RE: mossberg maverick 88
first off welcome to the site, not familiar with the maverick but to me it looks about like the mossberg 500, the only mossberg i have ever owned is an 835, i bought it used from a guy that needed money, and i got a good deal, didn't really need the gun, but thats beside the point. i have handled a few 500's and they also appear to be a well built and designed gun.
with all that being said, i'll say this, i don't really like buying anything that is a new design until i have seen or heard some field reports, for not much more money you could get the 835 or a remington 870, both of which have stood the test of time, i know up front it looks like a lot of "extra" money but if your spread it out over the lifetime of the gun there isn't much difference, save up a little longer and buy what you really want, i assure you the 835 or the 870 will last you 3 lifetimes, not saying the maverick won't just not familiar with it.