Yes, I will strive to be fair and friendly, Jim. And I hate that we've had a disagreement. I hate that it comes over a topic we agree on too. I understand your explanation this morning. The original statement includes those selling at an increase by using the plural when the only subject would be a singular seller Sam-T-Bob, so I couldn't help but take addition of the phrase "that being said" with the entirety to implicate even forum members as mentioned.
I agree with what you are saying was your actual intent only towards fraudulent sales.
We know who most of the sellers are in the hobby. I have zero issue with them being here to buy and sell. It would be cheaper for me and other buyers if they weren't doing it, but I have no issue with them doing it. I still volunteer to buy from them if the item is something I want and they are an agreeable personality.
Getting a stored value by buying low for a higher value item is a lot of my goal in the hobby. I buy rare parts I will probably never use, much like you have. It's like a treasure hunt for me. So I personally can't understand why it would concern anyone that someone is making an increase in the hobby. So, if that's not your statement, I then understand you to just be talking about people like that GB seller.
I'm positive you're reading more into it and I felt I explained myself with the example. I'm just relaying that I willingly purchased a stock said to have come from your possession at one time, and the seller sold it at high retail because of condition. I made no assertion that you are selling for profit. What I was implying is it's well known you have a grail of items as a collector and that they have a value or you would not have collected them. And since you're not in the habit of selling, I'm saying they still have that value to you (and to the rest of us). Most collectors do help out the new guys. I still get help and I help others in return. That help we give impacts our ability to get nice items, but we're supporting the hobby. Most collectors sell an occasional item and don't make a practice of hurting themselves to do it.Seeing that comment this morning has me dismayed. I don't understand why/where it came from, or the implication. I assume it is meant to impugn my character. So I feel a need to respond.
This is only an example, but nowhere did I say you sold something recently. I didn't even say I bought it recently.If someone has told you I sold them a carbine or stock recently, you were misinformed. I haven't sold a carbine or stock in at least 10-12 years. The last time I even shipped a stock was to painter777 to be refinished, four or five years ago.
Understood. I paid a fair price for the item and it was my choice to willingly buy the item several years ago. I have ZERO issue with a person selling an item for more than they paid because it is not morally illegal to do so. That's the contention in entirety.I have traded some carbines to my cousin, but have only sold two carbines since I started collecting in 1976. Underwood T, and W coded with leaf sights many years ago. Neither for higher the $650. I have sold a few knives, oilers, mag pouches, tracer and grenade launcher ammo, and maybe a hand guard in the last five years, all to members here. The last few years I have just given parts to newer people to help them out, a Karma so to speak. Anything I have or will ever sell has had an open return policy for any reason. So back to the stock you mention. The only way it could have come from me was off of the two above mentioned Underwoods. And if so, and you bought it, you must have liked it. So I ask, what is your contention?
The only real foul is that one seller everyone agrees on is misrepresenting items and the hobby. I feel you were unfairly impugning my character by yourself partaking in threads that hold derogatory (unfriendly) comments and then implying I'm doing something wrong by suggesting a method for collectors to get a good item while at the same time protecting the hobby would be to fairly out-bid him at the market place. I'm showing how it's a good business practice. If a reseller is willing to pay that same price, there's a reason for it and it can benefit the buyer and us (two fold). That is the reason for my response to you, just as you responded above.
I'm bent strongly toward fairness, maybe even to the extreme, like many who post about bogus items. I understand that you have a duty to protect the forum you're moderating on. I'm participating on this forum and won't misrepresent anything or anyone. I even hold my tongue on some of the bogus deals I've witnessed from 1 or 2 who post here.