Why do people delete the price when they have sold their pistol?

[devious21]

Well hopefully, some sellers are just truly unaware of how useful the information is to the rest of the community, and although they don't use it themselves, would be willing to leave it up for others, knowing that it would be useful and appreciated.

I don't think we should try to create or enforce any rules regarding this. This is America and I'm happy that we have the opportunity to try to change minds with reasoned argument and opinion. If sellers want to continue doing the same thing they've been doing, totally understandable.

[bounty1]

Rememeber!! Big Bro is always watching and could Misconstrue a hobby as a business and that would be a shame especially for those who have a big hobby selling or buying.Where does this data go when it is deleted or is it still here for inquiring minds...
Three Question they might ask.......
1. Do you carry on the hobby in a businesslike manner?

2. Do you spend considerable time working on the hobby?

3. Do you depend on income from your hobby for your livelihood.
Sad **** but could happen.......Peter

[Mute]

All the times I've done it was at the request of the buyers. Since they were kind enough to purchase from me, I obliged. Don't ask me why. Ask the buyers. I've never cared one way or the other.

[tacticalcity]

All the times I've done it was at the request of the buyers. Since they were kind enough to purchase from me, I obliged. Don't ask me why. Ask the buyers. I've never cared one way or the other.

That is why this thread is so surprising to me. Not everybody wants the entire world knowing what guns they own. It's not about being ashamed of how much we charged, or trying to hide some sort of illegal activity. It is about respecting people's privacy - including our own.

[Rhyyke]

I didn't used to... but then I noticed people were doing it and my paranoia kicked in...

[SamsDX]

The shortsightedness and frankly, selfishness of many on this topic is really surprising.

Many here keep making arguments based solely on their own personal interest, or some loose interest of the buyer. You're telling me you can't think of one good reason outside of your own perspective why it would be beneficial to leave up prices, terms, whatever in our ads?

But are we not a "community" online? If not, why not go sell your junk on some random classifieds like craiglist or ebay, oh wait.

I couldn't agree more. I see the classifieds here as a bargained-for exchange; in exchange for the right to solicit potential buyers here, who, most importantly, are willing to pay you close to true market price (rather than a pawn shop or a gun dealer who cannot afford to because they need to mark it up to market price in order to have shot at staying in business). There ought to be a price for that privilege, and while Calguns itself doesn't charge for it, it should be payable in other ways. Providing value to the rest of the community by making initial asking price data available after the sale is one such way.

Transparency in pricing also increases confidence in the market (however you define it, whether it be just particular guns, particular style of guns, guns sold on Calguns.net, or the California used market in general), and makes it more efficient. The certainty associated with a confidently functioning market leads to more transactions, and greater liquidity in our firearms. That means when you come across bad times, you will be able to count on the market to give you a fair, reasonable price.

I do recognize that there are countervailing privacy interests, and for those folks with not as strong of a sense of community that would override those privacy interests, I do not begrudge them. However, I implore you to consider the benefits to others, and the future benefit to you before you delete the asking price.

I post guns for sale for what they are worth to me, I don't care what others have sold for. I've never had a problem selling a gun that way, and I delete my prices sold and will continue to do so.

Perhaps willful ignorance is a virtue in some circles. I'm all for independence, living life to the beat of my own drum, and all that, but any economic activity by definition involves multiple parties. Why wouldn't you want to know what others are doing?

[Packy14]

I couldn't agree more. I see the classifieds here as a bargained-for exchange; in exchange for the right to solicit potential buyers here, who, most importantly, are willing to pay you close to true market price (rather than a pawn shop or a gun dealer who cannot afford to because they need to mark it up to market price in order to have shot at staying in business). There ought to be a price for that privilege, and while Calguns itself doesn't charge for it, it should be payable in other ways. Providing value to the rest of the community by making initial asking price data available after the sale is one such way.

Transparency in pricing also increases confidence in the market (however you define it, whether it be just particular guns, particular style of guns, guns sold on Calguns.net, or the California used market in general), and makes it more efficient. The certainty associated with a confidently functioning market leads to more transactions, and greater liquidity in our firearms. That means when you come across bad times, you will be able to count on the market to give you a fair, reasonable price.

I do recognize that there are countervailing privacy interests, and for those folks with not as strong of a sense of community that would override those privacy interests, I do not begrudge them. However, I implore you to consider the benefits to others, and the future benefit to you before you delete the asking price.




Perhaps willful ignorance is a virtue in some circles. I'm all for independence, living life to the beat of my own drum, and all that, but any economic activity by definition involves multiple parties. Why wouldn't you want to know what others are doing?

To each his own I suppose.

[M1NM]

I started out by just marking it sold. But with the price still showing I'd get I'll take it responses and PMs. I took the price off and I'd get PMs asking how much I got for it. Now I just delete the whole ad.

[thomashoward]

Its interesting that you feel you need to know other peoples business. I delete the sale price initially because an agreement was made between buyer and seller. not you.and designate the item as sold.
Some times there is a huge difference between asking and selling.I can't see where that is your business.
Most of the info and pictures stand until the sale is completed.then deleted,because I don't want to create another listing.
I delete the buyers name because no one needs to know ol'joe bought another handgun

If you want to document sales ,go to Gunbroker and look at "Completed sales" that's where I get my beginning prices,I take an average. There are negotiations that you are not, nor will be a part of unless you are the buyer. Prices for an item are set between buyer and seller. it's not an indication of what yours is worth.
It's like buying a car and some nosy person asking "how much did you pay for that? Or how much do you have in the bank? You don't have a need to know. sheesh

[Champagne-N-Beer]

What really amazes me is that some people send a pm for a gun that is marked sold months after the fact.

[joefrank64k]

Haha!!! Man, I feel like I stepped into someone else's dream world.

Leaving up ASKING prices is useful data?!? WTF? Case in point: Had a guy listing a gun for $950...next thing you know he drops it to $800. That was still more than I was willing to pay, so I PM'd him with $700. He agreed. Done deal.

So now, in the "leave the asking price up" dream world, someone comes along looking for "useful data points" and sees that the asking price was $950, then $800, then sold. How on Earth is that useful data for valuing what you want to sell or buy that gun for today?

Heck, even GunBroker recognizes that sales data needs to be purged...they only keep listings for 90 days before they're deleted, and it's only that long mainly in case of disputes between parties.

And, as for some wanting the past sales prices left up "for the good of the community", what I'm sensing is that those guys are actually more worried about leaving a few dollars on the table...and more interested in squeezing as much $$ from their "fellow CalGunners" as possible. That's not my thing, but to each their own!

[/rant]

[I Swan]

What really amazes me is that some people send a pm for a gun that is marked sold months after the fact.

I've seen it happen for guns that were up 2 years ago. In fairness I recently PM'd someone on items they had up from like a year ago it turns out they still had them and we struck a deal.

I guess best option is to check completed sales on Gunbroker and add a CA premium within reason when researching what to sell offl list handguns for. I don't consider that "gouging" as much because there is a finite number of off list handguns and unlike 22lr ammo speculators no one is prevented from taking their kids shooting or anything.

Nobody needs an off list handgun there is plenty of other guns you can have fun with and defend yourself with. My main gripe would be with people that bought piles of SSE guns last year just to profiteer. I plan on listing a desirable off list semiauto soon. I'd like to keep in in CA but believe me it won't be cheap.

I will list it at a somewhat high price if it sells it sells. People can make offers later I may consider them. Final option for me would be just to list it on GB.

[nalcomis]

Its interesting that you feel you need to know other peoples business. I delete the sale price initially because an agreement was made between buyer and seller. not you.and designate the item as sold.
Most of the info and pictures stand until the sale is completed.then deleted,because I don't want to create another listing.
I delete the buyers name because no one needs to know ol'joe bought another handgun

If you want to document sales ,go to Gunbroker and look at "Completed sales" that's where I get my beginning prices. There are negotiations that you are not, nor will be a part of unless you are the buyer. Prices for an item are set between buyer and seller. it's not an indication of what yours is worth.
It's like buying a car and some nosy person asking "how much did you pay for that? Or how much do you have in the bank? You don't have a need to know.

There is actually a whole industry behind tracking what people buy and sell cars for. Its called Kelly Blue Book, this is the reason why they want to know what your zip code is when you fill out the info on used car values in your area. For new cars its called Tru Car. These sites are based on a compilation of data gathered on prior/private sales and market value. This information is reported to the dmv and is public information; the companies then regurgitate it into something the masses can digest. Same with houses and other investments.

Maybe DOJ should just make firearm sales public so a company similar to KBB or nada can give us a easy research tool for gun values in our area.

Im not implying that they should say what Joe Schmoe (OR YOU) paid for such firearm on what date, but what was reported to DOJ as paid for this particular firearm on this date when it was transferred. Get my drift?

That alone would make me forget searching some random forum for what some dude paid for a gun. It would streamline gun values.

[I Swan]

Nalcomis, I like your sigline. And many of the people posting on cgn would never dare run their mouths or conduct themselves like they do here in public I'd bet serious money on that. They usually will whine when confronted, "it's only the internet." I try not to be that way and I am willing to prove and back up any claim I make online in person.

[jonzer77]

Why do people delete the price when they have sold their pistol?

-It has nothing to do with selling insurance. If you damage or total your car, it's the insurance company's business to know what the value of your car is. Their entire business revolves around it. They do it through "comparables". They look for cars sold in your zip code, in similar condition and mileage.

-When buying or selling a house, the most important pieces of information is what that house has sold for in the past AND what similar houses in the same neighborhood are selling for (and have gone for in the past). Either one of this pieces of information alone isn't as helpful as all of it combined.

-When talking about auction sites, you can see what something sold for. This is helpful if you are going to do create a "buy it now" and even If you're starting the auction at $.01, that information could inform a reserve price, and if nothing else, give you an indicator if your item sold at above or below market value, which would inform you if your ads are good or poor at selling your items.

What something is "worth" is what someone will pay for it. So it follows if you know what someone will pay for it, you know what it's worth.

But as said before. This information is helpful to many people, even if you don't personally find it helpful. It gives the community visibility into what our market looks like, with the only data that matters. What stuff is actually going for.

Even if it's only the asking price, we can normally infer that it went for that amount or lower, and gives us useful information. The actual sales price would obviously be better than that but simply not removing information would be better than what we have now.

So what do they do in Texas in order to determine what a house should sell for?


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