Forum culture, politeness, and the price you paid for that gun

[daniel craig]

Forum brethren and sistren, do you like it when posters mention what price they paid for the gun that they're talking about?

I ask because I like to put that information in, but I noticed that most posters are mum on that subject.

Of course if a fellow comes on here every single day of the week asking people whether they prefer his new FK BRNO to his new Korth, and by the way he's going to tell you what he paid for them, then he should probably cut that posting habit back to once or twice a month. But just in general,

Do you think that it's crass or impolite when people say what they paid?

Or do some of you like to see that kind of numbers -- be it boast or be it lamentation -- included in forum comments?

Don’t really care either way. If it’s a brag, hey good for them, if it’s not, hey good for them.

I will say this. It’s helpful to say whether it’s a modern price or from x years ago. It’s also helpful to say, if it’s a modern price, it that price includes any rebates or sales tax just so readers can get a good idea about the market should they also want to buy one.

 

[CapnMac]

It's a mixed bag.
It's all to easy for others to get all tied up in what they told the Significant Other that they paid and what really crossed the counter.
A person can easily round a purchase price to whatever filter they care to.
It's somewhat on "us" to view that amount with either admiration or incredulity.

"I got a Colt Detective Special for ninety bucks at Walmart" could be viewed with skepticism, unless one also includes that the year was 1990 and the item was on sale.
Using that price (and time) to compare a recent purchase of a Colt DS might be conidered rude, depending on how the comparison is cast.

As is most often the case, etiquette and manners are all in the presentation. There's something to be said for the old adage about, "Would you tell it that way to your gramma?"

 

[commygun]

Bragging or not, if they’re being honest I always like to hear what things are going for.

It’s always striking how different regional pricing is. It doesn’t always make sense.

 

[Jimbo80]

[QUOTE="Dibbs]IMO, these prices you see mentioned online are skewed low. IME, waiting for a particular firearm, at a good price could take years, and so I'd rather pay a little extra, than fart around another 18 months, or more, searching hi and low, and waiting for a rock bottom price.[/QUOTE]

While I am lucky enough to be able to afford to pay extra rather than search for a good price I never do. The search is the fun part about collecting firearms for me. Searching for guns ain't like hard labor and I usually end up with a pretty good tale to go along with the bargain.

Not to be rude but I bought this Cobra a couple of years ago for $100. The DS parts gun was thrown in. The DS was deactivated with a hole and a bolt in the barrel. I found a used barrel for $60 on eBay and paid my 'smith $35 to fit it.

 

[Ignition Override]

The price means nothing to me, whether or not it is my type of gun.

Being very satisfied with my present family of guns, even if somebody else paid 50% less for the same exact model/condition/number of gold-plated OEM mags - whether in 1990 (often the year is Unstated/misleading) or 2020 - it doesn't generate any actual 'gun envy' or anything else.

Info generates binary digits. These cost nothing and can be ignored.

 

[Waveski]

Info generates binary digits. These cost nothing and can be ignored.

Ok , ummm ...

 

[Old Dog]

Only here would someone attempt to explain their view on used gun prices in terms of information theory... entropy?

 

[mnrivrat]

To the OP : It doesn't bother me at all for folks to post the price paid. Often it gives them bragging rights to get a "good deal" , and I see nothing wrong with that. It also can establish a price to shoot for for those who want to buy or sell the twin to a gun being discussed. I don't see it as a big deal, but in some ways I like seeing a price for that reason.

 

[rust collector]

Posters may certainly volunteer information on what was paid for a firearm, and as we all know from our favorite crime drama, anything they say may be used against them. It doesn't bother me, but the internet never forgets.

 

[buck460XVR]

Why is the price relevant unless you're using it as the basis of your braggadocio?

IMHO, 90% of those posts about a recent gun acquisition is to brag....not much different than folks posting a picture on Facebook of them on a beach in Cabo with a fruity drink in their hand, or the guy on the hunting forum with a picture next to a dead critter. Boasting of a extremely low or high price just adds to the ego boost. While there are a few legitimate , "got a new gun and don't know how I did/how to operate", posts, most are in the form of "look what I got!", Couldn't pass up this baby!" or those "Finally got my Grail gun!" posts. Sometimes it starts out as a "getting a new gun, what should I get?", transitions to "Which one should I get, from this choice of three?" to "Finally brought her home!". All are an announcement that the poster is in the position to add to their gun collection and on these types of forums, your collection is your identity. I believe the whole demand for and great price increase in Pythons was driven by gun forums and the desire by folks to impress others on those same gun forums. While many said it was because they weren't made anymore or how great they were, I think the boost to one's ego/self-esteem when they could come on a gun forum and brag about "I probably paid too much, but I finally have one!". This about a gun that was previously thought so little of they were dropped from production due to no demand. Same goes for the picture of a new stock 686 or Super Redhawk. Does anyone really need to see another one? Are they any different than the previous multitude? Like pictures of a new born baby with a scrunched up face and everyone says "Awww, how cute!"

That said, I don't mind about prices and whether they are posted or not. It's just window dressing to the post to me. Most of the time the gun doesn't relate to/interest me, so the price is irrelevant. Those guns that do interest me or are relevant, I know the value. Odds are, I won't find that ridiculously low price anywhere that was claimed to be paid, nor am I going to pay the ridiculously high price claimed. We all know how well we can trust anything we read on the internet. For the most part, unless the gun is a brand new model or something rare or wildly different, I skip over the majority of "new gun threads". Was a time in my life where I too bought things to fit in or to impress. I too ask others what I should have, not for me, but to impress them. Wasn't just guns, but motorcycles, cars, bar-b-Que grills and lawn mowers. Learned to make my choices based on my needs, and lived with those choices without the need to let others know how well I did. I do still brag about my kids, grandkids and bird-dog tho.....

 

[GEM]

I think we have come to an end of this.