Some sellers just don't make it easy for you to buy...

[yenniedn]

Hello AGN:

I've been thinking about buying a $2k+ rifle from a member here and have run into what (for me anyways) is a odd but frustrating situation. This seller has been a member here for over a year with decent number of posts in that time - not a whole bunch of them but enough to be a contributing member to the forum. He's only ever listed this one rifle and has renewed the listing several times in various configurations at a couple different prices over the course of many months. He also only has a +1 positive feedback rating and it was for a suggestion he made on a thread, not for actually selling/buying anything.

The latest listing is a couple of months old and hasn't been renewed so I P/M'ed him asking if it was still available. Once he said it was, I asked if he could give me a number I could reach him at to discuss the rifle & potential purchase. He replied back that he was working long hours and couldn't talk - and asked me what questions I had. I told him I wanted to confirm exactly what was included with the rifle, get the specific thread sizes on the moderators included and some other general questions about the rifle. He came back with what's included is listed on the ad and any specs I need can be found on the manufacturer's website. Well, no kidding...who would've thunk it - I never would've thought to go to the website to get specs! Of course, in addition to the questions I had, I was more interested in talking to him live to make sure he was a legit seller and was on the up and up.

If you want someone to send you well over $2,000 for something, you'd think you'd make the time to have the conversation. Yes, I understand it Christmas and all but I asked if he was available at anytime in the coming week and he just doesn't seem to have an interest in talking or apparently in selling his rifle. I honestly don't think this is a scammer situation - it's just a guy that's not on this forum very often and doesn't want to make the effort to move his for sale item. I'm certainly not going to be sending the guy this kind of money if this is his general attitude towards selling on the forum. Now I think I understand why this rifle has been sitting unsold for so long. If he would've taken the call and spent 5 minutes on the phone with me, I most likely would've paid him right after the call but as it stands, I'll just spend that money on the next interesting thing that shows up that's being sold by a friendlier/more responsive seller???

What would you guys do in this situation: hit him up again or just move on?

 

[Franklink]

What would you guys do in this situation: hit him up again or just move on?

How bad do you want it? Lol

You may have actually hit the guy right in the middle of a long shift at work. Maybe he's had a bunch of tire kickers asking him stuff that he already included in the ad. Maybe he just doesn't like to talk on the phone. I personally don't love phone conversations and would prefer to text/email.

One plus here is that he's not falling al over himself to make the sale. One of the biggest red flags for me (that usually turns into somebody trying to run a scam on ya) is when the "seller" is overly eager. Sure doesn't seem to be to the case here, at least from your description.

I'd try again if I was truly interested. If there are questions you have that weren't addressed in his ad or the specs for the gun on the manufactures website, see if he'll answer them by text or PM. I know there's a recommendation to have a verbal conversation with sellers but I've bought airgun related stuff from compete strangers, after making myself feel good about it from emails/texts. Have him text/email you a "proof of life photo." And if you still personally can't feel good about it without hearing his voice, don't buy.

 

[Vetmx]

Move on. It’s just a gun. When someone wants to talk to me and I can’t, I give them a specific time we can talk. If he doesn’t care, why should you? He will eventually sell it in a very non personal transaction which is what he seeks. I think guys should call sellers just to get a feel if your buying a gun from a hammerhead.

 

[Bigragu]

Maybe his wife wants him to sell something he doesn’t want sold. So he shows her the ad to show he’s putting it up for sale, but discourages the sale so he can tell his wife no ones buying right now

 

[Vetmx]

Aaah the wife factor. Maybe that explains some nutty airgun prices.

 

[SilentSquirrel]

"If he would've taken the call and spent 5 minutes on the phone with me, I most likely would've paid him right after the call"

Exactly!
That phone call is as much about the seller as it is about the rifle
It puts the arrangement in your comfort zone and helps you feel as if you are dealing with a trustworthy seller.
If the seller is too busy to take the phone call it is easy to expect that he may be too busy to pack & ship the item promptly.
Meanwhile the money is in his hands

Just my 2 scents

 

[MikeVV]

Agreed, move on. Sounds a little flakey to me. If he really want to sell, he'd make time. I've never sold anything, but have bought a couple times. Both sellers made themselves available (just let me know when to call) .

There'll be another, or he'll be more amical about the sale. Leave him with your number, let him call you when he's actually ready.

Mike

 

[Greenarrow]

Move on. If he can't give you the time of day when you want to give him $2000+ imagine the kind of courtesy you would get if you did buy the gun and there was any kind of issue during shipping or the operation of the gun. It's not just only getting the piece of equipment in my hands, it's also being able to have confidence in the integrity of the individual selling the gun should any questions arise.

 

[2L8]

Agree with moving on as well.

Patrick

 

[mercado]

Simply move on .. I have tried to buy from some new members .. little or no feedback . But they only take checks or money orders, cash app or vemeo .. I try to make the buy in a way that protects me and they still be protected.. but they refuse , so I move on .. no need to get burned for something that will appear later from a trusted member ..

 

[cjtamu]

Tell him what u posted here. With all the scammers over the last few months I’m doing it no matter how good your feedback is. If he wants to make $2K he’ll fine the time. If not, move on.

 

[Ctkny]

I'll sell ya a gun. Lol

 

[cmatera]

If the seller is too busy to talk at this time of year, he/she should not have posted the gun for sale. Like my dad used to say to sellers like that: "keep it a secret". I'd move on. God may be protecting you from a bad deal.

 

[whyzee]

Buy new and move on!! The grief that has already been caused by the so called ‘seller’ is not worth the cost savings. Buying new will get you everything that you seek, except for a few extra dollars in your pocket. This whole sequence of events has caused you to take the time to write a short novel here, and that is worth something?!
Imagine, after the desired phone call took place, you send two thousand plus dollars, and the unmotivated seller doesn’t feel like taking the time to package the airgun and take to a shipper?? OR it’s not packaged properly when he does feel like it, and it is damaged??? Zero recourse.
Buy new and avoid many potential headaches.

 

[heavy-impact]

Aaah the wife factor. Maybe that explains some nutty airgun prices.

I wouldn't deal with an invertebrate. The wife may kick his ass and take the money and the gun.

 

[ctshooter]

There are many things that don't feel right about that seller. Just let it go.

I'm always open to a phone chat with any prospective buyer. Not only does it help a buyer feel out the item but gives you a good feeling of the 'person' you are buying from. For anything of a few hundred dollars you are putting your faith in God that it will be as described and pictures. A seller should put some effort into making a sale. It says a lot to me about how a person takes care of something when they keep all of the original boxes and paperwork. If someone has been digging into a gun modifying the crap out of it I want to know that's what I am buying - it's not always a good thing when someone has made "modifications".

Perfect example is a CO2 pistol I purchased from eBay. Seller stated 'freshly resealed'. Didn't state they didn't know what the f they were doing and used a metal pick to gouge out the old dried up o-rings leaving scrapes in the metal causing it to leak like a sieve. I had already purchased a reseal kit and valve for it so I dumped all their crap work, spent about 8-10 hours gently buffing out the dried up oring junk they had never cleaned out and polishing out the scrapes they made. Now the pistol holds CO2 wonderfully and is an excellent shooter.

Some people go slow and take pride in their work - they're the ones who will take a phone call. Others can't be bothered and just muck stuff up - most likely they won't want to talk on the phone because their truths will be revealed.

Stepping down from my soapbox now. Peace ya'll.

 

[yenniedn]

How bad do you want it? Lol

You may have actually hit the guy right in the middle of a long shift at work. Maybe he's had a bunch of tire kickers asking him stuff that he already included in the ad. Maybe he just doesn't like to talk on the phone. I personally don't love phone conversations and would prefer to text/email.

One plus here is that he's not falling al over himself to make the sale. One of the biggest red flags for me (that usually turns into somebody trying to run a scam on ya) is when the "seller" is overly eager. Sure doesn't seem to be to the case here, at least from your description.

I'd try again if I was truly interested. If there are questions you have that weren't addressed in his ad or the specs for the gun on the manufactures website, see if he'll answer them by text or PM. I know there's a recommendation to have a verbal conversation with sellers but I've bought airgun related stuff from compete strangers, after making myself feel good about it from emails/texts. Have him text/email you a "proof of life photo." And if you still personally can't feel good about it without hearing his voice, don't buy.

You're the only one so far that has the patience to give it another go...but you do make some good points. I probably did catch him at a bad time in the middle of a long shift - but I was also not asking for him to get on the phone that minute...I asked him when he would be available for the rest of the week and weekend to chat.

His lack of eagerness to sell the item isn't usually the MO of a scammer...unless, he's trying reverse psychology and playing hard to get to make you think he's not a scammer, when in fact he might very well be one??? That would be pure genius and one of the more patient scammers I've ever come across!

Lastly, I would not buy this rifle from this seller without talking to the guy; PM's or text alone wouldn't do it for me in this case. There are plenty of members here where I would buy from based on their word/reputation alone, without any pictures or need to speak to them. This seller doesn't fall into that category. I have everything I "need" at the moment so nothing qualifies as a must have - so, as others have suggested, I'll hold onto those funds for the next semi-interesting thing from a more cooperative seller.

 

[yenniedn]

Move on. It’s just a gun. When someone wants to talk to me and I can’t, I give them a specific time we can talk. If he doesn’t care, why should you? He will eventually sell it in a very non personal transaction which is what he seeks. I think guys should call sellers just to get a feel if your buying a gun from a hammerhead.

Truth. Everyone who's done any business over a forum knows that a two minute conversation will tell you just about everything you need to know a seller. Beyond first impressions, your gut feel when talking to someone will very quickly tell you where to go with the deal.

Maybe his wife wants him to sell something he doesn’t want sold. So he shows her the ad to show he’s putting it up for sale, but discourages the sale so he can tell his wife no ones buying right now

Does this really happen? I mean, my wife is super bossy at times (looks over shoulder to see if she's watching me type this) but she leaves my hobbies alone. I spend plenty on her (ridiculous) obsession with handbags, jewelry and the like and everything I've ever spent on airguns probably doesn't equate to the haul she brought home from our last trip to Europe so there's no reason to give me grief over my relatively puny slush fund.

"If he would've taken the call and spent 5 minutes on the phone with me, I most likely would've paid him right after the call"

Exactly!
That phone call is as much about the seller as it is about the rifle
It puts the arrangement in your comfort zone and helps you feel as if you are dealing with a trustworthy seller.
If the seller is too busy to take the phone call it is easy to expect that he may be too busy to pack & ship the item promptly.
Meanwhile the money is in his hands

Just my 2 scents

Yup, as mentioned above - totally agree.

 

[yenniedn]

Agreed, move on. Sounds a little flakey to me. If he really want to sell, he'd make time. I've never sold anything, but have bought a couple times. Both sellers made themselves available (just let me know when to call) .

There'll be another, or he'll be more amical about the sale. Leave him with your number, let him call you when he's actually ready.

Mike

Move on. If he can't give you the time of day when you want to give him $2000+ imagine the kind of courtesy you would get if you did buy the gun and there was any kind of issue during shipping or the operation of the gun. It's not just only getting the piece of equipment in my hands, it's also being able to have confidence in the integrity of the individual selling the gun should any questions arise.

Agree with moving on as well.

Patrick

Simply move on .. I have tried to buy from some new members .. little or no feedback . But they only take checks or money orders, cash app or vemeo .. I try to make the buy in a way that protects me and they still be protected.. but they refuse , so I move on .. no need to get burned for something that will appear later from a trusted member ..

Tell him what u posted here. With all the scammers over the last few months I’m doing it no matter how good your feedback is. If he wants to make $2K he’ll fine the time. If not, move on.

If the seller is too busy to talk at this time of year, he/she should not have posted the gun for sale. Like my dad used to say to sellers like that: "keep it a secret". I'd move on. God may be protecting you from a bad deal.

Buy new and move on!! The grief that has already been caused by the so called ‘seller’ is not worth the cost savings. Buying new will get you everything that you seek, except for a few extra dollars in your pocket. This whole sequence of events has caused you to take the time to write a short novel here, and that is worth something?!
Imagine, after the desired phone call took place, you send two thousand plus dollars, and the unmotivated seller doesn’t feel like taking the time to package the airgun and take to a shipper?? OR it’s not packaged properly when he does feel like it, and it is damaged??? Zero recourse.
Buy new and avoid many potential headaches.

There are many things that don't feel right about that seller. Just let it go.

I'm always open to a phone chat with any prospective buyer. Not only does it help a buyer feel out the item but gives you a good feeling of the 'person' you are buying from. For anything of a few hundred dollars you are putting your faith in God that it will be as described and pictures. A seller should put some effort into making a sale. It says a lot to me about how a person takes care of something when they keep all of the original boxes and paperwork. If someone has been digging into a gun modifying the crap out of it I want to know that's what I am buying - it's not always a good thing when someone has made "modifications".

Perfect example is a CO2 pistol I purchased from eBay. Seller stated 'freshly resealed'. Didn't state they didn't know what the f they were doing and used a metal pick to gouge out the old dried up o-rings leaving scrapes in the metal causing it to leak like a sieve. I had already purchased a reseal kit and valve for it so I dumped all their crap work, spent about 8-10 hours gently buffing out the dried up oring junk they had never cleaned out and polishing out the scrapes they made. Now the pistol holds CO2 wonderfully and is an excellent shooter.

Some people go slow and take pride in their work - they're the ones who will take a phone call. Others can't be bothered and just muck stuff up - most likely they won't want to talk on the phone because their truths will be revealed.

Stepping down from my soapbox now. Peace ya'll.

Sensing a pattern here...

Seems pretty clear what the answer is here.

 

[Rob_in_NC]

I would move on. I have made a couple purchases lately that really stood out to me. One was for a $1500 gun and the seller spoke with me over the phone, answered my many questions and in fact, we have maintained communication on another item. I felt comfortable with the purchase.

Another was for a low dollar item. I felt bad for requesting a phone call, but I had some concerns (not with the seller, but rather with my own reasons for the purchase). The seller was happy to take a phone call, understood my concerns and even offered a refund should this item not be what I hoped it would be. That spoke volumes to me. I wouldnt hassle anyone with a return on a small dollar item that wasnt defective and only didnt meet expectations due to me not researching, but the fact that it was offered solidified that sale for me.

I understand folks can be busy, but there are far too many items moved on this forum by far too many EXCELLENT people to get worked up over a gun that someone isnt willing to communicate about.