In the past six to eight weeks I have sold or traded a few guns. Both times the majority of responses began with “your price is WAY out of line”, “you are trying to take advantage...”, and other rude remarks. First off, the prices were fine, especially considering the lack of availability of either model. Second, a person can decide what they are willing to pay beforehand and ignore items out of their price range.

I came across two more such people this morning who were interested in a Sig I advertised on a local forum. Prospective buyer #1 wrote “Text me the serial number now as I check for stolen guns before I make an offer.” I replied that the forum’s PM system was sufficient, no text, no serial number, no offers. He types back “Phone me now, give me the serial number, price is way too high for a surplus P6, he didn’t want the holster, I needed to come up with another magazine as he was a LEO and required extra. I did not bother to reply and he is still messaging me.

The second crazy was a repeat of the first, basically, but had to ask what DAO was. I explained it, she replied “you mean DAK”. I reply no there is a difference. She said “four letters?” Turns out she also made moronic demands trying to purchase the Glock 36 I had listed a few weeks ago. I replied to her that we were geographically incompatible and having corresponded with her twice I have no desire to deal with her. She is also continuing to message me.

I do not hear well. If I text someone they will invariably call, then the likelihood of me misunderstanding something goes way up. Messaging is easier.

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You wanna meet crazies, try offering something free on Craigslist.

If you are indeed just an honest man trying to sell a few old guns to make money which is needed to put food on the table, then just stick with it and ignore the folks who are making outrageous demands, because it's most likely that they are dishonest folks seeking to take advantage of your desperation to earn money so that they can turn around and try to sell your firearms themselves at a significant markup. In which case, you may want to consider just selling them on consignment at your LGS anf let them deal with the customers for you.

However, if you are in fact changing significantly over the market value of your firearms, then that's price-gouging, plain and simple.

Folks can make up whatever excuses they like in attempt to justify doing it, but it is in fact taking advantage of the panic generated by a global pandemic/civil unrest, as well as fellow citizens who are seeking to protect themselves out of fear for their lives, and that is indefensible.

That being said, if your prices are indeed fair and are more or less in line with the current market value of firearms in their condition, then pardon me, but sadly there are a lot of extremely pathetic, morally bankrupt scalpers out there right now who are blatantly trying to take advantage of people and profit off of their fear, yet they still come to forums seeking validation for their actions, most likely as a result of a guilty conscience gained from repeatedly being called out for their sleazy business practices.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

"Your price is unreasonable" is easily countered with, "Well, thank you for calling to let me know."-- CLICK!

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Pisgah

I’ve been dealing with dreamers and tire kickers as far as selling guns.

I’ve sold ammo at market price, way over what I paid, and have seen the buyers leave with smiles.

I take the risk of running out and having to buy at higher than what I sold.

I sleep very well at night.

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Sure you did

Colby,

I sold two recently (during the panic / Covid-19 craziness).

I promptly deleted any message that was abusive, rude, or just incoherent.

I choose who to meet with, where, and when. I am marginally flexible, but no longer have a 'need' to meet at the Walmart parking lot at midnight. (long story, but it was for a good cause, and everything was hunky dory).

List a price that you feel is fair, they are either willing to pay it, or I am happy to listen to offers. I am not in the business of helping flippers or crybabies. Persistent unwelcome messages get blocked quickly. I use Google voice for these transactions and not my regular cell number. I am happy to call or text, but I don't suffer fools - the BLOCK button is easy to use

The two that I sold (at what I thought was the very top of the market) went in minutes, to two self proclaimed Veterans, who were worried about their safety during these trying times. OK. When I got home, I saw both guns listed at higher prices within an hour of delivery to those fine, upstanding citizens, and even duplicate listings in a neighboring city. They didn't even wait a day. I have saved their user names, phone numbers, and real names and will not sell to them again in the future.

If these online cretins bother you, please list your item here. We have a lot better group of folks to deal with And...I do LOVE the early two-tone Sigs

(I didn't list the two that I sold here because I knew that they didn't really appeal to the market here).

Good luck in your internet sales

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On the Oak Savannah

Unfortunately, same kind of craziness when dealing with people at gunshows. The online process just seems to enhance things. When selling locally I just remain firm and very patient. Eventually you'll find a good buyer.

In contrast to these morons I had the stepfather of a teenage boy stop by my house Thursday. I rebuilt the boy’s (S&W Sport upper) AR a week ago, and this man was embarrassed to have bought it but grateful I sorted it out. He wanted to pay me for my parts (stock set/lower receiver/Monstrum red dot/sling). He had $150.00 on him, so I asked if he could double that. He looked startled but said “sure”. I told him to take the $300.00 and buy the boy a decent optic, the Monstrum unit was mediocre before another kid fell in the creek with it and it was a miracle it came back to life.

People are free to charge what they want. If somebody can get $1000 for a used Glock, then who am I to judge them? Those who don't like it, don't buy the gun.

There was a buyer on the big auction site a few years ago, selling obviously buffed and mirror polished S&W revolvers. He was advertising them as "new in box". Not ORIGINAL box, mind you. I asked him a few questions about the obviously NOT factory bright finish and he wouldn't budge. He wanted $1200 for a "NIB" 65 3" barrel". Buffed to a mirror shine. He had no FFL, and he had at least 30 active auctions going at the same time. Clearly a guy in the business of selling guns without an FFL. I emailed a complaint to the site, and they informed me he was "in partnership with a local firearms restorer". A quick search of his home town found the firearms restorer, and their website even had pics of his guns as samples of their work. The VERY SAME pics he was using in his for sale ad.

So yeah, there are scumbags out there. When I find them I ignore them. In my heart, I don't like to price gouge. But should I sell the Model 10 that I bought as a police trade in 10 years ago for $200, just because that's what I paid for it? If somebody wants to give me $600, why shouldn't I take it? If my home quadrupled in value since I bought it, is it wrong to sell it for 4 times what I paid for it?

I've only done two private sales, and both were to cops. I would NEVER meet some guy in a parking lot to transfer a gun.

I sold a few at a LGS, small town store. I gave them my bottom price and let them take whatever was on top of that. Surprisingly, people driving thru the small town, the store is on the main drag, stop and buy. The prices I charged are not pandemic infused, and so far in the last six weeks I have sold some safe queens I had never shot and really did not need. I "may" have replaced them with others I just had to have.

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Kevin in Oregon

Welcome to the free market!

You’re welcome to try to sell your property for whatever price you like. Buyers are welcome to to try to buy your property for whatever price they’re willing to pay.

Just as we don’t buy a gun for the story that goes with it, selling a gun based on a buyer’s story is likely to lead to some disappointment.

If I’m happy with the price I get for my property, I have no complaints if the buyer feels they got a good deal and can make money reselling that property.

Some people are just not worth talking to. Block their email etc. and move on. Don't waste anymore time...

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Jorge

[QUOTE=Rpg;140869190

If I’m happy with the price I get for my property, I have no complaints if the buyer feels they got a good deal and can make money reselling that property.[/QUOTE]

The best trader I ever knew told me that he hoped every buyer that bought something from him sold it and made money. He said he was happy with the price he got and if they made money they would come back and buy more from him and he would make more money. Larry

Now I have 12 wooded acres so firewood is never a problem, but back when I lived closer to Seattle I checked Craigslist regularly for free firewood.

I remember finding some locally and responded. Not long after I arrived, a large van pulled up (an odd vehicle with which to get firewood). Three young, strong men helped an older lady in a wheelchair get out. She proceeded to "project manage" the young guys; I remember her voice was a lot like Mama from "Mama's Family." Once their van was full, they helped me get a couple bigger rounds into my truck bed.

Moments later, phone in hand, she blurts out, "Let's go boys! We're gonna go get a free toilet!"

As to the current crisis, not too many crazies. I had a local guy refuse to buy my 29-8 Mountain Gun because I plugged the IL and it's "no longer in original condition."

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Psalm 27:2

I wish I had bought a truckload of Shields when they were selling for near $250 with rebates.
You know, the “plastic guns” that everyone says never go up in value.

Guess what, plastic is selling like crazy.

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Sure you did

If there is any way to block them I would. They would not like my reply, it involves them going and doing a carnal act on themself which is the polite way to put it.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

Just for giggles, I was watching a used Shield 1.0 9MM on the big auction site. Came with only the 8 round magazine and no box. Went for $308.

I bought 2 M&P 2.0 on grab a gun last year. A 9 Compact and. Full size .45. $399 each. They’re now over $500 and out of stock.

I listed a bunch with an on-line seller and let them handle it. Via Gunbroker, and I can watch the progress they make. Always start at zero $, and be willing to accept whatever the max bid is. I have yet to be unhappy with the sales.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I hate doing local sales. I'll usually sell on GB & ship to an FFL or consign locally for 15%. Let the gun shop deal with the looky lou's and tire kickers. To me, the 15% I pay to the shop is worth not having to deal with the hassle. And I have a legal paper trail of a firearm that could probably be traced back to me. This is something I prefer due to the times we're living in.

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Watch & Pray

People were goof balls before the China Flu...now Full tilt Goof Balls...im sure my ER Buds are Busy with all the new "Gun" owners/experts blowing off body parts. Darwin to the 10th power.

It must be the "locked down" part that makes people nuts..It's sure obvious and widespread...scared to post guns locally right now!

The OPs fair price is bound to catch flak. I mean, how is a drug dealer supposed to launder their cash if they can't make money flipping the guns they buy.

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Release the Kraken

I only sell by consignment using a trusted local gun store. I have enough drama in my life without inviting it in.

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Only a cold warrior

Lots of good thoughts above. I sold the Sig this afternoon for the advertised price.

The other two were a Glock 36 @ $500.00 and a Mossberg Cruiser @ $400.00. The Glock was $120.00 less than a new one. I found the Mossberg listed on-line at several dealers but none were in stock anywhere. They likely will not appear for less money anytime soon, and I had a scabbard. I used that price as a base. I was negotiable on either one given the right approach. I lowered the price on the Mossberg after an offer for the scabbard. Finally, a moderator got involved...he bought it.

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Translation:
"I won't make any money when I buy your guns and flip them!"

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You're shy a few manners.

I had a guy say that to me once. In fact, he copied my pictures and reposted it on the same forum later that night and sold it. We had not met or completed the transaction as it was scheduled for the next day.

that's why you need to get close to market value .. i'm not going to pay my travel time, burning up a car, gas etc to buy a "anything" to let the next guy make the money

"If you are indeed...", "If you are in fact....", "called out for their sleazy business practices", on and on with the thinly veiled accusations.

Wow. Just wow, no further comments necessary.

Is that true? Holy cow!

I had actually slowed my unwanted plastic liquidation project to a crawl under the theory that any extra gun in my safe is better than fewer during a period of national craziness & insanity.

To be honest, I worried that my preferred consignment shop would go out of business or take a long sabbatical given that he has so little left for him to sell. In fact, he told me straight up that was a possibility. He can't get anything.

Sounds like I have it all backwards.

I list my selling price, cash only, no checks, and contact information. If you ask any "stupid questions", you get deleted. So far I've sold 5 for 5 at my price, but not always to the first 'buyer'. My life is simpler and stress free.

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S&WHF 366

Something only said by Buyers ..... never Sellers.

This scenerio right here is yet another excellent reason to sell face to face only with someone you know personally and all others go FFL to FFL.

Most of the shops I’ve been in are out of plastic fantastics, but do have revolvers old and new laying around.
Tactical shotguns are also huge sellers.

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Sure you did

No offense intended to anyone but guns and ammo are luxury /recreational items, not necessities like food/medicine. If you do not like my price buy elsewhere and God bless.


Chief

Holy cow! There's the difference in geography. Was in 4 local stores today .... NOBODY has a revolver to sell. Could have bought 6 or 8 Glocks like 43, 43x, 48, 30; a Ruger Commander 1911, some Sigs, a dozen Beretta 92s, three 6906s, etc.

Plastic fantastic is hot, revolvers are collecting dust, 1911s can't be given away. Semi-auto ammo is gold. I paid for a new A/C compressor & accessories selling ammo dropped on the floor and not picked up. I reloaded the ammo originally to trade for "free" range time, 8,000 rounds in ten days and there is no inventory in back room.

Four guys reloading on 3 Dillon presses, the "ammo for sale" pile is shrinking. One box of ammo per caliber per bench, no out the door sales. Four desirable revolvers have sat on the shelf for 3 weeks, plastics are gone, out of stock.

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S&WHF 366

I stopped selling/trading guns and started giving them away to my children and grandchildren. I gave my son-in-law my 3" Model 13-3, a gun that a guy tried to buy from me once while denigrating the grips (Bianchi Lightning), the front sight (painted neon orange), and the "botched trigger job" (never had a trigger job, just thousands and thousands of trigger pulls). I bought it for $200.00. He asked what I wanted. I told him that, for him, it would be $1200.00. My grandson has my old S&W Model 469, and my granddaughter, a USMC corporal, has my old back-up, a S&W Model 642-2. (She has tiny hands.)

Me? I'm still buying. Latest purchase was the last S&W SD9 w/Hi-Vis Sights they had at our local Academy. It was listed at $337 on line and $329 in the store. I got it with my 10% military discount and left happy even though they didn't have any 9mm at the store. I had two 50-round boxes of Federal 147 grain +P HydraShoks at home. BTW, Academy's shelves are pretty bare.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

+1. That’s what I’m doing too, I’m not in the least bit interested in dealing with strangers. Besides, many of my guns aren’t even made anymore so why not bless the people I love.

Markets change and prices fluctuate on all kinds of things. The market is up on guns and ammo so it's a good time too sell. If the price of guns fell a buyer wouldn't pay what it sold for last year. Since the price is up buyers should expect too pay todays price.
My thinking is that if you want something you have to pay the price or do without. That's not hard to understand.Larry

It's only "price gouging " when 1. It's a necessity and 2. There is no alternative source of supply. These are the same people who know when they go to the gas station or the food market-or the liquor store- there is no negotiating or haggling over the price. And they usually have a sense of entitlement and think everything is to be done their way.

Around here, in the larger shops, I still see plenty of plastic. I couldn't tell you the exact brands & models because I pay little attention to them. Could be that they are sold out of the really popular plastic items (P365 et al)... I just don't know.

I'm only there to look for my vintage S&W revolvers, super-clean 3rd Gens and now (something very new for me) tactical shotguns. I'm finding almost no vintage S&W revolvers, very few 3rd Gens (clean or otherwise) and zero tactical shotguns. I do see a good number of brand new revolvers from S&W and Ruger and I'm even considering a brand new GP100 just because there is so little out there in vintage S&W revolvers at less than a king's ransom.

The small shops are another matter altogether. They have practically nothing left to sell in guns or ammo except what customers bring in for consignment.

Apparently so! See my other thread here.

Every time there is a big storm that knocks power out for day or more there will be a run on generators. Prices will be scalped when demand out strips supply. Fast forward a year or so with no power outages. Yard sales full of $250 generators that people paid $350 for and are selling for $150.
It never fails.

Because I won 1/2 a 4H beef last week I needed a freezer. I didn’t realize that they are in short supply. I guess people are buying them up because they think there is a major civil uprising in near future.

Point is that is why Plastic guns are selling for more. Panic buying by public that is scared to death of political situation. When this CV-19 and politics calms down, there will be thousands of plastic pistols that sold for double normal price on used market for 50% of that normal price. Besides if things go south as bad as some are preaching, the only thing your plastic pistol is good for is to off yourself to avoid the pain of a mob beating you to death.

I'm not currently selling anything I have... going to wait until Biden gets elected and then make some real money. That said, I used to be against price gouging, but Walter Williams changed my mind (funny how he can do that).
Price Gouging During a Natural Disaster – Walter E. Williams

We always hear lots of preachy, judgmental, even accusatory commentary in threads like this.

Reminds me of an interview Keith Richards gave way back in the early '70s. He was responding to accusations about how the greedy Rolling Stones had raised the prices of tickets to their concerts, how horribly capitalistic that was, on and on. His response seems appropriate to this thread.

KR said something like "When we were charging $5 a seat for our shows, scalpers would come in and buy up all the tickets then resell them at $100 or more apiece. If we were lucky, we were getting 5 cents on the dollar, and don't forget we had to pay expenses out of that before we paid ourselves.

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You're shy a few manners.

I bought a gun from one of this forum's members for his asking price. I had the money and if I didn't want to pay what he was asking I would not have bothered. Long story short, I ended up buying a revolver from him, too, for what he wanted. I believe I got two decent (actually very nice) guns which operate and are what he said. Point is, if I don't want to pay asking price, unless the ad says $xxx or best offer, I'm either going to buy it or just go on to the next ad. Simple as that. Perhaps I'm foolish for that, but after all's said & done, there are two happier people in the world. I worked for my money the old-fashioned way. I don't waste my time being a flea-market-flipper. But, I don't dislike those people or look down on that hobby, it's just not me.

Well, I had a horrible experience yesterday. Remember that LCR in .22 I bought my mom 6-7 years ago that I got back in April unfired, unloaded and unwanted????. Everyone said I woulf take a beating selling it and to just chalk it up or give it to one of my kids. I forgot about it
Well on one of the local forums a guy was looking for that exact same gun for his wife. I looked up the gun on Cabella's site, took that price (noting that it was out of stock) and contacted the guy to see if he wanted it at that price as trade for a gun he had listed. He said yes. We met IN A PARKING LOT half way. He was happy and I was happy. Guns and cash exchanged hands at the previously agreed upon terms.
I am now the proud owner of a Mk IV series 80 stainless government model with two factory magazines, 5 additional magazines, one holster and two boxes of PMC 230 gr ball ammo=all for an additionall cash outlay of $400.
The other guy is as happy as I am.

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Forum consigliere

On the other side of the coin:
Remember the Great Recession circa 2008? Guys who were out of work and needed money to pay their mortgage, health insurance, family living expenses, etc., had no choice but to sell off some really nice guns at bargain prices. Somehow I just can't recall anyone jumping up and offering to send some money to the guy just to offset the beating he was taking on his guns.

Back to the topic of possible gouging:
On another gun forum a few years back, there were people trying to sell high cap magazines (mostly 30 rounders for ARs if memory serves) at extremely high prices. I can't remember why they were scarce (I had no interest in them) but they were. The owner of the forum became positively apoplectic about this and in no uncertain terms (accompanied by a string of profanities) deleted all these ads and threatened to permanently ban any member posting such in the future. As we well know ( ) there is no point in arguing with forum owners, but on that one I thought "Maybe someone really wants those mags and is willing to pay the price to have them now. That's between them, none of my business."

One example of gouging that did get my goat:
Remember the ammo shortage of about 10 years ago? In particular, 9 mm was extremely hard to find and was selling at ridiculously high prices at gun shows.

I happened to be at a WalMart just when a meager shipment of
ammunition arrived. WalMart had a limit on how many boxes of handgun ammo you could buy so some guy and his girlfriend who were ahead of me in line both bought their limit of 9 mm and that wiped out the shipment. You know the guy just brought her along to maximize how much he could buy so he could flip it. I will say that just doesn't seem right, but tell me if I'm wrong.

I thought WalMart was partly at fault for not having a lower limit, but really it didn't affect me since I was just there to buy a box or two of .38 Specials. It just didn't sit right.

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You're shy a few manners.

Two things drive price: Supply and Demand.

When supply is low and demand is high, price goes up. Business 101!!!! The consumer decides what he/she is willing to pay. I've seen things priced for way more than I was willing to pay. Others were more than happy to pay the price.

I just purchased a Sig P365XL. Couldn't find a spare mag anywhere. Sig Sauer finally had them available but only sold as a pair. $60 per mag. More than I was willing to pay. I waited until something was available at a more reasonable price. Still paid more than I wanted to. But supply was low, demand is high, and I got while the getting was good!

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otis

I will mention this after reading the OP and first few posts.

DO NOT use your phone for transactions with people you don't know if you can help it. The fewer people with your phone number the better.

Here's why. All that data, social media handles, forum names, email addresses, phone numbers, etc., gets spread all over and very quickly those identifying names/numbers get connected.

It's the connections that are dangerous. Identity thieves live for that. I had one do it to me. Somewhere along the way, the cell phone number I'd had for over a decade was associated with my email, my physical address, social media names, etc. The hackers used some human engineering to call my cell phone provider, claiming to be me, told them I'd lost my phone, and asked to have all my calls forwarded to another number. Despite having a password required to make changes to the cell phone account, the sobstory was good enough that the dingbat at the cell provider did it.

The rest was easy. They sent a password reset for my email account, which sent a link to my phone- which because everything was forwarded went to their phone, they got and I didn't, and they had my email account. They did the same with my social media account which sent me an email to confirm it was me asking for the password reset, but they had control of the account now.

I know some chuclkehead will say, "but the people offering to buy my whatever aren't hackers, and won't do that..." or some such. It doesn't matter. Remember, it's all that data being spread around that make the connections happen, and it's the association of all that harmless data that is the danger.

Your phone number is a key piece of that information set, since so many accounts are now using two-step-verification that sends a text to your cell phone to confirm your identity. Other accounts like Drs and other professionals will call you on your phone (cell or home) when they need to confirm something.

There's nothing about any transaction with strangers that cannot be resolved more clearly with an email, they don't need your phone number.

I’ve sold many guns locally, in daylight. “Meet me in the Publix parking lot”. Works just fine.

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Sure you did

And if yer sellin' you gots grocery money "D
I always like to meet under a full moon at midnight under the old oak tree down from where Eldridge's tractor shed used to be before it burned down.

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Forum consigliere