Tweet
I've been on Calguns for a couple years now, nearly exclusively in the Marketplace, buying/trading, slowly building my hobby. I've met and dealt with a lot of really cool people, in fact, knock on wood, I'm batting 100% on great calgunners (a couple dingbats here and there but nothing major).
In watching these sale listings, it seems like the listings takes on a personality of its own, or a personality trait of the seller. I've begun categorizing these types of sellers with my own made up seller profiles. I claim no actual truth or validity to it, nor is it meant to cover every seller. It is all in good fun and meant to be more self deprecating than anything else. I can see myself as every single profile below.
Types of Sellers
The Greedy Bastard (GB) - This seller has no shame. He lists his used Gen 4 Glock 23 for $1500 and fully expects to get paid off. Attempts to reason are exercises in futility as anything offered lower is met with disdain and incredulity. These listing are easy to spot, due to the insane high price, but most notably by the months of "bumps" or "ttt's".
There is a sub-sect of the GB, the Sneaky Bastard (SB). The SB is much like the GB but is clever in hiding the months of bumps by deleting each previous days bump and only showing the current days bump. To the casual observer or newbie, it appears the listing has only been available for 2 days. Sneaky.
**It's been pointed out by several members that a reason to delete bumps is for pure thread efficiency. Keeping it clean. I actually appreciate this and would not hurt my feelings if it became the norm. I leave the above description for pure entertainment value.**
The Shark (SH) - The Shark is much like the Greedy Bastard but more socially adept. You will receive a myriad of reasons why their gun is worth it and why you "need" to pony up before someone else jumps on it. They are the used car salesmen of Calguns. They are charismatic and friendly, but make no mistake, they want top dollar. They are patient and will wait it out for the right buyer(prey) to come along. Their listings frequently come with near professional grade quality pictures and do not use the standard Calguns sales template.
The Ignoramus (IG) - I'd rather deal with an SH or a GB. The IG has no idea the actual market valuation of his gun. He has simply looked at a couple other listings, found the highest it went for and listed the same price without actual comparative valuation. Yes, that other CZ SP-01 listing is $1100... because it has a Cajun Gun Works Pro Package!! Yours is stock you fool! It's difficult to tell the difference between an IG and a GB, until you message them and they reply "well, that's what so and so is listing it for, so I'm sticking with it...". The IG shares similar traits to newbies in ignorance of the rules, e.g. bumping their own threads multiple times daily responding to comments and questions.
The Average Joe (AJ) - I believe this is where most Calgunners reside (including this OP). The AJ wants to be a Shark but is pressured by social convention to keep their initial offering to at least within the upper echelons of the price range. They want the most out of their gun but not willing to endure the online social ostracization that a ridiculously priced listing may bring. The Glock 23 Gen 4 is now initially priced at $950. They've seen one listing 2 years ago that went for that and believe theirs will too. These listings typically contain "OBO" and/or frequent price drops as their gun just sits there. They want top dollar but don't want to spend huge time and effort to get it. They want out as fast as they can with as much as they can but ultimately settle at fair market value. The nice thing about AJ's are that most are very friendly will deal fairly.
The Guru (GU) - The Guru is a more highly evolved Joe. They know their stuff. It can be intimidating getting into a conversation with them because you can google only so fast, what they are saying, to try and keep up. Their guns frequently have an upgrade of some kind that "justify" the higher echelons of pricing, because that's what s $20 stainless steel guide rod will do for a gun.
There is a sub-sect of the Guru. The Collector(CL). You know these guys, the jaw dropping Python collections, the amazing C&R rifle collectibles, the safe packed with every 1911 imaginable. We all awe and strive to achieve and consider ourselves lucky enough to just glimpse into that world. But you "lowball" the crap out of them just the same! Money is money bro.
The Gentlemen (GM) - Who most Calgunners believe they are. The GM has done his research, knows the market, knows the value of his gun and prices it appropriately, some even just below market value. His interest is simply getting a decent fair value for his gun and not worried about making money or recouping sales tax or DROS fees. Who Calguns was probably intended for in the first place. This OP thought he would be in this category but (sigh), this OP turned out to be an Average Joe when push came to shove.
The Narcissist (NC) - A truly special seller, far and few in between. This seller sells below market value. His interest is not simply money. He values having a reputation as a great seller so much so, that his listings are consistently below, to well below, market value. He gets off on the effect he has on the market as everyone trips over their keyboards trying to type in "I'll take it!" as fast as they can.
The Minimalist (MN) - Gun, price, location, no pic
The Keyser Soze (KS) - And like that... poof... the price is gone. Pulling a Keyser Soze is the antithesis of what the Average Joe requires. It makes it more difficult for the AJ to initially price their gun without knowing where the market sits. Too high and the gun sits in agonizing wait or suffer the ever so humbling "price lowered" post. Too low and the AJ may experience sellers remorse as he watches a rival listing sell at an even higher price. It's interesting to note that most sellers eventually pull a KS, save the Narcissist, as that is the whole point of the NC is to display the incredibly low priced sale for others to see and comment stuff like "wow! sale of the day!" or "nice grab!".
The Dumper (DP) - Who everyone waits for. This seller just wants to get rid of their gun. They have priced it so low that even if you weren't thinking to get that gun you buy it anyway. These listings are easy to spot because you've already missed it. It's already SPF, got fifths and sixths in line even before you've finished your morning cup of joe.
The Newbie (NB) - haha! give 'em a break! They new!
I am not oblivious to the fact that Sellers are driven to do what they do because Buyers ARE EVEN WORSE!! I've got that list developing and it's not nice.
In watching these sale listings, it seems like the listings takes on a personality of its own, or a personality trait of the seller. I've begun categorizing these types of sellers with my own made up seller profiles. I claim no actual truth or validity to it, nor is it meant to cover every seller. It is all in good fun and meant to be more self deprecating than anything else. I can see myself as every single profile below.
Types of Sellers
The Greedy Bastard (GB) - This seller has no shame. He lists his used Gen 4 Glock 23 for $1500 and fully expects to get paid off. Attempts to reason are exercises in futility as anything offered lower is met with disdain and incredulity. These listing are easy to spot, due to the insane high price, but most notably by the months of "bumps" or "ttt's".
There is a sub-sect of the GB, the Sneaky Bastard (SB). The SB is much like the GB but is clever in hiding the months of bumps by deleting each previous days bump and only showing the current days bump. To the casual observer or newbie, it appears the listing has only been available for 2 days. Sneaky.
**It's been pointed out by several members that a reason to delete bumps is for pure thread efficiency. Keeping it clean. I actually appreciate this and would not hurt my feelings if it became the norm. I leave the above description for pure entertainment value.**
The Shark (SH) - The Shark is much like the Greedy Bastard but more socially adept. You will receive a myriad of reasons why their gun is worth it and why you "need" to pony up before someone else jumps on it. They are the used car salesmen of Calguns. They are charismatic and friendly, but make no mistake, they want top dollar. They are patient and will wait it out for the right buyer(prey) to come along. Their listings frequently come with near professional grade quality pictures and do not use the standard Calguns sales template.
The Ignoramus (IG) - I'd rather deal with an SH or a GB. The IG has no idea the actual market valuation of his gun. He has simply looked at a couple other listings, found the highest it went for and listed the same price without actual comparative valuation. Yes, that other CZ SP-01 listing is $1100... because it has a Cajun Gun Works Pro Package!! Yours is stock you fool! It's difficult to tell the difference between an IG and a GB, until you message them and they reply "well, that's what so and so is listing it for, so I'm sticking with it...". The IG shares similar traits to newbies in ignorance of the rules, e.g. bumping their own threads multiple times daily responding to comments and questions.
The Average Joe (AJ) - I believe this is where most Calgunners reside (including this OP). The AJ wants to be a Shark but is pressured by social convention to keep their initial offering to at least within the upper echelons of the price range. They want the most out of their gun but not willing to endure the online social ostracization that a ridiculously priced listing may bring. The Glock 23 Gen 4 is now initially priced at $950. They've seen one listing 2 years ago that went for that and believe theirs will too. These listings typically contain "OBO" and/or frequent price drops as their gun just sits there. They want top dollar but don't want to spend huge time and effort to get it. They want out as fast as they can with as much as they can but ultimately settle at fair market value. The nice thing about AJ's are that most are very friendly will deal fairly.
The Guru (GU) - The Guru is a more highly evolved Joe. They know their stuff. It can be intimidating getting into a conversation with them because you can google only so fast, what they are saying, to try and keep up. Their guns frequently have an upgrade of some kind that "justify" the higher echelons of pricing, because that's what s $20 stainless steel guide rod will do for a gun.
There is a sub-sect of the Guru. The Collector(CL). You know these guys, the jaw dropping Python collections, the amazing C&R rifle collectibles, the safe packed with every 1911 imaginable. We all awe and strive to achieve and consider ourselves lucky enough to just glimpse into that world. But you "lowball" the crap out of them just the same! Money is money bro.
The Gentlemen (GM) - Who most Calgunners believe they are. The GM has done his research, knows the market, knows the value of his gun and prices it appropriately, some even just below market value. His interest is simply getting a decent fair value for his gun and not worried about making money or recouping sales tax or DROS fees. Who Calguns was probably intended for in the first place. This OP thought he would be in this category but (sigh), this OP turned out to be an Average Joe when push came to shove.
The Narcissist (NC) - A truly special seller, far and few in between. This seller sells below market value. His interest is not simply money. He values having a reputation as a great seller so much so, that his listings are consistently below, to well below, market value. He gets off on the effect he has on the market as everyone trips over their keyboards trying to type in "I'll take it!" as fast as they can.
The Minimalist (MN) - Gun, price, location, no pic
The Keyser Soze (KS) - And like that... poof... the price is gone. Pulling a Keyser Soze is the antithesis of what the Average Joe requires. It makes it more difficult for the AJ to initially price their gun without knowing where the market sits. Too high and the gun sits in agonizing wait or suffer the ever so humbling "price lowered" post. Too low and the AJ may experience sellers remorse as he watches a rival listing sell at an even higher price. It's interesting to note that most sellers eventually pull a KS, save the Narcissist, as that is the whole point of the NC is to display the incredibly low priced sale for others to see and comment stuff like "wow! sale of the day!" or "nice grab!".
The Dumper (DP) - Who everyone waits for. This seller just wants to get rid of their gun. They have priced it so low that even if you weren't thinking to get that gun you buy it anyway. These listings are easy to spot because you've already missed it. It's already SPF, got fifths and sixths in line even before you've finished your morning cup of joe.
The Newbie (NB) - haha! give 'em a break! They new!
I am not oblivious to the fact that Sellers are driven to do what they do because Buyers ARE EVEN WORSE!! I've got that list developing and it's not nice.
Let's keep adding to the list!
go CG.
Comment