Dear Guys,
Thanks for all of the positive information. It makes me feel better about the hobby. I have not been to an antique gun show yet, so I am now excited about going.
My sole experiences so far have been on the internet, being Auction Arms and Gunbroker.
In one instance, before bidding on a Colt Navy, I sent an e-mail to the Seller, asking very very specific questions. One question was: "Have the wooden grips on the revolver been sanded, stripped, or re-finished?" The answer I got back in writing was: NO. Another question was: "Has the brass trigger guard and back straps on the revolver been stripped or polished?" The answer I got back in writing was: NO.
I won the bid, and paid $2,100 for a Colt Navy which, by description, would have been a grade fine.
Upon receipt of the Revolver, it was plain as day. The grips were sanded as smooth as a baby's bottom, without a single mar or dent, and they had been hand refinished in a flat, walnut, oil stain. The trigger guard and backstraps were the most beautiful, highly polished, bright colored brass that you ever saw, without a hint of silver and without a hint of tarnish or patina.
Within 10 minutes of receiving the revolver, I sent a written e-mail to the Seller, reminding him of his prior answers, and advising him that the revolver did not meet his descriptions. I advised him that pursuant to the 48 hour return policy of the auction board, I was immediately returning the revolver to him for a full refund.
This guy wrote back, extremely rude, and said that he would take the revolver back, but that he was being totally screwed because he had paid shipping and handling on the piece (about $15.00), and that he had been required to pay some type of $25 transaction fee to the auction board. He also said that he would not refund my money unless he received it back within 72 hours. He also said that he didn't know very much about antique revolvers, and so he didn't know that his answers had been wrong when he had sent them to me. He said that he mainly dealt in modern revolvers.
I wrote back and told him that if he was screwed, then he had screwed himself, and that I would be happy to post all of our correspondence on the message board of the auction site for all to see. I also told him that I was not required to return the gun within 72 hours. I was only required to notify him within 48 hours (which I had done) and return the gun within 7 days.
I also offered, if he desired, to work out an arrangement with him, by which I would accept the revolver if he would reduce the price to the proper grade it was in. He was furious, and said that he would never agree to this, and that he already had another buyer "lined up" to pay a high price for the revolver.
When I returned the revolver, I got my money back about 5 days later. But, of course, I was out the $10.00 I had paid for the original cashier's check, and the $20.00 I had paid to ship it back to him for rapid return, fully insured.
So, that is my bad experience so far. I think I'd better stick to antique shows.
Best Regards,
Big Paulie