Re: Tikka T3 308 Value?
I guess I do not know how to play the purchase game correctly, or am to gentlemanly. The Tikka is sold, but not to me. I expressed interest in it, stating I wanted to look at and "probably buy it". This was 14 minutes before anyone responded to the original For Sale post, which read "I'll take it".
It appears to me that expressing interest in a rifle and wanting to inspect prior to buying will always take second place to someone who chimes in later and says "I'll take it". If that is the way the game is played, OK. I'll just have to live with that, only buying used from those who I can really trust, or buy new.
Personally, I have the seen "I'll take it" approach abused. Someone says that to secure their position in line, but all the while knowing they can easily back out and just change their mind. Call me old fashioned, but if you say "I'll take it", then you should mean it! Do we believe anyone who says "I'll take it" sight unseen when buying a car? Maybe rifles are different, but these are a fair amount of money and I want to see it. I recognize that is not often possible given distances, and do have to trust others on purchases. But, this seller is right in my area and made that clear to the seller. I also stated I wanted to meet at the seller's convenience and "probably buy". I guess I needed to not say "probably buy" and instead say "I'll take it". But that would not have been entirely truthful because there may have been something wrong that would halt the purchase. Maybe I need to interpret "I'll take it" as meaning, "I'll take it...(assuming it passes my inspection). I hate telling someone I'll buy something then when a deal is imminent, say "NO".
I am disappointed of course in missing out on this rifle, but lesson learned and will play the game better next time.
- Phil
