Arrogant sellers...

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hamhead

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I always thought the buyer was the one in charge of a transaction.

That's the beauty of a free market system. It takes two to tango.
 
There's nothing wrong with being proud of your stuff... as long as you're willing to keep it.

When something is listed as overpriced, why do you bother with it?
 
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Mr. hamhead,

I'm afraid your personal feelings may be unique in this situation. Do you frequent shops or stores that upset you? Why worry about this? Just ignore sellers who upset you. Your argument has me believing you would like "authorities" to make your decisions for you...that's what we are fighting against in D.C., in our individual states & at City levels.

I grow weary of people asking "authorities" to make simple life decisions for them.

Some folks can't seem to "turn the channel" for themselves these days.

Just my .02

Bob
 
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Maybe that seller is thinking the same thing about certain buyers :rolleyes:
If you can't handle "arrogant people" by now - if something as inconsequential as a gun transaction makes you this frothing angry-maybe you ought to step back and "reconoiter the situation" from a removed vantage point.

Don't know you-maybe I'm off base......but.
 
I have a related rant about arrogant sellers: the refusal to offer an inspection period when a firearm is purchased from an internet source.

Obviously, if you walk into a gun shop and see something you like, they let you inspect it. But somehow, when the sale is over the internet, more and more sellers are saying "take it, or leave it."

I often ask for a 24-hour inspection. Yesterday, I received a reply to such a request from the seller of a 10-5 in which I am interested. Sure, he said, he'll take it back, provided I pay for return shipping (no problem there) and a $25 restocking fee (deal-killer).

The truth is, I don't need any of the guns I am buying these days. I buy them because I like them. That being the case, I am learning to walk away from exploitive sellers and just be patient -- another gun will come along.

And while I like bargains as much as anyone, more and more I am inclined to deal with only a few people who are much more buyer-friendly.

HH, I often feel as you do, so, when my wits are quick and the price offered is outrageous, I try a little pointed humor to indicate my displeasure, and move on, e.g., "Ahhhh, I see. . .apparently you have a boat payment due" or, "Gee, I thought I asked for a price on this revolver, not a quote on a complete course of orthodontia." :p

In a buy-sell relationship, both parties must be treated by the other as equals. If the seller makes it clear, through outrageous pricing or other ridiculous terms, that he doesn't regard me as an equal party to the transaction, I must ask myself, "why am I even talking to someone who doesn't accord me the same consideration he demands?"

There are enough sellers out there that understand this that us buyers don't have to suffer putting up with those who regard us as "food."


'nuff said.



Bullseye
 
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Arrougannette Cellars -- Don't they make an overpriced red table wine? :confused:

Seriously, if you don't like someone's wares, ignore the post. If it's really a well worn dime a dozen type firearm, it should be easy. A lot of people go angling for suckers, and sometimes one bites (I guess).

If a seller (or anyone else for that matter) really annoys you, well, that's what the "Ignore Feature" (of this and most other Forums) was created for.

Life is too short...
 
Each transaction requires two parties, buyer and seller.

Unless duress is involved, each party has control over half.

While the seller may indicate that his particular item is the "rarest on earth", "mint condition", etc., it's up to the buyer to determine if this item is valued to him/her (caveat emptor).

On the other hand, the buyer who comes to the table with all available knowledge, and is able to see through the sales hype (see preceding paragraph), will control the finality of the transaction. The knowledgeable buyer will force the seller to be more cautious in his/her description (caveat vendor).

Now, the seller may very well use derision, and other tactics, in an attempt to control the deal. It's up to the buyer to level the playing field.

These are the basics of the marketplace.
 
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I believe you can call it "fishing for a sale."

There is nothing wrong with putting a $1000 price tag on a well worn, common 4" M&P .38 Special with a bit of flaking on it. A bit comical and good for a laugh, but nothing wrong or evil with it at this point.

Now, when a statement is attached that it is "New in box, Mint, and just like it left the factory" is when it gets me scratching my head. Those statements are either evil or just terribly misguided. It's evil when it comes from a serial gun trader, or simply a misguided vision of grandness when it comes from a person that knows nothing about guns that took a look on a gun auction site for the first time and decided to value their piece accordingly.

Secondly, when it becomes evil and wrong, is when any other statements are attached to it such as, "This once belonged to Sheriff Buford Pusser's second cousin" or "was once carried by a deputy assigned to Frank Hamer." Without verification, any statement is horse hockey.

It's a free enterprise system, and if something is priced too high, get a good chuckle and move on.

I will say that there is no reason for someone selling an item to send back a nasty gram to anyone that sent the seller a ridiculously low offer, or even an offer for which is less than they will take. A simple version of "No thank you at this time" is very sufficient. The seller might have to eat his words at a later date on the item.

If someone contacts a seller, or vice versa, cordiality should always be practiced- it usually pays off- at least it always has for me. :cool:
 
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These guys make me laugh. There is a blowhard of this type that I often see at the shows that I attend. I often wonder how he sells enough to maintain his table. I just chuckle and walk on by. I am never sure if they are trying to mislead someone of if they actually believe the stories that they tell.
 
Nope, I'm not tired of them at all.

Over the weekend we were manning David Carroll's tables. I heard a dozen guys telling us we should lower our prices. Right. And only because they want a specific choice gun at a super cheap price. One guy tried to tell me the prices we were asking were way too high, and we'd sell out if we lowered them 25-50% Yep, he's right. He wanted a like new in box Winchester that came as part of the estate. And he wanted it for the price it originally sold for at retail, and we were thieves for asking twice that. So be it.

David actually told one guy who was complaining about the prices that the collection had 307 guns in it (not true), and they'd already sold 180+ at the prices they set on them. His conclusion was they were fair prices for otherwise unobtainable guns. Like all buyers, he wanted to steal the guns. Too bad.

Another thing I found amusing. The much maligned Fugates were buying more of the collection. To the best of my knowledge, they're not buying them to salt away in a safe someplace. They somehow saw enough room to score a fair profit.

The problem the OP has is when an arrogant buyer and an arrogant seller meet. The seller knows what he wants to get, and just won't budge. The buyer knows what he wants to pay, and feels anything more is an outrage. Often the buyer even knows what the gun sold for in 1959, not that anyone considers it of any consequence.

When you find a seller who you can't deal with, walk away. For kicks and giggles, wander back the following day and see if the gun is still there. Then come back at the next show and see if its moved.
 
If someone contacts a seller, or vice versa, cordiality should always be practiced--it usually pays off--at least it always has for me. :cool:

As Andy says, it's really about respect, isn't it?

There seems to be two schools of thought about how to achieve success as a seller -- the "snatch and grab" school which regards any prospective buyer as meat, and cares only about making this sale at this price at this time, and, the old-school guys, like David Carroll or Lee Jarrett, for example, who care about building a trust relationship that will lead to more business in the future.

That difference is well-expressed in the following anecdote, which I pass on in the hopes of bringing a grin to this Monday morning:

An old buffalo bull, and a young one, were standing on the top of a hill, peacefully munching the prairie grass and observing a herd of buffalo cows grazing in the valley below. "Hey, Pops," voiced the young bull, "let's run down this hill and make love to a couple of them cows!" Replied the elder, "No, son, let's walk down, and make love to all of them."

Which one is more likely to end up with 100% market share? :p


'nuff said.


Bullseye
 
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