recent experiences have caught my attention and i have to wonder...as I loiter at the local gun counter, i frequently see customers coming in wanting to sell their guns or trade them in towards new models. The clerks of course give them half what they are worth..nother topic..but other than a quick eyeball, rack the slide, whatever..the guns get tagged with a higher price and stuck in the case for the next customer. Some shops in our area don't even have a range to test the guns...the one that does.. i don't see them test it. when I've asked about used guns...the answer is always the same..not sure of history..how many rounds..etc..but "the gun doesn't look like it was fired much"
My own recent problems with a used purchase proved that the shop owner didn't know what to look for, didn't do anything to confirm the gun's reliability..it was just a used gun and something for the customer to worry about. In mycase, it was 22,000ths and a very talented gunsmith that determined whether I had purchased a gun that was salvagable or totally worthless.
Iknow, standing in a gun store..that everyone that walks in is some kind of expert..but in the end, it takes some range time to determine a gun's reliability.
any shop owners or clerks on the this forum have different policies or experience? or am I just not seeing it at my local shops?

Some gunstore owners do take the trade-ins out and shoot the things for function.

I've bought literaly dozens of well used surplus pistols. Some from the 1800's! The vast majority work ok, or just need minor repair.

Some guy's are chronic traders. Buy a gun, shoot it awhile, trade it on something new. I suppose they veiw it as a way of getting to shoot a bunch of guns for less money. Maybe trade just to get the thrill of a new gun. Who know's?

I can't imagine a gun shop that pays for an employee's time and the ammo to shoot every trade-in. Most reputable shops I know don't have that kind of time and money. They would have to tack on an even higher price to the used gun and would make it non-competitive in price. Also, the used gun that gets tested with one ammo, might not work with the ammo the customer uses. Most gun shops have a policy on used guns...no returns. Most gun shops also try to keep their customers happy, so they will make every effort to make good on a used gun that is defective and slips by to the sales floor. Stevie is definitely right on when he says that a few customers trade in a gun after being bought new. After they fire a couple of boxes of ammo, they trade it in on another. One can pick up these virtually new guns for a lot less than a new one. Many of these guns are what I consider not broken in yet. On the other hand, there are people who sell or trade-in guns with known problems, that might get by the scrutiny of the buyer. Buying a used gun is about like buying a used car, except, I've bought a lot more "cherry" used guns than used cars. I think that most used guns are in very good condition and shot little. Avoid the "customized" ones, unless you REALLY know your stuff. You have to do your homework before buying used. I think the Romans used to say caveat emptor (buyer beware).

excellent points.
the one shop that does have a range has let me try a used gun before purchase..and yes I know that some guns are ammo sensitive. I was spoiled early on with my smiths and rugers which eat everything...so I had to learn about ammo sensitivity when I got into some other brands.
as far as paying employees, I have a job that allows me to shop during weekday hours and so I typically find employees standing around with time on their hands..if it were a priority, I think that a shop could set aside a few minutes to test some of the latest acquisitions. If they take the guns in blind and then find they have a problem gun...fix it before it goes in the case..but I also understand that a good shop will simply work to make things right.
I'd think there could be a higher priced/quality program like some of the better car dealers do..a "certified" used gun..but i'm probably chasing a rabbit hole cause your right..they can cert that the gun runs fine with certain ammo..in clean condition, without being dry fired to death by the new owner, etc..and still have the gun come back with issues...never mind.. I'm just whinin cause I got a bad one..but it's fixed and all better now..and Inever liked that other gun shop anyway..so since I have shopping options..easy nuff to go elsewhere.not tomention.. I'm spent on my gun hobby...have all I need..and one less than I want..which is where life is these days.

I'm amazed by how many used guns, both on gun shop's used racks, and at gun shows, haven't seen a patch through the bore in what looks like years. So full of dust you can't tell if it's pitted or just dirty. The shops will most often run a patch through if you ask, but at a gun show there often isn't a rod available. I've bought a few guns with bores full of dust and have been lucky so far. I guess they figure the few seconds it would take isn't worth it? On the other hand, I don't like to see used guns that are absolutely dripping with fresh oil. I don't mean a quick wipe down, but soaked. The metal, the wood, everything. Like looking at a used car for sale that is all greasy with Armorall.

quote:

Originally posted by kleinkaliber:
I'm amazed by how many used guns, both on gun shop's used racks, and at gun shows, haven't seen a patch through the bore in what looks like years. So full of dust you can't tell if it's pitted or just dirty. The shops will most often run a patch through if you ask, but at a gun show there often isn't a rod available. I've bought a few guns with bores full of dust and have been lucky so far. I guess they figure the few seconds it would take isn't worth it? On the other hand, I don't like to see used guns that are absolutely dripping with fresh oil. I don't mean a quick wipe down, but soaked. The metal, the wood, everything. Like looking at a used car for sale that is all greasy with Armorall.

I agree 100%. I can't see putting a gun up for sale that looks like it has been in a vehicles glove compartment for the last 15 years.

I have been on both side of the counter.

Some shops don't have a range (most in fact), but many have a place in the back of the store to fire the gun into a long tube or into some other backstop to check function. That won't determine accuracy, but it will show if the gun works.

With a revolver or bolt action rifle, you can pretty much tell without shooting if there's a problem.

Two of the three FFLs I bother weekly or more have the tubes, one takes any questionable gun to an outdoor range on Thursday mornings. They all catch almost all of the problem guns (and there really aren't that many to begin with).

As to the clerk giving half what the trade is worth, twenty + years ago, when I had a FFL (in my spare time) we had-HAD- to make $50 on each used gun to break even. That was to break even, not turn a profit. I can't imagine that one could have a store front and make it on $50 per used gun today.

IME-the money is in the used guns. New ones are so competitive that few dealers price them at anywhere near MSLP and I see potential buyers going from shop to shop looking for the cheapest buy on a new Glock, Smith, etc.

My FFL for shotguns gets a flat 10% over his cost on new guns.

OTOH, with used guns, the money is in the buy-the price paid for the gun.

Even worse, for the buyer now, is the internet. We have two threads about the Fugates in which poster after poster has discussed the inordinately high prices. One of my FFLs has stopped putting out nice used guns, and simply lists them on GB and makes more money with less effort doing that.

Bob

I have found that Police Trade-ins are a great buy for me. I have 3 of them, but only 1 looks like it was carried. The M-36 does have some swirls and worn places in the nickel finish, (It was truly a local Chief's Special. ) The others are 95% condition. All were bought for under $200.....which is the bargain basement in my book!!! Bob

My local gun shop has a great policy that is applied across the board. For trade in you get 75% of the book value, which they will show you. If you want cash (and they don't have a half dozen of the same used gun in inventory) you get 60%.

They do have guns on the shelves that have not been cleaned though.

Some gunshops, and the Gander Mountain chain, offer a one year warranty on all used firearms that they sell. The shop that I used to go to in MI had a gunsmith that allegedly inspected all the used guns, but also had that one year warranty.

Good point, GatorFarmer, about the warranties.

I have never seen a gun shop that didn't give some type of warranty on used guns. Pawn shops and guns shows-fat chance-but all of the gun shops I have been around or worked in always take back a problem gun and either refund or make the gun right.

One of the things I used to do for one shop is take malfunctioning semis to the range to see what was wrong. Most of the time-nothing.

The owner would then try to explain about limp-wristing, etc. but, as often as not, would end up refunding the money to the customer or lateraling him/her into another gun.

My favorite was the "This gun shoots two feet low" macho guy. GAve a whole new meaning to "jerk."

Bob