Gun Collector
Plinker
New to the site so hope I'm posting this in the correct location. Seeking some wisdom from the elders of the site...
Went up to see my dad recently and was in a gun ship in my old home town. I've purchased several firearms in this shop and probably stop in once a month or so and I vaguely know the owner. Anyway, as I'm browsing the used guns an old gentlemen and his grandson walk into the shop. The old guy is walking with a cane and the younger fella is obviously driving the car for him and helping him out. I notice they are carrying an older shotgun. From the low conversation it is obvious that the older gentlemen is here to sell and is helping out his grandson with some college expenses or some expense that matters to both of them.
Edging closer, they place the gun on the counter. It is a beautiful Remington 11-48 16 ga with high grade factory wood and a full rib barrel. This thing looked like it rolled off the line in Ilion, NY yesterday. As I started to inquire about the gun the guy behind the counter cut me off and asks about the gun. "I might want to sell it" is the comment from the older gentlemen. The guy asks how much and the old guy tells him he paid $175 for it used many years ago but figures it's worth more now. The shop guy looks the gun over and pulls out the calculator and taps the keys on the computer. A minute or so later he lays the gun in front of the older guy and says "Well, this is a 16 ga and we don't get many call for these. Nobody wants 16 ga shotguns much anymore so we will probably have this on the shelf for awhile. I can give you $100.00 tops and that's only because of the condition. Just not many calls for thee anymore."
OK now, I know a little about Remington's and I know some about gun shops, markups and how they make a profit. Used guns are a good money maker for them. But here is a $500-$600 gun and the joker is offering $100? I can see the old guy is disappointed and me? I'm shocked! In fact, I'm quite ticked off that they would offer $100 for something like this. The older guy is quite ticked off and is pushing back on the price.
Not wanting to see the old guy get totally taken, I wait a minute and after some sticky silence, I leaned in and said to the guy behind the counter "As soon as you are done buying this, I'll offer the shop $200 cash for the Remmy". You double your money.
Next thing I know the you-know-what hits the fan. Owner and another guy behind the counter asked me to step outside. I'm guided out the front door. The old guy is selling the gun. The owner advises me that I'm "interfering with a business transaction and a private sale and I need to leave immediately". I said "OK" and that I didn't intend to cause any problems but was making an offer on something you are buying and could double your money on. I was not allowed back inside and was then directed to leave the store//property immediately and was told not to come back, period.
So my question: Was I wrong to push this issue? Or should I have ignored the whole thing and walked away. On one hand the old guy should have done his homework before selling but on the other, the action by the dealer only reinforces my suspicion of how the local LGS operates. A friend of mine saw the gun the next day priced at $650.00
Went up to see my dad recently and was in a gun ship in my old home town. I've purchased several firearms in this shop and probably stop in once a month or so and I vaguely know the owner. Anyway, as I'm browsing the used guns an old gentlemen and his grandson walk into the shop. The old guy is walking with a cane and the younger fella is obviously driving the car for him and helping him out. I notice they are carrying an older shotgun. From the low conversation it is obvious that the older gentlemen is here to sell and is helping out his grandson with some college expenses or some expense that matters to both of them.
Edging closer, they place the gun on the counter. It is a beautiful Remington 11-48 16 ga with high grade factory wood and a full rib barrel. This thing looked like it rolled off the line in Ilion, NY yesterday. As I started to inquire about the gun the guy behind the counter cut me off and asks about the gun. "I might want to sell it" is the comment from the older gentlemen. The guy asks how much and the old guy tells him he paid $175 for it used many years ago but figures it's worth more now. The shop guy looks the gun over and pulls out the calculator and taps the keys on the computer. A minute or so later he lays the gun in front of the older guy and says "Well, this is a 16 ga and we don't get many call for these. Nobody wants 16 ga shotguns much anymore so we will probably have this on the shelf for awhile. I can give you $100.00 tops and that's only because of the condition. Just not many calls for thee anymore."
OK now, I know a little about Remington's and I know some about gun shops, markups and how they make a profit. Used guns are a good money maker for them. But here is a $500-$600 gun and the joker is offering $100? I can see the old guy is disappointed and me? I'm shocked! In fact, I'm quite ticked off that they would offer $100 for something like this. The older guy is quite ticked off and is pushing back on the price.
Not wanting to see the old guy get totally taken, I wait a minute and after some sticky silence, I leaned in and said to the guy behind the counter "As soon as you are done buying this, I'll offer the shop $200 cash for the Remmy". You double your money.
Next thing I know the you-know-what hits the fan. Owner and another guy behind the counter asked me to step outside. I'm guided out the front door. The old guy is selling the gun. The owner advises me that I'm "interfering with a business transaction and a private sale and I need to leave immediately". I said "OK" and that I didn't intend to cause any problems but was making an offer on something you are buying and could double your money on. I was not allowed back inside and was then directed to leave the store//property immediately and was told not to come back, period.
So my question: Was I wrong to push this issue? Or should I have ignored the whole thing and walked away. On one hand the old guy should have done his homework before selling but on the other, the action by the dealer only reinforces my suspicion of how the local LGS operates. A friend of mine saw the gun the next day priced at $650.00