CalGunners My .02

[Gem1950]

OP - So what? If you think someone is being a dick, for whatever reason, then it serves no purpose to jump in his game. What if no one bought mags. for 100.00 each or paid more for .223 than .308 or double/triple for a lower?

When things are out of control because people are being dicks it's because you can't prevent people from being dicks. Let me know when we can legislate reason.

[skyscraper]

Shutup commies

[skyscraper]

All I know is I would have love to see 26 innocent souls opening up their Christmas presents today verses seeing scum profiting off of their deaths!

Are you angry at the buyers too, or just the sellers?

[Cato]

This ain't a charity, y'know.

Intelligent gun enthusiasts stock up when prices are low and inventory is full.

[Cato]

This ain't a charity, y'know.

Intelligent gun enthusiasts stock up when prices are low and inventory is full.

[MichaelKent]

For people with such strong support for one constitutional right (RKBA), there sure seems to be a lot of people here on Calguns who do not believe in economic freedom. Given that some people want to charge a price you consider too high--and that others are willing to pay it--what do you propose? Government price controls? Boycott? Publishing names publicly?

...

If someone's price seems high, nobody has to buy it. And if offers are too low, nobody has to sell it. Likely some prices will be too high for most people--but someone will pay it, in which case the higher price served to help reserve the item for those who most value it. You might sympathize with people facing economic hardship who can't afford a firearm, but why not sympathize with people facing economic hardship who can't afford rent unless they can get a good price for their firearm? Especially when we're probably just projecting our own idea of economic well-being, since we're generally hiding behind internet usernames?

It's true that people are free to sell things at any price they want, and there are people willing to pay it... However that doesn't make such a transaction ethical, nor are we obliged to remain silent when we see people being scammed, or taken advantage of. There are plenty of snake oil salesmen in the world, people who will charge high prices for fake medicine that doesn't work, who buy concert tickets to sell them on eBay later, and now people who will exploit the gun community's fear of bans. The first amendment protects our right to call out bull**** where we see it, and we have a right (perhaps a moral duty) to warn people when a deal isn't fair.

Should we make some kind of rule, policy or forum Term of Service to prevent this price gouging? No. Should we be free to point out the absurdity of price gouging and trash talk the people who would do such a thing? Absolutely. That's what this thread really is about.

[Yemff]

the worst part is after prices come down they still are never the same because vendors know people will pay ridiculous prices. People who panic buy just end up screwing themselves in the long run, and unfortunately everyone else.

[Paltik]

Please explain to me how the price agreed upon between buyer and seller can make the transaction unethical. Any transaction, however, where one of the two parties or a third party forces the buyer to pay more than he wishes or the seller to accept less than he wishes is an infringement on free trade.

I completely agree with you about scamming. Fraud should not be tolerated. I consider the feedback system in the Calguns Marketplace, along with the WTS/WTB threads, in which the community can read item descriptions, price, and "I'll take it" posts, a great help in combating fraud.

However, I see nothing fraudulent nor unethical in saying, "I want to sell my gun, in good condition, for $X," where the item sold is the gun as represented in good condition as claimed--just because you or some group of people consider X too much. People are willing to pay a premium for convenience, for buying ahead of others, for a relationship, to buy today rather than having to wait, and for a sure purchase rather than a probable or unlikely purchase, among other things.

If it turns out that the sorts of firearms selling for surprising amounts this past week are in fact banned next month before local gun stores and online dealers are able to meet the demand, then those who paid 2-3 times the "going rate" for a firearm this week will be considered quick-thinking and smart compared to those who gave up their chance for such firearms, thinking to wait out an unjustified panic.

It might be fraudulent to claim that such a ban is going to happen, but I haven't seen such claims in the Marketplace. Indeed, many of the sellers are probably betting there won't be any such ban. It's like the stock market--for every seller there's a buyer. The guy who sells, thinking the stock can't go any higher, sells to some other guy who thinks it well; and the guy who buys, thinking his investment will appreciate, buys from someone else taking their profits or giving up on that same investment. Often one buys and another sells because they have different time horizons, investment goals, information, or market theory.

[Mr.1904]

For people with such strong support for one constitutional right (RKBA), there sure seems to be a lot of people here on Calguns who do not believe in economic freedom. Given that some people want to charge a price you consider too high--and that others are willing to pay it--what do you propose? Government price controls? Boycott? Publishing names publicly?

But think about your feelings about Government gun controls, social ostracism toward gun owners, and publishing the names and addresses of licensed gun owners (as recently in New York).

Let's be pro-freedom.

If someone's price seems high, nobody has to buy it. And if offers are too low, nobody has to sell it. Likely some prices will be too high for most people--but someone will pay it, in which case the higher price served to help reserve the item for those who most value it. You might sympathize with people facing economic hardship who can't afford a firearm, but why not sympathize with people facing economic hardship who can't afford rent unless they can get a good price for their firearm? Especially when we're probably just projecting our own idea of economic well-being, since we're generally hiding behind internet usernames?

I'm pro-freedom. But anti-scumbag.

It comes down to ethics. In real life if you lack the correct ethics and are a scumbag and labeled as such no one will want to work with you because you are a scumbag. That make sense to some of you people? If i owned a business, and ripped people off. Do you think that's the ethical thing to do? Do you think it's right?

Which brings me to my next point. The difference between right and wrong. People are justifying ripping off or "capitalizing" off of their fellow calgunners by hiding behind freedom and the free market. Whatever helps you guys sleep at night.

Do the right thing. And don't be a scumbag.

But then again we have the people who are stupid enough to pay the prices.... That's a whole nother subject.

Don't be a dick. And don't get gotted.

[tenpercentfirearms]

LOL these threads are classic. I own a business. If I set my prices and people pay that price, then I'm a happy camper. Prior to this I couldn't get anyone to buy LMT rifles. I didn't hear you guys telling each other to stop being dicks and pay full price for those guns. Oh no quite the opposite. I barely made any money on them and you'd brag to your buddies what a deal you got.

That is why I said forget it. Anything rare I have I have been putting on Gunbroker for a starting bid of 1 cent and no reserve. I just sold six 308 PMags for $598 plus $15 shipping.

When are you whiners going to figure out the demand is so huge that if one guy doesn't buy it, someone else will. This has nothing to do with gouging and everything to do with supply and demand? Answer: you won't. It's 2008 all over again, but better! Unless some bans actually pass. None of this money is worth that.

[skyscraper]

I'm pro-freedom. But anti-scumbag.

It comes down to ethics. In real life if you lack the correct ethics and are a scumbag and labeled as such no one will want to work with you because you are a scumbag. That make sense to some of you people? If i owned a business, and ripped people off. Do you think that's the ethical thing to do? Do you think it's right?

Which brings me to my next point. The difference between right and wrong. People are justifying ripping off or "capitalizing" off of their fellow calgunners by hiding behind freedom and the free market. Whatever helps you guys sleep at night.

Do the right thing. And don't be a scumbag.

But then again we have the people who are stupid enough to pay the prices.... That's a whole nother subject.

Don't be a dick. And don't get gotted.

lol... Do you have any pmags for sale at $15 each? Help your fellow calgunners out.

[DannyInSoCal]

Yeah - I'm still pissed at the "gougers" who sold me gold at $1,000 an oz....

[rolo]

Everyone who is whining about gouging should be looking hard in the mirror about why they're in a position to whine. You want something you don't have, and found it but at prices you don't want to pay. It's all about you, just like these threads. You think you know better than someone that has something you want.

How's that working out for you?

Don't let this happen next time. It's your lack of foresight that put you in the position you find yourself in. View this as a learning experience. Take control of your life, don't rely on someone else to "level the playing field."

[Annex138]

The sad thing is when you see people buying pmags and lowers on the marketplace at the normal pre buying craze price only to turn around and try selling the same item they just bought at double the price.

I have no problem with the guys that stocked up ahead of time and are now selling their surplus at the going rate but those *******s that are buying only to turn around and resell it at double need a swift kicking in the balls.

[-hanko]

I thought we already covered this...

There is no such thing as a "community" with gun people. 2008 and now proves that very well. Gun people are some of the worst people I have ever met. I think these gougers are scum who can take a sad event to spur idiots to buy (overpay) for magazines guns etc. I hope the karma train comes hard and fast for all the gougers

"Gouging" relates to raising prices on items that are needed to live...e.g., $20 for a bottle of water following a natural disaster.

Gun stuff is purchased with discretionary income, pricing is agreed upon between seller and buyer and deal proceeds. "Overpaying" is a relative term. If I've got the bucks to buy an item you can't afford, butthurt begins on your side.

The karma train? LOL! Sounds like it has already come for those posting in this thread.

A couple of parables come to mind. Something about grasshoppers, ants and sour grapes.

Well put.

Hahahahah!!!
Yeah I know what you mean OP, it kinda sucks too right now.
Just cant wait for this demand to die down soon and things go back to normal.... hopefully

"Normal" is also relative.

Agreed. I feel we should not allow fellow members to gouge here. If they want to make a buck sell it else where.. Yeah I feel you. You wanna make a buck that fine but lets not get carried away.. We should be helping each other out not screwing the guy next to me.. I recenlty was banned from the market place for making fun of the current market.. Why are we allowing this to happend.... I am a member aslo at the m14 forum and they all agreed that they wouldn't allow price gouging.. We should do the same

See "gouging" above. No one is gouging if willing buyers pay what you might define as "not normal" prices.

You got banned because the rules have probibited "thread crapping" since before you signed up here. Have you read the rules? See next paragraph...

Don't like the price, pm the buyer and ***** but stfu in the forum.

This ain't a charity, y'know.

Intelligent gun enthusiasts stock up when prices are low and inventory is full.

Yep, and the whiners are pissed at their own lack of intelligence and more than that, their inability to understand what happened in past presidential elections and federal and state "awb" bans.

Everyone who is whining about gouging should be looking hard in the mirror about why they're in a position to whine. You want something you don't have, and found it but at prices you don't want to pay. It's all about you, just like these threads. You think you know better than someone that has something you want.

How's that working out for you?

Don't let this happen next time. It's your lack of foresight that put you in the position you find yourself in. View this as a learning experience. Take control of your life, don't rely on someone else to "level the playing field."

This post should have ended the thread.

The sad thing is when you see people buying pmags and lowers on the marketplace at the normal pre buying craze price only to turn around and try selling the same item they just bought at double the price.

I have no problem with the guys that stocked up ahead of time and are now selling their surplus at the going rate but those *******s that are buying only to turn around and resell it at double need a swift kicking in the balls.

Butt hurt? Guys who have the sense to buy early and avoid the rush have looked at history and made the correct conclusions.

Selling for a profit is the American way, at least I thought so. Those who sat on their arses and did nothing following "aw" stuff that started with the federal ban in 1994, California's ban in 2000, presidential elections in 2008 and 2012, not to mention various massacres by idiots, missed the boat big time.

The "going rate" reflects history. If a buyer and seller agree on a price that's double v. last week or month or year, none of your business.

Get that Preparation H, sit down, and relax.

-hanko