28 gauge not for sale
 

I'm a new member, having joined to learn about and decide what to do with my Parker VH 28 gauge. I'm also a long time user of gunbroker.. I'm a long ways from selling, so please don't ask. The gun is not as nice as Art Schmitt's, but close enough, all original, stock, pristine and un-cut barrels, screws right, very tight, etc. It's been used often by me since 1967 and by my great grandfather after he bought it in 1917, so not surprisingly there's no bluing. I have three questions for discussion: (1) If this we're your gun, and you wanted to sell it, how and where would you go to get your best price? (2) The sales rules on this site, which are fairly explained and justified, say no auctions allowed. If I decided to sell someday, and I didn't want it to go for less than market value, could I start here with a price that well exceeded blue book, and then drop it every week or two by increments until someone made an offer, and still be within the rules? This effectively becomes an auction, but perhaps not so by the rules. (3) It seems to me that for someone who's selling a 12 gauge or other fine but relatively common gun, they can find comps to set a fair price, so the no auction rule is fine. But for a truly rare gun, the no auction rule puts too much pressure on the seller to determine a fair price instead of the market. I'm wondering if, in fairness to sellers, there shouldn't be an option on this site for exceptional pieces to be sold at auction? Thanks for in advance for your thoughts on these topics.

If you have played the gunbroker game for a while you know they have a large following. A no reserve auction will tell you its market value. End of story.

If you want a true maket value for your gun put it on gunbroker with a starting
price of $1.00 . This way you will get market value.

PCGA is not a sales site, it is information for interested members about Parkers

PCGA is not principally a sales site, though there is a members only forum for sales, and a Parker 28 gauge was sold on this site very recently. I hope it's ok to ask about selling as buying and selling is a necessary part of Parker ownership. I've never sold a gun before, let alone a Parker, so I'm trying to learn from other peoples' experience. Possibly I've misjudged, but this seems like an excellent site for that purpose.

A gun that sold recently, would that not be a market value start.

Craig

Yes, but its a private sale, so the sale price isn't known.

Wayne: I've seen many members start a listing in the shotguns for sale and drop pricing several times. I'm sure many members here would love to have a chance at it. Wish you would post some photos for us to drool over it. I understand your dilemma as I would never get rid of a family gun and especially a Parker unless I had to. Good Luck. Bob

That's exactly what the majority of folks here expect you to do.

My personal opinion is that you can play that game if, and only IF, you absolutely have to sell a gun because you are desperately in need of the money.

It's not that rare of a gun....you can peruse auction results over the past 5 years and see enough examples to get an idea of value.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to get top dollar for your gun, but I have to admit I grow weary of people feeling the need to squeeze every last cent out of the next guy. 5 years after you have sold it, will it really matter that you got $12,500 for it instead of $12,000? Does that few dollars mean that much?

If it were my gun, I'd be far more satisfied selling it for 80% of 'market value' to a home were I knew it would be cared for and appreciated for the next 50 years.

Thanks Bob, I'll think about posting photos. The issue isn't money, it's not having a young person in the family who would want it enough to learn to use it and take care of it.

Wayne: I do understand and hope my family will be prepared to use and take care of mine. Greg makes a good point and a lot of the members here seem to be "caretakers" instead of trying to make a quick buck on turnaround. You may get a fee dollars more? somewhere else but you could probably get fair value from someone here that appreciates a Parker.

Probably you're right, it's not that rare. But until I saw Art's beautiful 28 gauge, I don't remember seeing another sale of one with the original finish, stock, and barrels, etc.. I'm trying to find out how much that matters. Possibly you wouldn't mind pointing me to one or two sales that would tell me what I need to know. Thanks.

Thank you Bob and Greg, you've given me something important to think about.

Wayne: I would post some quality close up photos and request a letter when Chuck Bishop recovers from surgery. (Get well soon Chuck). I cannot help but many experts here can tell you exactly what is wrong and right with your Parker. Bob

Thank you Bob. I don't know Chuck, but I'll say a little prayer for him. Will it be obvious when he's back on-line?

Wayne,

Selling on this site is a privilege, not a right of membership.

Members do list guns at a high price and drop their price after a period of time. Pricing is an art.

If however one were to try to skirt the rules by listing way above market value and systematically lowering the price every week that for sale add would receive considerable attention from the moderators. Most people lower their prices randomly and that's okay.

Your suggestion about adding an option for "exceptional pieces to be sold at auction" should have been asked of the webmaster, John Dunkle. John runs this site within the guidance set by the PGCA Board of Directors. There is also a "Website & Forum - Help & Assistance" forum at the top of the page where suggestions are considered and discussed. Since however you asked in public I will answer in kind. NO auctions!

If one wonders why we have such strict rules the answers are simple.
1. To keep this website focused on the PGCA's objective, which is furthering the knowledge of Parker shotguns.
2. John, Jeff, and I are volunteers with full time jobs and other things in our lives beside managing a web forum. Things like auctions require even stricter management which none of us desire to provide.
3. This is a friendly and helpful site in which all good mannered persons are welcome. The more I am required to moderate the less manners I have! :banghead:

Mark

Wayne: Parker General Discussions, Top thread "Research Letter Alert", I'm sure Chuck will appreciate you doing so.
Just looked in The Parker Story. 1,417 VH 28ga are listed as being made with 26" and 28" barrels being the most common. There may be more but that number is the best they could determine. Bob

Thank you Mark, that's clear and what I needed to know.

Mark: Thanks for your help in keeping this forum in line and enjoyable. It's just about the only forum I look at because of the rudeness(name calling, stupid & etc) and lack rules elsewhere. Bob

One thing to consider in determining the value of your gun is that the 28 sold recently had ejectors (VHE) and your gun it would appear as an extractor gun VH. The ejectors IMHO would add between $1500-2000 in value. The other major consideration in value is condition.

I have no one in my family to pass guns down to so I'll just use them to the best of my ability and my heirs will have to sort them out.

[QUOTE=Rich Anderson

I have no one in my family to pass guns down to so I'll just use them to the best of my ability and my heirs will have to sort them out.[/QUOTE]

Don't forget your brother from another mother down here in MD. I'll have my attorney contact yours to draw up the paperwork.:)

Thank you C.O.B., that's good information that I wouldn't have known. I also like seeing your pointer posing on your gunstock. Great photo!

Wayne, I'm sending you a PM.

Chuck

Thank you Wayne. The photo is of Gunner a wonderful companion for almost 15 years. The gun was custom built using a VH 20ga in his honor.

Ok thanks Chuck, I'll look for it, not there yet.

if this was my grandpas gun only sickness in the family would make me sell it...there s been a few fair looking 28 gauges on gunbroker in this past year below 10.000for sale if this helps...

It helps a lot. I got a similar thought from Chuck, so thank you both. At that price, maybe I can safely pass it on to my niece with children and trust that it's not worth so much as to tempt her husband to sell it. That's my real dilemma, so in a way, it's a relief to find that it's not worth so much after all. It was my great grandfather's, and well used by the end of his life. My grandfather had put it in his attic and never looked at it again. My father thought it was a deer rifle. I wasn't any smarter, having once tried to sell it while in college for $300 but couldn't find a taker. Anyhow, I've hunted with it for fifty years and I greatly appreciate the encouragement from people here to find a way to keep it in my family. I guess that's what I came on this site to learn.

One just sold here in the Carolinas for $8000, very nice gun.