THR: Thicker than blood?

[Quoheleth]

The other day someone posted a link to a handgun sale link asking if the gun was a good price. It apparantly was, as almost immediately there were questions of "where did you see that?" and "let me know if you pass."

That got me thinking...speaking for myself at least, there are a lot of names on THR I recognize and we're THR "friends," but only a handful of people I know (have met or talked on the phone, etc.) and of those only two or three are really my friends.

What if someone posts up a link to a gun for sale that he (or she) really wants and is asking for opinions on it, and it happens to be a gun you also want. Would you make a play for it - after all, it's a free country? Or do you take The High Road and let that individual fight others for it and you stay out? Would it depend on how well you know the fellow THR member?

Just wondering...no judgements are intended...

Q

 

[kingpin008]

Sure. Unless it's a good friend of mine, and it's their holy grail...it's a free market. Nothing personal.

 

[bikerdoc]

Nope, I am not going to going to try and jump his claim, just as I expect others not to jump mine.
I have more than a few friends and aqaintances on THR, all fine men and a couple of women. Their friendship and comraderie enriches my life, no way I would try beat them to a deal.

Just my .02 YMMV

 

[Legionnaire]

I think it is naive to post a link to something one is interested in buying personally, especially if it is a one-off. Better to ask in general terms without posting specifics. It is "high road" to point others in the direction of a "good deal." I'm awaiting the arrival of a new BP revolver thanks to a fellow THR member pointing me in the direction of Cabela's current sale. And I try to steer folks to good deals when I see them.

To the OP's specific question, if someone posted a link to something I've been looking for, I'd likely jump in. If it's an auction, it's going to the high bidder in any case; I may as well put my bid in. If it's a forum sale, it's probably going to the first firm "I'll take it." Again, my staying out after the link has been posted isn't going to save the deal for the guy asking the question.

I think my position would be tempered somewhat by how high the gun was on my priority list. I wouldn't jump on it just because it's a "good deal." I'd only jump in if it was something I really wanted. "Low road" to jump on a deal and then turn around and try make a profit reselling the item in short order. If not something I really want, I'd rather leave it for someone else.

 

[BBQLS1]

Sorry man. I don't see how outbidding a fellow member on a firearm on a public forum would be low road in any way. Low road would be lying to get the gun.

IMO, it's kinda low road to expect them to give you the good deal.

 

[Mike1234567]

I'd tell the seller "I'll take it", but then give the purchase option to the person who posted the link. That way, the sale is more-or-less secured and we're both covered. But that's just me. Far too many will, indeed, jump on every opportunity without remorse. One example of late is a man who bought many relatively rare and nearly mint handguns that a young man inherited from a close relative... paying him approximately 30 percent of their true market value. I have a problem doing that... my conscience would kill me. When did a "handshake" turn into "every man for himself" in this country?

ETA: I didn't vote because this option or "other" wasn't available. But, if I was to vote, it would be option #1.

 

[Legionnaire]

I'd tell the seller "I'll take it", but then give the purchase option to the person who posted the link. That way, the sale is more-or-less secured and we're both covered.

Classy, Mike; very "high road."

 

[M-Cameron]

eh, if my buddy tells me of a gun hes planning on picking up for $xxx........and then i run out and offer the guy $xxx + 50.......thats unacceptable.

but if i overhear some guys talking about this great deal theyre thinking of picking up......and i want it....chances are im going to try and nab it.


same applies to the internet.......if you find this fantastic deal.....and you post it all over internet forums........dont complain when someone nabs it from you.

 

[InkEd]

Just ask if it's a fair price and describe the condition. I wouldn't even mention where I found it, especially if online. Better yet on a used gun you could always simply ask the value/going rate of such a gun in it's condition. If it's a deal on a new gun, I feel it is nice to tell others about it. (I save about $100 dollars on my Arsenal AK because of a tip I got on here.)

 

[Nushif]

I have a problem doing that... my conscience would kill me.

I see where the argument "free market" and all that has merit but this. I make a lousy salesman and general capitalist exactly because of this.

[edit]
I have actually sent people to Lowe's instead of going through my company once or twice for something they can do cheaper and just as well on their own. 8(
Major projects should be handled by professionals ... but minor camping trailer upgrades? Naw.
[/edit]

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^ Yeah... it sux being broke, doesn't it?

 

[Walkalong]

I would not do it, but I am kind of old fashioned. Do unto others and all that. AC

 

[buck460XVR]

if you find this fantastic deal.....and you post it all over internet forums........dont complain when someone nabs it from you.

Exactly....but it won't be me. If the OP declines the sale than it's fair game, but jumpin' a claim when another shooter finds it first is like shootin' a buck out from underneath a fellow hunter that spotted it first and was letting it come in closer. There's class and then there's crass.

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^ Adding to that... there's class and then there's crass and then there's [censored 3 letter word]. Anyone who takes advantage like that is the latter, IMHO.

 

[SSN Vet]

In general, I think trying to ace somebody who came to the board asking for help is a low down crummy thing to do.

As a general rule, I don't do low down crummy things.

You're "values" may be different.

 

[rellascout]

IMHO all is fair if the gun is being sold by a public retailer/seller espically if it is an auction. That does not mean I would do it but the reality is that if it is for sale it is for sale.

99% of the time the logistics prevent someone from jumping on the deal. I have posted in threads telling the OP if you do not buy it PM me where it is and I will arrange to purchase it.

 

[oldbear]

If someone,asking for advise, was silly enough to post the information of a buy it now sale, I would not try to but it our from under them. If it was an auction site I very well may enter a bid.

 

[Mal H]

Quoheleth - a question on the poll itself. It would appear there is only one answer that would be selected by each individual member. Why did you make it a multiple choice poll?

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. It was probably a mistake.

2. It may have been a mistake.

3. It probably wasn't a mistake.

4. Mike should let the OP speak for himself.

 

[CoRoMo]

...it's a free market. Nothing personal.

This.

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^ Only if the meaning of "free market" is ham-stringing a person who's asking for your help. I don't agree with cut-throat behavior.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

If the link is for a classified ad, my take is the first one to post up "I'll take it" and comes up with the cash gets it.

If the link is to an auction, it's pretty well understood the guy willing to pay the most gets it.

 

[2ndAmFan]

If it's a gun I know the member really wants I probably wouldn't bid. I also feel it would be foolish to post a link on a public forum because some people would definitely go after it. I don't think that's necessarily low road. The person who posted the link opened bidding up to everyone on the site, after all.
It's kind of like someone is standing at the meat counter at the grocery store looking at the meat. You walk up and spot a couple of good looking rib eyes. Are you just going to stand there or grab those two rib eyes while the other customer is just looking? I don't mean shoving the other customer aside. Just getting what you want while they're standing there looking. Nothing low road about that.
Most of the people I know online who find really good deals don't even post about them until they've bought the gun. If you don't know what a particular gun is worth use google to get as much info as you can.

 

[Apex29]

If someone is foolish enough to post a bargain on a public forum, and I wanted it, you bet I'd buy it. I didn't take these people to raise.

 

[Mike1234567]

Well, the OP's scenario is base on a gun "for sale". It seems to me this isn't an auction but a first "I'll take it" classified ad. However, I would transpose this to a BIN auction too. An open auction with no BIN is a different story.

The responses in which people indicate they'd ham-string the one asking them for help make me sad. Integrity is dying.

ETA: Again, if I really wanted the gun I'd BIN or post "I'll take it" but I'd give the one asking for advice dibs.