Help with first FS post
I put a M1 garand up for sale a week ago. The ad went somewhere because I had five "watchers" on it, but I never did figure out where it went. I want it to show up with all the garands. The ad read " six digit garand with green finish (or something like that). Should I have used more "keywords"? M1 garand, springfield, 30-06 WWII ect.?
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Things are really crappy money wise for a lot of gun folks nowadays. It's all about the money, unless you put a super sweet deal BIL price on your toys there just not going to sell. Depending of course on originality and cosmetic condition. There's many thousands of Grands floating around out there, there not rare at all. My 2?. 0 -
This one is. 
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I don't care what it is, rarity doesn't translate to value. Demand is what determines value, i.e. 2 or more guys competing to buy your item, driving up the price. Your on a auction, if you don't price it right, it's not going to sell. Obviously you didn't price it right.
Post the auction number of your auction, to give all our members an idea of how you set up your add. They might be able to give you some good advice on how to make it more salable. You will find the auction number on the e-mail Gunbroker sent you when you placed the add, or when the auction ended.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Joe blow
I put a M1 garand up for sale a week ago. The ad went somewhere because I had five "watchers" on it, but I never did figure out where it went. I want it to show up with all the garands. The ad read " six digit garand with green finish (or something like that). Should I have used more "keywords"? M1 garand, springfield, 30-06 WWII ect.?
It "went" here:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=161575117
Watchers don't mean anything. Bidders are what matter, and you haven't had any yet.
If you had started your auction off at no reserve/one cent, I can guarantee you that the gun would have attracted many bids and be up to at least several hundred dollars in bidding by now.
I don't know enough about Garands to criticize yours on the text, but in terms of the pictures, while they are good, I think you could still do a little better.
What's with the weird floor background and wrinkly blanket?
Take the images with more light against a plain and neutral background. More closeups and equal-sized images won't hurt.
Edit: On "rarity", reminds me of an old joke:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am about to show you something that has never before been seen by the eyes of man, and after this, no human being will ever see again"
[Cracks open peanut. . .shows nut to crowd. . .eats it].
In a sense, EVERY M1 Garand is "rare" since they all have unique serial numbers! What makes a gun (or anything else) valuable isn't merely scarcity, its DEMAND.0 -
Joe blow........you have a nice looking Garand that has no collector value so it is what it is...a good shooter, as you say. The world is full of nice looking Garands (including mine!) so don't take it personal. It is restocked and not with a correct Garand gov't stock, although Boyd's does makes a nice stock. I agree that you hurt yourself by listing with a reserve. Many to be bidders on GB will not think about bidding if there is a reserve. This is not the time to sell as the market is down, so I would keep it until the economy recovers and then try again with no reserve and let the market decide what it is worth. If you keep it you might think about securing a correct Garand stock which might make it attractive to a collector. Good luck! 0 -
Very clean pre-war Garand that has been to Arsenal for a 'tuneup' at sometime during its life. The op-rod has been relieved, and the lock screw is of a later type, both of which were not on the rifle when it left the factory and it looks like the gun has been re-parked. Therefore the 'clean' look. Therefore it will sell within the range of a good quality shooter.
Now, the barrel. Left side. Between the sight and the front handguard, I can't tell for sure from the photos, but is something stamped there? Thanks, Joe
EDIT
Sorry, you asked a specific question. I can not find fault with the heading of the auction you have listed. All keywords are present. Best again, Joe0 -
I figured it oout myself. Lots of key words. Hey, if it doesn't sell this time I'll try something else. This is a test auction for me. I've looked at a lot of auctions and have bought three garands here. My pictures are better than at least 50% of the ones I see here. The idea with the red was to provide a constrast with the green receiver. I've found it hard to represent what it really looks like. 0 -
"I've found it hard to represent what it really looks like"
What works for me (and others)..
Take it outside. Photograph the subject on the opposite side of the house from the sun. In other words, full daylight, open shade. Daylight flash assist may bring out many of the details.
Here are a sample of some photos I took using above technique. Good Luck! Joe0 -
quote:Originally posted by givette
"I've found it hard to represent what it really looks like"
What works for me (and others)..
Take it outside. Photograph the subject on the opposite side of the house from the sun. In other words, full daylight, open shade. Daylight flash assist may bring out many of the details.
Here are a sample of some photos I took using above technique. Good Luck! Joe
I agree but I think a plain background causes less distraction.0 -
Actually, I am leaning towards the simpler background. I've found by tweaking my camera a little I can get the effect I want. Not trying to fake anything,but the receiver is green and I've had a heck of a time getting it right. The shots on the pool table have to go; I was just too lazy to find a descent background in the evening. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Joe blow
Actually, I am leaning towards the simpler background. I've found by tweaking my camera a little I can get the effect I want. Not trying to fake anything,but the receiver is green and I've had a heck of a time getting it right. The shots on the pool table have to go; I was just too lazy to find a descent background in the evening.
You may want to lose the reserve too, MOST buyers will not look at or bid on reserve auctions. SMART search even has a box you can check excluding reserve auctions, I routinely check that box.
Nice Garand.0 -
An excellent way to generate interest in your auctions is to plug them over in the General Discussion forum. For some reason there are a lot of people over there that are interested in guns. They have no qualms telling you what's wrong with your auction either so expect feedback.
Ditch the reserve. If you absolutely have to have a certain dollar amount then start the auction at that price. The best way to get one started is no reserve and the lowest start price you can do. There are sellers here who start everything at $.01 with no reserve and they do very well.0
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