Wheelin’ N’ Dealin’ Pains

[Mr. Mosin]

I’ve a Colt Junior (.25) I’ve been trying to part with for a bit, only thing “wrong” with it is a few minor surface freckles on the LH side of the slide where I caught and cleaned minor surface rust… gent I normally wheel n’ deal with got up with me, told me he had a few pieces he was wanting to hock; I told him I was interested in a good 1911, S&W K/L frames; or $1k cash (bit high, but comes with 100rds of Aguila FMJ and a custom leather pocket rig). Gun’s never been fired to my knowledge- no wear/tear besides that.

Told him I was willing to wiggle on the cash, he told me he’d be back. Two days later (today), he contacts me again offering up a currently unknown “snub .38 and box o’ ammo”….

All I gotta say is that it better be a Colt Detective Spl or S&W M36 in immaculate condition for this headache.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I've tried to sell a few "headache" items over the years. Sometimes it's my asking price or that the market isn't all that hot.

The gun market is on the cold side right now. Finding someone to dish out $1K for a unique gun is not going to be easy.

GLWS!

 

[Mr. Mosin]

The price is fair… it’s just a unique gun

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Guy offered up a beat-to-hell Taurus M85… like he found it magnet fishing or something.

Uh…. No. I’m not trading ANY Taurus for a Colt- let alone when the Colt is in VG condition and I question if the Taurus would even hold together for five rounds. Get on with that nonsense somewhere else

 

[halfmoonclip]

Nature of wheeling and dealing. I about gave away a BHP some years back; had a better example, and a SA-35. Thought better of it, after the fact.
Patience is a virtue, Weed Hopper!
Moon

 

[Riomouse911]

Every seller sooner or later runs into a tire kicker just out to waste your time, and-or a lowballer with a rediculous offer. Sounds like he was politely shooed away, hopefully a more serious buyer comes along.

Stay safe.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

He got back up with me this morning… offered to throw a Mossberg .22 rifle into the deal… my acquaintance; the first gun is $100 “sweeten the pot”, “seal the deal” kinda gun… the second… if I want a .22LR, I’ll buy a Ruger 10/22 and be done with it- throw out something I’m interested in, or at least that matches value.

 

[actionexpress]

Colt Juniors w/ box and papers aren’t bringing even close to a grand on Gunbroker, plenty of recent completed auctions as examples. Here’s a truly complete example: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1095411435

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Colt Juniors w/ box and papers aren’t bringing even close to a grand on Gunbroker, plenty of recent completed auctions as examples. Here’s a truly complete example: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1095411435

I’m aware… I was expecting him to haggle lower… not lowball with a $150 gun

 

[Mosin77]

Ya can’t be too upset with him for trying… in theory a trade feels like a good deal for everyone. But they’re harder to set up because everybody likes money, but not everyone is looking for a Colt Jr, a Mossberg .22, or a Taurus revolver.

 

[someguy2800]

Sounds like he doesn't want it, and truth be told I wouldn't want it either. Best to go find someone who does want it. I never try to talk people into something because when you actually find the guy that wants it you couldn't talk him out of it if you tried.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Some Mossberg rimfires are worth a bit more than a "freckled" Junior.
Most aren't, but some are.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

It was beat up almost as badly as the $50 Taurus M85

 

[redneck2]

Everything I have is super valuable. Everything someone else has is junk. At least that’s the way I see it.

Back many years ago someone was trying to sell me a gun for about 3x what it was worth. I asked him why he thought it was worth so much. He said it was because the new gun he wanted cost that much. My efforts to explain the two were not related fell on deaf ears.

watch a few episodes of Pawn Stars and you’ll see what unrealistic expectations people have.

no one is forcing him to sell, no one is forcing you to buy.

The market determines value, not what I have in my head

 

[CCSIG]

I think that it pays to leave your feelings at home when bargaining- the opening bid is generally a lowball offer, and presumably both sides SHOULD work to a price somewhere in the middle. Of course, some folks are just there to waste your time...
The subject of "what's a fair price" is a thorny one since sometimes what you want, as a buyer, is something that you never seem to see for sale. When you finally find said item for sale, it can become a case of "pay the nice man what he wants" or else go back to searching. On occasion, I have found it easier to pay up and be done with it. At least I have the object of my dreams, and the pain fades eventually.

 

[argonn]

I think that it pays to leave your feelings at home when bargaining- the opening bid is generally a lowball offer, and presumably both sides SHOULD work to a price somewhere in the middle. Of course, some folks are just there to waste your time...
The subject of "what's a fair price" is a thorny one since sometimes what you want, as a buyer, is something that you never seem to see for sale. When you finally find said item for sale, it can become a case of "pay the nice man what he wants" or else go back to searching. On occasion, I have found it easier to pay up and be done with it. At least I have the object of my dreams, and the pain fades eventually.

Spot on, ole boy!

 

[sgt127]

I’m aware… I was expecting him to haggle lower… not lowball with a $150 gun

Honestly? Your price was so far off at $1000, I wouldn’t make a counter offer. I’d assume you would be insulted at $350-400.

A nice Colt detective Special or M36 are worth way more than the Colt 25. 2-3X depending on condition.

 

[silicosys4]

Truth be told, at $1k, the seller was further away from actual value than the offer. If someone tried selling me a $500 gun for double it's value, I might very well fire back with something worth half the actual value, just to make the point.

 

[dogtown tom]

"Trading" is a sport all its own. Back when I sold at gun shows it wasn't unusual to see a guy walking the aisles with a sign taped to his barrel...."Trades wanted".
I asked him what he wanted for the 10/22 rifle, he replied "Oh, I'm not selling, I'm looking to do a trade only".

Its as if the concept of selling, then using the proceeds to buy never entered his wittle brain. He was back two months later, same gun, same sign.

 

[someguy2800]

"Trading" is a sport all its own. Back when I sold at gun shows it wasn't unusual to see a guy walking the aisles with a sign taped to his barrel...."Trades wanted".
I asked him what he wanted for the 10/22 rifle, he replied "Oh, I'm not selling, I'm looking to do a trade only".

Its as if the concept of selling, then using the proceeds to buy never entered his wittle brain. He was back two months later, same gun, same sign.

I've encountered that a lot and I never understood it.

Back when Armslist was free and my state didn't require a 4473 for individual transfers, I used to buy and sell guns all the time on there. I got way more offers for trades than to buy. I am pretty particular on what firearms I want so it was pretty rare to get an offer I was actually interested in, but I did make some pretty good trades in my favor.

One time I was trying to sell an AR10 I built and was getting no serious bites for months so I decided I'm just going to take any trade offer for similar value even if I don't want it in the hopes that whatever that is would be an easier sell. I traded it for a 10mm Glock, and then traded that for a 1911, and then traded the 1911 for a better 1911 to someone on this forum, then traded that for 2 pistols, then traded both of those pistols, and on and on. I think I was up to 20+ trades by the time I was done. Wish we could still do that without transfer fees.

 

[defjon]

I've encountered that a lot and I never understood it.

Back when Armslist was free and my state didn't require a 4473 for individual transfers, I used to buy and sell guns all the time on there. I got way more offers for trades than to buy. I am pretty particular on what firearms I want so it was pretty rare to get an offer I was actually interested in, but I did make some pretty good trades in my favor.

One time I was trying to sell an AR10 I built and was getting no serious bites for months so I decided I'm just going to take any trade offer for similar value even if I don't want it in the hopes that whatever that is would be an easier sell. I traded it for a 10mm Glock, and then traded that for a 1911, and then traded the 1911 for a better 1911 to someone on this forum, then traded that for 2 pistols, then traded both of those pistols, and on and on. I think I was up to 20+ trades by the time I was done. Wish we could still do that without transfer fees.

This is my story too! I live in illinois, the asinine "assault weapons ban" along with armslist putting up a paywall killed the fun of trading.

Trading was awesome! Met tons of folks on here, TFL, armslist. 15 years ago it was no big deal. Never had an issue. Haggling is a great time. Definitely need to emotionally de-invest.

I don't follow the market on colt juniors too terribly much, but you're probably looking for a niche collector at this point.

But it reads like a user with some rust freckling and such. If somebody wants a "stick it and forget it" pocket gun problem solver, they could grab a lcp first model for like 160 right now. You can't really factor any ammo in the trade as value per se, too many variables. It is a cherry on top at best. I can't imagine being in for more than 350ish on what you're describing to be honest. He offered a taurus 85 and a 22 rifle. Sounds about right.