Question about gun classifieds

[Poink88]

If this is too controversial, I apologize and please close or delete as you deem necessary.

I would like to know if it is unethical to point out that a gun for sale is over priced. I hate to say it but most "victims" will be newbies and I would rather help them than be taken advantage of.

Pointing it out to a seller (through PM or email) doesn't always help. It happened already once where I told a seller that his well used gun can be had new for less and he...within his rights...ignored me. Some seller are also crafty and avoids pointing out the obvious w/o lying.

Shouldn't we protect the buyers too?

 

[codygjohnson]

It sucks, as I've been REALLY tempted to post up that they are "bats#!t insane thinking that someone is going to pay that" a few times myself, but it is really up to the seller what they want to sell for. It goes against the forum rules to argue with them. Hopefully capitalism will shine through and force the price down to what it should be, but the newbies still suffer for a lack of searching for a better price. I think most of us have paid WAY too much for a gun before. I know I have.

 

[Texan2]

Anyone can ask any price for a gun. If you don't like the price don't buy it. You aren't the classified ad police and it is up to no one but the seller to pick a price. Doing what you propose is a quick way to get banned.

 

[Poink88]

Anyone can ask any price for a gun. If you don't like the price don't buy it. You aren't the classified ad police and it is up to no one but the seller to pick a price. Doing what you propose is a quick way to get banned.

I am aware of it that is why I am asking so it may hopefully be changed to be FAIR and not just seller protective.

 

[mikeofcontex]

What makes anyone think he's, as stated above, the classified police. The seller must set a price. It may be based upon research or it may just be arbitrary. But, the seller sets the price. The buyer, likewise, must choose a buying point. He is free to research or not. The buyer can even ask the seller about the product as he likes. The buyer can negotiate a price via PMs.

When it's all done, it is fair as both have agreed to the solution. I guess all are able to start an off topic post and describe sellers as greedy or buyers as stupid, but I'm not sure what that will accomplish.

 

[txinvestigator]

I am aware of it that is why I am asking so it may hopefully be changed to be FAIR and not just seller protective.

The short answer is to MYOB. Ignore that and you risk the ban stick.

 

[majormadmax]

Agreed, who are we to judge what is "fair?" You can counter-offer your concept of "fair" and see if the buyer agrees. He may, or he may not; but that is the art of negotiation.

At the last SAXET show I saw a SAR-1 that was ridiculously overpriced. We bantered numbers back and forth until we got within $25 of each other. We settled that with a coin toss (my son called it and won). I got a good deal but not a great one, but I was happy and I think the seller was as well. I believe it was intentionally overpriced, but also think that scared off a lot of folks. I ended up paying $400 less for it than what the price tag was asking...

But you have no moral obligation or duty to judge what someone is asking for a firearm. If they don't get their asking price, they'll figure it out eventually...

Cheers! M2

 

[TexasRedneck]

And as a point of being polite, don't make a public offer of less than the asking price. It's just common courtesy to make ANY offer other than the asking price privately, IMO. Rather than beat someone up on their price (and possibly offending them), just PM or email them with an offer. That way, they can accept or decline w/o rancor on either side.

 

[Texas1911]

I don't want a bunch of people running around being the price police.

 

[Infidel]

I would like to know if it is unethical to point out that a gun for sale is over priced. I hate to say it but most "victims" will be newbies and I would rather help them than be taken advantage of.

In the same token, it doesn't take much research to gather a fair price. I think educating yourself is always a good first step from the newbie up to the experienced vet around firearms. I've always found it's best to try to deal with the seller and see if you can always negotiate another price, if said price is astronomical.

 

[Texas1911]

In the same token, it doesn't take much research to gather a fair price. I think educating yourself is always a good first step from the newbie up to the experienced vet around firearms. I've always found it's best to try to deal with the seller and see if you can always negotiate another price, if said price is astronomical.

I tend to agree.

I've ran into some people that think what they have is gold, and I'll just walk knowing that I won't find what I'm looking for there. Frankly the classifieds and gun shows really just lure us into them because we never know when we'll spot something that's cool with an awesome price tag. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. That's what makes it fun.

 

[Charlie]

And as a point of being polite, don't make a public offer of less than the asking price. It's just common courtesy to make ANY offer other than the asking price privately, IMO. Rather than beat someone up on their price (and possibly offending them), just PM or email them with an offer. That way, they can accept or decline w/o rancor on either side.

The above is EXACTLY how any offer should be submitted to the buyer. Anytime I sell something on the internet I usually include a statement to the effect "........feel free to make an offer by PM or email as all offers will be considered.....". I'm not offended if the offer is low, I just say thanks but no thanks....or I may make a counter offer.

 

[majormadmax]

Agree, the only public post should be an "I'll take it" if you are willing to pay the asking price. Otherwise, offers should be handled in private.

As for "fair prices," having seen some ridiculous prices at gun shows by vendors (e.g. the current prices on Saiga 12s); it might not be as "easy" to determine the "market value" of a weapon as some might think! It is a constantly changing market and it rises and falls just like any other commodity!

Cheers! M2

 

[Texan2]

I am aware of it that is why I am asking so it may hopefully be changed to be FAIR and not just seller protective.

Who gets to decide what is fair? we live in a free market. I have seen someone pay (what I felt) was too much for a gun, a car, a house, but if they are satisfied then it is a good deal.

Nothing is "seller protective" on this site. It is a free market. Ask what you want for a gun, offer what you want for a gun, pay what you feel is fair. No one is forcing anyone to pay a particular price.

The notion of a price control system, quite frankly is scary and I believe would lead to people bailing off of this site. We are not big brother. We are not tasked with protecting those who have not done their homework.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Shouldn't we protect the buyers too?

No.....that's not the job of the free market. We ALL have to pay our fair share of "stupid tax" at some point in our lives. Besides - there are certain guns I collect that I would pay more for to complete a collection, regardless of what the "Blue Book" says the value should be. Or because it's in exceptional condition, etc. It's not up to a non-participant to determine "value", IMO.

And please don't think I'm taking umbrage to any of your questions - they're quite valid, and frankly I'm glad you asked, because folks need to relearn tact and etiquette from time to time - especially when dealin' with armed sellers!

 

[San Antone RR]

Sometimes things are listed to appease another: "Honey, I tried to sell the thing, but no one was interested. Guess I'll have to hang onto it for a little while longer."

This may explain the high price. I have seen that done here on this board and discussed as such.

 

[okie556]

This always seems comes up in regards to guns or other items that we think are over priced. As others have said.......I ask a price.....if you think it's too high, walk or send me a nice private PM and make an offer. Don't try to convince me why I have over priced in your opinion.....just make me an honest offer. ONE YOUR PREPARED TO STAND BY IF I SHOULD ACCEPT! Now with that said...........how many of us has sent a PM or other means of communication telling some one they have their gun priced too low? I actually have on at least two occasions.....told buyer I was interested in purchasing but was just wondering why they were selling at that price.....both times it turned out to be a scam! (Was not on this forum.)

 

[IXLR8]

It is pretty easy to lower the price, not so easy to raise it. You have to start the negotiation somewhere. I am shocked what people will pay, not only here, but for used items in general.

Buyer beware. I usually check it against the Blue Book value which seems to be updated online fairly regularly. I will usually offer the 90% price for a 98% item. Getting a deal is what its all about. Browsing is half of the fun. Forums like this keep the values artificially elevated which is good for you if you are a seller. There seems to be such a small difference between the new and used price, I don't understand why everyone does not just pay the extra $20 to $50 and get a new one...

 

[SIG_Fiend]

I am aware of it that is why I am asking so it may hopefully be changed to be FAIR and not just seller protective.

It is fair. It is capitalism at it's best. Someone asks way too much for their stuff, it most likely won't sell, and that's their problem. If someone pays way too much for it unknowingly, that's the buyer's problem for not doing their due diligence and researching (which takes all of 5 minutes here, Gunbroker, and a couple other places). If someone pays too much and really, really wants that item, that's okay too. The buyers hold the ultimate power.

Where we make the mistakes in our economy is getting concerned with everyone else and trying to "protect" everyone else, most of whom don't want or don't need "protection". We'd be better off focusing on ourselves and not getting caught up in worrying about what everyone else is doing. We're all adults here. If someone can't spend 5 minutes online researching to see if the price they might pay is fair, that's their own problem and no one else's. What we are not going to do is become a socialistic governing body on here and start telling everyone what they should and should not do with their own money and goods, as that is the exact problem with our economy.

 

[Texas1911]

It is fair. It is capitalism at it's best. Someone asks way too much for their stuff, it most likely won't sell, and that's their problem. If someone pays way too much for it unknowingly, that's the buyer's problem for not doing their due diligence and researching (which takes all of 5 minutes here, Gunbroker, and a couple other places). If someone pays too much and really, really wants that item, that's okay too. The buyers hold the ultimate power.

Where we make the mistakes in our economy is getting concerned with everyone else and trying to "protect" everyone else, most of whom don't want or don't need "protection". We'd be better off focusing on ourselves and not getting caught up in worrying about what everyone else is doing. We're all adults here. If someone can't spend 5 minutes online researching to see if the price they might pay is fair, that's their own problem and no one else's. What we are not going to do is become a socialistic governing body on here and start telling everyone what they should and should not do with their own money and goods, as that is the exact problem with our economy.

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