I am in a quandary on what to do with some guns sales decisions. I have a friend who collects military weapons, just as I do. We have sold each have other pieces out of our respective collections; Garands, Thompsons, Lugers, P38s, 1911s, etc. I bought a couple of nice pistols from him 2-3 years ago. Now I really don't want them, and will sell. He expects to me to sell them back to him at the same price I bought them. As with all militaria, they have gone up about $500 between the two. He is only buying them to flip in a few months, and I would just as soon make the profit. I share a lot of activities with this fellow, like gun shows and pool tournaments, so I don't want to slap him in the face. Whatcha think?

Was the original agreement to give him first chance?


If you really value the relationship, maybe offer to share the profit.

what would he be saying if the values had gone down?

I've sold other stuff I've both from him, but now the pressure is on. He says he wants them for his collection, but he never holds onto anything over a year. I usually offer to sell him items back, and he has always said no thanks.

They are yours, do whatever you want, if you want to sell them for more to someone else then just do it...

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:
what would he be saying if the values had gone down?

Good question.

quote:

He is only buying them to flip in a few months, and I would just as soon make the profit.

There you go.
They are yours... as is any potential profit.
If he's truly a friend he realizes that.

What's good for the goose...

Offer to sell them back at the original price but only if he gives you first right at the same if he decides to sell them again later, that way it'll allow him to keep them if that's what he really wants but keeps him from flipping them if that's his true motivation. (a simple bullshit detector)

Sounds like this guy has been a valuable friend for some time now. I wouldn't risk losing the connection over a few hundred dollars, I'd just let him have the guns back for what you paid.

You could at the same time, tell him you want to change future deals. I like 46and2's suggestion!

Tell him that you will put them on an auction site and give him an opportunity to buy them at your reserve price.

Find a buyer, see what they will give you, offer them to your friend at that price. Then he has to pass or play, and you get the higher dollars and he got the first refusal.

my best friend and I sell guns back and forth to eachother, the agreement is always to give the other first right of refusal. I recently sold him a zevtech glock I had bought from him a while back, I could have gotten another $500 selling it elsewhere, but I had given him my word.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:
what would he be saying if the values had gone down?

Good question.

Yes. Also, have you bought items from him and then 'flipped them'?

I like 46and2's suggestion above, too.

Sounds like you already know the answer to your question. You'd gladly sell them to him for an actual collection, if one did in fact exist. Past experience tells you he will definitely flip them. If he is appealing to you based on wanting them for a collection, I'd ask him if he has plans to start one from his rotating sales pool. You need to get this out and discuss it with him. I would have thought that would have transpired already.
If he really wants that kind of double standard, then he's no friend and you should probably distance yourself. Say 'Nope, they're worth more than I would sell them to you for and business is business.'

If you are most worried about the friendship then sell them and split the profit with him. If he's not happy with that then find a different friend.

I can already tell you are a better friend them him.

Did he ever sell any of the guns you originally sold him?

Tell him if they are for his collection then he can have them back at cost, but if he wants to sell them later you get the chance to buy them back at cost. That will tell how much of a friend he is.

Do Ferengi rules of acquisition apply?

Friendship is friendship and business is business. If a friend doesn't understand and respect the difference, he's probably the type of friend who puts himself and his needs first. IMO, that's not a good friend.

If there was strong seller's remorse from the get go or there's some sentimental or emotional reason for him to want the pistols back and keep them forever then I would consider selling them back at the price he paid. That doesn't sound like the case to me here.

If I were you I'd offer him first option to buy at current market pricing. Or if there's something of similar market value in his collection I'd offer a trade. What I wouldn't do is let him buy it back at the price he sold it for knowing that he'd just turn around and sell it at a profit. I believe in treating others the way I want to be treated and I expect the same in return.

Friends don't put friends in a quandary over money.

He has put the value of your friendship equal to a few hundred dollars.

You that sort of thing to me once.

The old "if you value the friendship..." is passive\aggressive manipulation.

No different than; "If you really love me, then you will do ______..."


If you had a "first right refusal" as others have stated, (when you bought them, did you pay FMV or did he give you a good deal? if so, then), you went to him and said; "I'm want to thin my collection and am selling a few of the firearms you sold me, would you like to purchase them at the price you sold them to me?"

If he sold them at the best price for himself, you could let him know you would sell them for the lowest you are willing to take, if it is lower than the price you would like to start and hope to land.

But, without pre-conditions, "expecting" you to sell them back at the original price is "unfriendly".

How confident are you that he plans to flip them?


Did you have any agreement or past agreements about selling things back at original price on previous transactions?

quote:

We have sold each have other pieces out of our respective collections
...
He expects to me to sell them back to him at the same price I bought them.

Have you bought any of yours back from him, and if so what happened?

Would he offer you the same right on those, going forward?