I don't mind stupid or dishonest or even a little bullshit in sellers sometimes for simple reasons. Sometimes they are that way and I can still work out a deal. Guns are too broad of a group for anyone to know everything, so dealers, like us can be a little dumb about some things. And seller do not point out all the flaws any more than they have to so most deals have a little hidden "dishonesty" to them. But you have to figure out why they are that way. To me it is just like buying a truck. You would never take the word of the salesman so I don't on guns as well.
First before I go to buy any gun I make sure that I have done my homework and know what I am buying. Look at the gun, they don't lie. They are what they are. You trust but verify and there is nothing better than buying the gun in person. Much harder to miss anything if you see the gun in person and I don't trust any description as being anything more than the most optimistic and generous spin on any gun for sale. Internal flaws are impossible to "see" so I test function and have to take some risk. But if it does not function right I never buy a gun. Repairs are never as simple as you hope and the number of guns that have been worked on, and screwed up worse, is huge.
Second I find that sellers who don't know what they have either price guns way too high or too low. They rarely get them right for some reason. If too high I dicker a little and if they keep the sale price way above what I think it is worth I walk away from the deal. After all you can not buy them all and never pay more than it is worth because you will never get your money back out of it later. If the gun is priced too low I look at it even harder to make sure that I am not missing a major flaw. Been there and done that as they say. Sometimes a low priced gun is that way for a reason.
Third if you come across a dealer who is "dishonest" you have to determine why he is that way. Hiding things you need to know? Claiming to be an expert, when he knows less than squat? Is he in fact very knowledgeable but is lying outright to your face? Sometimes a dealer who is "lying" is just covering up that he does not know what he has and if you educate him the price might come down. I am buying a gun, not the dealer, not long term service, not even a return privilege. I buy it, I own it warts and all. If he is knowledgeable and is a lair I refuse to deal with him because chances are he is smarter about the deal than I am and I hate dishonest people as a rule.
And fourth the best way to get rid of the bullshit factor is have cash in hand. I have had prices fall when a seller sees cash in my hand and that I am buying or willing to buy right then, not pricing or thinking about a future purchase. You count out and lay down your final offer in a row of hundred dollar bills and watch the seller decide if he want to sell or not right then. Most times it works but when it does not I just pick them up and move along. Most times the deals you don't make are just as good as or better than the ones you do make.
