Who is this joker?

Olle · 11-06-2016, 01:59 PM

Quote:

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 · 11-06-2016, 06:25 PM

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.

11-06-2016, 06:25 PM	#2
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 952 Thanks: 777 Thanked 528 Times in 290 Posts	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.