I'm tired of all the "price gouging"....

[tdoom15]

I paid $100 for 2 pistols to be shipped to Fort Liberty in Avon. They raised their price on transfers and it took them no longer than normal to call it in. Say whatever you want, but as a business owner it just doesn't sit right with me. I don't care about the money, it's the principal and way of doing business.

You can go on and on about how people shouldn't stop shopping somewhere, or "hold grudges", or whatever other view you'd rather them have... But I can tell you one thing. When all this nonsense stops, I'm going to remember the shops that didn't raise their prices on me, and they are going to get my business each and every time.

 

[Faine]

High prices don't mean gouging. You can't claim gouging on an auction that has bids, if someone CHOOSES to place a bid on an auction it's not gouging.

Higher than the past prices in stores are to be expected as well. Stores are competing against each other just like suppliers. As demand increases and their supply goes down, you can very well guarantee that the rush will increase prices. The suppliers and the stores are going to use priority shipping to get stuff sooner than standard shipping, that alone not factoring in other costs will increase the price significantly.

Gouging, did take place however. When stores increased the price of PMAGS they had in stock for years, that was gouging. When online sights sold out and a store had some sitting around and changed the price, gouging. In general though I don't think there is too much gouging going on.

That being said, what is going on that is problematic is hoarding for profit, it's not bad because of the concept, it's bad because it's turning people away from firearms which is the opposite of what we need right now.

All in all a good write up and selling something you had on an auction site is certainly not gouging. I've been tempted to throw up my XDM because they are selling for what an AR used to.

 

[Tamara]

Nothing funnier than reading some yayhoo on a gun forum going on about "I hates me that Barack Obama, 'cuz he's a socialist, and I hate all them price gougers at the gun show..."

Cletus wouldn't know irony if you beat him to death with it.

 

[Cpt Caveman]

Near as I can tell the LGS owners are getting tired of it too. I was in one yesterday and I heard the owner say " Its been a mad house for a month. I wish it would settle down!"

 

[hornadylnl]

Nothing funnier than reading some yayhoo on a gun forum going on about "I hates me that Barack Obama, 'cuz he's a socialist, and I hate all them price gougers at the gun show..."

Cletus wouldn't know irony if you beat him to death with it.

Same as those complaining about those on handouts while asking everyone else to build them a shooting range.

 

[Steelman]

Nothing funnier than reading some yayhoo on a gun forum going on about "I hates me that Barack Obama, 'cuz he's a socialist, and I hate all them price gougers at the gun show..."

Cletus wouldn't know irony if you beat him to death with it.

Sure. In the most black and white/simplistic terms complaining about black rifles commanding an additional $1000 overnight is not akin to Capitalism.

I think most potential buyers are a bit put off by this when we all have a common goal. We're all one cohesive unit, trying to preserve the Constitution - until someone can make a buck.

Personally, I don't take part in the panic buying. I've prepared over the years with what would fit in my budget.

 

[dubsac]

crying going on.

Keep in mind this is a generalization...

I can't help but read all the posts and threads about how we're all getting gouged. Truth is, we should be getting gouged.

Until now, most people didn't want to go out and buy 5-10 extra PMags.

Until now, AR-15's and AK-47's were not so hot of a commodity.

Until now, many people were quite content with just having the 2 high cap mags that came with their gun.

Until now, handguns were plentiful. Sure, there are exceptions, such as the new guns (like the Shield). You might not have been able to find everything at your LGS, but most handguns you're looking for CAN be found at reasonable prices.

I have 120 rounds of .223 listed here on INGO for $5 over what I paid for them at Gander Mountain (and I slightly overpaid as is). I'm not trying to make a killing off people here, because I've met many of you (and have even picked up a lot of ammo for many of you during the last "shortage" a couple years ago). I have a slightly vested interest here on INGO.

But I have to be honest. What I'm not selling here is one AR, 3 PMags and 800 rounds of .223 that I made around $1,500 on by selling them on GunBroker. It took me 24 hours to sell them all at "market prices." I set each auction to start at .01 and just let it go for 24 hours. An M&P Sport AR that I purchased awhile back for $700 sold for $1600. The PMags sold for an average of $61 each. The ammo sold for .95 per round.

I have no guilt. What's wrong with anyone selling an item at an inflated price if others are willing to pay? My first priority is to myself and providing for my family. Luckily, we are in a position to not need that money, but instead, I took those profits and bought 2 new handguns and even more ammunition. I didn't have any problem finding any of it, really (at reasonable prices). It just took a little longer than it would have 5 years ago.

Threads about a LGS owner planning to take PMags to the show to sell at significantly higher prices than 'normal.' It doesn't matter if you've shopped there for years. You're not paying their bills should they close. Gun store owners likely face a lot harder times ahead than you or I. They already have taken a hit. Their shelves are empty, and if they're selling less product, then they're making less to provide for their families. What is a "hobby" for many of us, it is their livelihood. You're free to buy from wherever, but don't hold grudges against anyone for providing for their family. They are in business to make money and provide for theirs. And just as you complain that they're "gouging" you - you're the first to ask if they'll "take less" for a gun they have that you want. That is the same thing; you trying to gouge them.

Threads about no ammo being around. It's around, you just have to go to a little more effort to find it than just walking into any Wal-Mart on any given day and choosing what and how much you want to buy.

Most importantly, it's been 4 years since Obama and the "gun grabbing administration" took office. We've had 4 years to acquire all of the items people are complaining about. Truth be told, we've had many, many years to do so.

This is how it works. It's this way in nearly everything we buy. Supply and demand only happens when/if there's demand.

We've been "gouged" for decades on gas, yet we still buy it. Ya, ya.. "We need it. What can we do...." blah blah blah...

Strange how we still allow it to happen (since WE have the ultimate say in prices) but we get all up in arms about the gun industry taking advantage of the current economic conditions.

Or is it merely that we want capitalism until we perceive that we're on the sh*t end of the stick?

I believe a simple Supply and Demand would of worked.

 

[Tamara]

We're all one cohesive unit...

Speak for yourself.

 

[Steelman]

Speak for yourself.

That..and the middle section of my last post was written from the viewpoint of those with "sticker shock". There is an expectation from those new to the panic buying experience that their own should not be profiting (200-300%) over this tragedy. They believe that we should not impede their being armed through inflated prices.

Right, wrong or indifferent.....that is the state of things.

"SAME TEAM, FARVA! SAME TEAM!"

 

[nucone]

I heard this story from the owner of my LGS last Thursday. Shortly after the Newtown shooting, a customer comes in and purchases 3 rifles. Several days later, he calls back and complains to the shop owner that he overpaid and his prices were too high. The LGS response was that he shouldn't have bought them. The customer then files a complaint with the states Attorney General office about 'gouging'. When the states Attorney General office contacts the LGS owner two weeks ago about the complaint, the LGS owner tells them that he will happily refund all the money spent +$100 when all three rifles are returned complete in good condition. He has still not heard from the complaining customer about the exchange and I doubt he ever will.

 

[hornadylnl]

That..and the middle section of my last post was written from the viewpoint of those with "sticker shock". There is an expectation from those new to the panic buying experience that their own should not be profiting (200-300%) over this tragedy. They believe that we should not impede their being armed through inflated prices.

Right, wrong or indifferent.....that is the state of things.

"SAME TEAM, FARVA! SAME TEAM!"

When all the grocery store shelves are empty, you will be selling your excess food at your cost, right? I think these prices suck as well but I'm not paying them. I was prepared. The most vocal here have little to no skin in this game. They're not buying and MOST CERTAINLY AREN'T selling at prices they think everyone else should be charging. If you or anyone else think people should be charging pre panic prices, put your goods out there at those prices. I want YOUR ammo at $.25 a round, YOUR AR at $800, etc. If you don't, you're a gouger.

 

[Steelman]

When all the grocery store shelves are empty, you will be selling your excess food at your cost, right? I think these prices suck as well but I'm not paying them. I was prepared. The most vocal here have little to no skin in this game. They're not buying and MOST CERTAINLY AREN'T selling at prices they think everyone else should be charging. If you or anyone else think people should be charging pre panic prices, put your goods out there at those prices. I want YOUR ammo at $.25 a round, YOUR AR at $800, etc. If you don't, you're a gouger.

I'm not advocating for price controls - just putting in my on why people are complaining.

I have more firearms than I can shoot/carry. The balance of my collection could be used to arm responsible people should something unfortunate occur.

Right now, if I knew of someone that was responsible and needed a semi-auto rifle (assuming he was without one), I would make a personal choice to sell at pre-panic prices. Though, I do not have anything for sale at the moment.

That's a personal choice and I don't expect others to do the same.

 

[jjohnisme]

The people willing to pay 2750 for a Colt AR are willing to pay it, what's wrong with that? I sold MY "2750" Ar for 1800, a fair price. Was it dumb? I don't think so, i made a gun owner out of somebody, small price to pay for that. Could i have made an extra bit of cash if i put that **** on gunbroker and "economically priced it" at 2500 compared to all the other Colt ARs selling for 3K? Maybe.

What you need to understand is that it's not price gouging. What currently is happening is supply and demand. The demand is wrecking the gun industry, mom & pop stores are going to go hungry b/c the distributors are filling the large stores inventory first. The prices reflect the market's balance - low prices means noone wants the item or it's in low demand. High prices mean the opposite - high demand, low supply; and in this particular point of time - the extremely high demand with a VERY limited supply of ANYthing, i'm surprised people aren't tooling up to make stripped lowers themselves in other industries (auto parts, misc. mfg companies, etc).

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I put all of the blame on the buyers. Personally, I'm set. I bought mags when I could, and I reload. If people where not panic buying, demand would not go up. Hence, prices would not go up. When demand goes up, what do you expect people to do? They are going to take advantage of the situation. That is capitalism, pure and simple. I saw $50 GI mags at the 1500 yesterday, and people where buying them. So don't ***** about price gouging when you are part of the problem. I do however realize there are new shooters.

 

[Lodogg2221]

Yep. Supply and demand.
Stuff is in short supply, so I limited MY demand.
I dont particularly care for the price jumps either, but its more the lack of availability of ammo that I dont like.
Of course had I been prepared, I wouldnt have that problem.

My only real issue is with places like CTD raising the prices before anyone else did, by a TON. Then they came down slightly, proving they knew they were gouging, and just testing how high they could go. Botach did a similar thing. I ordered PMAGs before everyone was out, including them, but then my order was canceled because they say they were out of stock. Next morning, they show PMAGs back in stock, at almost 3x the price. They were back out of stock within a few hours....and no, I didnt get any.
I did however backorder them from Brownells.

If you gotta have it today, you WILL pay for it. If you can wait, you can still get pre-panic prices....but there are a LOT of people who just cant wait.

 

[Tamara]

...proving they knew they were gouging...

That is not what that proves at all.

 

[aaron580]

This all really sucks for me because as soon as I come into enough money to start buying guns + ammo and start building my collection, this all happens!!! Thankfully I have been able to get some solid deals part of the way through though because Im half way patient. Im happy Im getting an AR soon and will not be paying out the *** for it. This ammo craze is whats making me mad. There will be no ban on FMJ ammo and yet people treat it like its gold!

 

[Classic]

The only gouging going on today is when buyers gouge themselves by paying high ASKING prices. Self-inflicted pain. See Econ 101.

 

[Classic]

All of this "price gouging" whining is like me complaining that gravity is making me weigh too much.

We have a free market (mostly) and it is operating just the way it is supposed to work. Perhaps a more Marxist market would suit the complainers:

"From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

​

 

[Lodogg2221]

That is not what that proves at all.

Really? Then what would you call it when a company raises prices above everyone elses, gets complaints, then lowers the prices to what others have inflated theirs to? Did you see how high the prices were?

I suppose I could have just said it proves they are stupid too, which also would have been valid....

As far as current prices, its what the market will bear. Selling for significantly more than that is what I consider gouging.
Current prices are high, but thats supply and demand in the works. At the time CTD raised prices, the demand wasnt what it is now....nor were anyone elses prices, and they never got to CTDs pricing, even at the 1500....