Had an odd one two weeks ago. Friend called and asked me to help him evaluate some guns and reloading machines for his neighbors widow. Seems she had a "fair" evaluation by another person, his best friend and just wanted to make sure he was not setting prices too high. My prices were vastly different than the first prices. Then walked her through how to dispose of his stuff. I again bought nothing. An appraiser should never buy stuff he appraises and a novice can not buy all the stuff at his price no matter how bad he wants those great deals.
Told her best way was to put most of the items up for sale, at her late husbands gun club bulletin board. Wrote clear descriptions with prices, both asking and (absolute bottom dollar price if the items don't sell on her copy). Guns should go to a local shop on consignment. Gave her firm minimum prices for most things with several real world recent sales to support them. Seems the shop was happy to sell her late husbands guns, as a courtesy for no commission. They were friends and had done a lot of transactions over the years. That shop even looked at my prices and thought the estimated prices were fair but may even do better. That shop just went up in my esteem.
She called and said almost everything else, reloaders and such, has either been sold or has someone willing to buy it. Seem the deceased was a very well liked man and friends are trying to help her out, plus everything is in mint condition which makes selling it easier. She is getting fair value for his toys which I am happy about.
What I have a real problem is the late husbands "good friend" who put the following values on mint condition items. Spolar Gold with Hydraulic setup $1,100. PW 800+ $125.00, K-80 trap gun, upgraded wood and middle grade engraving. $3995.00. P-gun at 1974 prices. The list just goes on. I expect he was going to find some "buddy of his" to buy all that stuff at his prices. Name of buddy, most likely, to be himself.
So here is the point, it's not that I'm such a great or knowledgeable fellow helping out some defenseless widow. It is that after you are dead, you leave your wife at others greed, lack of scruples and you no more want them to screw her then, than now. Make a honest list of what toys you have and their true value. Hide it if you must and put a note inside your will where to find it. Tell her how to get rid of your things. She can't kill you for them, you're already dead. But think about you 15k gun getting bought by the fellow you despise at your club or your 4k, 3K reloader going for a cool grand to your friend. Or your new green tractor being given away for peanuts. Do it before it is too late.
As I said before the best way is to remove excess items while one is still alive saving poor widow a headache after ones death. You were nice to do deceased husbands deed for him. The gracious service you have provided should have been done by her husband.
