I don’t pay any attention to over priced items. It normally means person has no idea of value or is fishing for suckers. People look up gun in Blue Book ect, don’t read foreword on condition. I don’t feel it my duty to educate them. Same when I have gun for sale. Recently had a PM for me to call a interested buyer. I don’t call people, I guess I’m a disinterested seller.
I don’t need others opinion on my price either.

No Gun Shows around to troll a gun or two around for sale. That used to get varied results. But if you had something nice you'd at least get some hits on it.
The usual tire kicker/low ballers were there but at least you could insult them in person to the same degree as they attempt to do to you.

Since all transfers have to go thru an FFL here, a GShow is convenient if it's a private party sale.

Now if I have an occasional item to sell, I either place it on the Forum here or a couple other firearms forums, or consign it at a local gunshop.

I just can't stand the hassle of a local want-ad type of situation. Never have.
Cave Dwellers are like that.

I COULD NOT DISAGREE WITH THIS POST MORE.

There are a lot of assumptions here, and all of them are dead wrong in a capitalist, free-market society. This post belies a level of hubris that is mind-boggling.

1) You assume the person who owns something must relinquish THEIR PROPERTY at a price point that YOU are comfortable with.

2) In a capitalist country, both parties come to an agreement, in which they both exercise free will in order to buy / sell. NO external authority sets a "price guideline" (despite you trying to do it in your post above).

3) "If you are indeed just an honest man..."; by whose standard? In a market, honesty only applies to the condition and description of the items proffered, not the intention as to why they are proferred for sale. The seller is under ZERO obligation to temper his zeal for making a profit. Your statement assumes dishonesty as the default state. Look at what is offered and decide if it is what you and the market will bear, not through some emotional lens.

4) Market conditions dictate price. Has anything happened to the market lately? It is a seller's market. People should have prepared decades ago, long ago. None of this was a surprise, just like people knew decades ago that smoking was bad for you. Same concept.

5) "Folks can make up excuses..." Are you insane? In what world is a seller obligated to have a moral justification to sell an item, in which the justification to sell is morally defensible to YOU?

People do not exist in order to sell and buy according to some loosely defined "what they should do" morals. People exist and in doing so, they advance their interests. You act as if the OP should be running a charity, and accuse as if instead he is operating a monopoly. The level of ego on display to make these assertions is astounding

When you're the seller, you can't believe people would object to your price.

When you're the buyer, you can't believe people would be asking such a price.

Well there is some kind of line between capitalism and flat out gouging. A few weeks ago they were doing it with Toilet paper, hand sanitizers and surgical masks. This is beyond business and is profiteering during a national disaster. During wartime you can be shot for such practices.

I learnt early on that in purchasing 2+2= 3 1/2 and in sales 2+2= 5 .

Let me be serious agin, I am selling on Gunbroker and right after listing an item I usually get lowball offers and often from the same individuals. I call a low ball offer an offer that is over 20% below my asking price, I usually do not answer those and so far have sold pretty much everything.

Sometimes it just takes a little longer. I just had somebody asking on a very rare revolver, if that is the best I could do. I was kind of blown away by those excellent negotiation skills!

I've sold some guns through Armslist. Just ignore the tire kickers and obvious idiots.

Is it really price gouging when supply and demand get turned up to 11?

This ant laid in plenty of supplies. Not my fault if the grasshopper has to pay more because he didn't prepare.

One guy who was interested in the Mossberg offered $350.00 AFTER stating people like me were nothing but modern day pirates; pricing quality firearms out of the reach of ordinary citizens making it impossible to defend their families. He had a wife and two kids who were at risk because of me.

I replied it was a shame he drew the line at $12.50 per family member and wished him well.

People are trying to gauge your desperation level; IOW how badly you need to sell the item. It's normal, don't stress over it.

I often see things on ebay that are WAY over priced, and they seem to be there for years. Military vehicle antenna parts is one; dude, it's a bent piece of metal, it's not worth $450. If they have a Best Offer option I will give them the price I'm willing to pay. If they reject or ignore, I move on.

A lowball offer doesn't mean you're asking too much, it only means that particular buyer isn't willing or able to spend that much for it. If your item doesn't sell after an abnormally long time period, then maybe your price is too high.

Lowballers may also have been lucky in the past, finding buyers who needed the cash immediately and accepted their offers.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I've sent lowball offers to people for something I might not have wanted very much, or didn't really want at all, and had them accept. Dang!

The funny thing is, I had some innocent fool trying to educate me on Ratzeburg Korth revolvers and their prices. If someone can amass over twenty Korths and a whole lot more other rare and collectible guns, it is unlikely that I would depend on receiving the proceeds from one sale to pay my dog's kibble.

Oh, I am ready to grill a hot dog for him now ...

Finally someone who openly admits that "lowballing" is an occasional tool in their repertoire of bargaining techniques. That restores my faith in humanity. And I use the term very loosely here to represent any offer maybe 10% or so below the asking price. In my case, that often results in the seller coming back with a "sold" or a counter offer and me then saying "sold"! My collection wouldn't be half of what it is today without a little bargaining back and forth. But then again, I am one of the more "financially-challenged" members of this Forum. Others might never have to use that technique.

That is not to say that anyone should put up with strokers and jokers and time wasters... and yes, they are out there.

I must be very lucky. Be it Armslist, Guns America, Guns International, or gun shows, everyone has been pleasant to deal with. While I may not have always made a deal, everyone was reasonable and friendly.

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213th FBINA

Even if it's legal, I wouldn't sell a gun without a paper trail, and that includes a gun I sold to a friend or family member. Transfer through an FFl is preferable, and would be mandatory if it was a handgun. Last thing I need is for a gun whose last known owner was ME being used in a crime or recovered AFTER a crime. Sure, I can say "I sold that to some guy 5 years ago that I met in a Walmart parking lot", and that might be legal, but I don't need the local police, state police, or federal cops looking into my life. I also don't need some lawyer coming after me in some civil suit. I'd want to be able to say "I sold that to Ron Smith on April 17, 2015. Here's the bill of sale. Go bug him. Have a nice day".

I would be concerned about buying from someone who is not a legal owner, the kid selling one of Dear Old Dad's, the wife selling one of her husband's.

There's a guy on ebay who is selling a vintage NYPD revolver holster. I still have mine but it's seen some better days. These were like $30 back when I bought mine. This guy has had that holster selling for $200 for like 2 years. Hasn't budged in price. Look up NYPD Jay Pee holster. They were known to be functional, but definitely bottom dollar blue collar civil servant gear. And this one is used and doesn't look much better than mine.

I would have replied that him and only him was the person putting his family at risk because he did not value them highly to enough to part with the money for their protection.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

There is a guy on the WTB forum now looking for a particular gun. I texted him, and he wanted pics. The gun was exactly what he was looking for. Couple days later, I inquired, and he said he never got the pics. I sent them 2 ways, and i know he got them, and the nice follow up, I know he got that too. If you don't want the gun fine, if you think the price is too high, fine, but respond and conduct yourself with some form of integrity. When and if he responds now, I will just say it is not for sale.

There are people selling their prize possessions to pay bills and eat, and for those in such a predicament i am truly sorry, but more than half of the people out there are trying to force a sale thinking everybody needs the money. In the case of my non responsive buyer, He forgets that I was doing him a favor offering him a very nice example that I was not actively trying to sell

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I learned a long time ago you can't insult people into generosity. Somebody wants protection for his family but thinks $350 for a shotgun is price gouging ? Let's look at his family budget, that $350 can be found in things they don't need and are better off without.

Some of my best purchases came from the receptionist at my doctor’s office. Her dad passed and she sold me most of his guns. He was a retired FL wildlife officer. Most of his guns had considerable cosmetic issues and not desirable to the average person.

It's interesting to read some of the posts of some posters who probably claim to be all about freedom and the free market, yet they are upset when the market sets a price point they don't agree with!


Some gun owners are crying socialists when they want to buy.
Some gun owners are ruthless capitalists when they want to sell.

There is no such thing as gouging when it come to firearms - either agree on the price or walk away. It's that simple. If a buyer chooses to pay the seller's asking price, no matter what it is, was there gouging?

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Thread Killer.

I agree with many of you: there's very little in the gun world that can be considered "price gouging" by the real definition. Most pricing gouging occurs on necessities where there's a monopoly of some sort; often there's artificial scarcity built in i.e. they make just enough to satisfy demand at the high price.

It's all supply and demand which is NOT price gouging! A business that raises prices when demand goes up might tick off customers but that's...business.

A business that sells below market without resupply will have empty shelves and close their doors in short order. This is the reality of selling a physical product.

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Psalm 27:2

That is correct. It is not as if it is food priced many times higher where you eat or starve. Food is a must, a firearm is not a must, it is a want and you pay or do without and doing without a firearm is not going to kill you.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

Also I am no longer moved by "*** stories"-"sick child", "lost job", etc. Working in finance and investments,
I have met more than my share of people with incomes of $100k and above with money woes, almost always due to bad habits, whether illegal ones-drugs, gambling, legal but bad-drinking,smoking, eating out too much, expensive vacations, shopping sprees, etc.
In my college days I did have to sell some guns I'd have liked to have kept, like so many students I found the financial aid I received from the government-the GI Bill-inadequate, the financial aid office useless and my high school dropout mother unsympathetic to my plight.

I don't lowball as a bargaining strategy, I lowball because I decide a value that applies to me (and me only), and make my offer based on that. That might come across as lowball, but it's just the value I've assigned it based on a number of factors, many of which may not necessarily be knowledgeable or even factual; it's what I'm willing to pay. It keeps the amount of **** I have sitting in boxes down.

I would never belittle or attempt to educate the seller as to value though.

When selling something on craigslist I always run the ad with an outrageous price for a couple weeks, not looking for suckers really, just looking for someone who has that exact need who is willing to buy. If it doesn't sell, I drop the price down to reality and edit the title of the ad and add in "Price cut" or some such.

SELLING EXAMPLE: The state auction here had one of those command vehicle furniture pieces they load into the back of a SUV.



I noticed it was the local fire dept that was selling, so I threw in a bid of $5. Bidding opened at $2 or something, and nobody else bid, so I won the thing at $2.50 plus tax and 10% auction fee. I had it in the back of my CUCV for a while, then decided I didn't like it. So I put it on craigslist for $200, and wouldn't you know it; some guy who ran a business teaching accident scene command not only wanted the thing, but at the price I was selling it for. He asked me what vehicle it came out of, I told him the FD told me it was in an Expedition, and he went out and bought a used one, showed up and we installed it in the back in my driveway.

BUYING EXAMPLE: I spent 17 of my 20 years of active duty AF flying the C-141B all over the world, and most of that time the issued S&W M56 (Model 15 snub) was strapped to my ankle. Now, in my post-USAF era, I would LOVE to own a S&W Model 15, 19, or 66 snub even though I'm not a revolver guy. Nostalgia I guess- I used to sleep in the bunk with that thing on even. I see them from time to time but the value I put on them is unfortunately much lower than their actual value, and that's often lower than the value most sellers are selling them for. I accept it just isn't meant to be.

So if you want a lowball offer, put up your good condition model 15, 19, or 66 snubby and I'd happily send you one. Or you can save us both a lot of time and you can direct message me your price.

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^^^what he said. Upon retirement, many NYPD officers would sell their 4" service revolver and keep their 2" snub. A certain gunshop in the City Hall area (Warren St., IIRC) would pay $25 for such revolvers. Irrelevant whether minty or street-worn, $25, take it or leave it. I'm sure kbm6893 knows this place, no longer in business; I won't name it. PM if you've forgotten, kbm!

Back on topic, I prefer not selling to individuals. Now, I don't sell at all. YMMV

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I should probably be ashamed, but I just got home from buying 50% of the total number of S&W SD9 magazines available from Academy in Tulsa, OK, at their asking price of $29.95 which was a total of one (1) magazine. The last one left in Tulsa at the Academy stores is in the South Tulsa Store just north of 81st Street off US 169.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I do know the place. And I went in there over 25 years ago just to look around. Owner had milk crates full of Model 10's and Ruger Service Six's. I recall $100 for your pick. He also had another milk crate of off duty guns. I recall them going for $200. How stupid was I not to have grabbed 2 or 3?

Another guy I worked with walked into the muster room on his last day and said "I'm retired. Locker is open. Take what you want". Never seen a cop move faster than the offer of free food or gear. I never even made it to his locker. He had already GIVEN his Model 10 away to the guy who changed next to him.

PM sent. I forget the name. I remember there was a really good pizza place right there, too.

Nice that you bought one S&W SD9 mag and left one for the next guy. Personally, I probably would have bought both and not felt like a hog. It's only two. Now if they had ten and someone bought them all, that's being a hog.

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You're shy a few manners.

ColbyBruce.......do you have that Sig in another color???

People are amazing when it comes to buying a firearm

Okay, I guess I misunderstood. When I throw out a number that is lower than someone's asking price, it is still a very realistic number. In a lot of cases, it's what I had bought one for before. I don't try to enter into any deal on shaky ground. I'd go home and research it first if necessary. I keep more records on gun prices than GunBroker!

It's almost a way of breaking the ice with me. Works great with many sellers... not so much with a few. But it is never disrespectful or an offer that I just pulled out of you-know-where. I'm a serious buyer and most sellers with any smarts at all usually figure that out pretty quickly.

Try this on for size fellas.

9mm 115 ball @ $39.99 a box of 50
.22 LR @ $10 a box of 50

Outdoorunlimited in N.C.

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Sure you did

The record so far on GB is the same... $800.00 for a case of 1,000 rounds 9mm FMJ... a cool 80¢ each.

Hey, whatever

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Sure you did

EGGZAKLEE !!

It was 5 miles in the wrong direction and getting close to dinner time.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I used to shoot at the range on Murray Street, one block from Warren, and we used to go into those gun stores to look around and drool when I was in high school in Manhattan in the 1950's.

Stu

I loaded 100 9MM this afternoon. Total cost maybe $13 for the 100. A year ago people thought I was crazy for loading 9MM.

And THAT is why I save all my brass! Even 9mm and 5.56. I may have bought factory ammo because it wasn't worth reloading - but - times change.

Dang.... Did I just admit to buying factory ammo? Mea culpa, mea culpa. . . .

I had been saving brass for years before I reloaded, but not all the time. I had enough brass to get me going and now I just hit the county range early in the morning and scoop it up. I admit it has gotten a little more sparse recently, but I have at least 5000 pieces of 9MM brass that has never been reloaded. I am on my second round of the initial brass I started with. Same for .223. It’s just lying there in the ground. .45 and .380, too. You would think I have 17 cats if you looked in my garage. 35 pound cat litter tubs filled with brass of different calibers.

I’m pretty well stocked for components based on my rate of reloading. I’m not a high volume shooter or reloader. Single stage press and slow and steady. But if and when this craziness dies down I’m going to build up a larger stockpile.

The current market has allowed me to sell some guns that I rarely use for the current market prices. I have got rid of a couple of AR's, VEPR, Mossburg 500, and a couple of 9mm Glocks. I have a Remington 7600 in .270 that will go next. Some I sold with ammo and extras like the VEPR where I had 2 spam cans and 12 magazines that went with it.

This has freed up space in the safe for other guns after things become available again. It is a seller's market.

Went to the gun show on Sunday and after looking at the prices asked and given for guns AND ammo, I have concluded that I am RICH

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Forum consigliere

Great thread!
Recently traded a 686 Nice condition shooter for a Sig pm400 SWAT barely shot.
Both parties were happy! And yes, we did trade in the Publix parking lot. I try to only work with people with concealed weapon permits.
And I still have four more 357 Magnum revolvers so I'm okay.

Sometimes it’s a buyers market, and sometimes it’s a sellers market. Depending on what side you currently are, you either rejoice or complain.

Right now, it’s a sellers market, so if you’re looking to sell now is the time. Get whatever you can for your property is what I always say. I should probably sell something but I kind of like them all. And the ones I rarely shoot are only going to go up in value if the election goes south. I’m thinking I gamble now in case the unthinkable happens and then I really make some money. Some will call it price gouging, but as others said we’re not talking food or water so I’m ok with it. I recall $2000 no name AR’s a week after Newtown. I sneered and walked away, but every one of them sold.

Walter Williams is wise. Not enough of that lately.

First I want too say that in my mind selling at market price is not price gouging. People make choices. Some buy ammo and guns and some go to bars and fancy restaurants. Actions have consequences and sometimes we find we have made bad choices and we have to pay for them.
Second I don't agree with people that think that guns and ammo are not necessities. When there are people that are willing to harm you and your family, steal your food and water and burn your house or business I think a person needs a way too prevent that from happening. Larry

If I'm selling a gun and someone's looking at it, I state my price.
Then the haggling starts,,I don't mind it too much, but when I come back with "That's a firm Price"...or I can knock x$$'s off but that's it",,,I feel that's the end of Haggle Time.
'Buy it or Take your Sad Story Walkin'. I don't want to hear it..

What I absolutely hate is when they come back with nit-pick points about the gun,,,,(The price is still the same)

Then this desperate plea..." You Gotta Help Me Out Here!"

Why do I have to help you out by lowering my price.
I seem to get that pitch more and more.

Many of these helpless souls are Dealers so they're just flipping. 'Helping Them Out' by lowering the price is just increasing their profit and lowing mine.
Are they Homeless Dealers, no food or water?,,I don't think so...
Even if not a Dealer and just a guy buying for himself, just man-up and buy it or say thanks anyway and walk away.

So save the 'I'm Helpless' pitch lines,,save the nit pick about you think the bore's been relined and the magazine is a replacement.

You got the price. I can tatoo it onto your forehead if you want me to. But it'll still be the same and you'll just have to learn to read backwards in a mirror to see it.

I don't like selling stuff too much. Not a fun part of GunShows.
Most people are OK though

I love the ones who want to trade/unload their junk on you. “Hey man take my 20 yo 12 ga Mossberg for that nickel 29-2 in the box, I’ll throw in some 8mm ammo” LOL.

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Sure you did

I am curious why people even bother responding to ADs they believe are overpriced, what's the point? When the seller gets no response he/she/it/other/non-specific will either lower the price or pull the sale.

I received an inquiry today about a bayonet I have listed on ebay. It has not yet received any bids but there are still 4 days to go. He asked what my best price was.

How about my starting price ?

You know you guys are spoiling all my show and shop-hopping fun by dissing "low-balling" and "haggling" so much. What's a poor old retiree to do? Stay home and take up bird watching?