What the....? No thread on the big Wolverine surplus sale?

Recce21 said:
I think the guns will be sold mostly out of buyer hysteria. No way I would pay those prices based on poor descriptions and shotty photos coupled with the fear of someone else frantically trying to rid themselves of hard earned or government subsidized money.
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I agree that there is a bit of a frenzy that undoubtedly drove some purcases, and that better pics would have been nice, but have you looked at the EE lately? If I was not planning a big expenditure in the next few weeks there were several I would have gone for, mainly because there was alot on those pages that do not come up everday. Additionally I would rely more on the judgement of a premium dealer than someone I don't know.
 
Thank you all for making today one of our most interesting! We knew we would not be able to please everyone and I am sure there will be some unhappy customers when they see their purchases, but we tried to be fair and price realistically. If we had stopped to give detailed descriptions and photos this whole exercise would have become cost prohibitive. The fact that we sold nearly 30% of the list in the first two hours vindicates my pricing and policy, some items were extremely difficult to price. Note approx seven hours after we opened the sale almost 50% has gone. Keep an eye on the price list as we correct it, some customers have already changed their minds or purchased classes they cannot have.

Next week we will be open to offers on any remaining items, you might be surprised what we accept! I need the space and it is time to move on. Thanks for a fun day!
 
Otherwise though, I found the bulk of the stuff priced at premuim retail prices - almost Colelctor's Source bad. Clearly they aren't going to clear all their space quickly - just my opinion.[/QUOTE]

I agree, $275 for a Bubba'd SMLE and $250 for a 91/30 seems rather excessive to me, not to mention adding the tax and shipping to that....
 
Taxes, shipping & a nice $25 plastic box just under $750. Does that mean I got a deal? Will find out in a couple of weeks when it shows. I have dealt with Wolverine many times in the past & have never been disappointed with their service or their descriptions though...
A3's are a little harder to find than 03's or MK 1's but maybe easier than a Remington 'transitional' piece up here & way easier than a real A4. But they are around... I won't say they are common, but hardily a rarity. A 1903 with a good bore? Now that can be even harder...
 
To clarify: Wolverine has always been very good to me and I buy modern guns from them regularly as that is their forte.

In this instance though, we saw retail pricing - not a fire sale. My opinion only.
 
I chose not to participate at all. I thought the marketing was cheesy and below the standards of a used car dealer. Its like the frenzy for people who stand in line all night for concert tickets. Perhaps a good deal for some, but hours from life that can never be recovered for others.

I picked up 4 Lee Enfields this week, can't wait for them to arrive. It was a good week without frenzy.
 
fiddler said:
I chose not to participate at all. I thought the marketing was cheesy and below the standards of a used car dealer. Its like the frenzy for people who stand in line all night for concert tickets. Perhaps a good deal for some, but hours from life that can never be recovered for others.

I picked up 4 Lee Enfields this week, can't wait for them to arrive. It was a good week without frenzy.
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What frenzy? Occasionally I'd click on the computer and have a look. I knew a list was going to come out this morning & not before. Shipping was going to be longer and all sales were final... Marketing was no different than someone having a progressive sale here on this site. Think of it as an exclusive garage sale...
I have a feeling John did ok at his business before this offer & will probably do ok after it...;) Some may not like this type offering & I have a feeling it won't effect his company at all. Like it or not, He is a pro & conducts transactions in that manner.
 
fiddler said:
I chose not to participate at all. I thought the marketing was cheesy and below the standards of a used car dealer. Its like the frenzy for people who stand in line all night for concert tickets. Perhaps a good deal for some, but hours from life that can never be recovered for others.

I picked up 4 Lee Enfields this week, can't wait for them to arrive. It was a good week without frenzy.
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it's probably the only way to dump a pile of rifles in a short time. it was a big pile when i saw it.
 
fiddler said:
I picked up 4 Lee Enfields this week, can't wait for them to arrive. It was a good week without frenzy.
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I like your style. Enfields are by far my favorite rifles. I love the wartime German weapons for history sake but nothing beats the smooth action of a #### on close LE bolt.
 
I was hoping to Buy a k98k today, but i ended buying a Isreali k98k swp 45 with the correct stock in 7.62 for 400 Shipped off of the EE. I guess to many ppl put to much intrest in this large bulk of rifles and ignored the EE.
 
Wolverine Sale

DANCESWITHEMPTIES said:
What frenzy? Occasionally I'd click on the computer and have a look. I knew a list was going to come out this morning & not before. Shipping was going to be longer and all sales were final... Marketing was no different than someone having a progressive sale here on this site. Think of it as an exclusive garage sale...
I have a feeling John did ok at his business before this offer & will probably do ok after it...;) Some may not like this type offering & I have a feeling it won't effect his company at all. Like it or not, He is a pro & conducts transactions in that manner.
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As I live only 20 miles from Virden and had a Lab appointment for Dracula to do some bloodletting this morning, I went a bit early and then stopped at Wolverine about 15 minutes after they opened. SMELLIE was there, and as usual, we had our own discussions on things. We both had the impression that this was an Estate Sale that John had been asked to do. If so, then I hope the Widow or Children of the person who put this Military Collection together in the first place realized a good and fair amount of money from it.

Even though we were on the premises, we were not allowed to see any of the firearms or, worse still, we were not given a price list until AFTER it was posted on Wolverine's website. Does anyone realize the agony and frustration of knowing there is a building full of these goodies less than 50 yards away and you can not even get a peek at it, or get any prices on it?

There didn't seem to be any frenzy there today with buyers, as there was only six gun interested people, and two of them didn't realize the Sale was on as they were purchasing a new rifle off the showroom rack. And, there was only one young lady assigned to the showroom. The frenzy, however, seemed to be with the people on the phones and the back room, and with the extra people John had brought in to assist.

As far as the prices went, I think most of the firearms were priced in the upper range of comparable prices on the EE. There were some bargains, and anyone who needed that one rifle to complete or add to their Collections were not going to quibble about a few bucks. There were also some sleepers in the Sale, and from the posts, the people who bought them or realized what they were recognized that.

As others have mentioned, there was an enormous amount of firearms to get through. I do agree that there could have been a bit better pictures, but then again, one of my Hobbies is Photography. Ideally, descriptions of each item would have assisted buyers, but, I think that would have entailed spending a lot of manpower, expense and computer space to do this.

As this is the first mass sale that Wolverine has had in the 10 years or so I have been in the area, I think that John and his staff did the best they could. Like everything, it is a learning process. I dare say that if another Sale like this one ever comes along, then the Lessons Learned from this Sale will be used to streamline the next one.
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Buffdog;
Even though we were on the premises, we were not allowed to see any of the firearms or, worse still, we were not given a price list until AFTER it was posted on Wolverine's website. Does anyone realize the agony and frustration of knowing there is a building full of these goodies less than 50 yards away and you can not even get a peek at it, or get any prices on it?
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we got a good look in "the building" at the racks of rifles when we went back to pick up my pistol , Lots!
J.
 
djankle said:
Does anyone know how much #111 went for? Its the tiger striped Mosin. It was gone really early.
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I went after that one also. I wasn't able to get through quick enough. A tiger stripe Westinghouse. What a score.
I hope the new owner is kind enough to clean it up and post some better pictures when he gets it.
 
Number 89 was a Czech 16/33 and another guy scored that one. Probably less made than the Swede 94.
The prices are at the upper limits of the quality of the guns.
I do hope the mambers got a chance to buy guns that you don't normally see except in collections.
 
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