Exact same thing happened to me about two months ago. I'd been wanting a lever .30-30, and had been eyeing the Marlin 336W at the local Wal-Mart over the spring and summer. But two attempts to get people there to sell it to me without success turned me off.
I wandered into the local gun showroom here, with nothing particular in mind (I just go in to look around a few times a month), and my eye catches a Winchester 94, made in 1968, I believe. A little rough around the edges and some light bluing wear, but I figure a lever Winchester needs to have some character, and it does way above a new "Remmarlin." In addition, another gun also grabbed my attention, a Star Super B in pristine (perhaps even unissued) condition. The Winnie was marked at $350, and the Star at a hundred less. The Star's going rate is about what they were asking, but an agreed-upon price of $500 for both guns can mean I got the Winnie for $250.
Merry Christmas..!