Could it be the photos or the reserve that is keeping people away?

[ColeEnthusiast47]

Or are these OMM's not as desired as I thought them to be? I don't own one and I'm not bidding on this, but this seems to be low unless something major happens in the next half hour.

Colt Officers Model Match 22 lr revolver C&R : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

[broknaxl]

Well, it's about up to top dollar at $500. in my opinion. And the reserve hasn't been hit yet. I'm actually looking for a .22 OM, but I'm waiting for that certain one that catches my eye.

[El Bibliotecario]

Perhaps others share my aversion to reserve prices. If someone wants to sell their offering at a certain price, they should offer at that price. If someone wants to offer an item at auction, then they should do so. I feel I have better uses for my time (and monies) than playing games with dilettantes.

[MtnSpur]

Perhaps others share my aversion to reserve prices. If someone wants to sell their offering at a certain price, they should offer at that price. If someone wants to offer an item at auction, then they should do so. I feel I have better uses for my time (and monies) than playing games with dilettantes.

I'm with you. If I decided to use an auction I'd know what I paid for a gun, know it's approximate worth and know what I'd need to pry that gun out of my possession and list it for that price. Seems too simple to work, huh?

[charles isaac]

The most successful internet gun auction vendors start their guns at 1 penny, no reserve! Some people can't stand the thought of someone maybe getting a good deal from them-it's a mental loop-nothing they can do about it, so they sit on inventory and achieve mediocrity.

But yeah, I filter out reserve auctions. Probably missed some deals, but have plenty of guns and don't care!

[Armyphotog]

Like I have said before, I don't do auctions or deal with reserves, either.

[dandak]

Rarely even look at auctions that have a reserve.

[Slowhand]

The pictures aren't that bad, it doesn't look like it's been reblued or had a lot of wear and tear. So it's the price. Maybe the shop put too much money into their original purchase price and is just trying to recoup some bucks? I've never sold anything out of my collection but, if I'd spent $450. for something say like an 1877 Colt Thunderer, then spent a few more bucks on parts and labor to get it working again. I'd have a real problem putting it up without a reserve, then sitting there watching the bidding come to a screeching halt at a really stupid price. I've low balled some bids in the past without a reserve. Trust me the sellers weren't applauding my good fortune or none too happy about the deal. But that's life.

If a seller, whether it be an individual or a shop wants to sit on a reserve price and keep reposting the same item for sale, that's on them. I'd love to have that old Colt, but NIB $806. Ex $676. Gd $390. according the usual sources is about right. Throw in S&H and an FFL Transfer Fee and there we are. I don't fault the seller, he's fishing and no body so far as bitten. Gun Broker amuses me in the prices that some people people ask, but even more whacked out is what some people chose to pay.

[Skans]

For me, its the caliber. I'm just not interested in $500+ .22's. I'm sure many are, I'm just not one of them. FWIW, reserves are annoying, but I'll sometimes bid on a reserve auction - depends on how much I want something. If it gets listed over and over again, then I'll just contact the seller and inquire.

[DCWilson]

Reserve auctions annoy me too. I have tried a couple on occasion, but I always felt like somebody was trying to bread-crumb me along. If a seller has a minimum he needs to get out of a gun, he should set a bid floor and see what happens. And I have to agree that penny auctions indicate a seller's confidence in market processes and the appeal of his offerings. I have seen lots of penny starters that sold for way bigger bucks than I would have paid for the gun if I found it on a counter somewhere.

I guess some sellers are so committed to the concept of not losing a dollar on a single transaction that they don't understand settlement price averaging. At the bottom end, your stop loss position is one penny, so your potential loss is fixed. But at the high end the sky is the limit if you get a couple of deep pockets bid warriors slugging it out for possession of a particular specimen.