Texasguntrader deal gone south - opinions welcomed

[The Annoyed Man]

I have no opinion on the gun trade.

But I do object and am offended by the reference in the title of the deal having "gone South".

Well, it's just a figure of speech meaning things have "done downhill." It isn't any more offensive really than my being called a "southpaw" because I'm left handed.

[The Annoyed Man]

It was a joke, TAM.

Ooops! Sorry. You never know sometimes, and I guess I just gave proof to the old saw that there's a new sucker born every day.

[smoothoperator]

Hey all, just had a situation with a deal on texasguntrader.com go south real bad and would like some opinions on what I should do next. So let me just lay out the situation for ya'll:

Saw and ad for a rifle at a great price, contacted to seller and negotiated out a price we can settle on. I offered to pay via a discreet paypal transaction, the seller the refused and said he would only accept a USPS money order. So I go and get the money order in the amount of $850 plus the fee, and then send it certified mail with a signature required. Well first it takes him 5 days to go get the mail, when he finally is "able" to get to the post office to pick it up. It then takes him a few more days to take it to get deposited. Well he went yesterday to get it deposited and lost the darned money order on his way there and has no idea where it is. He then tells me to cancel it and to send him a new one with a cost of replacement and sending a new one off the requested price of the rifle. Well the USPS doesn't just offer a replacement they take at least 60 days to process a replacement.

Now here is where I want ya'lls opinion:

I tell the guy that he still owes me a rifle. In all fairness I have paid him, and a USPS money order is like cash and he did receive it and he was the one who lost the money order. I told him once I receive a replacement from the USPS I will then forward that to him. I believe this is fair because as it stands I have paid out 850 and have neither my money nor my rifle at no fault of my own. I mentioned that if you went into a store and paid for a couch to be delivered, and the store then lost your money, the store would still deliver the couch. This guy refuses to do that and says its not his fault and that he did not receive payment and won't ship the rifle till he does.

What do ya'll think? Should I say screw it and wait 60 days for my replacement and take it as a learning experience or should I report this as internet fraud/theft? Or is there anything I can do?

Any help is appreciated thanks!

He said it's lost so I would go to the post office and fill out the paperwork for a lost money order. I also wouldn't go through with the transaction unless the gun was worth at least $1500. Anything less of a deal isn't worth the hassle of dealing with someone like that.

[WildBill]

It was a joke, TAM.

Ooops! Sorry. You never know sometimes, and I guess I just gave proof to the old saw that there's a new sucker born every day.

Good thing he didn't say "Haywire"! I would have been mighty offended.

[jimlongley]

It was a joke, TAM.

Ooops! Sorry. You never know sometimes, and I guess I just gave proof to the old saw that there's a new sucker born every day.

Good thing he didn't say "Haywire"! I would have been mighty offended.

My grandpappy was always one to demonstrate concepts. When I was wondering about where the term "haywire" (pronounced hiewahr in his lexicon) he took me over to old Mr. King's farm and cut a very long loop of it for me, and then challenged me to untangle it.

[jtran987]

He said it's lost so I would go to the post office and fill out the paperwork for a lost money order. I also wouldn't go through with the transaction unless the gun was worth at least $1500. Anything less of a deal isn't worth the hassle of dealing with someone like that.

Sadly it was worth it, I was to get a brand new unfired Springfield M1A loaded with a 22" stainless barrel for 850, dealer cost is roughly 1500-1600.

[schufflerbot]

TGT is a great site but, as you can tell first hand, one has to be careful who they're dealing with.

i've conducted probably 20 transactions over the last 12 months - mostly through TGT - and have yet to have a serious issue.

we're it me, i'd cancel the money order, consider the fee they charge to be a 'fee for lesson learned' and NEVER do business with this guy.


face to face only, with valid TDL or CHL and MUST sign a bill of sale.


the above is in EVERY one of my for sale posts and it's what i look for in all of my potential purchases. i'd suggest you start doing something similar, if not the same thing.

[schufflerbot]

He said it's lost so I would go to the post office and fill out the paperwork for a lost money order. I also wouldn't go through with the transaction unless the gun was worth at least $1500. Anything less of a deal isn't worth the hassle of dealing with someone like that.

Sadly it was worth it, I was to get a brand new unfired Springfield M1A loaded with a 22" stainless barrel for 850, dealer cost is roughly 1500-1600.

man, that has scam written all over it.

[WildBill]

He said it's lost so I would go to the post office and fill out the paperwork for a lost money order. I also wouldn't go through with the transaction unless the gun was worth at least $1500. Anything less of a deal isn't worth the hassle of dealing with someone like that.

Sadly it was worth it, I was to get a brand new unfired Springfield M1A loaded with a 22" stainless barrel for 850, dealer cost is roughly 1500-1600.

man, that has scam written all over it.

What is the saying about something that sounds too good to be true?

[03Lightningrocks]

It was a joke, TAM.

Ooops! Sorry. You never know sometimes, and I guess I just gave proof to the old saw that there's a new sucker born every day.

Joke or no joke... I think the thread title would have been more appropriate if it was Texasguntrader deal gone Obama.

[03Lightningrocks]

He said it's lost so I would go to the post office and fill out the paperwork for a lost money order. I also wouldn't go through with the transaction unless the gun was worth at least $1500. Anything less of a deal isn't worth the hassle of dealing with someone like that.

Sadly it was worth it, I was to get a brand new unfired Springfield M1A loaded with a 22" stainless barrel for 850, dealer cost is roughly 1500-1600.

man, that has scam written all over it.

What is the saying about something that sounds too good to be true?

I hate to dog pile on a feller but ...

[emcee rib]

He said it's lost so I would go to the post office and fill out the paperwork for a lost money order. I also wouldn't go through with the transaction unless the gun was worth at least $1500. Anything less of a deal isn't worth the hassle of dealing with someone like that.

Sadly it was worth it, I was to get a brand new unfired Springfield M1A loaded with a 22" stainless barrel for 850, dealer cost is roughly 1500-1600.

man, that has scam written all over it.

What is the saying about something that sounds too good to be true?

The early bird gets the worm.

[The Annoyed Man]

He said it's lost so I would go to the post office and fill out the paperwork for a lost money order. I also wouldn't go through with the transaction unless the gun was worth at least $1500. Anything less of a deal isn't worth the hassle of dealing with someone like that.

Sadly it was worth it, I was to get a brand new unfired Springfield M1A loaded with a 22" stainless barrel for 850, dealer cost is roughly 1500-1600.

man, that has scam written all over it.

What is the saying about something that sounds too good to be true?

The early bird gets the worm.

My M1A was $1729.00, new in box, unfired. There isn't an early enough bird in the world to catch an unfired M1A for $850 when that is half the real world price of a new one, and they are not that common to begin with.

[emcee rib]

What was I thinking? You're right. Everyone else should ignore those ads...especially if it's a deal on something I want.