Ever had a gun sale go bad while in the process

[gym]

I agreed to sell a G30 for 525.00 to a guy on Guntrader. I even let him inspect the gun the day before. honestly my XDS is out for recall, and I was hesitant about it to begin with, but he gave me a story about wanting to give It to his son for xmas, so I said the heck with it. The gun was up for $550 for about 3 weeks locally.
I met him the following day, stripped the gun down so he could see the internals, and he was overjoyed with how nice it was.
Then I started counting the money and it was 25 dollars short. He had offered me 475 to which I said no, there were a dozen emails I sorted through later and I had said "no" I would not accept that. But would go to 525.00, "in person" when we spoke. He believed I said 500.00. I said here is your money, I just can't do that, I am giving the gun away at 525. it is flawless with a new night sight and ghost ring. Along with original box bill of sale, cleaning rod etc, just the way it came 12 years ago. So I drove away.
He continued to send me emails of our conversations, where I rejected his offers but did say lets just do this to the 525, "in person", we spoke of after the first meeting.
Also what seemed odd to me, "because I almost said ok", was that he didn't have 1 dollar more on him than the 500.
Oh well I guess things just happen, but this was a first, I think he was looking at the fact that the 500 would be difficult to turn down, which didn't even enter my mind, as it seems that this was just meant to not transpire.
He actually seemed like a nice guy, would you have given him the gun?
He also wouldn't acknowledge that the gun was up for $550.00 not $525.

 

[Geordie]

Sometimes people have honest misunderstandings other times they are trying to out bargain you. You did what you had to do.

 

[stogiegila]

I don't think it is right to try and renegotiate after you both have come to an agreement on the price. Poor form on his part.

You are better off, who knows what other problems could have arose after the sale.

 

[Mike1234567]

Some people just keep trying to haggle... not the way I like to do business but people are who they are. If you weren't hurting badly for the cash I say you did the right thing. In fact, I'd probably kindly reply to the buyer that the price is now back up to $550 due to fuel cost and time loss. If he continues to haggle then I'd just ignore him.

 

[tarosean]

Considering I can get gen 3's for 475 and gen 4's for 515 NIB. Yeah I would have given it to him.

 

[double bogey]

I do hvac and refrigeration. I have fired two customers that insisted on renegotiating after we agreed on a price, and I did the work. And I don't have so much business that I can afford to lose customers. I don't care what is custom where you are from, you are here now. Anyway, merry christmas everybody.

 

[rbernie]

I know of many folk who do that - show up with less cash than agreed and try to use the lure of the cash deal to get the better of the seller. It's how they negotiate.

I can't stand it, and I won't forget it when it's tried. But it seems to be a common ploy in many circles.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I think $500 cash with an asking of $550 on a used, current production firearm that can be bought brand new for ~$575 is more than fair.

However......

Once a price is agreed to and a meeting place set, the deal is finalized except for the actual transfer or goods for currency. Trying to renegotiate after that agreement has been reached is disrespectful, and I think you were right to turn it down on principle. $25 is peanuts, but integrity has real value. I have also told people to pound sand when they showed up with less than the previously agreed-to price. The negotiating power of cash in hand only applies if the negotiating hasn't already been done.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I once bought a collector gun off a forum that was badly damaged when I got it. The seller tried to BS his way outta not knowing of the damage. Getting monetary satisfaction outta that deal was a nightmare.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

This happened to me with a dirt bike 2 years ago. I had the price at 400 + 100 for the riding gear + 150 for the carrier. The guy showed up with
450.00 and wanted everything. I was actually more insulted than anything. I sold all but the carrier and he called me 2 weeks later and claimed that he already bought the carrier as it was part of the deal and he wanted to come pick it up. I told him if he showed up to my house I'd make sure he'd regret it. I never saw the guy again.

 

[gym]

That's how I felt, the $25 dollars was not even a factor. The body language of sitting for over a minute while he looked for money and then said he didn't have any more, was the icing on the cake. It was designed to let me say, "forget about it".
It doesn't matter what you can "get them for" "mentioned above". It's what you agreed to, that's' like when you buy a car there is always someone who tells you, he could have got it for you cheaper. I looked on Gunbroker and my price was more than fair for a gun in pristine condition with night sights. If Lotus Gunworks is asking $779.00 for a CZ p01, and Gungrabber has it for $530.00, It has no bearing on anything, other than who you choose to purchase from. Lotus isn't going to match the price on Gungrabber, or Slickguns. The price is the price period. I am sure if he could have bought it for less after looking for weeks, he would have done so.
I never have negotiated and then asked for a cheaper price, it's not what a man does.

 

[243winxb]

Selling firearms to the public is never fun. Its Work.

 

[itsa pain]

That's how I felt, the $25 dollars was not even a factor. The body language of sitting for over a minute while he looked for money and then said he didn't have any more, was the icing on the cake. It was designed to let me say, "forget about it".
It doesn't matter what you can "get them for" "mentioned above". It's what you agreed to, that's' like when you buy a car there is always someone who tells you, he could have got it for you cheaper. I looked on Gunbroker and my price was more than fair for a gun in pristine condition with night sights. If Lotus Gunworks is asking $779.00 for a CZ p01, and Gungrabber has it for $530.00, It has no bearing on anything, other than who you choose to purchase from. Lotus isn't going to match the price on Gungrabber, or Slickguns. The price is the price period. I am sure if he could have bought it for less after looking for weeks, he would have done so.
I never have negotiated and then asked for a cheaper price, it's not what a man does.

If the 25 bucks was not the factor you would have sold it

 

[wankerjake]

That's a ploy I've heard of, luckily has never happened to me. My guess he does it all the time. I'd have kept it too unless I really wanted to sell it.

 

[silicosys4]

yea, I wouldn't have called you over a pistol that i can get new for less money than you were offering it for, but I would have apologized profusely if I were short and ask if you were allright with me going to the ATM, but the tactic the buyer used was insulting IMO, and I've walked out on people who have made appointments with me to buy product, then try to renegotiate MSRP on me, or think they get 50% of profits on consignment items...so I know where you are coming from.

 

[Lex Luthier]

Some people are permanent jerks and will never listen. I would have counted up that short stack of paper and waited for him to play the cheapster card again. Then very slowly and deliberately gather my item and leave without a word.

 

[Sock Puppet]

He inspected the item prior to purchase, and you had agreed upon a price. You did the right thing. Had he not inspected it before hand, and found and issue or blemish that diminished the value in his eyes, then negotiation would have been justified.

 

[Flashcube]

Had someone do that to me on a car once... showed up after agreeing on a price short $200 "for tax and registration". He didn't buy my car.

I've noticed now with all these "reality" TV shows like pickers that people seem to want to haggle over everything. Don't like my price? Beat it.

 

[BSA1]

IM0 there is no right or wrong here.

Cash money talks. It just didn't talk loud enough to the O.P.

 

[Redlg155]

I agree with sock, everything is contingent on condition. However, you state he was satisfied, so that is likely not the case. Irregardless of the value being placed a bit high, a deal is a deal. Oh..and I'm sure that he had more in his pocket, he just didn't show you.

I would re advertise at $490 ftf and refuse to deal with him.

 

[Keb]

GB Seller Reneged- fake theft

So I bought a nickel S&W 1905 with pears on Gunbroker. Price was about $350.

The next day I contacted the seller who works out of a fish&bait shop in Northern Michigan. On Lake Michigan.

He informs me that mine and two other handguns up on the same day were all stolen out of his pickup while he was at a restaurant after picking them up at his Dad's home.

So I asked for a copy of the police report, and he refused.

About 5 weeks later I checked his feedback on GB. WOW! He has positives from the purchasers of the other two firearms that were listed and in the theft!

I contact Cap't Fun at GB. He says, " Hmmm. We've seen that kind of stuff from that guy before". They were supposed to kick him off. I reported the feedback as it happened. Got a nasty email.

 

[AFDavis11]

I'd have given him the gun and kept the barrel and magazine.

 

[Liberty1776]

I've dealt with too many guys like him to think it's the real deal...(and even a few is too many) and I believe it's a well-planned routine....

 

[Resto Guy]

I walk from situations like that, and I take my toys with me.
I once had a guy wanting to buy car parts from me. They were new take-offs from a car I worked on long ago, and I wanted them out of my way. They had 0 miles on them.
I sent huge resolution pictures to the guy with accurate descriptions. He lived 8 hours away. The price was so cheap he rented a pick up truck from Enterprise and drove to my house. When he got there he wanted to negotiate. I said no. It's raining and I'm going in the house. Have a safe trip home.
He bought the parts, drove off and 15 minutes later called to see if I would give him back $50. I insisted I wanted to refund all of his money. He said "okay".
Come back right now and I will refund all of your money after I take the parts out of the truck. He refused and I pleaded with him to return. I never heard from the idiot again.

 

[TRX]

>I know of many folk who do that - show up with less cash than agreed and try
>to use the lure of the cash deal to get the better of the seller. It's how they
>negotiate.

I've also run into the flip side - I've agreed to purchase something, driven some distance with cash, and then had the seller decide to raise the price. I got back in the car and drove back home.