Alas, Society imposes insults that must be borne.  I had a table holder at a show who was really interested in a rifle I was carrying around assure me he was interested in buying at my price, but he had to take care of some business.  If I could wait a minute, he would be back.

After many minutes, he came back and made an offer of about 1/3 of what I wanted.  I said no and walked away to my belated lunch.

As far as I was concerned, it was insulting, alright, but being insulting is part of the man’s job.  After all, I might have said yes, and he wasn’t going to let a chance go by.  I would imagine making a living trading guns would not be a job for the timid.

Way back when, there was a state Arms collector’s association that was worth joining because you got into their gun shows for free.  The incoming President of the club wrote an article in their newsletter that he hoped his tenure would mark a new era where the Association would evolve beyond, as he described it, “Just a bunch of gun hustlers.”

I left the state a few years later, and as far as I could see, the Association was still just a bunch of gun hustlers.

I didn’t mind. Learned some negotiation skills from them, how puffery is countered, and other trading techniques, although, of course I would never make the grade as a professional.  But I’d still snap up the occasional bargain, even from them.

It’s really a matter of how quick you want the sale.  Stuff gets snapped up quick at low prices, or hangs on maybe for years until the right buyer shows up.  Or, more often, the price wears itself down to a level both parties can agree on.

I'm in the process of doing that for the widow of a good friend of many years. I've done well so far but still have a few hard to move items and quite a few small parts that will go on ebay.

Thanks guys. Seems I am not alone in my task...




JMH

bpjack wrote on Nov 15^th, 2022 at 11:12am:


I've never been concerned about my old guns after I'm gone, but I have often thought about all the other related equipment, and what happens to it.
I've got an old briefcase full of front, rear, and tang sights and the sights in it are likely worth more than some of my old rifles. Just not sure how to ensure they get sold properly, unless I individually packed each sight with a description, and price on it?

Guy I barely knew heard I was going to sell a nice Parker shotgun through a consignment dealer. Asked if I would bring it to a shoot and give him first look. Packed it up carried it along with my usual shooting gear. 3 day’s he kept saying he would get with me to look. 

End of the shoot after passing half a dozen times where he put me off with excuses guy never looked at the gun. Took it home & mailed to the dealer who sold it at more than I was thinking about.

There is little honor among gun traders. My advice find a good consignment dealer and be glad to pay his commission. Working on a percentage he’s motivated to obtain best price & deals with the jerks for you.

I do have a few bad consignment  dealer stories.

Boats

ISS wrote on Nov 16^th, 2022 at 4:26am:


I have no idea what this means? Do you mean if my estate was more than 7 figures my widow wouldn't think of it, but less she would? Seems backwards to me.

what??