Lack of knowledge is a double edge sword. I have seen the staff hold fast on a price three or four times the real value based on some notion that they know more than the bluebook, all the selling prices on the net and common sense. I do enjoy watching those guns remain up on the web site for several years not selling.
On the flip side I recently bought a Remington Model 12 in Remington 22 Special. That make two of them now I own. This one was sitting on the bargain rack outside the gunroom. There were two of them on the rack and mine was an honest 90-95% gun the second one was a 50% gun with honest wear. Took the best one into the gun room and talked to the staff. The more they talked the less it seemed they knew. I asked them if they had any ammo on the shelf? They checked, nope. Can you order it? Again they checked, nope. So you have a gun with no bullets and no prospects of getting ammo in. One of them suggested I could always reload rare calibers. True rocket scientist that one was.
I pointed out that no one reloads rimfire ammo. Oh he said I forgot that. Again true rocket scientist that one was.
So it came down to price and I made an offer. They laughed at first, paused and asked me if I was joking. Why I asked, you have a decorator item, not a gun. No ammo, hard or impossible to find ammo and no prospect of reloading ammo. The boss went into the backroom and came out a few minutes later and accepted my offer. Did the paper work, gave them a little money and bought another gun.
Before I left the gun room I looked again at a Remington 1894 AE that they have had in the case for going on four years. Still price at three times its real value. That one they refused to budge on price when I first saw it and still do. Anyone want a polished parts gun, with a split and cracked stock and pitted barrels for almost a grand more than it is worth I know right where to go.
