I have a question for the experienced buyers and sellers here UPDATE

[sailor74]

Thanks for the great responses, you guys are the best.

In his email to me he said the slide was SHOT, well if it's shot as he says, why does the gun shoot as good as any other 1911 the I have owned and ever shot over the past 40 years.

Here is his exact email to me





"Well I picked up the 1911 today and was quite surprised to say the least. I asked their gunsmith do a headspace and spring check. I was told that the slide locking lugs are shot. The headspace should be a few thousandths, but it's .06 (1/16th).

Due to the high cost of welding and cutting new slide lugs, he suggested buying a new slide to shoot with and keep the original for "historic" reasons. But of course that's not what you were selling or what I thought I was buying."


I am the one that is surprised.

Ha ha

[crob]

Is he a CA resident? If so, simple solution. He travels up to you. You inspect pistol to ensure all parts are what you sent. If it is all good, you refund his money, minus DROS. If he is truly unhappy, he would be willing to eat a few bucks to get the majority of his money back. This is assuming of course you still have the money....if not, thems the breaks..... Also assuming you are willing to refund him....all up to you

[pacrat]

noun
the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

Especially relevant when buying used items.

You made good faith transaction. Lots of pics, accurate description, fair price.

Another vote for

POUND SAND POOPHEAD

[Spyder]

Don't refund anything. He bought it for less than your asking price, you shipped it when your ad says you won't ship it, and you provided PLENTY of detailed pictures for him to inspect it and make a decision. Sounds like the buyer doesn't understand how commerce works. You've done nothing wrong from what I can see, and the gun is worth what he paid, likely more.

[BigPimping]

I think he's being a juice bag. That's a nice firearm.

[BONECUTTER]

I would never offer a 15 day inspection period.....but if I did and its past the 15.... pound sand.

Next time make your sale "as is". If the want to check if they can when they meet me at the store..... if im shipping there is no way to back out.

[Dirk Tungsten]

Again, if he hasn't DROS'ed it into his name, let him ship it back to you (preferably get the gun in hand before refunding his money) and both of you can go on with your lives. It looks like there's lots of NorCal calgunners who'd be keen to take it off your hands.

[smle-man]

Every GI 1911A1 rattles like a tambourine when shook. The buyer is a knucklehead. The pistol is not a commercial piece and it is going to be loose.

If it makes you feel better take it back minus all fees and sell it to a collector.

[heyjerr]

If I were buying it and read that the barrel had to be replaced due to being shot out, I'd certainly expect the condition of the slide, frame, and internals to be worn for sure. Your description and photos seems to give more than enough info to work with. I've bought a few older guns and been less than happy with their accuracy, but old guns (especially those with any field usage) are often well-used guns and no warranty should be implied. If a seller were deliberately hiding a known deficiency then it would be a different scenario altogether.

However to be nitpicky, your ad does list a 15 day inspection and firing period (something I don't recall seeing for anything I've ever bought). To me, this essentially states he could return it for any reason. Unless you stated verbally that the further price reduction negated that statement, that one line technically leaves you open to the possibility of accepting it back in some fashion. (I'm not sure how you could be reasonably expected to include a firing period as he wouldn't be allowed to shoot it until it was dros'd and in his ownership.) An inspection period before starting paperwork would seem reasonable to me. NOTE that I'm stating opinions with qualifiers and not dictating what should be done.

With that as a jumping off point, what is he asking for? If he wants to return it, I would expect him to cover the associated fees (shipping & re-dros back to you). Not sure what that might add up to but it cuts into the cost of him buying a replacement slide (how much would that be?). Rather than just saying "go pound sand" right off the bat, I would suggest taking this into consideration and seeing if there is a reasonable/rational compromise that can be reached to keep you both reasonably happy.

If, however, he's not willing to be reasonable, and he already put it into his name, then I'd feel more comfortable saying "caveat emptor" when it comes to buying used guns. Heck, if it's been transferred into his name that alone could be construed as acceptance of the item and an end to the inspection period. If I sold a home and the buyer closed escrow and then decided to perform an inspection afterward, the buyer would be completely responsible for it at that point.

[tomk556]

I've seen way worse photos for $2K+ guns.

Nobody buys a U.S. Property 1911 to replace the slide. Refund minus expenses or tell him to kick rocks.

[redcliff]

yes, I see it, I forgot,, but it's been over 15 days

Over 15 days= end of discussion imho.

If you want to be overly nice tell him to ship it back for a refund so that you can inspect it to ensure he hasn't screwed with it, and have it dros'd back into your name. Deduct your FFL and DROS fees from the refund.

[Tractionavant]

If you get it back I'll give you the $1300 & the only thing you'll here from me is thank you!

[Bigdog68]

Give hime every penny back, get your gum back and tell em to bugger off.
Sell it to someone who will appreciate it.

This - get the gun back, make sure parts are as shipped by you and condition is as you shipped. Deduct from his payment cost to DROS it back to you and shipping costs both ways.

Many people here would be happy to take it as is.

[sfe187]

1. Nobody specially on this site ever offer 15 day inspection/firing period. Where did you get this idea from? just curious. If anything there is the standard 3 day unfired inspection offer by most GunBroker or Colt Forum sellers.
2. Here in CA we have DROS. If you offer 15 days inspection, WHY did the buyer went ahead with completing the DROS if he was unhappy?
3. In the future, on a piece like that, its always as-is when you decide to ship. Otherwise always face to face. I never offer shipping because of this exact example, I rather have the buyer see it in person cause everybody's interpretation of internet pics are different.
4. If I was you at this moment, I would offer him ship it back (his expense), DROS fee back to me and plus $100 for my time to deal with all this. Then re list as someone will buy it. Stick to Face to face.

[eaglemike]

Headspace and spring check? It's .03? Sounds like he doesn't know what headspace really is......
A original military, other than barrel? Plan on replacing every spring. Put the original in a plastic bag with a little oil.
Guy sounds like a DB to me.
As others have said, original mil-spec guns would rattle at times if you didn't have a bunch of grease on them.
1911 barrel prices vary from really cheap for a "mil-spec surplus barrel" to a five hundred or so for a custom fit match, plus ship if not local.
Would not want to sell a pistol to that buyer.