Courtesy & Integrity with Forum Transactions

[Hawg Rider]

Thank you to all of those who have served this great nation! Happy Veteran's Day!

As a precursor to this rather lengthy Post, let me just say that I have the utmost respect and admiration for the members of this Forum- their knowledge, ethics, and willingness to mentor and help others learn about the wonderful world of Smith & Wesson products. Now on to my rant:

I realize that S&W Forum members are only human, and that we all have busy lives and that stuff happens. However, please remember that if you are going to respond to a Forum Post for some type of transaction, follow through with courtesy and integrity. I have experienced a couple of recent incidents that have caused me great disappointment- quite frankly due solely to the rudeness of fellow Forum members.

Example 1- Prior to the Holidays last year, I submitted a Post about my newly completed BBQ rig (S&W revolver, knife, holster and belt). I was contacted "out of the blue" by a fellow Forum member (living ~ 3 hours away and who read my Post) to see if I might be interested in purchasing a certain commemorative set that he owned. We corresponded, his asking price was fair, so we arranged to meet. He was planning to drive up to a local gun show right after the Holidays and I could inspect the gun/knife set at that time. I, of course, got excited (as I always do about a gun purchase!) and had to control my anticipation through the Holidays, and made sure I had money set aside, etc. Right after the Holidays and the week prior to his traveling to the January gun show, I contacted the seller to be sure we were still on track for a meeting. His response- "Oh, I sold that to a local guy a couple of weeks ago". What! My heart sank, and I was extremely disappointed and PO'd. To me that was totally discourteous and rude. He could of at least contacted me about his change of plans instead of leaving me hanging.

Example 2- I recently posted in the Forum's "WTB" section for a particular and somewhat rare revolver for which I have been searching for some time. I received a PM from a Forum member stating that he had exactly what I was looking for and was I still interested? I immediately responded with an enthusiastic YES- please send pics and asking price. He replied that he was busy with work and it would be a couple of days before he could email pictures. Like most of you in this situation, my excitement was building, I toss and turn at night with a thousand questions and thoughts bouncing around in my head. What condition? What price? Can I afford this now? Etc. etc. A week later- nothing, so I pinged him again and he apologized for not sending me anything but that the information would be forthcoming. Another week, and not a word. Not even a reply to my PMs or email. So here I sit writing this Lounge thread...discouraged, disappointed, and feeling abused. I haven't given up all hope yet, but I'm not getting a warm tummy feeling that this transaction is going to happen. Again- how about a little courtesy and thoughtfulness. I'm getting a tired of being teased and then forgotten.

Remember the Golden Rule and treat others as you would have them treat you. Please remember that courtesy and integrity are still important, and that if you start a transaction- make sure that there is some closure with the person you're dealing with. Am I wrong? Thanks for listening.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've bought and sold some stuff on this forum, as well as on some Facebook groups concentrating on guns and such. For my part, I give those transactions my utmost attention. If I'm selling, and the buyer has good feedback, I usually ship the item before payment is received. If I'm selling, payment goes out when and as promised. I have yet to be disappointed with the members of this forum. As for Facebook, that's a different story. Those transactions are always face to face, and it's not an exact science. I'd been working with a poster on a gun group for about two months on a S&W pre Model 10/M&P with a 6" barrel, looked to be about 75% or so. Seller listed it at $350, and had no action for a couple weeks. I offered to buy contingent upon me handling it, and tried to arrange a meeting. Lots of hemming and hawing (he farms, can't get away, he farms close to me and I'm retired, so I can meet any time, any where, yada, yada, yada). I let it drop. Couple weeks later he messages me, "Still interested?" I say "$250 firm, but I have to see it in person." He agrees, same stuff about meeting up, but I follow up with him every day. Yesterday he says, "Dad found out I was selling it so I gave it to him." . . . .

 

[Inusuit]

I have had only one experience with an acquisition on the forum. I needed a hand spring for a 4th Model .32 DA. A member here responded and sent me the correct spring and asked only that I pay postage. The incidents described above justify the frustration and disappointment. I hope this is not representative of the vast majority of members.

 

[msinc]

You are probably not going to like some of what I have to say...but, just a few words about "sellers" in general:

The seller is not trying to make you happy, that is not his job. He may not really want to sell his item, but has no choice. He may just really needs to get it sold {because he needs the money} and a happy {probably non-repeat} customer is not his priority.
Generally when someone says {I am interested and I'd like to take a look at it} what that translates to most sellers, that is, "what the seller hears" is, "Yeah, I am interested and want the chance to take a look, waste a lot of your time and get a good feel for just how low of an offer I can get away with." And if seller takes it because he really needs the money then buyer gets over, if not...well, it didn't cost the buyer anything to leave seller hanging all that time.
I realize you may not be this way, but your contact could be the fourth or fifth that seller has had and he doesn't know you're a straight shooter, he figures you are just like the last four.
Closing deals always takes some time, if you are selling and especially if you have to sell you, as the seller, wants to make it as quick and painless as possible. There are two reasons why I might sell to a local "pop up" after someone has said those words, "I'd like to take a look at it"...one, his money is "here and now" no more playing around, no more listening to "will ya take a little less??" he's putting the money in my hand today, not next week. And two, it's painless, no shipping, no drive to another area...only to hear, "it's doesn't quite look like the right shade of bluing", or, "I don't know...that scratch on the grip, will you take less???"
I think you might be confusing the way you believe someone should act/treat you that is trying to make repeat sales, that is to say someone who sells things for a living, with someone selling something because they probably have to.
A used car salesman has to be nice to tire kickers and jerks that waste his time, on the off chance that they will put money in his hand. Someone selling their grandfathers registered magnum needs the money and is not there to make you happy or make you his new best friend. In fact he's not there to do anything but get the money he needs so upsetting a few tire kickers are not his concern, he's never going to hear from you again.
Your remedy??? Tell the next "seller" that you are "very excited about his gun" and you "cant wait to take a look at it. "Ask him if he will hold it until you get there" and don't jerk him around, go. Ask him if he'll take a deposit, even though you cant really get one to him...that's not the point. You want him to know that you are serious, then when you finally do look at it, if it's not what you expected, who cares...you aint lost anything!!!
Bottom line, it's just not the rest of the worlds job to make you happy...get over it!!!!!

 

[Drm50]

I've only been one forum about a year. I have bought several
guns from forum members. So far almost all the guys have been
honest and prompt in their dealings. I even traded guns with a
member. I think there is two kinds of scammers on forums.
The outright thief type, that takes your money and sends you
nothing. And the fishermen, they belong to several forums, but
if you check they don't contribute much to conversations. They
have no scruples, once deal is made if higher offer comes in
they will take it in New York minute. Once this is pulled on me
I will never deal with guy again.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Thanks for the feedback

Thanks for the feedback, both good and not so good! I think the point that I was trying to make was that this is the S&W Forum- it's not Facebook, not eBay, not GunBroker, and certainly not a used car lot. This is a serious site for S&W enthusiasts, including those interested in buying and selling quality firearms. I have always felt a certain camaraderie with the other S&W Forum members, and almost all my experience has involved good and honest transactions. That is what I would expect from doing business with S&W Forum members. I'm not a gun dealer and I don't do a lot of buying/selling via the Forum, so maybe I just haven't had done enough business in the past to experience the tire kickers and time wasters. Do I think the world's job is to make me happy, certainly not! Do I make it a personal point to always be courteous and thoughtful in my business dealings- absolutely! And I don't believe that it too much to expect in return.

 

[soFlaNative]

I've made a few purchases from forum members including two revolvers. All transactions were successful and the items arrived in good shape. The revolvers were as advertised and I have no complaints. One of them shipped the same day I notified the seller my personal check was in the mail. We spoke on the phone once or twice and after a few moments I felt as if I had known this gentleman for years.
The other seller may have a busier life. The phone conversation felt awkward, as though he felt he had better things to do than speak to me. It also took a couple of days after the money order arrived for the revolver to ship. I wasn't in any particular hurry and I know as well as anyone what it's like to be short of time but if my word is given or if trust is extended my way I will backflip through a flaming hoop to fulfill any obligation.
But that's just me. If I expected the world to meet the standards I set for myself I'll spend a lot of time being disappointed but it sure is a treat when things turn out better than expected.

 

[H Richard]

I have made several purchases, and a few sales through the forum, and I can honestly say I am very pleased with how they all were. I have had no misrepresentations, all very satisfactory. I have made several friends via the forum in other states and other countries that I have visited and shot with.

 

[Absalom]

I have also never had a negative experience buying or selling through the forum, and just like a previous poster I have actually experienced the generosity of a member who sent me an item I was looking for (not a gun ) without even wanting the postage paid.

With any part of the population only connected through their keyboards, you're playing the percentages, and just statistically there must be some crooks and jerks among the thousands of members, but I haven't had dealings with any yet.

 

[DR505]

I purchased a revolver from a Forum member that had an undisclosed push-off issue. That irked me. However, S&W fixed it for free. Now it is very nice.

 

[LedFowl]

Buyers and sellers need to keep each other up to date. If there's an arrangement and something changes, the one needs to let the other know. That's courteous. That's good business.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Sorry to hear of your experience. I have had maybe a couple dozen transactions on this forum, and almost all have been positive, except an unacknowledged gift that may have simply been a lost or misdirected e-mail, and one flipper, now gone, who seemed a bit impatient to horn in on a deal.

This IS a different crowd, and we DO have higher standards.

 

[old bear]

Thanks for the feedback, both good and not so good! I think the point that I was trying to make was that this is the S&W Forum- it's not Facebook, not eBay, not GunBroker, and certainly not a used car lot. This is a serious site for S&W enthusiasts, including those interested in buying and selling quality firearms

This site exists, to the best of my understanding, to share our knowledge and appreciation of all things Smith and Wesson. The buying and selling of the aforementioned is secondary.
Sadly every group has its share of less than ethical members. As the prices of all firearms rises so will the number of quick change artists. Remember that money does not bring out the worst in people, it brings out who they really are; good or bad.
Perhaps I've been lucky or my Bravo Sierra meter has been fined tuned over the years, but I've met nothing but honest and ethical folks at this Forum.

 

[Rastoff]

The world is full of wonderful people, but, alas, interspersed with a few not so wonderful.

Take the good and run with it. Be thankful that you are only out some anxiety. It could have been much worse.