Model 17-3 .22 LR revolover

[tjtoolbox]

Purchased a model 17-3 revolver from a dealer in a trade deal. I think that the deal was about what the dealer could get out of it. I had a H&R Sportsman 9 shot revolver for trade with Cash only that he would not give me the true value of the trade and cash. I feel that I was taken for. I will not deal with him again, and I will tell all of my shooting friends about him.
I thought that he would give me a good deal, but NO, so the hell with him.
Even though I paid more, I still got the better Deal with the S&W Model 17-3, Great Shooter.

 

[redlevel]

Maybe the deal wasn't as bad as you think it was. A 17-3 is one of the hottest items going in the S&W revolver world for the last year or two, and while they are serviceable handguns, the H&R guns aren't nearly as sought after nor nearly as valuable. The truth is, as many of us have lamented, a dealer doesn't have to budge much from a (reasonably) high asking price on S&W revolvers, and especially not on a trade. Over a two year period, I watched a half-dozen Model 19s sell at the asking price while I was typing up a trade offer or an offer lower than was asked.

 

[tjtoolbox]

Thanks redlevel, I appreciate your input. I do believe that I got the BEST of the deal even though I think I got taken by the dealer. I will do more business with the gun dealer that I have now. Just purchased a Henry . 22 LR from my dealer at a Great price. I will stick with him.

 

[Ga Johnny]

The only way a gun dealer will ever screw somebody is if they let him, and trading guns for guns with dealers is a sure fire way to come away feeling cheated.

Simply put, he had it, you wanted it, done deal, enjoy having the gun and move on.

Besides, you'll always enjoy the gun, and soon forget the details of the deal.

Congrats on your new gun, now how about posting some pictures so we can help you enjoy it....

 

[m657]

I've felt the same way.....very briefly....in the past, but only when I traded for some inferior revolver. After a while I began seeing that whenever I ended up with Smith (or Colt), I ~never~ felt that way for long.

A particular 17-4 I 'got screwed on' long ago has proven to be about the most accurate revolver I have....so the deal I made was way better after all.

Shoot the 17-3 a bunch and before long you won't have time to lament.

 

[gunboat57]

TJ, I used to have an H&R Sportsman too. It was an accurate gun and fun to shoot. But after I got my 17-3, I gave that H&R to a friend of mine. You'll like your 17-3. When I got mine it had Pachmayr Presentation grips. What does yours have? Post pictures if you can!

 

[fyimo]

Gun dealers want to make a living and it costs money for them to go to a gun show for hotel, food, and gas if they have to travel a ways to get there. So they aren't going to give you what you think your gun is worth as they want to turn the gun and make some money. He had a hot item in the 17-3 and the one you were trading wasn't in the same league so he wasn't going to dicker much on the deal.
Now if it had been a dealer you have bought a lot of guns from and that you had a relationship with he would have treated you better on the deal figuring that you would be buying more guns in the future from him. Seeing that you didn't know each other he was looking at you as a one time sale so he had no incentive to make the deal sweeter.

 

[Camster]

"he would not give me the true value of the trade and cash."

And true value is?? To you,it's retail value-no dealer buys at retail.He wants to make money on it later on, he is entitled to make money on it later on,not be waiting a long time to realize his money on the 17,which is an easy seller for full cash on the spot..No biz can operate like that.Few people understand the time and expense of doing gun shows.
To him,it's wholesale value,which for a second tier gun isn't going to be that much.
He didn't put a gun to your head-you went with the deal.Enjoy it a forget about it.

 

[cassidy]

Trading Guns

It is just like trading cars. Everyone comes away feeling like they were taken for a ride. However once they ride inthe new car they forget about the trade.
The dealer is not doing this as a Hobby--he needs to make some money.
Take your model 17 to the range-shoot it and enjoy it. The joy of shooting it will calm you down.

 

[feralmerril]

Just say no.

 

[Retired W4]

The last several shows I have set up at have had many people wanting to trade up. I am not involved in the gun "business". It's a hobby for me, but it appears that cash is tight, no matter which side of the table you're on. When someone comes up with a Topper or CZ 50 and wants to trade for a Winchester 101 or a Colt Officer's Model Target, I suggest they continue to try and sell what they have until their cash is right. I'm not knocking the gun; I just can't do anything with it. Meanwhile, I just keep loosing money and having fun.

 

[What the]

Truth is I would have kept the H&R which unto itself is a fine gun. Tucked it away in my safe and forgot about it. Slaps your money on the table if your offer is declined go to the next table. You can't swing your cash around without hitting a shooter grade 17-3 these days. You just need to to learn patience that's all...An all cash deal may have not cost you much more.

 

[MajorDude]

I'm familiar with that H&R Sportsman, just inherited one from Dad. It was the first handgun that I ever shot in competition... In 1968! I'm also familiar with your situation. I just recently traded off an H&R Garand for what I thought was a really low price. Garands have been going for silly money lately, but this one was a Greek return purchased as a "rack grade" from the CMP. I had replaced the stock and a couple of other parts while they were still relatively affordable. I traded it and a $100 for a standard field grade Model 12 Winchester. The kicker though, is that the M12 is probably 98%. I would have liked more for the H&R, but I love that M12, and nothing I could ever do would add condition to the Garand. I'm getting on with my life and with something better than what I had!

 

[Joe in SC]

I never trade guns with A dealer. That lesson was learned long ago. Dealers make very little on new guns. The competition is that tough or at least it is in my locale. They make it on used guns and assessories/ammo.

I always sell what I no longer have a use for and then apply them coins to the new gun purchase. I am not the type customer that dealers like. But, I do better than OK on most my deals.

The 17 you traded for is a great gun. You will enjoy it and in mu opinion it is the cream of the crop whereas the one you traded was just OK. Enjoy the 17 for the better gun that it is. Don't sweat the rest.

 

[tjtoolbox]

I thank you all for the great comeback. Here is the problem with me is that I run a Antique Tool business and a new customer comes in with a trade and cash to buy a tool, I will work with him to give him the best deal that I can even if I Loose some money in the deal to get him to be a Repeat Customer, and it works.So the dealer that I did business with does not want my business any more just a sale.
Some of the tools that I sell are worth more than a lot of guns. $1K to $5k at least. I will give a new customer a deal to get him to come back and to advertise for me FREE. Just my out look on doing business.

 

[What the]

Unfortunately, you Sir are fast becoming the exception rather than the rule. I would do business with you in a heartbeat. It wasn't that long ago more people saw the wisdom in your business model. Your customers are indeed lucky to interact with you on that level,as a consumer it still makes me feel good to find shop owners like you in this big box fast paced world we live in today!

 

[Camster]

...wish I had a dollar for every potential customer of mine that wanted me to loose money on the first transaction with them for some remote possibility of further business down the road.The reality is that they would beat me up the price for everything henceforth because they got away with it once,(assuming they did return....and they usually don't,because they know you might want to make up for the shortage,so they play their game on someone else.)
This sort of thing is all too common in my part of the world,New York City environs,when dealing with all sorts of non US born folks.
I'm fine with giving someone a more than fair deal,but selling something at a loss isn't going to happen unless I want to move something.The notion of loosing money on sales and making it up on volume isn't mine.Every deal should stand on it's own merit,without bowing to an abusive egotistical type that I wants me to pay homage for a few dollars that aren't essential for my wellbeing.
You remain mad at the dealer for making a deal that makes sense to him-it is his business with his rules,that you agreed to,while at the same time,you upgraded a gun and got rid of a lesser gun ,with limited appeal, in the easiest possible manner,(though not necessarily in the best monetary way for you)....I don't get it.If the deal displeased you,you should have walked.Buying something and grumbling about it,isn't putting the fun factor into the hobby,and that should be the goal/outcome.If the product is right, a few extra bucks really doesn't matter.

 

[DGNY]

Model 17-3 Trade...

In the everyday world, a trade involves equivalent bargaining power between parties and a single/mutual transaction with fair estimations of value a requisite. Contrariwise, gun dealers see gun "trades" as two transactions. One - you want their gun and came to find it. Two - they don't want your gun and did not seek it. Ergo - their gun is valuable because it has high demand [from you]. Your gun is not valuable because it has no demand [from them]. The result is foreordained; you pay big money to get what you want. They pay little to get what they do not want.

Which is why I seldom trade, but no doubt will again someday.

Congratulations on acquiring a fine S&W!

Regards,

Dyson

 

[Camster]

In the everyday world, a trade involves equivalent bargaining power between parties and a single/mutual transaction with fair estimations of value a requisite. Contrariwise, gun dealers see gun "trades" as two transactions. One - you want their gun and came to find it. Two - they don't want your gun and did not seek it. Ergo - their gun is valuable because it has high demand [from you]. Your gun is not valuable because it has no demand [from them]. The result is foreordained; you pay big money to get what you want. They pay little to get what they do not want.

Which is why I seldom trade, but no doubt will again someday.

Congratulations on acquiring a fine S&W!

Regards,

Dyson

True enough,but I submit that if he was trading a gun with comparable marketability,say another good condition Smith,a wise dealer would indeed stretch to the limit to make a tight deal.