I warned him was tougher to get ammo and had a double action trigger pull which was dismal. So he buys the Nagant and about a month back called me asking who could do a trigger job on his Nagant because he hated its trigger pull. I don't give his as much advice because I might as well ask my 3 year old son to explain Einstein's theory of relativity. I don't even answer questions from my co-workers anymore because they don't listen. I had one ask me about buying a revolver, he had never owned one and the biggest handgun he owned was a .22. So I told him to get a .357 Magnum, nope. Tells me he wants a .44 Magnum. Well if you already want one, why ask me what to buy? I guy asked me what would be a good cheap deer rifle, I mentioned a .30-30. Guy then says he wants a real caliber that will actually kill deer like a .300 Win. Mag. So I told him why stop there, get a .375 H & H. I do like answering questions, but I would say now 50% are worth the time to take to answer them.

 

[sipowicz]

You should always charge someone for advice. When they pay for it, they think it's worth more.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

i have spent a lot of time hanging out in gun shops. It is amazing how many men paid the price for a fine rifle (like a Weatherby or a higher grade Browning) and the have a cheap scope installed on it. One man I'm thinking of ordered a Mark V Safari grade in 300 Wea. Mag. and put a $5 Weaver base, Tasco rings and a 4x Tasco scope on it. At that time it was about $1500-1700 of very nice rifle and about $40 of scope and mounts. I ask if this was so he shoot until his perminent scope arrived. No, he was leaveing for a hunt out west in a few weeks and wanted the salesman to be certin the bore scopeing was done right as he had no time to practice and only 2 boxes of ammo.

 

[Rule3]

Just say get a Dillon. Seems to work for everything.

 

[Kanewpadle]

The problem is "the best" is always subjective. People think the that "the best" will be the best no matter how you use it.

If they think that way, they need more than just advice.

What I can't stand is people that ask for advice and then disagree with you thinking they know more than you do.

 

[M3Stuart]

Oh man, I'd like to help you, but I can't return to where you're going.

I say that a lot. It's actually a line from an old song.

They'll buy the cheap thing and learn all those lessons for themself over the next umpteen years.

 

[GKC]

What I find amusing is that when someone does ask for advice or recommendations sincerely (I assume) and lists their criteria (like guns A, B, and C) the answers they get rarely are about A, B, or C, but anything other than A, B, or C.

 

[Kanewpadle]

What I find amusing is that when someone does ask for advice or recommendations sincerely (I assume) and lists their criteria (like guns A, B, and C) the answers they get rarely are about A, B, or C, but anything other than A, B, or C.

That's because A, B, and C usually aren't very good choices.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Back when I was on the drum forums I would get at least 6, usually
more, PM's or emails a day asking about vintage drums.

On more than a few occasions I ended up saying, during an exchange,
"If you would have told me the answer(s) you were seeking right
up front it could have saved us both a lot of time."

To this day, people see my old posts on those drum forums
and PM me with questions. Rarely do I answer them anymore.

 

[GKC]

That's because A, B, and C usually aren't very good choices.

Well, I gotta give you that one...

 

[GatorFarmer]

Have to have something to talk about. It is that or "Does this look infected to you?".

 

[Kanewpadle]

Have to have something to talk about. It is that or "Does this look infected to you?".

I don't know. Let me see the other side.

 

[jkc]

You should always charge someone for advice. When they pay for it, they think it's worth more.

David, this is among your finest suggestions, and I'm taking it seriously, and to heart. Henceforth, inquisitive individuals asking after my unique, extensive experience and especially informative advice, will be required to submit a PayPal remittance, at the rate of $10 per paragraph of succinct response, upon receipt of which, my inestimably informative response will be conveyed. I'm hopeful of a comfortable retirement, projecting profits from this arrangement...

 

[forresth]

i have spent a lot of time hanging out in gun shops. It is amazing how many men paid the price for a fine rifle (like a Weatherby or a higher grade Browning) and the have a cheap scope installed on it. One man I'm thinking of ordered a Mark V Safari grade in 300 Wea. Mag. and put a $5 Weaver base, Tasco rings and a 4x Tasco scope on it. At that time it was about $1500-1700 of very nice rifle and about $40 of scope and mounts. I ask if this was so he shoot until his perminent scope arrived. No, he was leaveing for a hunt out west in a few weeks and wanted the salesman to be certin the bore scopeing was done right as he had no time to practice and only 2 boxes of ammo.

Sounds a bit like my Dad. It was like pulling teeth to get him to upgrade to a $160 Redfield (I managed to get a pretty deep discount). "Why do you want to put ANOTHER cheap Chinese scope on that gun? Its gone through 2 of them already" his response; "Well I only use it 2 weeks a year", and this from a man with not only one pair of $1500 binoculars for his bird watching trips (also usually about 2 weeks a year), but an identical pair as a backup.

 

[quneur]

Have to have something to talk about. It is that or "Does this look infected to you?".

I use Spybot and Malwarebytes.

 

[pownal55]

The mention of rifle scopes here seems to be a common problem especially with young shooters. After working, saving and hoarding birthday and Christmas money they finally get that rifle they wanted. Trying to convince them that a 39.00 Jap scope won't cut it is a battle. When they miss the first deer at dusk they start saving money again.

 

[speedyquad]

when i was young(pre 1985), my dad was licensed to sell firearms. a friend of my uncle ordered a new rifle from dad. it was a nice rifle, a .308 pump action. dad asked if he wanted to buy a scope with it. the answer was no, he was going to use the one off of his current rifle. dad told him to buy a better one as dad was the one bore sighting for him before every deer season. a few years later, my uncle bought the gun and rifle from him because it would not hold zero. my uncle had the same problem and eventually traded the gun to my dad. dad put a new scope, rings and mounts and gave me a nice christmas present. they always used dad's range to sight in before season and we would make sure that i sighted in at the same time. year after year, i did not need bore sighting, nor did i shoot a whole box to get the gun zeroed. it was always very close. both began to ask to buy the gun/scope combo back.

morals are hindsight is always 20/20, and some people just need to learn the hard way

 

[wheelgun28]

Do folks want a real opinion?

OR

Do they want reinforcement / validation or the decision they already made?

Something being "the best" is very subjective.

What is best for one person may not be the best for another.