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Auction condition descriptions

Krony
So bought a used 1911 that arrived recently. Condition description included terms "meticulously serviced", "minimal rounds fired over the years" and "in great condition". Photos indicated like new with exception of an idiot scratch that I could have noticed had I zoomed in.

Upon pickup from FFL there are several fine scratches on the matte stainless frame, nothing huge a bead blast wouldn't remove but they are visually noticeable. But there is also bluing wear on thumb and grip safety that looked like glare in the photos. Most concerning was dings on exterior of barrel. It isn't worse out but has had more than "minimal use".

I emailed seller but curious what you guys would think if in my shoes. Seems the condition was exaggerated to me and photo quality on the auction wasnt good enough to show it.
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • charliemeyer007
    It's really hard guess what people see when they describe the condition. I want to inspect them myself.

    added Exactly ruff-snow.
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  • Krony
    quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
    It's really hard guess what people see when they describe the condition. I want to inspect them myself.

    Agree, but that is tough to do on a GunBroker auction.
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  • rufe-snow
    Personally I wouldn't be buying anything off the auction. Unless it came with a 3 day approval. With you agreeing, to paying return shipping/dealers costs. If the seller won't agree, just walk way.


    From you description, it appears to the cosmetics more than anything else. Unless I was specifically buying it, to be a barbecue gun. I wouldn't sweat it.
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  • mark christian
    The listing was apparently filled with glittering generalities:

    "meticulously serviced"= cleaned it after firing.

    "minimal rounds fired over the years"= I didn't shoot it as much as I could have...but I still took it to the range twice a week.

    "in great condition"= Not new, not mint, not excellent, not even very good...well, your "great" is my average.

    The seller should have highlighted to scratches, but he didn't. Matt SS is notorious for showing imperfections to the finish and I would have automatically been suspect when the "photo quality on the auction wasn't good enough to show it" (your quote). As Ruff and Charlie already stated; unless the pistol shipped with an inspection period I don't know where you are going with this, but let us know how it turns out.
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  • nmyers
    I would guess that, even if the seller is willing to accept its return, you will have to pay shipping both ways. I would probably just live with the cosmetic problems, & consider it a a life lesson learned. As the guys say, lack of a return policy should be a red flag.

    If you leave feedback, keep it short & factual; you don't want to get into a whizzing contest with the other guy.

    Neal
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  • Krony
    No plan to return it, agree with the comments to keep any rating comments to the facts.

    I've bought quite a few used ones on the auction side and always felt they were straight up with descriptions, never burned. We'll see what he says.
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  • tsr1965
    Another way of looking at it, is take it to the range, and see what its got. It might surprise you. If so, so you got a great shooter that has some history marks, possibly a story to tell, and definitely a lesson.
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  • pip5255
    quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
    Another way of looking at it, is take it to the range, and see what its got. It might surprise you. If so, so you got a great shooter that has some history marks, possibly a story to tell, and definitely a lesson.


    +1 and hopefully you will have learned a valuable lesson.
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  • Grasshopper
    Look at the feedback of the person is my tip. There are so many honest people here that describe their items correctly but it takes just a few, and they are here to dung in the nest.
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  • David Nunn
    Sometimes, a potential bidder asks me to give a percentage grade to the remaining finish of the gun. I won't do it. I take lots of pictures, and I expect the buyer to examine them closely before bidding.

    I figure if I grade a gun at 90%, that's my opinion. Then I send it to a GunBroker buyer, and that buyer looks at it and grades it at 85%. That's his opinion, but then he can claim I "misrepresented" the piece and demand a refund, and beef me on feedback for "misrepresenting" the gun.

    Better to let the buyer look at the pictures and make up his own mind. That is a little harder now, with the smaller photo format, but I will, on request, email a bidder the unresized pictures.
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  • Krony
    I did get a quick response from seller. Regarding barrel marks: "there for years and I forgot all about it otherwise, yes, I should have put that in the photos"

    He did offer to take it back less shipping but I plan to keep it. Lesson learned and will leave appropriate feedback. We'll see how it does at the range.
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