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In short, I completed a FTF with a gentleman for a mint revolver with a high-polish nickel finish. We met a FFL which I had never done business with, but was one the seller recommended and liked. When we met, I inspected the gun thoroughly and at least 3 employees at the store did too. We passed it around, talking about it, polishing it and admiring it for about an hour. One employee joked that he was going to take it out and shoot it during the 10-day wait, which I simply laughed off. All that saw it remarked how incredibly clean and nice it was. I was the last to see it after polishing out the fingerprints and boxing her up for the 10-day wait.
OK, fast forward to pick-up. The three employees that saw the gun during the transfer were all gone, and I was told my the owner that the one that did my paperwork no longer works there. From what I've heard, he was a long-time employee. He even told me on the day we did the transfer how much he liked working there. Well, the owner handed me the box and started completing the paperwork. I opened the box and immediately (within one second) noticed that the nickel finish was different than when I left it. There as an area on the crane (where it meets the underside of the barrel when rotated into place) where the finish was now flaking off. I immediately inspected inside the foam-padded box for remnants of the flaked-off finish and there was none to be found. I also immediately reported it to the owner. He inspected it and said that it was a "defect" in what he kept referring to as "chrome plating". I told him that it was mint (no defect) when I left it their care and now it was no longer in that same condition. I told him that I was concerned that it may have been mishandled during the 10-day wait and mentioned to him about the employee stating that he was going to shoot it. He said that he wasn't there when I did the FTF, which is true, so he couldn't confirm what condition is was in. I told him of all the employess oooing and aaawing over it and asked him if the employee that did the paperwork was there. That's when he informed me that he was no longer employed there. The owner said he would ask the other employees if anyone had taken it out during the 10-day wait, but said that it was not their policy to do so, of course. I have been told by a third party, however, that this does occur. At any rate, owner says it's not their fault and that the new condition is a defect despite there being no evidence of flaking inside the box.
So, now I've got a no-so-mint anymore, revolver that I paid a mint price for. What options do I have? What would you do? Opinions please. Thanks.
OK, fast forward to pick-up. The three employees that saw the gun during the transfer were all gone, and I was told my the owner that the one that did my paperwork no longer works there. From what I've heard, he was a long-time employee. He even told me on the day we did the transfer how much he liked working there. Well, the owner handed me the box and started completing the paperwork. I opened the box and immediately (within one second) noticed that the nickel finish was different than when I left it. There as an area on the crane (where it meets the underside of the barrel when rotated into place) where the finish was now flaking off. I immediately inspected inside the foam-padded box for remnants of the flaked-off finish and there was none to be found. I also immediately reported it to the owner. He inspected it and said that it was a "defect" in what he kept referring to as "chrome plating". I told him that it was mint (no defect) when I left it their care and now it was no longer in that same condition. I told him that I was concerned that it may have been mishandled during the 10-day wait and mentioned to him about the employee stating that he was going to shoot it. He said that he wasn't there when I did the FTF, which is true, so he couldn't confirm what condition is was in. I told him of all the employess oooing and aaawing over it and asked him if the employee that did the paperwork was there. That's when he informed me that he was no longer employed there. The owner said he would ask the other employees if anyone had taken it out during the 10-day wait, but said that it was not their policy to do so, of course. I have been told by a third party, however, that this does occur. At any rate, owner says it's not their fault and that the new condition is a defect despite there being no evidence of flaking inside the box.
So, now I've got a no-so-mint anymore, revolver that I paid a mint price for. What options do I have? What would you do? Opinions please. Thanks.
God Did Not Create All Men Equal, Colonel Colt Did.
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