Used is Not New

[DG23]

Let me start by saying I'm just venting.

On the equipment exchange, I see some people selling as new, for same amount anyone can buy it new.
Once you buy something, if you use it or not it's used not new.
Why would anyone buy a used part for same or in some cases more than the part cost new?

The part in bold - Bull Crap.

If I buy a new firearm and never shoot it - It is still a new firearm.

Likewise with respect to parts - I have a metric crap ton of spare parts in my toolboxes and stacked on shelves. They could be months old or years old but if they have never been 'used' they are still 'new' parts. When you buy parts from a vendor do you ask when they received them so you can determine if they are really 'new' or not or do you not give a darn how long they may have been sitting on a shelf or in a warehouse??? 'Unused' is the same exact thing as 'new' for all practical purposes here friend.

Example: I recently bought a bunch of Colt hand guards that they stopped making in the late 90's. Yeah, they were made in the 90's but they were still brand new parts from Colt sealed in the original bags and had never been 'used'...



Next part of what you said is not really true either. If I buy a new firearm to add to my collection and they stop making them soon after (or for whatever reason they become harder to find for the average joe blow) - Well, If you want to buy the one I have it is going to cost you more than what they 'used' to cost. If you don't like my price then go find it somewhere else (knowing that particular item may not be in stock elsewhere).

The EE here is not some sort of charity thing where guys should be expected to take a loss on things are wanting to sell and not receive fair market value. If 'you' choose to sell your stuff there at a loss that is your business but most are not going to go down that road with you.

[SteyrAUG]

So people should call something Like New instead of New. That is assuming it's never been used. Otherwise it should be in actual stated condition such as Exc., VG or whatever.

Pictures should also help. I don't have any problem with "never used" being called NEW even if it's not in it's original wrapper, these things aren't collectible star wars action figures in most cases.

But the EE is a "For Sale" section, it's not really a "hook a brutha up" section. People buy things, sometimes figure out they can't use them and then try and recoup as much of their purchase as possible. Nobody owes anyone anything except honest description of item.

People who have a problem with New vs. Opened but still New should also probably ask very specific questions. If we all act like grown ups, most of this stuff is avoidable.

I buy and sell all kinds of things. Sometimes "new in the box / unissued" is very, very important. Sometimes it's just not and in "like new" condition is perfectly fine.

[AndyLate]

To me a firearm is like a car, its only new until the first owner buys it. Parts are different and the descriptions in the EE are normally accurate. When in doubt, ask questions.

Pricing is up to the seller, generally. I have seen stuff offered for sale here for a higher than new price (for items that are still stocked and available in the market). I just shake my head and move on. I also know a lot of buyers "low ball" so sellers bump their asking price to give them wiggle room. I have offered a lower than asking price buying stuff here, but I make every attempt to be respectful if I do it.

I have picked up a fair number of items here on the EE and have always been more than satisfied with the condition of the items. Whether I paid a fair price, overpaid, or got a bargain is on me.

Andy

[uffdaphil]

I’m more amazed at how many sell a $20 item for $12 shipped and clear just a few bucks after Priority Mail postage. Is their time worth nothing? I’d rather give that stuff away.

[ViniVidivici]

I don't see it as any kind of "charity" either. It's a place to buy and sell. It's a great resource.

I've sold things I no longer needed, to fund new projects, and I've gotten things I needed here as well, sometimes at quite a bargain, but that's never expected.

It's a free market. I'm not aware that we have a problem with members misrepresenting items here. I've not experienced it.

[SteyrAUG]

To me a firearm is like a car, its only new until the first owner buys it. Parts are different and the descriptions in the EE are normally accurate. When in doubt, ask questions.

Pricing is up to the seller, generally. I have seen stuff offered for sale here for a higher than new price (for items that are still stocked and available in the market). I just shake my head and move on. I also know a lot of buyers "low ball" so sellers bump their asking price to give them wiggle room. I have offered a lower than asking price buying stuff here, but I make every attempt to be respectful if I do it.

I have picked up a fair number of items here on the EE and have always been more than satisfied with the condition of the items. Whether I paid a fair price, overpaid, or got a bargain is on me.

Andy

I dunno. If somebody buys it NIB and leaves it NIB, to me that is still NIB. Maybe old stock or whatever.

But once they clean it, finger **** it or shoot it even once, it's used. Might be in really excellent condition, but still not any longer NIB. And don't try and sell me some "it get's test fired at the factory" nonsense.

Again, people just have to be HONEST about what they got. When I used to transfer more guns from GB for customers, I saw some shit.

I have seen an Armalite AR-10 with the entire sear shelf block dremeled out (poorly) and sold as New in Box.

I have seen more than a few rifles with carbon debris in barrel, receiver and magazines sold as New in Box.

And of course the real fun ones, like Colt 6920s completely stripped and replaced with DPMS parts (or similar) and sold as Colt original 6920 BRAND NEW in box. Ironically it was one of the few times most of the parts actually were brand new / unused.

People try and pull all kinds of shit. I was selling guns for my brother one time and he kept wanting me to take pictures from this angle which wouldn't show any flaws or word things to "suggest" the gun was much better than it actually was. Wanted me to describe things as "in cherry condition" vs. 90% or NRA VG or things like that. After trying to peer pressure me for 10 minutes I told him I could sell it under my terms or not at all. He certainly didn't give a damn, not like he spent 10 years building a reputation.

And IF somebody wouldn't have been happy, he would have been a 100% all sales final - no refunds - you had your chance - you saw pictures and you bid anyway policy. Negative feedbacks, well that would have been my problem. Never mind that I've been 100% since 2001 or whenever. Wasn't even making a nickel on the sale, just trying to help him sell some guns because he was needing the cash.

And if he's trying to strong arm me into that shit, imagine what he and everyone else like him does when they list their stuff on local forums.

I have seen some shit in my time.

[Alpha-17]

Couple of things I've learned since working with and buying guns as a job and not just a hobby: people have a really highly inflated view of what their stuff is worth. NIB, Like New, gently used, whatever, they think they should be getting a very good percentage of what they paid for the firearm in question, regardless of what they paid for it, or what other factors are involved. "I've only shot it XX times" is always funny, especially when you inspect it and find it packed with carbon, major scratches on the finish, and accessories missing.

Little less on topic for this thread, but it's also funny how few people seem to get the concept of wholesale prices vs retail. Not an issue in private sales, but when who you're selling it to will be turning around to resell, they're not going to be able to offer you 100% of what they'll ultimately sell it for. The higher the amount they give you, the higher they'll ask for it later. That's a really novel concept to some folks.

All that said, a gun (or whatever)'s value is exactly what someone is willing to pay for it, no more, no less. Some things we'll have at ridiculously outrageous prices (M1 Garands come to mind) and they blow out of here. Others are pretty fairly priced, and they'll sit around for months and we'll get comments every damn day about how they "used to buy these for $100 back in the day!" Stupidly high prices are annoying, but the only thing you can do is make an offer, and see if the seller accepts. If not, just let other fools be quickly parted with thier money.

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

Our EE is not what it used to be sadly. It once was a place to rapidly buy and sell at fair prices.

The one that really cracks me up is the guy with like 30 open for sale ads of Colt take off parts for $1000 each.

[Vegas]

Our EE is not what it used to be sadly. It once was a place to rapidly buy and sell at fair prices.

The one that really cracks me up is the guy with like 30 open for sale ads of Colt take off parts for $1000 each.

Same guy is on a local forum, same ads, same interesting prices. Thing is, someone is buying otherwise you wouldn’t keep seeing them.

I have no issue with people listing their gear at higher prices, the market will dictate what it sells for. I chuckle at those who refuse to see this and bump their thread in perpetuity.

[MistWolf]

EE, Gunbroker, Marketplace etc.- all tame compared to the heyday of gunshows. Growing up, we used to go to the Pomona Fairgrounds in Southern California for the Great Western Gun, Knife & Militaria Show (or something like that) every six months. It was Mecca. Guns, surplus "Army Gear", knives, cheap surplus ammo, patches, flags, book signings from that guy who claimed to have shot down Pappy Boyington- Cowboys shooting balloons from horseback, a huge display of military vehicles. What you guys are complaining about ain't a patch on scams we saw and the shysters we met. Many of the shysters were some of the genuinely nicest people you could hope to meet. It was some of the most fund we ever had.

I remember when my father bought this huge crate of webbed slings real cheap and made a ton of money giving them to my little brothers and little cousins to sell. 75 cents for webbed slings and a dollar and a quarter for the rubberized webbed slings. They got a commission of a quarter for every sling they sold. It was great! At the beginning of the show they'd disappear in the crowd weighed down with a bunch of slings and return with a pocketful of cash for dad and decked out in surplus gear like Sgt. Rock and his squad coming back from patrol, complete with faded fatigues, helmets & bayonets, stuffing their victorious faces with hotdogs and sodapop. Once, they even came back with a discarded LAW rocket launcher bought for $5. It took three or four years to sell all those slings and the prices got higher the closer they got to the bottom of the crate.

Every now and then, someone would come back with a real piece of junk they paid way to much for, the adults included.

As kids, we got a hard education early on spotting shysters and good deals. It's all part of the game.