High end milsurps on the EE - No pictures in the ad?!

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Steve1987

Steve1987

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Hi,

Some high end milsurp pistols and rifles have been listed on the EE over the past few weeks, from matching K98's to US&S M1911A1's and other rares. These relatively uncommon pieces are being offered by experienced members of the site at very top dollar prices.

For some reason, some sellers are choosing not to include photos in their ads. While new members selling $200 SKS rifles or other entry level pieces have no problem including quality pictures, those selling matching K98 or US&S only puts "e-mail for pics"! Often, these sellers don't even reply, or the photos are of cell-phone camera quality!

I'm starting to wonder what is really going on here, and to be perfectly honest I'm starting to wonder if these adds are just trolling for newbies- in hopes they will pay top dollar for something the sellers won't even include photos of in the add. I'm not trying to single anyone out or say this is currently the case, but I know this has been happening in some other cases and past ads of this nature. New members and collectors should keep this in mind!

I think it's just a complete joke when the seller is going for a new record sale price tag in Canada, but won't even include some decent photos. I'm curious, is anyone actually taking these ads seriously, and does anyone else find some of these ads a little suspicious?

-Steve
 
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Just to clarify, this is not me complaining about someone not responding to my personal request for photos. I'm just wondering how other members feel about this selling practice, and why these members are not including photos? If the item is as described, why not show us?

-Steve
 
I agree. If you want like top top dollar, you should take the time to take detailed pics of all areas of the gun.
I know the ads you are refering to.

One member enjoyed criticising my ads, but they were sure better then his ads.
 
My personal pet peeve is when a VERY premium price is asked based on a loose description, followed by something like:

"No picture collectors or tire kickers please. For picture collectors google is your friend. Only serious offers will be entertained"

No matter how green my money and how much I'd like the item listed, if I see anything close to this, I close the ad and move on. I can understand not offering pics of a $100 item or less, but a $1000+ item deserves not to sell if you can't be bothered to post a photo or two.
 
CanadianAR said:
I agree. If you want like top top dollar, you should take the time to take detailed pics of all areas of the gun.
I know the ads you are refering to.

One member enjoyed criticising my ads, but they were sure better then his ads.
Click to expand...

I'm not singling out one ad, this is happens over and over. And there was recently some VERY sketchy adds no longer even on the EE much worse than the ones currently on there.

It's not experienced collectors who are getting burned. It's the new members who don't know better, quick to jump on what they *think* is a good deal.

Those who put detailed photos in their ads have nothing to hide. The rifles can be discussed here, or shown to other collectors. I can forgive a small error, nobody is perfect.

If someone wants to pursue these sketchy ads with no photos, proceed with caution! This isn't 1995, it's VERY EASY to upload pictures to an ad, so you really need to wonder what's going on.

Claven2 said:
No matter how green my money and how much I'd like the item listed, if I see anything close to this, I close the ad and move on. I can understand not offering pics of a $100 item or less, but a $1000+ item deserves not to sell if you can't be bothered to post a photo or two.
Click to expand...

LOL, sometime it's even worse than that!! We are talking $2-3-4000 and up!!!!

-Steve
 
I don't like buying ANYTHING without a picture. If I see an ad for a firearm of any kind without a picture in it I just close it and move on. If the seller can't take 30 seconds of their lazy life to snap a photo, why should I think they can be trusted to package and ship something intact across the country?

If I wanted to sell a 30 cent pencil I would enclose a picture with the ad.

It's a good rule of thumb that can be applied to e-bay, the EE and kijiji. No Pics, no deal!

Sellers: keep in mind that good photographs are of value to yourself as well. If you ship an item to a loser who contests your sale saying it is not as described - how can you defend yourself without pictures?
 
Having to PM for pics and "plus shipping FIRM" on really expensive stuff are my pet peeves on the EE. Gimme a facking break. On a G43 or M1D worth several thousand dollars, your gonna squeeze me for the shipping cost ontop of that? Get bent.
 
I can relate .......Just went through one with a $2500.00 revolver that had one grainy picture but the owner/seller did not have time to send others by email.
Ya gotta wonder.
Same as the buyers that "will take it" then three weeks later you get a note to "sell it elsewhere if you can" and never hear from them again but see pictures of all the kit they have just bought.
Champagne tastes and beer budget bubba's
 
Bear in mind guys, some of those guys who are "experienced members" may also be of an older generation who may not be as computer savvy as you....

Think about your favorite codger from the range, 60+ years old, and consider how likely he'd be to figure out photobucket. (not that it's hard, but it's another thing to figger our on this persnickety computer)

The guys who have been in posession of those classic guns for sooo many years are likely to be among the least technology enabled people in our society.

YMMV, but if there's one that catches my fancy, I'll ask for photos, and if they're not detailed enough, I'll specify exactly what I want a photo of...and why.

*shrug*

And for shipping? If it's not negotiable, then it's not negotiable....but if he's got an old rifle or two (or twenty) then he's probably got some old SWAG stuff too....ask for some stripper clips, garand en-bloc clips, webbing accessories, etc, see if he's willing to package something in to sweeten the pot for you. That's not tire kicking, that's negotiating.

NS
 
Great point Steve,

Anyone that wants to develop buyer interest should IMHO post the best photos that they can.
High ticket items or rare pieces ....even more important.

For pieces that have been in a collection for many years this is the day of reckoning...make it worthwhile.

For those people that have trouble with the photos try and find somebody that can help if possible.

Just my opinion.
No photos....limited interest.

David
 
Some interesting and valid points but I think its a kind of 'gun snobbery'....and for those that might be more senior and are not computer savvy, well there gonna have to post pictures to interested parties at some point, so why not on EE...Its sellers wanting 'you' to make the effort and ask because they have 'something special' that you would like...They know that and they can be selective in who they reply to or deal with....IMH(cynical)O....:)
 
IMHO if the seller can't take the time to post pictures, then I don't take the time to read the ad. Most times I look at the pictures first, then got back and read the ad. And surely those who may not be computer savvy have a son/daughter/neighbour/friend/shooting buddy who could help them.
 
Pictures are key. I've seen plenty of pictures of stocks that have clearly been sanded, and yet in the description there's no mention of it. So without the photos I wouldn't have known. I remember one time a guy was offering what he insisted was an 1800s calvary carbine (and priced very high) when in fact from the photos it was a common sporter. Once again, photos helped me realize it definitely isn't what I wanted.
If a person really can't figure out how to post photos, they can at least say so. "I can't figure out how to post photos" is much less pretentious/self important than "photos to serious buyers only". I don't like giving money to people who come off as jerks.
Cheers, Al
 
I recently wanted to buy a rifle off the EE, no picture in the add, but would email, not a huge issue. He didn't send me photos until 28hrs later at 10pm. I didn't check my email until the next morning at 9-10ish, while at work and got side tracked. Anyways he messages me saying if I didnt say Ill take it by 6pm he go too the next buyer. Didn't get a good vibe so I just passed.
 
The Internet and this Forum is a powerful venue for selling almost anything firearms related in Canada.
Short of a gun show with first hand examination, this is the most powerful selling tool that we have.

Playing the selective game of "chase me" and I might send you photos, is a foolish way to market the pieces that you want to sell.

CGN EE is not RIA or Julia auctions where we are dealing with extremely high value items....so let's smell the coffee and just get on with it.

Check out the quality of the photos on RIA and Julia and you will get a sense of why they realize the values that they do for nice pieces.

David
 
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Steve1987 said:
Hi,
...These relatively uncommon pieces are being offered by experienced members of the site at very top dollar prices...
Click to expand...

Always nice to see how theses, top $ or one of a kind, gun should look like.
Even if you buy a beater daily drive, you still go for a test drive? May just me being a noob.
 
I just bought 10k worth of rifles from the EE with no pics. I must a sucker! ;)

Ads with no pics (regardless of value) will sit a long time- unless priced aggressively!
 
To me it would depend on both the firearm and the seller, if certain members with particular interests placed an ad selling something they were known for collecting and they asserted it was rare and near perfect, and the price was high, and I knew the firearm and wanted it - I don't need pictures. For example, if Smellie posted an ad selling a mint, original Ross in exceptional condition (fat chance) for $1800 - I don't need pictures. If drm3m posts an ad for a mint all matching Artillery Luger with original snail drum and matching holster, I don't need pictures. If Joe Schmo claims to have a mint 1915 Lithgow, then I need pictures.
 
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