Lost a good Inland I think

[DICKX]

Guy's, I think I lost a good one.
A guy on Guns America had 1 poor picture and a one line listing. I emailed him 6 times in 5 day ( no answer ) He finally got back to me and said he had been on ( 2 weeks vacation ) by the time he emailed me the S/N and Barrel date and not import marked, some one had put a buy on the carbine ( Inland 256XX barrel date 5-41) $ 685.00 + $50.00 shipping. I found out about all the details after it had sold. He answered my email with the above details and I emailed him back and asked if it was sold or not. He then emailed me back and said he was sorry but sold. I had a feeling he was not to knowledgeable about carbine's but I just could not commit with out S/N and Barrel date.
Dick

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[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

DickX,
Guessing that was a typo and you meant 5-42 on the barrel date?

[DICKX]

Hi,
He said 5-41 but may have been a typo. I had asked him for a picture of the Date and MFG. of that area of the barrel with the front sight but he never sent me any pictures or answered all my questions.
I can't figure out how these guy's think they can sell rifles on auction sites with only a few poor pictures and if you ask for more or better pictures you never get any response. So I am not going to buy if they don't care anymore than that. I would never try and do that if I was selling. Pictures and good described rifles sell better but some of these buyers must not care what they buy or have to much money to burn.????
Dick

DickX,
Guessing that was a typo and you meant 5-42 on the barrel date?

[INLAND44]

Hi,
He said 5-41 but may have been a typo. I had asked him for a picture of the Date and MFG. of that area of the barrel with the front sight but he never sent me any pictures or answered all my questions.
I can't figure out how these guy's think they can sell rifles on auction sites with only a few poor pictures and if you ask for more or better pictures you never get any response. So I am not going to buy if they don't care anymore than that. I would never try and do that if I was selling. Pictures and good described rifles sell better but some of these buyers must not care what they buy or have to much money to burn.????
Dick

Well, he did sell it, didn't he? Perhaps the buyer felt like he could gamble a bit and maybe get lucky, which apparently he did. I know you're 'venting' now, but you have to face reality - most listings are incredibly poor. You must develop the needed '6th sense' on these auctions if you plan to get the jump on millions of buyers. As a buyer, I have never been gypped on GB or AA. As a seller, I learned a lesson once - never use a 'buy' button if you're not sure what the gun is worth. I started an auction one day for a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 AE. It was the old model, perfect original condition with original numbered box. I had paid $300 for it some time ago, so I listed it at $350 with a $500 'Buy It Now'. About an hour later I tried to go to the auction just to see how it looked but the site showed I had no active auctions. Then it hit me - I searched for my 'completed' auctions and there it was - sold for $500 - it had lasted all of 49 minutes! I'll never know how much it may have brought without that 'buy' button.
I think that carbine buyer figured that if it was anything at all, he could part it out if need be to at least break even.
After buying and selling on them since the gun auctions started, I have come to the conclusion that most sellers simply do not have the mental capacity to take proper pictures or write good descriptions, while they also do not have the slightest intention to try to help the buyers make informed decisions. In other words, we're talking about knot-headed imbeciles. Scary, ain't it?

[USGI]

Dickx,
I think what you've described is all a part of the "games" being played in the selling of these carbines. They probably bought the carbine, had buyer's remorse and have decided they can palm it off on someone else for a quick profit without needing to be overly descriptive, or completely honest in their tactics. Learn all you can and then hang around some gunshops or gunshows and look carefully at what's out there, and how it compares to what you have learned. You might happen onto a "deal" and you can actually see and handle the gun before purchase. Or, you can keep buying them one at a time and try learning as you go (like I seem to be doing) - not recommended, but it's one way of doing it. Keep on looking! - Bob

[firstflabn]

Bottom line: the guy sold a gun he didn't need. As a seller, I think I might steer clear of someone barraging me with emails. A followup, OK, but cyberstalking him is a bit much.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Agree with firstflabn. Question email, follow up maybe the next day. Another follow up a day before it goes off.
On the other hand, if no response, I might take that as a red flag.
It is always buyer beware, ask for an inspection period. You will lose shipping but that is better then the cost of a not wanted carbine.

Jim

[painter777]

Cyberstalking?

Come on...

Dick has been looking very hard for a non Import carbine for quite a while. The man is just looking for a reliable gun, not someones passed along problem.
He has no way to know if the questions/E-mails he has sent are getting thru, unless the seller responds.
At 72 years old, a lifelong native of Nebraska and as a fellow member, I'd cut him some slack.

I can understand a seller not taking 50 questions to educate someone about a item, but a guy asking the 'Basic' questions tells me I have a interested buyer.

Hang in there Dick,
Someone will offer up a carbine sooner than later that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

Regards,
Charlie-painter777

[DICKX]

Charlie,
Thank You.

Guy's
All I asked were basic questions anyone would want to know. A few close up pictures of the carbine and S/N, barrel mfg. and date, any markings on the left and right side and in the sling well of the stock. ME/MW of the barrel and any import marks. I told him if he did not have a guage to just use a 30-06 m2 ball round and put it in muzzle and measure from crown up to the brass or send me a picture, also if it had a 2 or 4 rivet handguard. I would think anyone would want the above information if buying a carbine on a listing.
The carbine was not on a auction but on Guns America with a buy now. I was very cordial and asked please and thank you in my emails.
I welcome all members negative and positive comments as it helps me to learn and I have a lot of that to do but slowly begining to get the hang of it I hope.
Thanks
DICK

[shadycon]

Hang in their Dick. I went thru the same process when I found these web sites. I had an Inland for 30yrs and never took a close look at it. All I did was shoot and clean it every now and then. Now I know a lot more about them and have 3. I don't blame you for being causous, keep looking and you will find one to your liking. GK