Don’t rip off old ladies

[Guest mark5.56]

OK, I was in Knoxville on a business trip today. I’ve pass the WD Sporting gun store several times in the past so I stopped to check it out. Well all can say is that I would never buy from them, and here’s why. There was an elderly lady (about 80) and her daughter (about 50 to 60) who had came in with a Japanese Nambu pistol that had belonged to her husband who had passed away. After they flipped through some dated books, they only offered them $100.00. This thing was in good working order and had the holster with 2nd magazine. the last one that I saw that wasn’t as good condition went for $600.00. I told them to look it up on gunbroker.com to see what they’re going for. Now there Is only two things I can say about these guys, they didn’t know what they were looking at, or they were trying to take them! I’m very sure that they knew what they were looking at!

At least offer them a fair price, you’re like the contractors that try to rip-off old woman!

[Garufa]

Ever watch Pawn Stars?

[Il Duce]

Just cause they offer it doesnt mean you have to take it

[vontar]

Just cause they offer it doesnt mean you have to take it

+1

I watch Pawn stars all the time and I get angry with the customers that have no clue what they are trying to sell.

If you don't know what you are selling, Do your own research.

Like that lady on Pawn starts wanted 2,000 for a Fabergé pendant. Rick told her he would like to give her 2,000 but he had a conscience and offered her 15k for it. Then she got greedy and ask for 17k. In her case, the CASE she had the Fabergé spider in even had the word Fabergé spelled on in it.

Had she done her own research before going to a pawn shop she would have know what she and probably could have found someone that would have paid top dollar instead of going though a middle man that has to make money as well.

I do wonder what he would have gave her had the cameras not been there as well.

On the flip side, I also have a background in TV/radio production and I know they could setup some scenes like that for ratings as well.

[Garufa]

Do you all honestly expect 60 and 80 year old women to know what is and what is not a fair price on a WWII Jap pistol? They probably went to the first place that came to mind...a gun store. It is a gun after all. I seriously doubt those two even know how to work the internet.

If they were offered and accepted $100 for a gun that is worth several times as much they were ripped off and don't even know it. It's a shame, really.

Unless of course there was something more to the deal than OP witnessed, like a new gun offered with the pittance.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Garufa
clarification of postition

[vontar]

I don't know about 80 but in this day and age, I regularly know 60-70 year men and women on the internet.

Most watch TV.

Most know first offer is not the best.

OK, before this thread gets dragged though 10 pages, perhaps someone should contact the shop and get the other side. Seems I remember a thread about 2 months back that got dragged though the mud for several pages then we got the other side of the story.

[Erik88]

Do you all honestly expect 60 and 80 year old women to know what is and what is not a fair price on a WWII Jap pistol? They probably went to the first place that came to mind...a gun store. It is a gun after all. I seriously doubt those two even know how to work the internet.

If they were offered and accepted $100 for a gun that is worth several times as much they were ripped off and don't even know it. It's a shame, really.

this^^^

And I've personally dealt with the guys at WD. They were nice and helpful but their prices are outrageous and they won't negotiate. I wouldn't be surprised if they knew exactly what the guy was worth.

[vontar]

BTW, I am not saying I want to see anyone get ripped off either. I don't want to come across that way.

[Lumber_Jack]

As a reputable buisness owner I think you have a responsiblity to offer a fair price. Like Rick of Pawn Stars says, here is what its worth, here is what I can offer because I need to make money. If its hadled like that then its up to the owner to make their own discission. If its portrayed that $100 is all its worth and thats not true, then I think we portray the buisness as unfair. If they offer $100 because they dont really want the gun, then thats they're right. This is just a normal gun shop not an antique or relics specialist, I would think it would be hard for them to unload the gun for a proffit.

[Mike]

Just cause they offer it doesnt mean you have to take it

x2

I thought we covered all of this when we had the "watched a man get robbed" thread.

If you have such a problem with the deal.. Step in if you feel so strongly about it.

Me personally, I think the story stinks to high heaven. The OP has one post here and it is a negative one. Take this with a grain of salt people.

Mike

[Lumber_Jack]

Me personally, I think the story stinks to high heaven. The OP has one post here and it is a negative one. Take this with a grain of salt people.

Mike

+1 good observation!!!

[K191145]

Do you all honestly expect 60 and 80 year old women to know what is and what is not a fair price on a WWII Jap pistol? They probably went to the first place that came to mind...a gun store. It is a gun after all. I seriously doubt those two even know how to work the internet.

If they were offered and accepted $100 for a gun that is worth several times as much they were ripped off and don't even know it. It's a shame, really.

Unless of course there was something more to the deal than OP witnessed, like a new gun offered with the pittance.

I'm sure they are hard to come by and I would think they would be worth a little something in the collectors market. The irony of it is that those Nambu pistols were some of the biggest pieces of junk, one model had the sear exposed and could fire if you bumped the side of the pistol. If a manufacturer made a pistol today of that poor quality it would'nt be worth $25.

[RobertNashville]

Do you all honestly expect 60 and 80 year old women to know what is and what is not a fair price on a WWII Jap pistol? They probably went to the first place that came to mind...a gun store. It is a gun after all. I seriously doubt those two even know how to work the internet.

If they were offered and accepted $100 for a gun that is worth several times as much they were ripped off and don't even know it. It's a shame, really.

Unless of course there was something more to the deal than OP witnessed, like a new gun offered with the pittance.

I don't think "age" is the real issue here...my 89 year old grandmother, now passed, was one of the sharpest, most intelligent people I ever knew...she used the internet.

I do think there is at least the possibility for some equal blame here...the seller should have done some research on her own and the folks at the gun shop should have been more honest (assuming of course the $100 was truly an inappropriate offer).

[Guest Jamie]

OK, I was in Knoxville on a business trip today. I’ve pass the WD Sporting gun store several times in the past so I stopped to check it out. Well all can say is that I would never buy from them, and here’s why. There was an elderly lady (about 80) and her daughter (about 50 to 60) who had came in with a Japanese Nambu pistol that had belonged to her husband who had passed away.

One of these?

After they flipped through some dated books, they only offered them $100.00. This thing was in good working order and had the holster with 2nd magazine. the last one that I saw that wasn’t as good condition went for $600.00. I told them to look it up on gunbroker.com to see what they’re going for. Now there Is only two things I can say about these guys, they didn’t know what they were looking at, or they were trying to take them! I’m very sure that they knew what they were looking at!

At least offer them a fair price, you’re like the contractors that try to rip-off old woman!

Well... if it was the gun in the picture above, and not something really rare, then they made the ol' girl a fair offer, in my opinion. ( $600 for it, holster and mag would not be a fair price at all. )

Y'see, just because something is old, or has some sort of sentimental value, doesn't mean it's worth a bunch'a money.

In the case of the above gun, they're pretty common ( a friend of mine has one, along with a Remington-Rand 1911 that I'd REALLY like to get my mitts on... ) and just not worth a whole lot. Also, they're fairly poorly made, employ a dangerous design ( you can fire it by squeezing the exposed sear on the left side ) and all but impossible to find ammo for.

So, while you may think she got ripped off, it's quite likely that the shop was doing her a favor by even taking the thing.

I know if I were still in the business, I wouldn't have any use for it, and would expect it to lay around for a looooooong time before I got any money back out of it.

... this is all assuming of course that it's one of the Nambus above and not something far more rare or valuable.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Jamie

[Guest mikedwood]

I think I saw that lady and gun at a local pawn shop in Knoxville yesterday (I love going pawn shopping, but rarely buy) anyway they offered her $300 for it and she said it wasn't enough. The guy told her it could be worth more but there were several models and some were worth a lot and some worth not as much. He told her to try a few local gun stores and named some off. She left and apparently went to WD.

[vontar]

I think I saw that lady and gun at a local pawn shop in Knoxville yesterday (I love going pawn shopping, but rarely buy) anyway they offered her $300 for it and she said it wasn't enough. The guy told her it could be worth more but there were several models and some were worth a lot and some worth not as much. He told her to try a few local gun stores and named some off. She left and apparently went to WD.

Well if one shop offered her 300, then she went to WD and accepted 100, it is her own fault. END OF STORY.

[Guest mark5.56]

Hi mike, I can understand your skepticism, I can insure you that I did not travel 200 hundred miles across Tennessee to cut down some one that I do not know. I personally talked to these ladies in front of this store. I hope that gave them information that would educate them about what they have. I sure they have as much knowledge about firearms as I have about diamonds or jewelry which is little to none. I felt strongly about this and wanted to voice my opinion. Was it a negative view? Yes. Let’s look at this in the positive light. Maybe someone out there is doing a little soul searching now. How they treat people and how they want to be treated. I’m not going to drag this out in to pissing contest, but I will end this with a final thought, sometimes the man with the fewest words has the most to say.

[Guest mark5.56]

no, Nambu type 14, They’re not as popular as lugers on the collector market. It’s an interesting peace, as I understand it Ruger base the blowback of the mark II off of this.google it it will come right up.

[Guest Jamie]

no, Nambu type 14, They’re not as popular as lugers on the collector market. It’s an interesting peace, as I understand it Ruger base the blowback of the mark II off of this.google it it will come right up.

No need. A simple trip here is a pretty good place to start on info for WWII Japanese pistols, and will demonstrate to most folks that there's a great deal of difference in value from one gun to another. And as the lady says "What is it worth? This question is impossible to answer without a detailed inspection and also depends on how and to whom you are selling it. Condition and matching numbers on the parts are extremely important: the same gun could sell for $60 or $600 depending on condition."

Not being an expert on Jap guns, or having seen the one that was being sold, all I can say is that there's no way to pass judgment on the amount that was offered. It might very well have been a fair price... or not.

The bottom line is that nobody's going to get full retail - whatever that might be - from a gun shop or pawn shop though. Especially not for a gun as questionable, value-wise, as many WWII weapons are.

So bad-mouthing someone without full knowledge of what was being sold or offered - and why - is a bit... premature?

Oh, and it's never wise for someone who starts a pissing contest to complain about getting their shoes wet, or how much they hate pissing contests.

Edited October 7, 2010 by Jamie

[Guest TargetShooter84]

What a shame

[Mike]

Let’s look at this in the positive light. Maybe someone out there is doing a little soul searching now. How they treat people and how they want to be treated.

oh, F***king please...

It's a business, not UNICEF.