Why are people so bad at selling rifles?

[Mikesm44]

I saw an ad on a local forum. Said "British Sniper Rifle". He's asking $600. I click on it and see the first photo. Ok, I think this tells me nothing. Maybe it's a "scope-less" rifle? I email him and ask, what makes it a sniper, do you have any better photos. He sends me a close up of the import mark and the serial number. ??? I respond, with basically this tells me nothing. One can hope it's a scope-less rifle, but I assume it is a person asking $600 for a $300 rifle they don't know anything about. But one can dream can't they?

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[vintage hunter]

You can stop dreaming any time now, that Enfield has never been anywhere close to H&H in it's life. It's nothing more than a run of the mill battle rifle, albeit a fairly nice one from what I can see. The guy is either trolling for a sucker or barely knows enough about rifles to tell which end the bullet comes out of. I couldn't tell you how many times some poor uninformed sap has told me about their ''sniper'' rifle and when I see it and try to tell them it isn't they argue up and down that it is because it's an ''army'' rifle. I'll show them a real sniper and their eyes get big when they see the scope and they say something like ''Oh, you put a scope on it. Cool. How much you charge me to do mine like that?'' Jeez. You just can't convince them they ain't got a sniper rifle.

[Mikesm44]

Haha. yes I assume that is the situation. He says over and over how great a rifle it is, but he's never fired it before. I think if you don't know what an import mark is, I can probably figure out how much you know about the rifle. Oh well. I am taking a look at it tomorrow. I really wanted the M38 he had in the ad, but someone beat me too it, the Enfield was an afterthought at first.

[inspectgadget]

at least it didn't have a bobed barrel, and a operation ID number on every part, with a prick punch.

[CINDERS]

They are dreaming, that's like me saying my beat up old VE Commodore is really a Bugatti Vereyon in disguise, a bog standard No.4 no less no more, how can one assume it is a whizz bang shooter without firing it me thinks that seller has watched to much star trekkin'

[Vincent]

It’s a “bog standard” No4 (I am learning the Queen’s English ) and the guy is probably looking for a sucker. But some snipers, like the "White Death", preferred not to use scopes.

[Mikesm44]

It’s a “bog standard” No4 (I am learning the Queen’s English ) and the guy is probably looking for a sucker. But some snipers, like the "White Death", preferred not to use scopes.

Yes, very true.

[Seaspriter]

My father (God rest his soul) bought over a hundred antique guns over his life and taught me a little bit along the way. He had a way of categorizing gun dealers that helps explain your/our frustration. This is how I remember his evaluation of the different sellers:

- Worst: Fakers, Fraudsters, & Fast-Buckers looking for Suckers.
- Bad: Bubbas, Bignorants, & Butchers who mess up a gun and want a lot for it.
- Caveat Emptor: Fast Movers, Pawn Shops, Mix-Masters.
- Frustrators: Smart Alec who knows a little bit about everything.
- Illusionists: Dreamers & Friends (who think their common gun is very Rare) and don't want to hear reality
- Enigma Dealers: Typically an antique dealer specializing in non-guns who gets an occasional gun and knows little about it.
- Friends: Folks who trust you (and you merit their trust) who simply want a "fair value" for a gun they typically inherit but don't want
- Volume Movers: Traders that know a little bit about every kind of weapon, but not enough to be able to spot the really unique weapon
- Amateur Collectors: Highly knowledgeable "semi-experts" who detail everything the know about the gun (good & bad) and want a good (but fair) return for their expertise
- Real Professionals: Expert Specialists in a somewhat limited range of weapons, highly knowledgeable, buy and sell only the best guns at premium prices (often also have storefronts)

My father had a different way of dealing (negotiating) with each of them (including running in the other direction to being a regular customer who got a discount). I learned a lot from the old man -- wish he were still with us.

[Colonel Enfield]

Your dad was spot-on with those categorisations - I agree with them completely.