I made a trade with a party that I'll not name -- not from this forum. Seems he decided he doesn't like the trade. I am not out to screw anyone, so I want to make sure I have my head on straight. Here's how it went.
First, the guy approaches me with a RWS460 asking to trade for my RWS350. Sends pictures where the steel piece in the trap looks mottled, like someone scraped off rust. He assures me it was never rusty, I ask in the forum here about repairing and get some good advice. I decide to go with it. He changes his mind, asks me about other rifles I have. There was nothing I wanted to trade but a TF97. The only reason I mention it is he told me he had a condition that made it hard to cock the 460. I tell him I'll throw in a Leupold scope and some nice adjustable rings to make it more even. He says yes, then no, then back to the 460 for the 350...then as I am waiting for info from Umarex on a replacement part for the 460, he sells the 460 rifle and shuts down the deal. Whatever...stuff happens. Meanwhile he knows the history of my gun which is a pretty much new RWS350 from 06/08 as stamped on the receiver. He knows my chrony numbers. He's provided none of the same info.
So a month later he sends an email saying he has a RWS48 that he'd like to trade for the 350. I hesitate remembering the previous drawn out and failed negotiation, but I listen. He sends pictures and it looks pretty new, at least the stock does. As far as he knows there is a tin of pellets through it. So I assume he's telling the truth. He said he replaced the stock, and so I ask why he replaced the stock on a 'new' rifle. He tells me the previous owner painted the original stock black...and not that he did a bad job, but he doesn't like black stock. I could have both stocks in the trade. He makes me repeat all the things I gave him before...pictures, chrony, history...I make sure he's clear on the pressure ding in the stock. He asks about the open sights, and I tell him there is a muzzle break and I didn't get the open sights from the previous owner. He wants to trade. I'm good with the trade as the 48 is a side-lever and I have plenty of break-barrel magnums, so I think it is a good addition. I include a brand-new lockdown mount still in the package, assuming the 48 is newish and worth a bit more. He says yes.
Now I've got some hesitation with this fellow, so I start looking around for a way to trade through an intermediary, so that someone will be in the middle, and no one gets their rifle till the intermediary has both. I bring up the idea to a local shipper I use and ask them if they know anyone that provides that type of service for swapping. They say they can do it. I'll drop my package off, and they'd notify the other party, the other party would send so both rifles are at the shop, and then I can pick up the rifle that was sent and release mine to the other party. No one gets screwed. The guy seems hesitant, but says OK, then as the trade starts he groans about getting his rifle a few days after me. I told him I'd see about speeding up the service at my cost, but then I didn't because it was 3 times as much to gain a day. So I get his and then don't do a thing with it but look at it till he gets mine.
When I look, I'm a little disappointed. the year on the receiver is 00, meaning I just got a gun that is 8+ years older than the one I sent. I should have asked, so I swallow hard and shut up. The bluing is unnatural -- sortof a yellowish color. It doesn't match the rest of the receiver. The gun is dusty and the steel in the receiver is scratched up. The plastic on the sight looks worn. If there was only 1 tin of pellets through this, it was a tin the size of a gallon paint can. I'm thinking it is my fault for not doing better due diligence. I tell him the rifle arrived, and that mine is on the way. Nothing more.
So I wait and the evening I get an email from him, and here it is in his own words:
"well, well richard- now i know why you were so anxious to get my gun before i got yours. since you said you were the one that had the muzzle brake installed, i would like to know who put it on. whoever did it, they ruined the bluing underneath and also failed to put a crown on the barrel, where they cut the barrel off. they also ruined any possibility of putting the gun back to stock. thanks a bunch! now i have essentially a piece of junk, or perhaps a good boat anchor. i certainly don't have a decent gun! i expect you to do something about this, richard. this was a good faith trade and i sent you top of the line goods! i will give you a full day to respond with some kind of reparations to offer before i put this on the boi. no wonder you wanted to receive my gun first. i should have known better than to trade that way. i do, however, know what to do about it."
I'm flummoxed. I don't know what rifle he thinks he sent, but whatever he's talking is bull. He's got a 'boat anchor' that is virtually brand new with 1040 fps... and he sent 'top of the line' goods where the bluing looks redone, the stock was replaced, the plastic is worn, the receiver steel scratched, the lever strut is loose, and the plastic cover between the receiver and barrel is seated incorrectly... And HE wants compensation?! I toss my hands in the air, and send him an email back an email saying if he wants to nix the trade send the rifle back and we'll reverse it. But now I'm wondering about the barrel and if he's already been trying to modify the gun and screwed it up. I mean if the barrel was cut, there wouldn't be bluing on the crown, and there was...I looked. Then I start thinking he might be trying to get more out of the trade than he knows he should by asking for compensation for issues that will never be proved...
I'm just wondering how it seems to everyone here...Is there something I should do beside offer the reversal? What if i come to find he chopped the barrel?
