I don't know much about them, just had noticed they placed a bid on this one for $755.00 on the morning the auction ended. - BobQuote:
Originally Posted by carwashchris
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I don't know much about them, just had noticed they placed a bid on this one for $755.00 on the morning the auction ended. - BobQuote:
Originally Posted by carwashchris
I caught Sam T Blob auctioning one while it was still available to view as a B&R when he bought it.
I posted it here a little over a month ago.
Searched his feedback and it came up.
Here's Sam-T-Blob's current offering.
M1 Carbine - Underwood "Very Early" : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com
Here is the same rifle when he bought it for $704.
EARLY Underwood M1 Carbine 30 Barreled Receiver : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com
Very interesting, Thanks! - Bob
He's good !
We all hate the destruction of stocks being restamped. So we can slow it down a lot.
Someone on another site tipped me off to his tactics. He bids on rifles with high wood stocks that can be stamped to look like USGI cartouches, even if the rifle is import stamped. Import stamps just means he can get them cheaper. He also bids on receivers with little or no staking for reproduction flip sights (the same receivers we look for to get a more collectible carbine). If it's import marked, pitted barrel, shot out barrel, it doesn't matter. He'll buy it anyway to get the stock or receiver or original trigger group.
That tells you there is more money left on the table. Just out-bid him. If he bids on something, there is a reason, making it a good buy for anyone interested in collecting. His top bids are said to be a little north of $900 for more rare highwood rifles, but about $800 for more common high wood stocked rifles. You can contact the sellers that he's bidding on to ask questions about the items to see if there are parts confirming more value that aren't pictured. With a little effort the gravy train of his bubba'd Carbines can be slowed to a trickle.
I believe he's already using other usernames to buy to keep people from out bidding him on things he can fill full of reproduction parts and resell for profit. It's easy to see who they are because it will be always be a high wood stock or the receiver has proper staking. Those are said to be the biggies. Other rare parts are an attractant but lesser degree.
Let's get into the game on this. It's doubtful you'll lose. If the bids get too high, bail out since you know where he'll stop and at least you can cost him some money. I saw someone bid him from about $650 in the last hour when he was the only bidder to running it to $900 for an Underwood that turned out to be a mix master. It looked like it had an original configuration but that other bidder contacted the seller to ask about some of the parts at the last minute (upping his bid every 13 minutes to keep it open until the seller responded) and it wasn't as original as it looked in the pics. He stuck him for over $200 on that one. The seller was happy.
Someone did a decent job on him there. I wish more people would do that, at least. He still got the stock, but it made it harder on him to make money. It got in his pocket for $250, which is the price of a some good high woods.
You'll immediately be able to use or resell the undamaged stock for plenty if you want to. If you get stuck with a high wood stock, rest assured it will be worth more money next year, and the next year and next.
You need to do a little bit, give a little bit, to protect the hobby you love.
Nobody wants to be taken advantage of, either by fakery or pricing. Many want to respect the history of the weapons and integrity of the hobby. Of course there are some who are strictly in it for the money. Even collectors want a return on their investment. I've know forum guys who charge what is the max the market will bear. Even on items they found at substantially less.
That being said, these buyers and re-sellers are only doing something morally illegal. Distasteful to many or most of us, but not against the law. Using the forum to report and inform others is being helpful. But scheming against another I don't think is helpful. The marketplace has and always will be buyer beware. Books, past experiences, asking questions on a forum, pictures, friends. Being well educated in one's hobby is a better way to deal with these unscrupulous sellers.
We should strive to be fair and friendly.
Well then, as far as scheming to inform others that parts aren't USGI during an active auction, that would fall into that category of wrong too by your explanation.
I'm saying to people that if they want to buy a good rifle or good part, bid on what that man is bidding on and you'll have made a good investment. If a person cares about the integrity of the hobby it is identical to informing others that his auctions are very sketchy in all these threads about him as it is to suggest to outbid him.
And there is absolutely nothing morally wrong with wanting a return on an investment and nothing morally wrong with asking the retail for an item. That is the nature of investing. I've bee glad to pay retail for the bulk of my stuff, because I know it'll be worth more next year.
If I make a bulk buy and end up with a free USGI paratrooper stock do you expect me to sell it for about what I have in it? That's a rhetorical question. BTW, I own a Winchester stock purchased from Rex Guin that he said came from you for retail value. I don't know what he paid to whom, but I know what I was told when I paid over $300 3 yrs ago.
Perhaps I'm misreading or misunderstanding your "he said, she said" comments here partner... :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by tenOC
For the clarity of all our members, what are you implying about Jim (JimF4M1s)?
Regards,
Doug
I'm responding to a finger pointed at me and being told I'm doing something wrong to sell at retail if I paid substantially less. On most forums when a moderator engages someone, that someone is allowed to respond. Is that not allowed?Quote:
I've know forum guys who charge what is the max the market will bear. Even on items they found at substantially less.
That being said, these buyers and re-sellers are only doing something morally illegal.
Usually I'm the one paying retail, but I will buy bulk to save on the specific item I wanted and sell the others (if I get around to actually selling the others). Jim likened that practice to that of sellers on GB selling false parts on hacked Carbines.
Speculating on kidneys to live on, or scalping medicine people need just to live, would be morally illegal. I think Jim's a nice man. I don't see any correlation in SamTBob and most of the people buying and/or selling. I don't know anyone who's here to lose money. Spouses don't put up with much of that.