Really wondering what some other people might do if placed in my situation. I have purchased and sold close to 200 used airguns over the years and never had such a , problem. As I am today getting ready for what could be ( hope not) my last FT match, I'm not making my mind up until I get home.
So I sold a pre-charged bolt action custom Field Target and hunting rifle at a VERY reasonable price.
Never any issue with said rifle, ever. But is was getting older so I had a well know tuner of 30 years give it a once over and adjust the cocking bolt ( tightened it up a bit). Everything good.
I ran it through the chrony, good numbers, good groups, no issues.
Ran an ad and a fellow wrote saying he was a friend of a person I had sold to in the past and he wanted my rifle! No phone call - as I am used to throughout the years - but while I like talking to people perhaps some don't? No matter a deal was struck, U.S. Postal money order arrived, I packed up the rifle and naturally fired it one last time a minute before I put it in the case, just to be sure & say good bye & such.
$56.00 later it was at the new owners!
BUT, he emailed saying , really beautiful rifle but it wont cock.
Hum, "I" couldn't think of ANY reason shipping could have caused this and one this rifle not much could go wrong unless perhaps the trigger adjustment had moved ( which it hadn't in years but hey maybe?).
I asked him to call. I told him that while I do give a 3 day inspection period ( everyone used to , the good ole days) I don't advertise it much anymore, AND, that doesn't cover "test drives" but if there is an issue with something I sold I will make it right one way or another.On the phone I asked his skill level working on airguns. NOPE, owns 2 but really no idea about even a trigger adjustment. Understandable. I asked if he knew anyone who DID have some experience as I would authorize attempting to adjust the trigger ONLY.
He said he did ( his friend that had purchased from me before) so I authorized him adjusting the trigger, period, and if that didn't work we would need to work something else out ( like I'll buy it back or pay a know tuner to repair it, I only sell good stuff and do want everyone happy).
Theoretically ( I was told in email) he/his friend tried adjusting the trigger but it still would NOT cock. DARN.
I told him to send it back.
He did.
So, with a couple of people there I took time stamp photo's ( if it was damaged in shipping I WANT my insurance!) of the sealed box, case, opened case - WAIT there is a sling stud? ?? There wasnt when I sold it, so guess I will be checking the airtube soon to be sure it wasn't hit by the stud , but that's later- took more pictures, turned it over took pictures. Lifted it out of the case cocked it , WAIT .............. it cocked & fired just fine WAHHHHAHH ? Well better try that again, sure cocked & fired several times NO issue! Looked at the pressure gauge - sweet spot being about 26-2700psi, gauge was just over 200 bar, well heck aint that odd. Had the correct amount of air in it when shipped. Theoretically had never been fired ( as it would NOT cock remember) but someone HAD added to much air. And installed a sling stud. Huh.
So the main point being.
There is NOTHING wrong with the rifle. It ( except being overfilled which would likely make it shoot VERY slow- I will chrony it once this weekend at the match-) IS exactly what I said it was and works just fine.
But the buyer and his friend said they couldn't get it to cock. LOL.
I DO stand behind what I sell.
I do NOT allow test drives ( unless your local of course then everyone is welcome to shoot anything I have). I see why PA had to change their return policy.
Now had the rifle been defective I WOULD have sent 100% selling price + his postages to him today. However I sold a working rifle with no issues. "I" paid $56.00 to ship it so it could be test driven ( or whatever the heck is going on with the buyer) , THAT doesn't sit well with me. Now if he had said, "I thought it would be heavier, or ... ... ... " but it worked just fine I would have told him "sorry no test drives, it is exactly what I said it was and just because you thought in your mind it would , be heavier/lighter/whatever that is NOT on me, you own it though if in perfect condition as sent I will refund your money minus shipping if you want to send it back". But that isn't what happened.
So I am off to the Grand Prix Field Target event at the GOB club for the weekend and I'll be thinking about what I want to do, as well as asking others, I have always tried to be more than fare in all business dealings but I have NEVER run into something like this.
John
So I sold a pre-charged bolt action custom Field Target and hunting rifle at a VERY reasonable price.
Never any issue with said rifle, ever. But is was getting older so I had a well know tuner of 30 years give it a once over and adjust the cocking bolt ( tightened it up a bit). Everything good.
I ran it through the chrony, good numbers, good groups, no issues.
Ran an ad and a fellow wrote saying he was a friend of a person I had sold to in the past and he wanted my rifle! No phone call - as I am used to throughout the years - but while I like talking to people perhaps some don't? No matter a deal was struck, U.S. Postal money order arrived, I packed up the rifle and naturally fired it one last time a minute before I put it in the case, just to be sure & say good bye & such.
$56.00 later it was at the new owners!
BUT, he emailed saying , really beautiful rifle but it wont cock.
Hum, "I" couldn't think of ANY reason shipping could have caused this and one this rifle not much could go wrong unless perhaps the trigger adjustment had moved ( which it hadn't in years but hey maybe?).
I asked him to call. I told him that while I do give a 3 day inspection period ( everyone used to , the good ole days) I don't advertise it much anymore, AND, that doesn't cover "test drives" but if there is an issue with something I sold I will make it right one way or another.On the phone I asked his skill level working on airguns. NOPE, owns 2 but really no idea about even a trigger adjustment. Understandable. I asked if he knew anyone who DID have some experience as I would authorize attempting to adjust the trigger ONLY.
He said he did ( his friend that had purchased from me before) so I authorized him adjusting the trigger, period, and if that didn't work we would need to work something else out ( like I'll buy it back or pay a know tuner to repair it, I only sell good stuff and do want everyone happy).
Theoretically ( I was told in email) he/his friend tried adjusting the trigger but it still would NOT cock. DARN.
I told him to send it back.
He did.
So, with a couple of people there I took time stamp photo's ( if it was damaged in shipping I WANT my insurance!) of the sealed box, case, opened case - WAIT there is a sling stud? ?? There wasnt when I sold it, so guess I will be checking the airtube soon to be sure it wasn't hit by the stud , but that's later- took more pictures, turned it over took pictures. Lifted it out of the case cocked it , WAIT .............. it cocked & fired just fine WAHHHHAHH ? Well better try that again, sure cocked & fired several times NO issue! Looked at the pressure gauge - sweet spot being about 26-2700psi, gauge was just over 200 bar, well heck aint that odd. Had the correct amount of air in it when shipped. Theoretically had never been fired ( as it would NOT cock remember) but someone HAD added to much air. And installed a sling stud. Huh.
So the main point being.
There is NOTHING wrong with the rifle. It ( except being overfilled which would likely make it shoot VERY slow- I will chrony it once this weekend at the match-) IS exactly what I said it was and works just fine.
But the buyer and his friend said they couldn't get it to cock. LOL.
I DO stand behind what I sell.
I do NOT allow test drives ( unless your local of course then everyone is welcome to shoot anything I have). I see why PA had to change their return policy.
Now had the rifle been defective I WOULD have sent 100% selling price + his postages to him today. However I sold a working rifle with no issues. "I" paid $56.00 to ship it so it could be test driven ( or whatever the heck is going on with the buyer) , THAT doesn't sit well with me. Now if he had said, "I thought it would be heavier, or ... ... ... " but it worked just fine I would have told him "sorry no test drives, it is exactly what I said it was and just because you thought in your mind it would , be heavier/lighter/whatever that is NOT on me, you own it though if in perfect condition as sent I will refund your money minus shipping if you want to send it back". But that isn't what happened.
So I am off to the Grand Prix Field Target event at the GOB club for the weekend and I'll be thinking about what I want to do, as well as asking others, I have always tried to be more than fare in all business dealings but I have NEVER run into something like this.
John
