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Sellers: Do "Buyers" Ever Ask You To Jump Through Hoops, And Then Disappear?
nunn
Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,078 ******
"Can you remove this part or that part, and show me a picture of what's underneath?" That is the spirit of the more common requests I get, even though I have given them 30-40 pictures to look at.
The latest is: "Is that gun California compliant? If it is, I'll hit the Buy Now and take it." I started to tell him that he is in a better position to find out, being that he is in the PRK, but I took the high road. I went to the PRK's approved gun list on the internet, and found that the gun is approved. I informed the "buyer" of that, and even sent him a link to the page showing its approval.
Crickets.
Comments
Takes all kinds I guess, can only laugh it off I guess...
Yea, there are many experts out there and try to tell me that's not a so and so, and why does this require an FFL, yadadadadadada, glad I don't sell often, BUT I did have a newb ask a question and HE did BIN!!
Selling M1s, I'm used to what might seem to be odd requests: "Can you show me the long butt plate screw?"
In fact, there are two types (and one sub type) of long butt plate screws: one straight and one which has a step (blued or parkerized). It would be easier of he took by word for it, but I grab the phone and in under 60 seconds the photo is on its way.
"Great, it's parkerized, has the step, and it looks great. Thank you."
Now I wait for his bid...which never comes. The fact the man knows his M1s makes me happy to answer his question. The fact he wastes my time by not bidding makes me angry.
If I can answer it by what I remember while taking the pictures and handling the thing I'll answer any question......but, if its answered by simply reading the auction or looking at the pictures...I just delete the message. I figure they aren't "the reading type" anyway, so why reply? As far as who is bidding
....Ireally have no clue, I can't keep up with all of that with the number of things we are running these days. Sometimes they ask silly things, sometimes its detailed nonsense that is more likely to stroke their egos by letting some stranger know they are experts on whatever they are emailing about. WHY people feel the need to impress total strangers is a mystery. I do figure each question I get means there was some detail I failed to include in an auction.....so I look at emails as a hint to what I could do better. The goal is to list something with enough pictures and auction details that you cannot POSSIBLY get any questions on it.people like to goat others🤣
My reply:
"Money talks and BS walks. I reckon you walk."
In order to educate- or to show off (as my forum fans love to say), lets take a look at the three types of M1 Rifle long butt plate screws:
The top screw is pre war and beautifully blued. Notice the arrow which points out a step in the shaft of the screw near the base. These prewar screws in nice condition are hard to find.
The middle screw is early war, which retains the step, but is now parkerized.
The bottom screw no longer has the step and is parkerized. This become pattern was standard from mid-war to the end of M1 production in 1956.
If you learned something about the M1, I'm glad.
😂🤣😂🤣😂
Been a long time but I have sold around 30 or so long guns on GB in the past. I can honestly say that every person who ever asked me a question about my auction never placed a bid. Tire kickers with too much time on their hands if you ask me!
I try to answer every question even though probably 75% have been answered if the person had read the description in the auction. It's the jerks who bid and win and don't pay that bother me. Especially the ones who jump in at the very end and screw up a perfectly good sale.
Mark, i collect and restore Model 37 Winchesters. Most folks think I am totally nuts for knowing everything there is to know about this Winchester since it was made in 1936. I have approx. 150 of them with about 60% the Red Letter variety and many of the old colored boxes with hunter and bird dog and of course many, many parts. You can never have too many parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a 1953 Vintage Springfield Garand that i purchased from the Law Professor at West Point about 25 years ago in beautiful shape. At the muzzle hangs a flawless Utica Flaming Bomb M-5 which is probably not Kosher for this year. I also have a sealed Winter Trigger in the original package.
I shot some competition in the Army and had a NM. In a moment of weakness I let it go so I would have some money for a honeymoon with my bride of 57 years. Diane was the Deans Secretary at WP and I was Westy's driver. She invited me for coffee one day and the rest is history. Wish I had the NM back but Diane was a keeper.
I never knew the Garand butt plate screws were that important. I have learned something new today. Thank you. I want you to know that i completely understand your affliction.😀--------------Ray
I have found out from past selling of about anything.. guns, automobiles you name it.. if you ignore the folks and act un interested in selling they will buy it anyway if they really want it.
I agree with Ricci 100% they never read the whole ad
I've been trying to sell an antique MG car on Hemmings since May. The experience hasn't done anything to improve my opinion of the human race. Time after time, I guy will talk on the phone with me for an hour or more, or even give it a test drive, and tell me how interested he is. I've emailed them extra photos, descriptions, etc, that they ask for. Then he totally disappears without making an offer.
I think that the times have definitely moved on, changed. With hand held devices which I know nothing about has become more of an entertainment system for people just having time to pass the time.
I buy from GB when in need or just shopping around for a fair deal. Heck I just bought on GB a 700 Dollar stock because it was what I wanted and the Guy answered my question and was very cordial. Some people have character and some are characters. But when I ask a question it has been because of some clarification detail as I know that I may be bothering the seller, God forbid. I bought an item a few years ago somewhere else, yep I did, and spent a half hour talking with the man and now does most of the parkerizing for me.
Being in biz to sell comes with pains, that's for sure. But is it not part of the dance to ask questions? Some sellers here on GB go to the nines for sure. And I can state also just as many say nothing at all, or take mmm deceptive pictures.
I thought LF got all the crazies.
Had one person bid on an item, then back out because "How do I know you'll send the item once you have my money?"
Apparently 600 plus A+ feedbacks weren't enough?
Think she just changed her mind. We all do, but just saying so would have been nice!
No, we all get the crazies. Locust Fork just gets more of them on account of her volume of business.
What is the barrel length?
What would you want it to be? It’s in the item characteristics and in the pictures.
nunn
Do I need an FFL or have a FFL dealer to have it shipped to?
Yes.
Either.
nunn
I'm at a point where I will not special order any parts for new customers without a deposit. Tired of no shows and having to deal with returns. It's gotten bad in the last few years.
Part of why I don't sell myself...let someone else take the stupid headaches...for a price of course.
My 'Thanks' to 'csironclad':
Many Thanks for the definitive answer as to what 'metal cased' means in reference to turn of the century vintage ammunition. I am about to ignore 'wanted' requests when I spend bunches of time sorting through 30 pages or more of a search on GunBroker.com - most of which has nothing to do with the thing being searched for. I checked both auctions for .32 auto - metal cased - lead bullets, one of which would accept personal or certified checks - with reasonable shipping charges - and "Original Poster" has not bid on either of them. He must not have wanted them as much as he said he did.
Best Regards - Steve - AQH