Who is this joker?

[Olle]

I'm sure you guys have noticed "Pawnman's" auctions on GB, he always has a lot of worn out, run of the mill C&Rs for sale at extremely high prices. Some auctions start at reasonable levels, but I have yet to see one that doesn't say "reserve not met" when the bidding ends. I recall asking about the reserve on a semi-decent Dreyse 1907 a couple of years ago, and he said it was $850. If I had known how to deliver a good and loud laugh via email, I would have done it. However, this one takes the cake: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/595335416 . I don't know if the market has changed lately, but he's about $1200-$1250 off if you ask me.

Do any of you know this guy, and do you know if he ever sells any of these worn out hulks? My impression is that he's buying them by the bucket, throws them out there and leaves them on until somebody is stupid enough to buy. It seems like some people like to believe that something is rare and unique just because the price is outrageous, and maybe that's what he's counting on?



Sorry, just had to vent a bit...

[sheepherder]

It's been relisted -

http://www.gunbroker.com/Item/597027826

I guess the $1,400 starting bid was a bit much...And it still is...

AAA GUN & PAWN OVER 5300 GUNS IN STOCK 1859 S Woodland Blvd DeLand, Fl 32720

That doesn't ring a bell with me...But I bet there are hundreds of AAA pawn shops around the country...

[DonVoigt]

Don't know for sure; but it is one of the "problems" when it costs nothing to list an item.
Items stay on GB for months, put up 40, sell one at a crazy price- he is well ahead of the game.

There are a couple others too, that put out junk and sometimes good stuff at what I call "fishing" prices.

How many times have you heard: "I saw one just like it on GB for a million bucks; so that is what I want for mine"!

[Zorba]

There are two kinds of idiots on eBay and other online auction sites: Idiot sellers and idiot buyers. They feed off of each other, and muddy the waters for everybody else.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Zorba

There are two kinds of idiots on eBay and other online auction sites: Idiot sellers and idiot buyers. They feed off of each other, and muddy the waters for everybody else.

Exactly!

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

It's been relisted -

http://www.gunbroker.com/Item/597027826

I guess the $1,400 starting bid was a bit much...And it still is...

AAA GUN & PAWN OVER 5300 GUNS IN STOCK 1859 S Woodland Blvd DeLand, Fl 32720

That doesn't ring a bell with me...But I bet there are hundreds of AAA pawn shops around the country...

Looks more AA(and failing) than triple A.

Edit: Meaning no disrespect to AA members who have to keep a day by day struggle.

[Edward Tinker]

never heard of them, assume I've seen their ads

agree with all above

there is a guy on ebay that inherited / got a bunch of holsters and magazines, a couple I wouldn't mind having, but his prices are twice what they should be. I nicely told him, your prices are $150-$250 too much - then said, check out sold like items. He has not changed his prices. I assume he'd like to sell?

Oh, another seller, he has a 1926 luger holster (asking $450) it has had the Norwegian holes filled in and new straps put on it. I emailed the seller, he says he understands its worth about $250 less but its on consignment, the ebay seller said that the actual seller is addicted to auctions and buys high many times then when he goes to sell....

[Olle]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Oh, another seller, he has a 1926 luger holster (asking $450) it has had the Norwegian holes filled in and new straps put on it. I emailed the seller, he says he understands its worth about $250 less but its on consignment, the ebay seller said that the actual seller is addicted to auctions and buys high many times then when he goes to sell....

I can completely understand this dilemma. I do consignments now and then, and it's very frustrating when the owner doesn't understand that all Lugers are not $5,000 Krieghoffs. It usually takes a while to explain that the so called "going prices" he has seen were either totally different Lugers, or asking prices from sellers who didn't have a clue either.

I had one gun relisted 15 times over, bids up to $950-$1000 every time, and the owner just didn't want to back off his $2k reserve. Every time the auction closed I told him that this is obviously what it's gonna bring, but he insisted that it was a $2k gun. I finally gave it back to him, and I'm sure he still has it. Now I just turn down consignments like that, it's a total waste of time.

[Olle]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

AAA GUN & PAWN OVER 5300 GUNS IN STOCK 1859 S Woodland Blvd DeLand, Fl 32720

At those prices, I can sure understand why they have over 5300 guns left in stock.

[Zorba]

In another life, I collect vintage sewing machines. Fools on eBay list $25 machines for $100,$200,$300 or more. There's one machine that a co-collector tells me has been on eBay for SEVEN YEARS.

OTOH, a Singer Featherweight recently sold for $1,200!!! At *least* 2 times overpriced, more like 3, possibly even 4!

Like I said, 2 kinds of idiots...

[Olle]

Originally Posted by Zorba

In another life, I collect vintage sewing machines. Fools on eBay list $25 machines for $100,$200,$300 or more. There's one machine that a co-collector tells me has been on eBay for SEVEN YEARS.

OTOH, a Singer Featherweight recently sold for $1,200!!! At *least* 2 times overpriced, more like 3, possibly even 4!

Like I said, 2 kinds of idiots...

I have met many people like that, on both sides of the tables. It would have been very easy for me to rip off several of them, especially those who have never seen a WWI-WWII gun in real life. I remember one guy who was literally drooling over a beat up Luger I had at a gun show a few years ago, and I could probably have sold it for $2k if I had wanted to. His first comment was "Is it a real German Luger?", which showed me that he didn't know a thing about them. He just wanted a "real German Luger", had cash in his pocket and it would probably have taken me less than a minute to reel him in. Unfortunately, I'm too honest to make money so I showed him that it was mismatched, refinished, had a repro mag and so on, but it sure goes to show how easy it can be to fool somebody who doesn't have any knowledge.

Like the car dealers say: "There is an ass for every seat", and that's what people like "Pawnman" are banking on..

[Zorba]

Yep, and a sucker born every minute!

I get the occasional call to fix or "look at" a sewing machine - was referred to an elderly lady who had just acquired a Singer treadle machine - she didn't understand why it would only "move back and forth" instead of a full cycle. Turned out that she had it on very plush pile carpet, and there wasn't room for the treadle to make a full cycle - I told her to either move it to a hard floor or get one of those plastic chair protectors for the floor.

So here this poor lady is, offering me $100!!!!

I told her "I'm not going to take your money, I didn't *do* anything!!"

Heck, I normally charge $50 for a complete tune up on a vintage/antique machine - as long as it doesn't need parts or things aren't majorly stuck/messed up.

[Curss]

Funny enough, I've been in that store in Deland. The few times I have been there, I was in awe at how many guns they do have on the first floor of the store. I'm not an expert on prices, but I think I would rather post in the Wanting to Buy section on the forum.

[Edward Tinker]

Originally Posted by Zorba

In another life, I collect vintage sewing machines. Fools on eBay list $25 machines for $100,$200,$300 or more. There's one machine that a co-collector tells me has been on eBay for SEVEN YEARS.

OTOH, a Singer Featherweight recently sold for $1,200!!! At *least* 2 times overpriced, more like 3, possibly even 4!

Like I said, 2 kinds of idiots...

.. oh, did I tell you about this miniture sales sample of an 'off-brand, still in the box and everything. Could have been a childs toy, but ohhhh. Wife and I looked at it several times

you never know what 'us' collectors will like