Author Topic: Are the beloved Handis becoming a business... Venting (Read 2060 times)

stewmagoo · « **on:** February 28, 2013, 01:32:43 AM »

I know that I am relatively new to GBO but I am really seeing some patterns. Granted I'm not trying to open up a can of worms or step on toes. The reason I started become passionate about the Handis and Pardners was the affordability of them and getting a real quality firearm. I have been a part of Encores for a while but they are getting unaffordable. I just hate seeing these rifles getting busted up for parts. I just recently had sold a Ultra stocked laminate .243. I had a great price on it shipping being ate by me. But I had to resort to busting it up (actually after I paid for shipping I came out the same as selling it whole).
The reason I love the "family style" forum is that it creates an environment to help others here for the collecting/accumulating of these particular firearms. I am glad of my sell and that I got the funds to purchase the Handi I needed for my son, I guess I didn't expect to see one of the parts to be listed on eBay for a profit the day it was received. Profit is not a dirty word and that doesn't bother me. I just felt this forum was for the love of the guns and not a place to prey on "low lying fruit" to capitalize on elsewhere.

hoytcanon · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2013, 04:08:39 AM »

Well Stew... Barrels are selling for premium (stupid) prices on ebay, so someone gave you what you wanted (and you said that you were happy to sell)... And they did what you could have done and listed on ebay (assuming that it is the same barrel). This is a tough economy and money is the bottom line for a lot of people... If he had given you a sob story about a crippled child to get the price down and then relisted, I would consider that dirty pool. I am glad you got what you needed to get your son shooting... That is my criteria for value... Not what it is worth on resale, but what it is worth in time spent with my kids or friends or enjoying the outdoors... Don't feel too bad about it... Just take your son shooting that new gun and it won't sting so much. Good shooting.

thejanitor · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2013, 04:11:59 AM »

That part does seem sad (resold at a profit) but when I gave a friend a gift once and then found out he sold it later I was pissed for a while and then someone reminded me I GAVE it to him... it was his and he could do with it as he wished.
So once it is sold it is a done deal and we cant control that. As long as you got what you asked in the sale then I guess the other person did nothing wrong.
Probably doesnt make you feel any better but once its sold it is theirs.... thejanitor

gcrank1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2013, 04:16:24 AM »

Most of the guys here are in it for the same reason(s) you are, and I appreciate the sensible pricing that most ask and especially the great generosity of some! I dont even go to E-Bay so I dont see what you did, but the reason stuff gets bought here and sold there is the greater possibility of profit, for sure and certain. We cant stop it, free enterprise is alive and thriving......
As for me, I'll just stick to trading here with the good guys and do what I can to be fair with whatever I have to sell; its all we can do, after its out of our hands the Karma will fall on the other dude.
The immutable law of God, ' You reap what you sow' has not been rescinded.

OR-E-Gun Bill · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2013, 04:51:51 AM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on February 28, 2013, 04:16:24 AM

Most of the guys here are in it for the same reason(s) you are, and I appreciate the sensible pricing that most ask and especially the great generosity of some!

As for me, I'll just stick to trading here with the good guys and do what I can to be fair with whatever I have to sell; its all we can do, after its out of our hands the Karma will fall on the other dude.
The immutable law of God, ' You reap what you sow' has not been rescinded.

+1 on that comment G!

Bill

petemi · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2013, 05:09:12 AM »

Quote from: OR-E-Gun Bill on February 28, 2013, 04:51:51 AM

Quote from: gcrank1 on February 28, 2013, 04:16:24 AM
Most of the guys here are in it for the same reason(s) you are, and I appreciate the sensible pricing that most ask and especially the great generosity of some!

As for me, I'll just stick to trading here with the good guys and do what I can to be fair with whatever I have to sell; its all we can do, after its out of our hands the Karma will fall on the other dude.
The immutable law of God, ' You reap what you sow' has not been rescinded.

+1 on that comment G!

Bill

+2

Pete

Doc Fillem · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2013, 05:49:09 AM »

Before I got into Handi's I was collecting Marlin rifles and had put together a nice group. I loved all the various models and, like most collectors, looked for the rare and unusual. My favorite was/is the Cowboy Limited model as I am in to Cowboy Action Shooting as well. All goes well for a number of years, then Remington buys out Marlin and the prices on the older Marlins skyrockets. Guns I was buying for $300 or 400 now go up to $850 or more. The parting out trend is happening with Marlins as well. I became disgusted with the whole thing, sold off most of my collection, and got into Handi's. But I see the same thing happening with them too. I will also try to buy or trade with members here as much as possible.

hoytcanon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2013, 07:50:17 AM »

"The immutable law of God, ' You reap what you sow' has not been rescinded..."
Well Said Crank! It is an irrefutable law of the universe, whether you attribute it to God or Karma...or Muhammad. It transcends ideation.

eskimo36 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2013, 08:43:22 AM »

I buy and sell a lot of guns and parts but none of it is driven by profit... Now I'm not going to give stuff away, but by the time shipping is involved breaking even is pretty rare. I have gun ADD and I tire quickly and go on. Some I just buy to see them and then sell. There aren't enough cheap Handi's out there to make much money out of it. Just enjoy what's in your hands and then sell it when it loses its luster and get another.

stewmagoo · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2013, 09:01:06 AM »

Guys I appreciate the words of wisdom. I have kind of got over it, because I got the youth compact/superlight variation in today for my middle son. I added a slip on butt stock with pieces of felt in it added an allen shell holder. Took the factory sights off and put a Burris set of rings on it and getting ready to add a Pentax 4x12x40 to it. I understand that I try here to find a particular rifle or part then look elsewhere. I had posted wanting a Superlight barrel with no avail, then I looked for a complete rifle with no avail. So I closed links and went to GunBroker. But you can guarantee if I would have bought something from one of ya'll it would have been put to good use and not turned around the day I received it and went to an auction sight. Oh well I'm over it. No biggie. Love the site and sent a small donation via paypal today.

Spanky · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2013, 09:45:47 AM »

Quote from: petemi on February 28, 2013, 05:09:12 AM

Quote from: OR-E-Gun Bill on February 28, 2013, 04:51:51 AM
Quote from: gcrank1 on February 28, 2013, 04:16:24 AM
Most of the guys here are in it for the same reason(s) you are, and I appreciate the sensible pricing that most ask and especially the great generosity of some!

As for me, I'll just stick to trading here with the good guys and do what I can to be fair with whatever I have to sell; its all we can do, after its out of our hands the Karma will fall on the other dude.
The immutable law of God, ' You reap what you sow' has not been rescinded.

+1 on that comment G!

Bill

+2

Pete

+3

Spanky

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2013, 01:04:54 PM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on February 28, 2013, 04:16:24 AM

Most of the guys here are in it for the same reason(s) you are, and I appreciate the sensible pricing that most ask and especially the great generosity of some! I dont even go to E-Bay so I dont see what you did, but the reason stuff gets bought here and sold there is the greater possibility of profit, for sure and certain. We cant stop it, free enterprise is alive and thriving......
As for me, I'll just stick to trading here with the good guys and do what I can to be fair with whatever I have to sell; its all we can do, after its out of our hands the Karma will fall on the other dude.
The immutable law of God, ' You reap what you sow' has not been rescinded.

Very Well Said Amigo
George

gendoc · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2013, 01:20:56 PM »

Quote from: stewmagoo on February 28, 2013, 09:01:06 AM

Guys I appreciate the words of wisdom. I have kind of got over it, because I got the youth compact/superlight variation in today for my middle son. I added a slip on butt stock with pieces of felt in it added an allen shell holder. Took the factory sights off and put a Burris set of rings on it and getting ready to add a Pentax 4x12x40 to it. I understand that I try here to find a particular rifle or part then look elsewhere. I had posted wanting a Superlight barrel with no avail, then I looked for a complete rifle with no avail. So I closed links and went to GunBroker. But you can guarantee if I would have bought something from one of ya'll it would have been put to good use and not turned around the day I received it and went to an auction sight. Oh well I'm over it. No biggie. Love the site and sent a small donation via paypal today.

you jus sit back and get yur trade count up to 2 or 3 digits......then you will see you have no control or no reason to loose sleep over it. u can't help it or stop it.
enjoy how it is today, tomorrow mite bea different situation.

rfd · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2013, 01:41:58 PM »

i shot and reloaded solely for rifles back in the 60's and 70's only. at the turn of the millennium i got into handguns and their reloading. a few months ago i got the 45-70 bug and without a doubt the buffalo classic is the best way to get the hang of big bore long range shooting without spending big bucks. so yeah, love the handi, gets the job more than done for me. as to busting 'em up for parts, not for me!

Spanky · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2013, 08:21:48 PM »

Consider it a hard lesson learned. Most of the guys on here are top notch traders who wheel and deal purely for the enjoyment. Guys get a barrel or stock set or whatever... they play around with it for a while and pass it on... not to make money but simply to get something else. It's a sickness... really it is.
There are a few of the ebay guys floating around... mostly because they know they can buy something here for a good price and turn a profit on ebay. Personally I think that's pretty scroungy and would like to see them gone. With any luck (and folks getting wind of their ways) they'll disappear on their own.

Spanky

jammer308 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 01, 2013, 05:47:32 AM »

only thing tht upsets me is i'm usually too slow on the deals that pass through here. day late and a dollar short! really. i was into the handi's for a while thanks to a friend of mine and moved on to other things. starting to come back to them again. they're great rifles for what they are. its just every time i come across something i want here, its already sold or i'm short on cash. go figure.. i like dealing with the people around graybeard's because there is a higher level of trust and integrity with those i've dealt with here compared to some other forums. that and the trader rating system is very nice to have. i think all sites who allow any sort of trading/buying/selling should have this in place.. chris

ousooners1baby · « **Reply #16 on:** March 01, 2013, 06:20:25 AM »

You and me both Jammer.
It is kind of a gray area in the sale of another's item. I had a friend at work, who isn't really a gun guy, if ya know what I mean, ask if I wanted to buy his Rem. 742. He had bought it 7 years ago, never fired a shot thru it. I waffled on it and then a few days ago asked if he stilll wanted $300 for it. I bought it and was offered $500 for it the same day. I feel kinda bad for the guy I bought it off of. But he got what he was asking, so there should be no ill will about it. Should there? BTW, I haven't sold it yet. I was checking it out a lil closer and found it has that old Redfield Accu Range scope on it.

twoshooter · « **Reply #17 on:** March 01, 2013, 06:53:19 AM »

The only good thing about breaking them up from my perspective is that if they were not, there would be no parts to let you reconstruct one just the way you want to. I could never make money trading as I could never bring myself to ask enough to really make a profit. I agree there is nothing "wrong" with someone selling or trading away a gift, but I really can't do it myself, wrong or not. It just feels strange. My best friend and hunting partner died a few years back, and before he passed, he gave me his carry gun. It is not anything I would have chosen, and would fetch a fair price or nice trade, but there is no way It will leave me until it goes to my grandson when I go in the ground. I don't mind the swapping otherwise, because someday just the right combination will hit and I will have a Herrett Shorty with a handigrip stock

.

trotterlg · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2013, 09:27:28 AM »

Rigth now if you need any major parts for one you are far better off just buying a whole gun, taking the part you want and then selling what is left over. I needed a 12 gauge barrel for a stub job, bought a Handi at a Pawn Shop, and sold all the parts minus the barrel for about $10.00 less than I paid for the gun. If I had just parted it out I could have made 50% on my money. Larry

Old Fart · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2013, 10:14:35 AM »

Quote from: twoshooter on March 01, 2013, 06:53:19 AM

My best friend and hunting partner died a few years back, and before he passed, he gave me his carry gun. It is not anything I would have chosen, and would fetch a fair price or nice trade, but there is no way It will leave me until it goes to my grandson when I go in the ground.

I have the same problem with a gold plated colt revolver..... Just can't bring myself to selling it.
As for my Handi's, about half of them were bought as complete guns and the other half are parted together.

cjrjck · « **Reply #20 on:** March 01, 2013, 11:47:01 AM »

Just for the record, if I sell you a part off one of my Handi rifles, feel free to do whatever you want to do with it. Melt it down for the steel, sell it for a huge profit, give it away to that guy in high school who used to steal all my lunch money. It's yours at that point.

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #21 on:** March 01, 2013, 01:12:46 PM »

when I sell parts, I usually sell them for my cost.

when I sell a whole gun, I usually sell at the market price, or if it is a one off, I usually tell the buyer my cost, and add $20 so eventually I can upgrade. I am always upfront with the buyers in that case.
the Buyer can take it or leave it.

kennyd · « **Reply #22 on:** March 01, 2013, 04:17:42 PM »

I don't have enough money to buy much, like everything I have, so don't want to get rid of it. I would rather see people on here really using what they get. I have noticed that some people post little else except buying and (re)selling. Next time I am in the market for anything I will look at the post count and WHICH subjects are posted on. If almost all the posts are in classified instead of other forums, I figger the guy is only on here to make some bucks.

Greybeard: maybe there should be a ratio of posts in classified vs. general subjects to weed out some of the ones joining only to run a business.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 01, 2013, 04:27:48 PM »

Our beloved GB and 'unpaid staff' have plenty to do.....AND THANX TO ALL YOU WHO DO IT
A little bit of our being aware and using some of the suggestions here will do the most of the good needed. If anybody reading these posts is feeling any little bit of 'guilty pains' then its certainly time to do better (and if anybody IS guilty and not feeling the pains then you have issues beyond the scope of this forum).
I know for fact that if you spend any time here and be a gentleman that you will be recognized as such; the bad actors will find their own pot to stew in.

cudatruck · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2013, 04:43:59 PM »

I have bought and traded here and have been treated more than fairly by everyone i have dealt with. There are a bunch of great guys on here and my experience has been all positive. Best internet forum i have ever found. A big thank you to the people that run this site and to the people who have made me welcome.

stewmagoo · « **Reply #25 on:** March 01, 2013, 06:18:13 PM »

Wow, I really appreciate all of the thoughts and views from each of you. As for the most of you folks, you all feel the same. There is a reason for this forum. I have learned so much from each person here, and for the most part very positive. I just had started my trading record here. I made a vow that when I sell something that I try to make a "GB tithes". I maybe encourage every one else when you sell something to send a gift to this forum. It's kind of like peeing in the ocean... every little bit helps. LOL! So I made a small donation the other day via PayPal. In about 3 weeks I have gained 3 pardners, and have accumulated 2 Handis... One gone to finance another, but I located another one today, and I hope its one that someone may be interested in down the road, right here.

Spanky · « **Reply #26 on:** March 01, 2013, 06:50:08 PM »

Don't keep us in suspense dangit... whadya find??

Spanky

stewmagoo · « **Reply #27 on:** March 01, 2013, 07:15:43 PM »

Quote from: Spanky on March 01, 2013, 06:50:08 PM

Don't keep us in suspense dangit... whadya find??

Spanky

Well its a H&R Green Laminate stocked (with the limited edition coin) in a 30.06. Like new. It appears to be a 22" standard barrel with a scope base. Got there right at closing... Didn't pay attention to the ejector/extractor feature. Price was a little high, but maybe I can make an offer.

hoytcanon · « **Reply #28 on:** March 02, 2013, 02:58:38 AM »

As far as "sell for profit" goes; I am pretty sure that I have NEVER made a profit... most of us know that this hobby is a sink hole for our retirement funds... the money goes in and settles down into that black ooze, never to be seen again! Knowing this, I have GIVEN away more stuff (parts etc.. or whole guns for kidz) just to help out other shooters or further promote sport shooting... what the heck, you can't take it with you!

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 02, 2013, 04:56:08 AM »

Hoyt you are so right! Very well said
George