Gun show. Welcome opinions on sales process Glock 26

[TheHobbyist]

Friends, hope all is well wherever this message finds you. Curious on your opinions.

I went to a local gun show recently, brought a LNIB Glock 26 for sale that I purchased from a local officer; therefore, I would only sell to an FFL. Just my choice, although I bought it privately in good confidence. I felt it's the right thing to do. Never really needed it so to speak for carry; just was bored one day and bought it.

Anywho, brought into the show, lots of interest, Gen 5, LNIB, plus I had two NIB leather holsters, extras, what not.

Fella, was interested in purchasing, he was an FFL; ok, sounds good. Not really about the money...would work with them, understanding they have costs and so forth.

What I found compelling: He wanted to trade or low ball...no biggie, that's just fine; however without asking me, he completely disassembled the firearm; note, not field strip.

I guess maybe I am old school or would think one to ask the courtesy of fully disassembling to the owner, PRIOR, to doing so.

I respect there can be 'surprises' sometimes, and negative, when buying, but it is like new; anyone who knows are shared hobby, would know. If they were not aware, at least ask permission?

Am I off in my thought process to ask first?

Just thought it was strange. Bit my tongue and what have you, but gosh, I would have thought it to be common courtesy. Off the box, your opinions are welcomed. I am humble and truly understand, I don't know everything.

 

[ralph7]

The guy was stepping way over the line of courtesy. I am sure he was one of these self proclaimed "experts" that felt you should be humbled to be in his gun savvy presence.
In other words he is a jerk.

 

[ken158]

I have seen this many times by individuals that have no idea what they are looking for other then to impress you that they know how to disassemble the gun. First, I would ask what he was looking for when he had a perfect gun in hand and took my gun back and walked away.

 

[Ackley1952]

People who want to take your gun apart never buy the guns . When they as just ask them if they mind if you go through their billfold while they do it.

 

[magmag]

Its still your property. He is in the wrong without asking permission. Similar analogy, would anyone walk into a dealership showroom floor, jack the car up, disassemble break calipers to see if break pads where install correctly without permission??

 

[JH1951]

In my opinion, the dealer made a foolish overstep without asking. By the same token, I would have stopped him in his tracks about the time I noticed what he was doing. Put cash on the table, agree to the sale if an inspection is satisfactory, and I'd be okay with it. Lost or damaged parts are on his dollar.

 

[LVSteve]

As soon as I saw a tool come out of his pocket everybody in the show would have heard me yell "NO!!"

 

[Rich Richardson]

I wouldn't have stood there and let the disassembly continue. Did he buy the gun?

 

[lkabug]

He was wrong! Period
But I'm sure you feel better that you were able to awash in his "glow" as he disassembled and then reassembled.

 

[AlHunt]

I went to a local gun show recently, brought a LNIB Glock 26 ...

he completely disassembled the firearm; note, not field strip.

May we assume you'll be happening by his shop and disassembling a few of his firearms he has for sale?

 

[Mdclinks]

While I agree that the FFL should have asked I have never purchased a used firearm without taking a good look at the internals. I'd guess that the FFL heard second owner and wanted to look for aftermarket parts.

Have you ever purchased a used vehicle without taking a good luck under the hood or taken a test drive?

 

[Rich Richardson]

While I agree that the FFL should have asked I have never purchased a used firearm without taking a good look at the internals. I'd guess that the FFL heard second owner and wanted to look for aftermarket parts.

Have you ever purchased a used vehicle without taking a good luck under the hood or taken a test drive?

Always look under the hood after I tell the OWNER what I'm doing with HIS car. After I open the hood I don't disassemble the engine to check the camshaft.

 

[gwpercle]

In todays world , peoples total lack of common courtesy and common sense never cease to amaze me .

I have come to expect a total lack of both and am both amazed and pleased when common courtesy and / or common sense is shown ...
... Our Brave New World has arrived .

There is hope ... a few days ago , in Austin Texas , I (70 year old white guy) was struggling with a piece of heavy luggage ... a girl came up and asked if she could help ...( 20 something black girl) that was so sweet of her ... Another trip in Louisiana , I had a flat tire and was working on getting lug nuts off , Young white couple stop and he changes the tire for me ...wouldn't take any money ... Nice young man, he , wife and baby on his way to lawnmower races ... it's a Southern thing and he stops to change an old man's tire !
... there is hope ...at least in the South.
Gary

 

[diyj98]

What I found compelling: He wanted to trade or low ball...no biggie, that's just fine; however without asking me, he completely disassembled the firearm; note, not field strip.

If he'd just popped the slide off and pulled the barrel, I'd have expected that. But when you say "completely disassembled" I'm assuming he drove out the pins and pulled the trigger and guts out. That's when I'd have stopped him.

 

[Muss Muggins]

In the immortal words of Big Tom Callahan, God rest his soul, "I can get a good look at a T-bone steak by putting my head up (the north end of a south bound bull), but I prefer to take the butcher's word for it . . ."

 

[Ray1970]

Handling another mans gun is like handling his woman. It's only proper to ask for permission first.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Appears to be an example of poor "edicate" on the FFL's part

 

[PPS1980]

Field strip...ok. Complete disassembly? In public, without the right tools and containers for small parts!?! Seriously? WAY over the line, and stupid IMHO.

 

[Jack Flash]

In todays world , peoples total lack of common courtesy and common sense never cease to amaze me . ... Gary

It's always been that way in the gun dealer world, in my experience. Way, way too many know it alls. Some are downright aggressive about how much they know and how little you know. Good bye Mr. Hole.

 

[stansdds]

I always ask first, but I do prefer to field strip a used pistol before purchasing. If I ask and the answer is "no", then I may have to think a little harder and peer a bit deeper through the ejection port and up the mag well before deciding, but I would not just start field stripping and certain would not do a detail strip without first obtaining permission.

 

[Grayfox]

I woulda smacked him up side his idiot head!

 

[steelslaver]

I ask to pick them up, I would ask again if I wanted do remove anything, even if it was just the grips.

 

[IrishFritz]

I once had a car salesman take my keys and refuse to give them back until we "had a deal". This sort of behavior should never be tolerated- if this jerk couldn't manage to reassemble your handgun what was he going to do, give it back to you in a bag? I've had an FFL for over fifty years and in my time I've met more than a few gentlemen in the business and unfortunately a whole bunch of bad actors as well. These guys give my industry a bad name and frankly they tick me off. No question a business based on buying and selling is at it's heart adversarial, but that doesn't excuse the dealer from questionable conduct. I hope took you gun back and sold it to someone else.

 

[steelslaver]

I once had a car salesman take my keys and refuse to give them back until we "had a deal".

I would have been on the phone to the police right away. Let him "deal" with that.

 

[Trooper224]

I wouldn't allow a potential buyer or seller to arbitrarily disassemble a gun I was either buying or selling. This is simply unacceptable. As soon as it became apparent he was doing that, you should have told him to stop.

 

[italiansport]

I ask before I even pick up a firearm. If it's a handgun I ask if I can rack the slide or open the cylinder BEFORE doing it. If the answer is no I move on to the next table.

 

[austintexas]

Years ago I had an acquaintance that had a p-38 for sale. He had priced it pretty low because the safety didn't work. When a dealer asked to look at it he handed it over and started to tell the history but the dealer immediately disassembled the pistol to check serial numbers (didn't ask Permission). He reassembled the pistol and said I'll take it. My buddy said that later when the dealer looked him up and said the safety didn't work, My buddy said " It did before you took it apart". My buddy said if the dealer hadn't been so snotty and dissembled his firearm with out asking permission he would he would have told him that the safety was inop.
I always ask before I pick up or inspect a firearm.
SWCA 892

PS, I bought a Highway patrolman in 1975 for the sum of $140 without checking it out. Got home and found out there was a small hole drilled inside the barrel. Someone must have drilled out a stuck bullet. to save it, I converted it to .45 Colt.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Thanks for the feedback; I was a bit surprised to say the least...

Someone asked if he purchased--nope.

In hindsight I should have told him to stop. Also upon reflection, I think he was trying to impress me for whatever reason. I gave him the benefit of the doubt until he pulled a tool to fully disassemble then, bit my tongue hard.

Long story short, didn't sell it, few tire kickers which is fine. Guy I bought it from has a young family and think I was trying to help him out more than any interest. Think I'll hang onto it for a few years and see if the officer wants it back for what he sold it to me for.

Good news is I met up with an old friend and "saved" him from a really poor purchase (way overpriced, common gun). He recently retired and we are going to do some plinking out at my place or his land next month.

 

[Greyman50]

When looking at buying a 1911 or 1911A-1 it is advisable to disassemble the pistol, no way around it. Way, way to many ones with wrong barrels, bushings and internal parts. If seller will not take slide and barrel apart or allow me to do it I walk away. Before laying out close to 2 K clams it would be expected. Asked at a local " collectable shop" here if they had any 1911's, guy brought out supposed 1911 A-1. Asked to disassemble it and found Wrong barrel, link, bushing and slide stop, he wanted 18 hundred clams for it, yea, right. Revolvers are pretty simple and harder to hide wrong parts in unless under the side plate.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Hi Grey,

I respect that. Situation that differs in this case is that a Glock 26 is more utilitarian versus a military-issued firearm of that vintage.