Memorable Excuses for Selling a Gun?

[YZ]

People often state a reason why they are selling in classifieds or auction listings.

"Need funds" - I get it, done that.
"Can't shoot it well due to arthritis/poor eyesight" - I dig.

Less common ones:
"Moving to another state"
"Baby on the way"
"My girlfriend doesn't like it" (hmmm...)
"Ammo is getting expensive" (hmmmmmm...)
"I think I'm gonna do archery"

Most rare ones:
"Jams a lot"
"Kicks like the devil and misses every time"
"Shoots 16" groups at 25 yards"
"I shot the hell out of it, now's your turn"
"Took it as debt payment, probably hot"

Any Memorable Lines in that regard you can recall from the real 'for sale' ads?

 

[rgwalt]

I usually don't give a reason for the sale, but most commonly I see:

"Wife wants it gone"
"Need money for a YYY" where YYY is a baby, vehicle, vacation, etc.
"Bills to pay"

More honestly:

"Want something different" or "new"
"Prefer XXX" where XXX is a different manufacturer or platform

 

[bannockburn]

"Need money to pay for college."

"Just found a nicer/better version of the same gun."

"Selling a few guns off to thin out the herd a bit."

 

[rgwalt]

"Need money to pay for college."

"Just found a nicer/better version of the same gun."

"Selling a few guns off to thin out the herd a bit."

I never understood the "thinning the herd" comment until I found myself wanting to do the same thing. Sometimes you find yourself with a gun that you rarely shoot, or is the last gun in a certain caliber/type of ammo... why not convert that into a different gun (or something else) that you need, or will use/enjoy?

 

[allaroundhunter]

My recent excuse...

I need it to fund another semester's worth of textbooks...

 

[doc2rn]

Well before the boating accident I had a nice collection of shooters ~50 rifles, pistols, and shotguns. The concept behind collecting so many was they where all great shooters. But for the life of me I was killing myself trying to use them all for their intended purposes. I now have a much smaller collection of the guns I always wanted but couldn't afford due to having so many. I sold the newer whiz bang stuff off for the classic collectibles of my dreams. Now I am really happy when I go to the range or where ever with them. I shoot and enjoy my collection, rather than running over gods green earth looking for the next tacticool match or class.

I like to upgrade.

 

[hariph creek]

I love variations on this add...

"I've got the must have gun of the minute. The Super-Itty-Bitty-Teeny-Weeny-Sub-Micro Hand Hammer in .40 s&w.
It's been my EDC since I got it. Great gun! Reliable, accurate and chambered for a real man's caliber.
I don't like it my pinky dangles, it's got to much recoil and I can't hit any thing.
Only 17 rounds through it, practically new!
Comes with lots of extra stuff: the lock that came with it, the keys for the lock that came with it, the spent cartridge that came with it, the little chamber flag that came with it, the booklet that came with it, the box that came with it, and 3 rounds!
Willing to sell for only 15-20% more than new!"

 

[OilyPablo]

"Trigger guard makes my knuckles bleed"

 

[steveno]

the gun was a piece of crap

 

[allaroundhunter]

the gun was a piece of crap

The best is when a friend comes to that conclusion and then asks you to shoot it to prove their point... And then shooting a nice group

 

[YZ]

Thinning the stock

I know when it is time for it. When I no longer remember how to shoot every single one I own... "Memory full"

 

[Redlg155]

my dog ate it.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Going through a divorce, drunk, and depressed.

 

[fanchisimo]

I need it to fund another semester's worth of textbooks...

Tell me about it.

 

[beatledog7]

Memorable Excuses for Selling a Gun?

Excuses? I don't get why you chose that word in your topic then shifted to reason.

How do you see the two terms differing WRT selling a firearm?

 

[jcwit]

In 70 years I've only sold 2 guns, 1 rifle and 1 shotgun. However I've purchased many, many more, and non are for sale.

 

[YZ]

Excuses? I don't get why you chose that word in your topic then shifted to reason.

How do you see the two terms differing WRT selling a firearm?

Depends on how one sees it. A stated reason by me may look like an excuse to you. This is not a scientific poll.

 

[morcey2]

Along with the "took it for debt, it's probably hot" is when someone is selling a gun and the description doesn't match the pictures. Especially when the pictures are of _my_ gun on _my_ couch.

Another one is "My wife made me list it, but if you offer anything less than $xxx, I won't sell" when xxx is about 5 times what the rifle is worth.

Matt

 

[Magnuumpwr]

The best one was "I am getting divorced and I want to buy a nice ring for my girlfriend". (Bought both)

 

[mljdeckard]

My M1A is worth exactly the amount of my house payment. (I don't have the house anymore.)

 

[YZ]

"Selling because I need to free some room in the gun safe". Looks lame? It's true. I pledged long time ago to have no more guns than will fit in the safe. Okay, two safes.

 

[12131]

Excuses? Who needs an excuse to sell his guns.
Reason, yes. Excuse, no.

With that out of the way, I don't have a problem with any reasons folks state why they're selling their guns.
The only thing that bugs me is this one thing, and I see it quite often. "Need cash to pay for mountains of bills blah blah blah", but then, in the same paragraph, "I'll take these following trades..." Really? If you really have emergency bills, you need every single dollar you can possibly get. Why are you considering trading?

 

[OptimusPrime]

Why can't more people be honest and just say "cuz I don't want it but I got one hell of a deal on it" through inheritance or estate sales or the like.
I've done that about twenty times, with only a couple regrets.

 

[Gunnerboy]

My favorite personal reason from a sale " Ex's Custom mauser Free to good home" haha had a guy give me $150 because he felt bad taking it for free, best part she had payed for that rifle to be built

 

[beatledog7]

Excuses? Who needs an excuse to sell his guns.
Reason, yes. Excuse, no.

Exactly, which was what I was getting at in post 15.