Gun Buying on Calguns

[SloChicken]

I've tried to buy a couple guns on here, and I've given up. It's serious enough purchasing a gun retail . . . it's dicey buying one on-line . . . but the action here is worse than craigslist or offer up! Major Forget-It !!!

And to thnink you have been here since way back in July 2020.

Well, I gues you have this place figured then.

Never mind those such as I with many solid transactions.
i have only had one problem here and it was a small issue, but a bit of a pain.
All in all, I find the site pretty solid with lots of activity v. other sites.

[Erion929]

I've tried to buy a couple guns on here, and I've given up. It's serious enough purchasing a gun retail . . . it's dicey buying one on-line . . . but the action here is worse than craigslist or offer up! Major Forget-It !!!

[HYPURR]

Marketplace Smartekplace

Calguns of a few years past is just that, past. Get used to it.

Newbies whose biggest previous transactions were at pavilions or Home Depot
are tiring.

Newbies with no posts or no itraders are exasperating.

Even established members are getting snarky.

That being said you gotta kiss alot of frogs to find the prince/princess.

[jsclimbs]

Calguns of a few years past is just that, past. Get used to it.

Newbies whose biggest previous transactions were at pavilions or Home Depot
are tiring.

Newbies with no posts or no itraders are exasperating.

Even established members are getting snarky.

That being said you gotta kiss alot of frogs to find the prince/princess.

[SkyHawk]

With that attitude, say goodbye to 2A!

You need new responsible gun owners to help fight the anti gun sentiment of our elected officials.

This is not your favorite surf spot where you try to keep newcomers away.

A new member is a potential vote that may help turn the tide.

It takes time to bring up the posting, some of us have real jobs and family to look after, we can’t be trolling the forum to post just for the sake of posting.

If you loose your rights, no matter how many frogs you’ll kiss, the prince/ princess will not be there for you (-:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

LOL- tell us more about how coddling you will save 2A. I'm sure the NRA will make plans to close up shop just as soon as they hear from you...

[norcalAF]

This is absurd. Deal with people who have good itrader ratings and the process is relatively easy. Agree on a price, time and FFL location and your done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, never had an issue buying or selling. Then again I only respond to ads that I'm willing to pay the exact price listed. And I only respond to buyers wanting to buy for the exact price listed. Pretty simple.

[LateBraking]

The vast majority of people that are "new" this year panic buyers are now the same people who are saying that "they now have a gun and are qualified to speak on gun control" then say "nobody needs an AR-15" and "reasonable gun control is fine."

[sfe187]

some of us have real jobs and family to look after, we can’t be trolling the forum to post just for the sake of posting.

You don't troll the forum, invest the time to contribute to the forum!

You're not the only one who has a real job and a family to look after

[IVC]

You need new responsible gun owners to help fight the anti gun sentiment of our elected officials.

No, we need people to stop voting for anti-gun politicians and the pretense of voting on some complex issues.

Sentiment doesn't do anything. Any politician who can vote anti-gun with impunity because the constituents won't punish him will keep voting anti-gun to toe the party line.

We need action, not words and feelings...

[ejhc11]

I reply to all my PMs, this place is a lot better than the people on Craigslist...

[Tractionavant]

Everything you need in life you learned in Kindergarten....

[Bull Elk]

From another angle,

Why not we all agree to drop the question "is it still available?" Personally I hate the question and if that is all I get from the person, especially when I have stated in the ad to NOT ask that because the presence of the ad speaks for its availability, I wont answer or if im feeling snarky, my reply will reflect that. I have ads running for various things and thats all I get (is it still available) and i answer and never hear from the buyer again.

A lot of people dont want to buy but love to shop. Asking availability makes them feel like they are making progress without sticking their neck out at all, including the time it takes to say something real. Sellers know this and dont want to waste time.

Drop the question and say something else---permanently.
"Hi, I see you have a Kitchen Aid mixer for sale and im very interested. Its in the range of my budget and I like the color. I dont see attachments in the photo, are any included or would I have to pick them up on my own?"

Me, I would respond right away to that. I know what you are thinking, that you dont want to write all that if its already been sold but therein lies one of the problems about non-replies. So, sorry, you have to put the effort and if he writes back and says, "oh its sold, thanks for reminding me to drop the ad," well thats life.

To me, asking availability is the shortcut to a lack of reply, creating an annoyance and even possibly making an enemy. Time to change tactics.

You can be real and also make an enemy. Here is the shortcut:
"Hi, im really interested in your pistol, ive been searching for one for quite a while and yours looks great. Thing is, ive gotten to know the prices and i went to this site where there was one like yours except that it was way cheaper and then I went on a forum and everyone voted that your price is waaaay out of line, a ridiculous price, so are you ready to talk reality or what?" You know what, you better pray i dont reply to that.

There are many ways to approach a seller, including ways to persuade the seller to see your point of view. Learn some! The bottom line involves the premise of the OP. No legit complaint against, or response to, can be made to the question,"is it available?" A better way for progress is to just restate the problem: "How can I improve salesmanship and marketing skills as a buyer or seller?" Now its a worthwhile topic to get at whats ailing it.

Last thing, to answer the second OP question, if you wrote a good note and there was no reply, give it 10 days and nudge. "Hi, i know you might be busy, did you have a chance to see my first enquiry about the pistol? Im still interested and happy to talk to you about it whenever you are free. If its easier for you to call, my number is 823-350-9037. Thanks." If no reply to that, drop it, there is no need to be an aggressive pest. After all, many times the seller isnt selling anything, just testing the market for number of enquiries and price sensitivity. And dont start with, "well thats not fair!" Just dont.

I hear you loud and clear and fully agree with you, but I do have a question....is it still available?