Selling a bad gun with a clean conscience

[J.]

I bought the little pistol and I can't make it work. Everytime I contact the makers all they want to do is send me more parts. I am tired of putting on parts and can't understand why they won't take their gun back and fix it. I tried to explain to them that when something goes wrong with my In-warranty truck the dealers do not send me parts to fix it. I take it to the dealer, they fix it, and that is what I think the gun maker should do.
Their argument is that it will straighten out after 200 rounds, but I can't make them understand that it only shoots a few rounds before it screws up again so getting 200 rounds through it is going to take forever.
So bassically, how can I get rid of this gun and not feel bad about selling it at a pawn shop or trading it.
I ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT someone buying it and not trying it before he or she decides to carry it concealed and possily gets killed.
Any thoughts?:banghead:

 

[7.62 Nato]

Selling with full disclosure would be perfectly acceptable. I'm sure at a fair price no buyer could have a problem with that.

Have you tried picking the brains of THR members to solve the gun problems ?

 

[Ed Ames]

Spray paint it gold and install mother-of-toilet-seat grips.

More seriously... There is no way to control what other people do with a gun you sell them. If you think it is your responsibility to do so, well, firstly you are wrong but more relevant here you shouldn't sell it at all. If you disclose why you are selling (fully and honestly) you have no reason to feel bad. The buyer may think they can fix it or not care.

"Conscience"

 

[makarovnik]

What is the make and model of the naughty little gun?

 

[doc2rn]

Some guns do need a gunsmith, thats why they have a job. Find your local smith and ask him to take a look at it.

 

[N.Schafer]

Basic rules of buying/selling anything with a clear conscience.

1. Tell the truth.

2. Do not set out to harm the other party.

3. Look for the win-win deal.

 

[Sock Puppet]

Some guns do need a gunsmith, thats why they have a job. Find your local smith and ask him to take a look at it.

Indeed! Don't sell it at a loss when you can take it to a smith and have a perfectly functioning firearm. After all, you must have bought it because you like it, so try to make it right and enjoy it.

 

[UKShooter]

As others have said. Sell it with full disclosure.

Someone may fancy their chances at fixing it and be happy to take it of your hands and tinker with it. I did this recently with a shotgun, the previous owner hadnt figured the issue out, i spotted it in minutes and now have a nice cheap working shotgun.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Selling with full disclosure would be perfectly acceptable

Yes, this. Someone else may feel they can work with it.

With full disclosure in such a position, expect to take a loss. I wouldn't pay you full blue book value knowing it is malfunctioning.

FWIW, I've had lemons before. I either got them working, or sold the lemon as a lemon and took a slight loss, but my conscious was clear knowing I gave the buyer the full scoop.

 

[mbogo]

Box the gun back up, add a letter detailing all the steps you took and parts you added at their direction, and send it back to the manufacturer/importer.

Let them figure it out. They should either fix the gun or replace it.

mbogo

 

[quatin]

What gun and what's the problem? I know guns that do say in the instruction manual, that it will jam for the first 100 rounds.

 

[Russ Jackson]

I would do exactly as mbogo says. I would call ahead and get someones name. I would then ship it to there attention....Russ

 

[medalguy]

Sound like good replies all.... however I would have a big problem buying ANY gun that said in its manual that it needed to be fired several hundred rounds BEFORE it would function reliably.

 

[Bubbles]

If this was a NIB firearm it should still be under warranty. Ship it back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement.

 

[ForumSurfer]

fired several hundred rounds BEFORE it would function reliably

I've had a few that required between 200 and 500. No big deal. Most of them functioned fine during the break in period, too.

 

[hso]

Is this the P238 with the ejection problems you were posting about in Autoloaders?

 

[Legionnaire]

What is the make and model of the naughty little gun?

What gun and what's the problem?

Ditto. Inquiring minds would like to know.

Kahr says the PM9 needs a 200-round break-in period. Mine functioned fine during that period, but I bought it knowing I would need to shoot it. Some guns need to wear in; no big deal.

And I agree with mbogo if you've run out of patience, although a gunsmith is another good option.

 

[ronnier]

i bet that so called gun is a hi point or bryco,jennings,etc., Ron

 

[killchain]

I bet it's a Kimber 1911.

WHAM-O, take that overpriced 1911's!

 

[Mac's Precision]

While the brand names you listed are known for problems...don't jump to the conclusion that it has to be a notorious "Cheepie" to have problems.

I have MANY guns from famous brand names such as COLT, SMITH & WESSON, TAURUS, RUGER,KIMBER, PARA ORDNANCE, BERETTA, MARLIN, MOSSBERG etc. come across my bench long before the first 50 rounds.. with factory goofs.

The short list of guns that I RARELY see with failures...GLOCK, SIG, LEWIS MACHINE TOOL, STAG, DPMS, REMINGTON

Work on guns 6 days a week for a while and you will get some VERY strong opinions about the reputation of certain makers. You fellows might be amazed at how MANY brand new guns I fix.

Many of the production 1911 makers have SIGNIFICANT issues.

Seriously I am not the slightest bit shocked when someone says "I have this gun...it is pretty new...it malfunctions all the time"

What bugs me is when people contact the maker and get blown off. I have fixed several guns that the so called warranty people failed to address. That just isn't right. I stand firmly behind my work and will take care of my customers...why can't the gun makers do the same?

I would be interested to know what make this gun is....that has the repeat problems.

Cheers
Mac.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

it would be nice to let us know what it is, so we may avoid this brand.

nothing worse than a company that leaves you hanging when their product won't work! i encountered this with Parausa, and i will never buy their products again.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

I wouldn't worry about it if it is a common known problem as this seems to be.

A Colt Anaconda on the used gun shelf is a another known problem gun. Look at the rear sight and it is probably cranked all the way over to the left. During cutbacks Colt fired all the millwrights and the machines that cut the Anaconda frames were 2 degrees off. Stick a 3' dowel rod down the barrel and you will see it sticking off to one side.

The COP 4-barrel .357. Damn thing won't shoot to point of aim with any barrel at any distance. It also has a 25 lb trigger pull.

I sold both off once I found out that they were common and well known problems.

 

[2TransAms]

What gun and what's the problem? I know guns that do say in the instruction manual, that it will jam for the first 100 rounds.

What guns are those? I know of several that say there should be a break-in period, but not that flat-out say they will jam.

 

[Armory]

Tell the truth.......

 

[deadin]

If you can keep a straight face just tell the prospective buyer that the reason you want so little for it is because it is a POS. (and then price it at what you want out of it.)