Not really sure why I'm having a kick at this hornet nest, but here goes...
The range and depth of detail required by a buyer increase according to the interests and needs of the buyer. Whether the seller is able, ready or interested in providing this information limits the size of the buying pool.
When you get into serious thematic collecting, and/or big-money items, that pool can be very small indeed. A seller who can't be bothered to enter into details, back-and-forth communication etc. is already limiting the number of prospective buyers. For commonly available factory production guns, the buying pool is going to be large enough to make no difference to the seller. When you get into specialty items and high-value guns, detail is everything. Condition determines value. For a shootable gun, the condition of the barrel(s) is paramount. Are there dents and dings? Pits? Has the wall thickness been measured by a smith? For a non-North American gun, is there any evidence that the gun has been altered to bring it out of proof? For all guns, has the gun been repaired, either professionally or bodged? Are any parts replaced? For a hinge action, is it on-face or loose? On collector pieces of serious age, one has to expect period repairs, and these do not always bring down value, but they might be enough to reduce the buying pool even more.
All guns have a history. In most cases, it is probably immaterial. But when you get into collector and high-value guns, it can have a bearing on condition, which in turn affects value. Also, provable provenance can add value in the eyes of the buyer, which puts more money in the pocket of the seller. Knowing how a gun gets to market is important and relevant. Guns sold at auction, for example, are mostly either from estate sales or are guns so flawed the seller wants to dispose of them anonymously -- you could see why the buyer would want to know which is which. Older guns can be family heirlooms, passed from generation to generation. Such guns were often bought new, and well cared for. Some come out of collections, as no one has figured out how to take them with us when we die. Such guns had to have met the standards of the collector, which likely weeded out lesser or problem guns. As a buyer, the amount of money I'm willing to part with is certainly affected by the amount of information I can get about the past history of the gun. If a seller tells me it's none of my business, the sale ends there. Yes, stories can be made-up. But if I get the sense the seller is serving up BS, I'll walk away from that deal too.
I'm slightly irked by comments implying the number of EE transactions and post count are a gauge of one's subject knowledge and expertise. My feedback score is probably the lowest in the number of deals among respondents to this thread, but then again, my needs are very specific. And I've had a very good experience with the EE, limited as it has been, having met and corresponded with very interesting people who have been a pleasure to deal with, and learn from. I also have a low post count compared to many on CGN, so feel free to discount my infrequent ramblings.
