Trading Guns - Dilemma

[.40Cal]

I find it REALLY weird when people on forum want to trade their gun for a "specific" gun they want (blah blah blah). This is so unrealistic, wastage of time, and downright foolish. Following are 2 examples, 1st makes sense, 2nd sounds so foolish.

1. Example - I want to sell my 9mm Sig 226 (popular 9mm), 500 shots, great condition....for a pump 12 gauge shotgun, or AR15, in great condition. This makes sense - because all the guns mentioned are popular and would find traders easily.

2. Example - I have a Glock 34 - competition tuned with custom barrel, triggger and grips. Custom OD paintjob - Excellent condition - shot 35 rounds, great condition. Looking for a Les Bear with custom job, similar condition (shot under 50 rounds), in 9mm caliber.

^^ There may be a Glock fan who would want to buy that pistol. But the seller is FIRM about trading. What are the chances someone who has a 1911 (as described) wants a Glock 34 (as described)?

I see really weird Ads in private section. I mean, people have made decent offer, yet the seller is firm about the trade. WHY don't they sell and use that money to buy what they want!

[Capybara]

Every old sock needs a new shoe. On other boards, I see this successfully happen every day, especially Gunboards. If people are patient and not in a hurry, I think this can totally work. As far as WHY people want to do this over just selling and buying with the money, that I don't know. Might be spousal approval, "You are not buying any more guns!!!" Many collectors and enthusiasts would agree to that edict from the spouse when other financial loads are present besides buying guns but why would that same spouse care if their spouse trades a gun? I don't know but this is a viable theory.

[71MUSTY]

Even if the trade was absolutely impossible why would we want to take away someone else's right to ask.


Also I can trade my guns any way I choose, buying a new one can require a spousal discussion.

[JackRydden224]

You are right that some trades or sales are far fetched or ridiculous. I think a lot of people built their dream gun only to release it's not all that special at all so they put it up for trade knowing they will not get their money back. The chances of them finding something for trade is higher than getting back the $2,000 dumped into a Glock.

When I do a custom build I am either prepared to hold on to it forever or ready to take a lost when selling.

Edit:

I pulled off a 3 way buy and trade last year.

• I wanted a P226 SAO and have cash
• The guy who has a P226 SAO only wants to trade for an Elite Stainless P226/P229
• A third guy who has a P226 Elite Stainless only wants to sell

A 3 way happened at a FFL and everybody walked out happy. The P226 SAO is one of the best guns I own.

[Batman]

I had a similar situation, only in my case it was with a stainless steel Desert Eagle. I had a Mark 7, and got a .357 Magnum slide. Only problem was, it was for a Mark 19... not compatible!

So I offered to trade my Mark 7 in stainless for a Mark 19 in blue straight across, with the reason explained above. Within a week I traded and we each paid for our DROS, the guy with the stainless DE is happy, and I've got a dual-caliber DE now.

[Dimitri A.]

A lot of people know that the chances of finding their preferred trade is oftentimes slim, but figure that if they can't find what they are looking for, they'd still rather keep the gun than sell it off.

[D.A.V.I.D.]

I do see some that are way to specific but I have posted something for sale before and put a trade. I posted a Springfield 1911 and put a price and a trade option for a non ca version cz97b and I ended up getting it. They're not too common either. Plus I think sometimes it might be something someone really doesnt want to part with unless they get exactly what they specified. Then they figure il just take a shot and see if I can get it.

[SkyHawk]

I find it REALLY weird when people on forum want to trade their gun for a "specific" gun they want (blah blah blah). This is so unrealistic, wastage of time, and downright foolish. ...

I mean, people have made decent offer, yet the seller is firm about the trade. WHY don't they sell and use that money to buy what they want!

I used to think this way and I do still shake my head at some of them, but sometimes they work out - even the strange ones. I just recently completed such a trade where the guy was very specific about what he wanted (G19Gen4), and I just happened to have an extra one and what he had was sort of rare in CA so we did it.

Selling a rare or off roster gun on the CHANCE that you might find something better in CA is a crap-shoot because of our roster and the fact that off roster PPT must be done face to face, there is a 10-day wait for pickup necessitating two trips, which effectively narrows your available firearm pool to a region not the whole state. In a free state, it would make much more sense to sell and have your cash ready to buy what you want - because in most every other state the whole country is your available gun pool. Here it is a little different. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush, blah blah blah.

Also, listing your gun for trade drums up a lot of interest from buyers. You will start to receive a lot of cash offers if it is desirable and hard to obtain in CA. One of them just might sway you.

If you have offered cash to someone with a gun for trade and they haven't taken the bait - your bait wasn't big enough.

[Ripon83]

I prefer trading when it is possible. Certainly selling and buying is easier but sometimes the trades work out.

[Fishslayer]

I find it REALLY weird when people on forum want to trade their gun for a "specific" gun they want (blah blah blah). This is so unrealistic, wastage of time, and downright foolish. Following are 2 examples, 1st makes sense, 2nd sounds so foolish.

The trader probably has something very specific in mind that would make him give up what he has and he has no real need for $$$.

I have plenty of guns that aren't for sale but if somebody rolled the right trade bait under my nose...

[DDM4556]

Totally agree with OP. So many of these trade scenarios are just ridiculous.

Cash is KING. Its one of those rare things that you can trade for anything you want. So why the heck would anyone refuse it?

Sure, sometimes trades work out... But there's NO reason to exclude the sale as a possibility.

And sorry but if your spouse isn't bright enough to see that selling one gun to buy another is exactly the same as trading, then maybe you should smack yourself for picking her.

[Wordupmybrotha]

There may be a Glock fan who would want to buy that pistol. But the seller is FIRM about trading. What are th^^ There may be a Glock fan who would want to buy that pistol. But the seller is FIRM about trading. What are the chances someone who has a 1911 (as described)?

Deep inside, they don't really want to part with it.

[Fishslayer]

... But there's NO reason to exclude the sale as a possibility.

For you maybe...

[MrSam]

While it is true that some trade requests seen here are comical, there's nothing wrong with taking a shot.
Some members are firm on trading because they don't even want to part with their particular firearm. Why sell it and risk not being able to find what you're looking for?
I've come across plenty of members who were "firm" on trading. Offer them the right amount of cash, and that "firm on trading" statement goes right out the window.

[bayonet]

I think some who do this kind of thing with a common, on roster gun just want to try their shot at getting more than what they paid for it by saving time the another party.

Who knows, someone just might have a Beretta 92 Inox that isn't his cup of tea and wants an XD, and would rather not have to find a buyer, sell it, and then buy what he wants.