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Posted: 5/3/2004 7:57:28 PM EDT
When I was young and dumb, my friend's neighbor had a '64 Vette that had been sitting in his garage since about 1974 (this was aroun 1990). It had been rearended that year and he had chosen to take the insurance money and fix it himself. For a variety of reasons he never finished, and it had sat in his garage with nothing but a coat of primer ever since. He offered to sell it to me for $2k and to let me use his garage and help me fix it. I was too busy getting high to take him up on it.
 A couple of years ago I walked into Kevin's Sporting Goods in Tallahassee FL and saw an underfolder AK under the rifle rack. This is a place where they sell all sorts of ridiculously expensive hunting rifles and they had no clue what it was or what it was worth. I asked to see it, and it was in great shape. The guy said they wanted $500 for it. I walked away and managed to talk myself out of it after I got out of the shop. Let's hear yours. Bikes, broads, cars, guns, fish, boats, whatever. |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 8:09:08 PM EDT
[#1]
I was speculating in the market in May 2000, right after the first big crash in the NASDAQ. The markets had been shakey for a month, but I figured after Alan Greenspan raised interest rates, buyers would come in hoping o make their money back.
So I used one of those checks credit cards send out for cash advances, got about $2500, put the money in my account, and bought call options on SDLI, an optical networking company. But I maxed out the cash advance, forgetting the CC company tacks on a 2% fee for this service. So I was overdrawn, and the funds were pulled from my bank account. The same company does my banking and brokerages services. I now had an unfunded position in a highly volatile and risky investment. If they couldn't fund it, they'd close it out automatically and probably revoke my ability to trade options. So I borrowed $2500 from a friend, but I didn't want him to take the risk. My priority was to make sure he got all the money he lent me back, so I closed the position. The day after I did that, the markets skyrocketed, along with SDLI. The options I held appreciated by about 1100%, and I missed out on about $20,000 of profits. But if it had gone the other way, I would have lost my friend's money. |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 8:17:01 PM EDT
[#2]
Many years ago I bought 1000 shares of some stock for a buck and change per share. For a year it didn't do anything, although I was told it was supposed to be great. I got tired of waiting plus I needed the money, so I sold at a slight loss.
A month later it goes up to $14 a share. Fast forward to pre y2k. I buy 2000 shares of a stock trading at about $3.50 - $3.75. Stock jumps up to $7.00 ish. I get nervous and sell, but am still happy I made a near 100% profit. The stock goes back down for awhile. A couple of months later it is at about $45 a share. I have other stories, but that's painful enough for now. |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 8:19:29 PM EDT
[#3]
Went to a gun show in Ft. Lauderdale in 1976. Passed up a NIB Colt SP1 for $200 out the door. I thought it was too much money.
 Flip side - I married the girl of my dreams - after I let her get away the first time  |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 8:21:32 PM EDT
[#4]
Walked away from a loaded Springfield M1A with a good scope at a gunshow a couple years ago. $800-$900. Honest to god. The Dealer was a nice guy, let me handle the M1A as much as I wanted, pointed out differences in each one, was generally a helpful, good guy. The deal felt good, the money was in my pocket.
I walked away, thinking "how much could the price go up? I can get it another day." I check a couple months later, bam, up a couple hundred. Only gotten worse. Couple girls too. I think about the M1A more though. There was this one girl though. Nice girl, attractive, easy to talk to. In boarding school she used to wander by my window for a glass of iced tea (I make good iced tea). Talked a lot. I was gunning for this one girl who eventually stabbed me in the back. Didn't realize she "liked me" until a couple years later when talking to her online. Missed that one. Life goes on. the's story reminded me of it. Now I'm gonna have to get a scotch and reminise on the past again. Better than studying! |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 8:32:06 PM EDT
[#5]
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Posted: 5/3/2004 10:24:29 PM EDT
[#6]
At the local gun shows, there used to be open bolt MAC-10s in .45ACP.
For $250.00, cash, with no paperwork, in 1984. Naturally, I waited too long. Now, whenever I see a good deal and I think about waithing for the next paycheck. I think-- "Remember the MAC-10s?" Steve |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 10:33:32 PM EDT
[#7]
1975 I was 15 years old. My neighbor wanted to sell me his 1969 GTO convertable for $400. It was in GREAT condition. He was an attorney and didn't need the money..Remember, I was 15 with no "real" job and no license....I was mowing lawns for cigarette money (yes, I started smoking at 12, quit at 24)...I should have looked for a lot more lawns to mow...
My first car? A 1972 Chevelle! Yeah baby! (But, I would rather have had the GTO) |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 10:39:55 PM EDT
[#8]
My honeymoon in the Bahamahs...at a casino...playing a progressive jackpot slot machine, needed quarters. Said to my wife "Why don't you come with me" did'nt even take 10 steps...friggen dude who jumped on her machine hit...$37,000...
 ...and yes I'm still married!!!!
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Posted: 5/3/2004 10:44:45 PM EDT
[#9]
gun show in MI, i'd say around '89, '90?. a booth had a USA-12 for $1800 (new), with all the goodies. i stood there at the booth for 20 mins or so. GOD I WANTED THAT GUN!! soooooo close to buying it. i didn't. regreted it ever since. even though MI declared it a "destructive device" some years later.
at the booth, they had vidoes of it in action. man, i just fell in love with that thing. IMHO, the ultimate zombie gun. ... 
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Posted: 5/3/2004 11:30:19 PM EDT
[#10]
My family is in the slot machine business. If it makes you feel any better, she wouldn't have hit the jackpot that the other guy hit unless she would have spun the reels at the EXACT same instant that other guy did. You see, the machines are continuously generating randomn numbers that determine the outcome of the play. When you push "spin" or pull the lever, it freezes those numbers at that instant, and at the point it is already determined where the reels are stopping. Further more, there is no such thing as a "hot" or "cold" slot machine. Each pull of the lever is an independent event and it makes absolutely no difference what the machine has been doing for the past million pulls. Its kind of like flipping an evenly weighted coin. It doesn't matter how many times the coin comes up heads in a row, the next flip it is 50/50 to be heads or tails. A slot machine that just paid two jackpots in a row is just as likely to hit a jackpot as a machine that hasn't hit a jackpot in a million pulls. |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 11:36:49 PM EDT
[#11]
Wow, I didn't know that. See everyone Arfcom is educational. Thanks thelastgunslinger |
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Posted: 5/3/2004 11:44:28 PM EDT
[#12]
In 1982 I was offered a mint condition 1968 1/2 Ford Cobra Jet Mustang. It was on one of the original drag cars given to the super stock racers with the factory roll cage and all the other goodies. I believe about 12 were made. A trailer, spare 428 and top loader were included for the grand sum of $4,500. At the time I was making like $5.50/hour and couldnt come up with the money.
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Posted: 5/4/2004 6:04:48 AM EDT
[#13]
I didn't buy Harley stock when it was $16 a share.
AB |
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Posted: 5/4/2004 6:12:24 AM EDT
[#14]
I was talking to her in the library parking lot while waiting on my date for the night to show up in town. She told me where she was gonna be later on, I told here I'd drop by, then went on my miserable date. Seven years later, I tracked down her email address and would you believe she didn't respond?
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Posted: 5/4/2004 6:12:52 AM EDT
[#15]
Two Colt 20" HBar Sporters in 1993. Both NIB and each with:
Hard carry case Two Colt 20 rdrs Sling Cleaning kit Total price: $1,500 tax included. |
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Posted: 5/4/2004 6:33:41 AM EDT
[#16]
'68 ElCamino
Was in great shape. I got rid of it because it sucked in the winter on snowy/icy roads. I wish I woulda kept it. |
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Posted: 5/4/2004 11:11:59 AM EDT
[#17]
Must have been in 1996(ish) I was in high school without a nickel to spare. Stopped by a local gunshop and they had cases of SKS rifles. I stopped and took a look at them... Unissued, stamped ser# in the stocks, milled trigger groups, blade bayonets.. Russian SKs rifles. Price...$55 each or 2 for $100. I cursed the money gods as I walked out of the store, and thinking of the 2 Chinese SKS rifles I had at home. "Don't need em" I said to myself for comfort even though I knew they were a once in a lifetime deal. (My Dad had bought our chicom SK's in like 91 0r 92' for $79) Where they got them and how the hell they were selling them that cheaply I have not a clue.
A while later, as in after they were all sold, I told my Uncle about them. His reply was "I would have bought 2 cases!" (There were 24 to a case) At the time, he was looking for investments and sank a bunch of money in the stock market. I don't like to think about it if I don't have to....I dropped the ball! Sly |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 3:29:51 AM EDT
[#18]
My first gun show, when I was seventeen (six years ago), a guy was selling an HK PDW for $1900. Now they go for twice that. I didn't have the money for it though, and I don't think my dad would have purchased it for me anyway. |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 3:50:11 AM EDT
[#19]
When I was 18, I was offered a spot on the USA Olympic skeet shooting team. I would have had to go to AZ to train over the summer, but I wanted to be with my girlfriend.
Fu$kin idiot. Oh well, it was for the 1980 Olympics, and they were boycotted by the US. |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 3:52:00 AM EDT
[#20]
I turned down a business deal I could hvae cleared over $ 300k on
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Posted: 5/6/2004 4:01:31 AM EDT
[#21]
I saw this rifle at a gun show that looked like an AR on steroids. The guy said it was a super accurate match rifle, and said that he'd take $1300 for it. I wished him luck selling his "boat anchor". I sure wish I'd bought that KAC SR-25 Match.
It was 1993 when the owner of a local indoor range I frequented offered me what he said was a good deal on a BIG, UGLY, 9mm pistol; $500 out the door. A few months later, I wish I'd bought that NIB H&K SP-89. All my big misses were guns.
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Posted: 5/6/2004 4:49:15 AM EDT
[#22]
The Steyr Aug a few years back.
It was green w/several mags, LN condition for $1000. I had it on my bed to examine for a few days and finally passed on it. Between the alien look (unfamiliar) and the caliber (non-.308), I gave it back. Price one now.
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Posted: 5/6/2004 5:01:53 AM EDT
[#23]
Back in '84-'85 I was one of two guys picked for Naval Avionics school...Too afraid to leave home and attend a big fancy school, I passed on the chance...
Dad (being a Navy Vet & Nuke torpedo guy) was a bit upset with me. |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 5:17:16 AM EDT
[#24]
In 1974 when the gas crisis was in full swing and there was talk of rationing my next door neighbor was forced (Going through a divorce)to sell his one owner,mint,low milage,adult owned '69 SS 396,Camero.He was offering the car at $1200.00.ALSO he was selling his MINT,original 1961 Corvette,F.I., 283/283 hp,4-speed, also one owner,etc. for $2500.00.I wanted to buy them both.My wife(at the time)gave me so much grief at the prospect of spending"That much money, for two old cars.".......that I passed on both.I Divorced her dumb, but good looking ass the following year.I have NEVER forgiven myself for allowing the infulence of a fool (Me listining to her)to effect my affairs.
To make the entire affair infinetly worse.........two seperate friends of mine each bought one of the cars,they still have them,and NEVER miss the opportunity to tell me how glad they are that they stole these works of art for peanuts and that they are sooooooooooo glad I was a pussywhipped fool.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.(The sound of tooth enamel flaking off). |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 5:19:19 AM EDT
[#25]
Didn't sell Lucent when it was $65 - $70/share. I got it essentially free as a spinoff of AT&T. Now it's considered to be doing really well at $3 - $4.
Bought some stock in a small company that had fallen frm $25 down to $11, on the theory that it will go up to $25 again. The company went broke. Passed on an M16 in an Indianapolis gun shop, about 1990, for $2500. "I would never pay that much for a gun!" Ha! Spent $21K on an "investment" that the guy just took my money & never got beyond "raising money." Pure scam. |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 5:28:04 AM EDT
[#26]
1994, Joshua Tree.
many friends, sitting around a campfire, drinking Jack Daniels, having a good time. On my left: French Canadian Rock Climbing chick (hot) On my right: Chinese American Rock Climbing chick (hot) We're getting drunk. The chicks sitting next to me are talking about two things: 1) How much they dig me. 2) How much they dig each other, and about their bi-curious feelings. As the night goes on, these two lovely gals begin leaning over my lap (I'm sitting between them), and experimenting with a little girl on girl kissing. Jack Daniels dribbling down their chins, their tongues exploring..... Well I'm thinking something along the lines of: FUCK YEAH! HERE WE GO! WOOHOOOO!!!! Then the Chinese chick gets too drunk and pukes, then passes out. Consolation prize: French Canadian Rock Climbing chick |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 5:53:12 AM EDT
[#27]
Summer 1985, fresh out of high school. I had just bought a cherry 79 Camaro. The guy renting the house next door had gotten his "Dead Granny Money" 2 years prior, at 21. He had run through $250k in 2 years. Flat fucking broke.
He was selling a 68 Camaro SS convertible, totally restored. New everything! All it needed was a shifter. He wanted $2500 for it. I tried to talk daddy into it.
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Posted: 5/6/2004 6:05:36 AM EDT
[#28]
In 1988 I had a chance to buy three SP1s for $900 ($300 each).
In 1989 I had a chance to buy a NIB Steyer Aug for $850. I passed on both chances, too expensive. DOAH! |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 6:08:58 AM EDT
[#29]
Ok years ago before I was 18, me and my Dad saw a preban (at the time we didn`t totally understand what preban meant) Springfield M1A. Although it was used it had the GI sling, scope mount, Flash Supressor with Bayonet lug, and about ELEVEN 20rd USGI MAGS!!!!
 For the low price of $875! Unfortunatly neither he nor I had the money, even to go halfway on the rifle. Luckily I didn`t pass up on my Silver Chrome BHP! |
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Posted: 5/6/2004 6:11:32 AM EDT
[#30]
That story Cincinnatus reminds me about a time I invited a girl from work over to watch a movie. For whatever reason I showed incredible politeness or stupidity in that I didnt try to do anything with her. About 8 years later I meet up with her again and the first thing she said was that I was so nice to her that night but she was hoping that I would have tried to get a bit more intimate with her....Damn
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