Gun Prices

[MisterFurious]

Buying and selling guns is capitolism at it's finest; supply and demand settles the price. There are lots of factors involved, if you have a computer and peruse the forums and auction sites, you're way ahead of the game. Take the Taurus Judge for example: Two years ago the typical price was around $500. They were the hottest and coolest thing going. Now, the market is flooded with them, and the novelty has worn off. You can pick up a new one for $400 all day long. Problem is, the dude who paid five bills for his still thinks his gun is worth close to that...so he's offended when you offer him $350.

 

[223 Gunner]

Buying and selling guns is capitolism at it's finest; supply and demand settles the price. There are lots of factors involved, if you have a computer and peruse the forums and auction sites, you're way ahead of the game. Take the Taurus Judge for example: Two years ago the typical price was around $500. They were the hottest and coolest thing going. Now, the market is flooded with them, and the novelty has worn off. You can pick up a new one for $400 all day long. Problem is, the dude who paid five bills for his still thinks his gun is worth close to that...so he's offended when you offer him $350.

That really happened to a lot of guys that bought AR's right after Obama was elected, the prices sky rocketed, panic buying set in, now a few years later those $1200 AR's are worth $700. It sucks if you overpaid, but that's just the way it is.

 

[LionWeight]

Very well written. Theres nothing wrong with wanting to get what you can for your guns, but just a little effort will tell you what you should reasonably expect to get for it. The biggest problem I have is with condition. I have made arrangements to meet sellers on a couple occasions for guns that were 95% or better only to find 1 with barrle pitting and the other had rusted and tehy sanded the receiver and applied a wipe to it trying to hide what he did. That one took an hour and 15 minutes to get to. Here's a news flash. If I'm driving to meet you to buy a gun...I'M NOT BLIND. Both of these happened when I was living in Michigan on MOAB hunting classifieds and thankfully not here. But people who play these games I just don't get.

 

[scott delaney]

SO MY HI-POINT 9 IS NOT WORTH $300 JUST BECAUSE I HAVE 3 MAGS TO GO WITH IT?

 

[Mackey]

Yeah, like a used lc-9 for $350 when I can get a brand new one for about $45 dollars more (including tax).

 

[Mike_Indy]

I agree as well. I see posts for used guns that are almost the same price as the online shops that have the lowest prices on new guns.

As to the gun shops: My normal procedure is to ask a local shop (Like BGFA) if they have an item I'm interested in buying or if they can get it. Sometimes I buy from them, other times they cannot get it. They will do a transfer for a "reasonable" price.

Monday I went in to BGFA to get a S&W 1911 eSeries that I bought online and had it shipped to them for the FFA. When I got there Gary showed me the M&P 9c that had just come in that day. (I'd called about it a few times and none were ever available.) While there I bought it for their price (They waived the transfer fee on the 1911 for me.) I paid a little more than if I'd bought it online, but that is ok with me. I know they were not cheating me.

 

[Guardsman89]

I like to buy from the gun shop. The guy who owns the shop I mainly go to is a good man and member of my church. I see prices lower than his, but he always knocks some off and I dont have to hassle with transfers. Even if he didn't give me a discount, I like supporting my community and I like the "fellowship" at the gun shop. There is nothing like hanging out listening to old timers complain about gun laws, dumb criminals, and the like. The gun shop is one of the last true community places in a lot of towns (barber shops are a dying thing). So I say its money well spent!

 

[Stryker Action]

I do some of the gun shows and sometimes it seems like I always have the same stuff but there is a reaqson. That is the stuff that sells. I always sell enough at the shows to pay for my tables and make it worth while. We don't try to make all of our profit in one gun. We have fair prices and sell multiple guns and have return customers and then they come to the store.

I am just tired of people at the gun shows that think that I pay $50 for a $200 gun and $300 for a $500 gun. When the truth is I pay $170 for a $200 gun and $440 for a $500 gun. Markup on guns just isn't that much when you are being competative with other dealers and your trying to keep a store open.

 

[Gunaria]

I do some of the gun shows and sometimes it seems like I always have the same stuff but there is a reaqson. That is the stuff that sells. I always sell enough at the shows to pay for my tables and make it worth while. We don't try to make all of our profit in one gun. We have fair prices and sell multiple guns and have return customers and then they come to the store.

I am just tired of people at the gun shows that think that I pay $50 for a $200 gun and $300 for a $500 gun. When the truth is I pay $170 for a $200 gun and $440 for a $500 gun. Markup on guns just isn't that much when you are being competative with other dealers and your trying to keep a store open.

Could you give the rest of the class a more specific example or is that out of line?

I go to about every little gun show that is within an hours distance from me. And I either buy or sell a gun at every show. Or get some necessary accessories. I'm glad you make enough to keep coming back to be a vendor at the shows. Please don't take my post in the wrong way. Without vendors such as yourself there will be no gun shows. After I spend the $5 to get into the show, the gas money to get there, you bet I'll be looking for the best deals that I kind find. It's in people's nature to haggle and wheel & deal.

 

[Shoots4Fun]

Good post OP. I agree with what you said and especially about the conditions of used guns.

Most of the time barring financial difficulties, change of calibers or taste, or funding another project, I'm sceptical about sales reasons. Most firearms function as described, but often ones being sold as "runs flawless" especially ones with poor or notorious reputations probably have problems. The more guns I own, and the more time I spend with "gun friends" or at the range, you learn what those brands or styles are. Maybe I'm just a sceptic but it's my ...

 

[sig1473]

I have a specific example. I went gun shopping with my father over Thanksgiving while I was in town visiting. We stopped by a shop in Greensburg (Guns&Tackle). I remember seeing a SIG P228 in there almost 6 months and was hoping it would still be there. Low and behold it was still there. Asking price was $695 USED. I had money to burn so I figured I could talk the guy down a little since it was way over-priced considering its condition. He said he would take $675! There was another idiot salesman behind the counter who said "well it has night sights". I proceeded to tell him that the night sights were dated '94 and were probably dead. He had no reply to that I then offered a 2010 P220 SAS to the gentlemen as a trade. He had a plain jane P220 for $949. He proceeds to offer me $665 for the gun and saying that he is giving $540 less then what he would mark it for!?! I was more than willing to do business with this man but he refused to be an honest person. I had $1000 burning a hole in my pocket and he could have made some coin off of me, but with his smug attitude he lost out. I ended up trading it at another gun shop for less, just because he was honest and easy to deal with.

 

[Mike_Indy]

Sig...
I agree with your story. It seems that too often (IMHO) a fair number of gun shops have friends and buddies working in the sales area. I don't run into many that truly study the items they have and truly understand their inventory. It's a shame.

I totally agree with the barber shop reference stated earlier. I like to chew the fat and talk with the people in some of the shops. But, when seeking advice, I really want them to know more than me (not really asking much there) and be honest and as non-biased as they can be (on brands and models).

 

[williamsburg]

++1 great point

 

[badmac183]

O K so I've been thinking about this for sometime and decided to compose my thoughts here....I draw no conclusions and am only making observations...here goes.

I see post after post about the price of guns....people who think that gun stores should sell at wholesale prices, gun show vendors who sell above retail prices and guys selling guns on the forums who 1) sell a gun as LNIB with only 2 or 300 rounds fired or 2) guys who offer used guns at retail prices or 3) guys who rate guns with very apparent wear or blemishes at 95%.

I would like to make a few observations on each of these fronts.

Retail stores-to expect a retail store to sell at wholesale prices or a price you saw somewhere on the internet is not realistic. The costs asssociated with operating a retail establishment are considerable and you get the advantage of seeing the gun first hand before you buy. How many go to a shop examine a gun and then buy it on the net somehwere and pay shipping and a transfer fee and end up at or near the price they saw it at the local shop. Now the shop lost a sale, profits and has to cut back inventory staff etc...and so it goes.

It is also frustrating to go to gun shows and find vendors selling guns there above retail...sure they have expenses too but I would wager that for the gun show vendor specialist that they are less than the retailer..many will openly nepotiate and low ball guys patrolling the shows looking to sell guns but then get offended or ignore you if you try to negotiate with them...I guess that my expectation is that prices at gun show should be something less than retail if for no other reason than the volume of business that one has the opprtunity to conduct at shows and their lower overhead...I won't go into the credit card up charge and my lack of desire to walk through shows with large amounts of cash....

For the forum sellers, If you have the gun it is used! I guess to me it is like cars, once you drive off the lot the price goes down. People complain about the price dealers charge but they want to sell a used gun at or above what dealers do (not including collector items here) with no overhead. I understand that all prices are negotiable but don't get po'd when someone offers less than retail for a used gun. Also realize that LNIB means never shot, never touched never even opened IMO....but the gun is used because you are not a dealer and you did not get it from the manufacturer.

Please note that these are my own personal observations, I don't mean to offend anyone and I understand that everyone has a right to a different opinion....these are just mine. I have bought guns from dealers, at shows and several from great reasonable sellers here on INGO. I just think we all need to reevaluate some of our thinking about pricing and conductiing business...

So there you go....have at me

This is the reason you pay more. It is used, so no paperwork, that's worth an extra $20 to me

 

[jgreiner]

I don't mind at all paying my local gun store owner a bit more for a good gun, it helps him stay in business, which is nice for me, because then I can go fondle those beauties at will.

Seriously, I believe in supporting the local guys if at all possible.

 

[sig1473]

I don't mind at all paying my local gun store owner a bit more for a good gun, it helps him stay in business, which is nice for me, because then I can go fondle those beauties at will.

Seriously, I believe in supporting the local guys if at all possible.

I don't believe in supporting a local business if they don't know what they are talking about and their prices are WAY out of line. The days of gunshops are slowing falling to the wayside with all the better deals online. Ammo is cheaper and a lot of the guns are cheaper.

 

[FERLACH]

Personally, I would rather buy from a local gun shop than buy from a stranger on the internet. If you have a problem, there is a better chance of getting it taken care of.

 

[Chefcook]

I agree pretty good post. One thing I would like to interject. I personally prefer to trade more than to buy and sell. My rant about that is how some guys look at that and value their stuff.

I personally like to try and maintain the mindset that INGO was founded on. I understand that there is a huge difference between now with 17000+ members and some years ago when hitting 1000 or 2000 members was a big deal. I do remember those days way back when and the idea was that INGO was a community of friends with like minded interests. I can remember the analogy being made that we should think of INGO like some folks getting together at Fenways house and all sitting around in the garage or around the fire and sharing talking about our common interests.

Back then the classifieds were just a bonus that went along with that, making it easy to trade among friends. Now more and more you see people wanting only to get involved for the classifieds. I disagree with the ability to gain instant access by becoming a site supporter. That seems like a ploy to generate revenue not a means of preserving the founding idea of INGO. There were times in the past where certain individuals tried to make the classifieds their own kinda black market side job if you will, but they were obvious and we always sniffed them out. The forum kinda policed itself.

While I can not argue that INGO has gotten big, even to the point of becoming national instead of just local. I still count myself among those original core members and I still think of INGO as a community of friends and acquaintances that share like minded interests. In that spirit when I list things for trade. I am not necessarily looking to trade up or make a profit. My goal is to meet a new friend and make a mutual trade that is good for both parties, sometimes it goes one way or another as to who gets the better deal but I see that as good faith toward future trades where next time maybe if the last trade between me and my new friend went his way maybe it will go a little my way next time, not out of greed but out of friendship.

Simply put if I am trading something that my INGO brother needs or wants and to me its no longer of use if my neighbor has something I need close to the equivalent its all good, it will work out in the long run if all adhere to this idea, the trading ,the classifieds would be as originally intended. Just my thoughts as a long time INGO member.

 

[Hondo]

I agree pretty good post. One thing I would like to interject. I personally prefer to trade more than to buy and sell. My rant about that is how some guys look at that and value their stuff.

I personally like to try and maintain the mindset that INGO was founded on. I understand that there is a huge difference between now with 17000+ members and some years ago when hitting 1000 or 2000 members was a big deal. I do remember those days way back when and the idea was that INGO was a community of friends with like minded interests. I can remember the analogy being made that we should think of INGO like some folks getting together at Fenways house and all sitting around in the garage or around the fire and sharing talking about our common interests.

Back then the classifieds were just a bonus that went along with that, making it easy to trade among friends. Now more and more you see people wanting only to get involved for the classifieds. I disagree with the ability to gain instant access by becoming a site supporter. That seems like a ploy to generate revenue not a means of preserving the founding idea of INGO. There were times in the past where certain individuals tried to make the classifieds their own kinda black market side job if you will, but they were obvious and we always sniffed them out. The forum kinda policed itself.

While I can not argue that INGO has gotten big, even to the point of becoming national instead of just local. I still count myself among those original core members and I still think of INGO as a community of friends and acquaintances that share like minded interests. In that spirit when I list things for trade. I am not necessarily looking to trade up or make a profit. My goal is to meet a new friend and make a mutual trade that is good for both parties, sometimes it goes one way or another as to who gets the better deal but I see that as good faith toward future trades where next time maybe if the last trade between me and my new friend went his way maybe it will go a little my way next time, not out of greed but out of friendship.

Well said sir...growth has its issues...Bravo

Simply put if I am trading something that my INGO brother needs or wants and to me its no longer of use if my neighbor has something I need close to the equivalent its all good, it will work out in the long run if all adhere to this idea, the trading ,the classifieds would be as originally intended. Just my thoughts as a long time INGO member.

Well said sir......bravo...gowth usually has some drawbacks...

 

[Woodro29]

This was awesome. I completely agree!!!