Yeah, apparently I frequent more honest gun stores or am a better negotiator.
Both my father and I have returned guns that upon closer inspection failed to live up to expectations and received either another gun or refund. I've also known several others who have done so.
I've been a purchasing agent for over 30 years and my word has always been my bond. I expect the same from my vendors. If they don't work that way they never get my business again. YMMV!
Walther PPK, the saga continues:
I went back to that gun store today to further investigate the stainless PPK. It had the prick-punch mark on the beavertinal indicating that the factory changed-out the firing pin block (or a previous owner wanted it to look so.). It only came with one, non-finger extension magazine. The overall finish was excellent.
When I told the clerk that gun forums did not think that, that PPK (without extra mag and the model history as to functionality was troublesome), and that I wanted to know if he would negotiate the price, he said, "Just how much do you want to spend?" To which I said, "I don't want to spend anything...I just want to know your rock-bottom price." At that point, he went to the computer with the gun and spent about ten minutes researching. He returned and said, "The lowest selling price for this gun on the internet is $508.00, so I will not go lower than the $489.00 as marked. I can sell it on the internet for more than that."
At that point I asked him, "If I buy the gun and it does not function correctly, can I bring it back?" (I already knew the answer to that question.) To which he replied, "There is no returns on guns." I already knew that inasmuch as a new gun returned is a "used" gun, and a used gun returned could have damage done to it by the person who bought it. In short, other than a mom and pop place that sells a lot of guns to a particular customer, tales of being able to "return a gun" are like a fairy tales no matter how adament the teller...or was confused with some other transaction: "How much you be want'in for them thar chickens?"
So, I told him I was not interested and told him he may as well sell it on the internet.
So, if anyone else is interested it is as of today, still sitting on the shelf at the Gander Outdoor Store in Coldwater, MI. Go try your "negotiation skills".