Advice please...

[raisincain]

Hello all,
I found the high road via a cool older gentlemen at my local gun store. I only own one weapon, a glock 23. My neighbor's husband recently passed away. He and I were always on good terms helping each other out and having a few beers occasionally. He would show me some of his guns and would give his opinion on what my next purchases should be. Right before he passed he pulled out a pelican rifle case with a Colt AR15 6290LE and a Springfield 1911 Loaded target model in black stainless and told me I should put together a similar setup. It has been about six months since his passing and his wife stopped by last Saturday. She said she remembered him showing it to me and asked if I would be interested in buying the case and two weapons. I said yes and she told me to come over and pick it up whenever I had the time. I dident want to be rude but I asked her how much she wanted for everything. She told me she wanted to give me a great price but still be fair. I went over yesterday and got everything. I told her I would bring her over the cash in the next couple of days. The Colt has a aimpoint ML2 scope , LMT butstock and Knights Armament quad rail.There are 4 magazines , soft case a sig laser and the original parts. The Springfield is a PX9152LP Target model in black stainless original box two mags and paperwork. The colt is in good condition, but the springfield is in fair condition (has finish wear marks on slide). I have looked everything up and it seems like new retail price for everything would be about $3000. I have very little experience buying new weapons and no experience buying used weapons. I know she wants me to have everything and really I want it. I really don't have a lot of disposable income right now. I dont want to rip her off but at the same time I want to get a good buy on everything. I was thinking of giving her $1600... Does that seem fair considering the situation? Too little or Too much?
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, David

 

[readyeddy]

Sounds about right for an estate sale.

 

[hermannr]

If they are perfect "Like new", a regular gun store will offer about half retail. Offer what your conscience dictates. Your starting point seems reasonable to me.

I had a collector car awhile ago...young man wanted that car in teh worst way, but could not afford to pay me what it would go for at auction...I gave him the car and told him to pay me as he could....he made payments until he had paid off what he thought it was worth.

Old folks sometimes are more accomodating than you may expect.

 

[bannockburn]

I don't know but $1600 seems a bit low to me. Yes it's an estate sale, but they were friends and neighbors, not some unknown estate being sold at auction. I would offer her a little bit more (I think $1800 would be a fair price), for everything. If you don't have the full amount right now (and that is a lot of money especially when finances are tight), offer to pay her the remainder in installments.

 

[AlexanderA]

I would not have taken possession of the guns without paying first, or at the very least putting something in writing about the agreed-upon price. Taking the guns but leaving the payment open-ended is a recipe for trouble, on many levels.

 

[raisincain]

Thanks for your replys. She does not want to deal with selling the guns. So bringing them to a gun store or pawn shop were her other options if I did not buy them. I just brought her $1600 and she said that was exactly what she was hoping for. Seems like we were both very happy with the transaction. Ofcourse I will continue to help her out when she is in need. This was my first post on THR. It seems like there is a wealth of knowledge here. Cant wait to keep looking around.

 

[NYH1]

First of all, welcome to the site, enjoy and stick around!

Sounds like it worked out great for both of you. You got some really nice firearms, she got rid of them, didn't have to deal with any hassle and got what she wanted for them. Good deal.

Take care, NYH1.

 

[rangerphil]

David, let me also say that you are to be commended for your efforts to be fair to your neighbor. You took the High Road on the transaction and it's a great reminder to the rest of us that ethics and fair play still matter. Kudos to you sir.

 

[Captaingyro]

I think this thread should be a little thought-provoking for all of us who...well, let's just say our warranty has expired.

Please give your wife some idea what your collection is worth, and, if possible, designate a shooting buddy to help her with the valuation and disposition of your weapons.

I recently bought an AR-10 from a widow who was ably represented by a member of my club. The price was decent, and probably more than she would have gotten in a consignment sale or at a pawn shop. She was confident that she was getting a fair price, and happy knowing that her husband's rifle was going to someone who would appreciate and care for it. Do your wife a favor, and pre-plan for the disposition of your guns.

 

[musicman10_1]

Good thread. I really need to update my records so that my wife and / or kids will have an easier time deciding how to proceed should I fail to proceed.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

David, let me also say that you are to be commended for your efforts to be fair to your neighbor. You took the High Road on the transaction and it's a great reminder to the rest of us that ethics and fair play still matter. Kudos to you sir.

Agree

 

[chevyman097]

I think you both came out well in the deal. She is happy, you are happy and you did the right thing. All sounds great.

 

[fanchisimo]

Personally I hate when "a pay what you think it's worth" scenario is offered to me for anything. Usually it means that the person will take whatever you offer, but I always feel like they will feel jipped. But it comes down to if she is happy and you are happy then it was a good deal. Don't feel bad, you got a good deal and like Captaingyro said, she is happy the weapons are going to a friend/neighbor who will take care of them.

 

[theautobahn]

I think it was a fair deal. You probably paid a touch less than they're worth, but she didn't have to go through the hassle of trying to sell them (not something most widows want to deal with). When I trade with my friends, we generally don't charge each other book value on most items.

Regardless of what any of us here think or say, you both appear happy with the deal, which is all that matters.