Used guns

[nipster]

I agree the free market is beautiful, but when one idiot thinks his colt python is worth 3500, Then everyone else thinks theirs is worth that much. Then it's hard to find a gun that's at fair market value. That's what chaps my rear. It's price gouging IMHO

There is a lot of that going on right now. Some thing that just because it's got a pin in the barrel automatically its worth $200 more...

 

[Clean Break]

...I understand that parting with a gun of any sort can be a traumatic time for most of us. It hurts me to my soul sometimes. But, I hate that when I look at gunbroker or armslist and see someone pricing a gun for hundreds of dollars more than what it costs brand new at a retail store!
So why do people feel that there guns are some rare exception to the rules? Is it there subconscious saying they don't actually want to sell it?

Yes I think you nailed it. In a way it reminds me of most of the crappy yard/garage sales that the local folk hold in Cowlitz Co., WA. They have the time, they have the cheapy plastic ****, or rusty bent tools, they aren't really trying to clear it out or clean up their place, and they really aren't interested in moving their "product". It is something to do and at the end of the day, 75% of their garbage remains and they made enough money to buy a coupla cases of beer.

Guns, I know, are different... but...

Maybe it is like fishing for spring chinook salmon in January and February in the Columbia River.... you go and hope for the miracle, but when only 3 salmon have crossed the Bonneville Dam... reallly? What am I doing out there with dozens of other boats at least a month or two ahead of the real migration? What are our chances of connecting with that miracle fish? (Two years ago I caught one on Feb. 7th!).

Ahhh, it's somethin' to do I guess. And you can't catch one if you're sitting at home watching t.v. C.B.

 

[chez323]

All valid points, but the bottom line is people have an idea in their head what their gun is worth and they won't budge from it. When I list a gun for sale, I check gunbroker to see what they are selling for used. I check Buds to see what new ones are going for and then I price it accordingly. Bottom line is that if I price it too high, it won't sell. I've seen ads posted on the forums I frequent (there are a few) that were way overpriced and sent the buyer a private msg giving them my honest opinion. Some take it well, others not so much. Now I just limit my personal comments to things that are required by that particular forum such as price or state seller lives in. On the flip side I've seen guns listed for sale for less than I think they are worth and if its something I'm interested (even remotely if the deals good enough) I bite and buy it. Also, if the person lists obo after their price I'll consider a lower offer. I expect that when I do that on my ads, I even state it in the ad "shoot me an offer, the worst I'll say is no thanks".

You take the good, you take the bad and there you have the facts of life. LOL sorry but that just popped into my head.

 

[KEN L]

Jimmy's method of dealing:
If I am selling, my stuff is common and almost worthless and the buyer is doing me a great favor by taking it off my hands.

If I am buying, what I am buying is rare, valuable, and in most cases, a collector's item. The seller is only selling it to me because he likes me a whole lot.

P.S. I am very popular at Gun Shows.

Hey, are you the guy that always runs around with dollar bills hanging out of your pockets, just begging for a "great deal" meant just for you???? Cause I think I've seen you!!

 

[trauma1]

This may be a redundant topic but since I'm new here I'm going to bring it up. It's my "rant" topic of choice.

I understand that parting with a gun of any sort can be a traumatic time for most of us. It hurts me to my soul sometimes. But, I hate that when I look at gunbroker or armslist and see someone pricing a gun for hundreds of dollars more than what it costs brand new at a retail store! When I sell a gun, I look at what they are ACTUALLY selling for on gunbroker, then I do a search and see what other people have paid for them, lastly I look at a gun values book. I then determine the condition and price it accordingly.
For example, I recently acquired a colt lawman 2" that is about 95% with original colt box and paperwork. He first told me that 800 seemed fair. Mind you, BNIB is somewhere around 473.00. He looked the gun up on gunbroker and saw people were listing it for 800 to 1000.... Not one of them was selling! The ones for 400 to 550 WERE selling. That is my guideline. I reasoned with him and got it in the neiborhood of 350.
So why do people feel that there guns are some rare exception to the rules? Is it there subconscious saying they don't actually want to sell it? I wish I knew but would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

You read my mind. I think a big reason is our inability to "wait" and shop around some. We feel we need it right now no matter the cost. It is not just SW, have seen Ruger OM 3 screws go for 1000, 2000, 3000+ recently. We all complain about the prices of our beloved sidearms bit we keep shelling out the money! Makes it sweeter when we have the patience to wait and find a diamond in the rough!

 

[one eye joe]

You know... There will always be someone who will pay a premium, on any gun.... It just takes the right buyer, and it may take a long time.
Sellers that charge a premium, usually have all the time in the world to sell it....
I cant stand it when people want something for nothing... That is more of a beef for me..
Just the other day, a guy on the Pa. gun forum was selling a nice model 66 for $350. I PMd him and told him he could get more for it. He said he needed the money ASAP. So I guess there is a reason for everything.
P.S. I know I have paid a premium, on guns that I really wanted, at one time or another.

I agree. If a gun is listed at a price that seems too high, it's your option to pass on the deal. MANY people (esp on gun forums) seem to want something for nothing. I have been trading in weapons for over 50 years. I NEVER have tried to grind a person down on price. Likewise, I REFUSE to give a gun away. The true market value in a free economy is EXACTLY what someone is willing to pay for a good or service. In time, someone will buy your gun at your price. IMHO, one never pays "too much" for a high quality weapon as it will appreciate in time to much more than you paid for it. I have NEVER lost money on a Colt or a S&W. I DON'T buy junk and I treat my weapons well. (thank you US ARMY for instilling that in me)

 

[snoopdawg45]

Buy High and sell Low. Make it up in Volume. That's my Motto

 

[semperfi71]

gunrunner1,

It is interesting that you mention the Colt Lawman 2 inch barrel version. I just sold mine at the last gunshow for $750.00. I had it marked at $900.00 and let it go for the mentioned price. It was NIB, all everything included, the rare "mint" gun.

I searched Gunbroker back for 90 days on old sales and noticed Lawman(s) only, no box etc. in excellent condition were selling for anywhere from $550.00 to about $700.00.

I inquired at the Colt forum and from a couple of seemingly knowledgeable collectors they said it was worth $800.00 to $1,000.00 TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD REALLY WANT IT.

I made a $50.00 profit on what I paid for it. So it's obvious I am never going to be a big time gun dealer!!

I'm thinking you made a great buy.

I do not trust the prices in any "book" because the internet has skewed prices as many posters here have mentioned.

However current prices of many firearms are all over the place and its simply a fact of the market conditions. They too are all over the place.

I bought an almost mint M15-4 (gun only) last year for $350.00 including shipping and transfer fees. I think that's a good price for any modern .38 Special especially a M15. But I was lucky and anyone else interested was "out-of-town" evidentally.

The "book" is out of date almost as it is published. But any guide is helpful.

I do not grieve over what other folks want for their treasures. If I want it and we can agree on a price I buy it. If not I walk away.

Another factor in my buying philosphy is that I am 59. How much longer are my eyes going to allow me to shoot open sighted revolvers? And...how much longer will I have good health to do so. As such I might pay a bit more than the average person because I am unwilling to wait a year or more for another chance at another gun.

I do believe, as long as Hollywood continues to make "revolverless" movies that revolvers will not stay in vogue. And, as many of our older revolver shooters and collectors pass on we will see many collections of fine revolvers come up for sale and the market might get flooded. As such the S&W that you or I paid $800.00 for because of this "internet thing" will go down in price.

I hope this happens later instead of sooner because I want to liquidate MY collection before all the other guys do!

 

[Wingmaster]

I buy quite a few guns. I sell very few.
If I see a gun I am interested in, I look it over. If it is priced where I think it is a fair deal, I buy it. If it is too high, I walk.
I am not much of a dickerer.

Wingmaster

 

[Frank46]

I've seen dealers here in louisiana sell used guns for almost the store bought price. Their's is gold and your's is junk. I almost sold a browning takedown 22 to a dealer who was leafing through some used gun values book. Then he told me that the buttstock was not origional to the rest of the rifle. So his purchase price came down about a $100 bucks. At which point I thanked him for his time and me and the rifle went our way. Granted you do find some good buys. I like 44 specials. Have 3 of them. 24-3 3"bbl round grip a lew horton gun I paid $840 for. The 24-3 with 4" bbl (the rare one) paid $750 for. The 624 w/6.5" bbl that one cost $650. I find that the value of handguns to be all over the place. Whereas one revolver will sell here for $600 over in texas it may well sell for $700. And in another state $550. It all depends on the economic situation in the state your in. I spotted the 24-3 w/3" bbl sitting in a glass encased display. I asked if it was a lew horton gun and was told it was. Weak moment on my part as I love 44 specials. 15 minutes later it was mine. And yes sometimes I buy the poor unwanted scratched up, dinged such as my model 15. I wanted a 38 special w/iron sights and I got one. lockup is good, no endshake, and no problems. Plus it came with a target hammer and target trigger.
go fighure???. Since I bought the three 44 specials I have not seen anything like that in a long time. Some days you're the bug and sometimes you're the windsheild. Frank

 

[Tyrod]

I find the grossly over prices guns on GunBroker to be laughable. If you do a search fro a specific gun, you can easily see the average selling price and with just a tad more work you can see the average sold price. Then there's the joker that seems to think his gun is worth 3 times more than the remainer. I just say to myself "that gun must be made of gold" and go on to the next. Don't take it personally, thems folks is just ijots. There's a Pawnshop about 100 miles from me that lists on GB. His guns tend to be overpriced by about 25% by GB standards. His auction run the 7 days and he automaticly relists them. Some guns have been relisted 10-20 times. He rarely gets a sale. He doesn't seem to have a clue. Oh well it's his money, he can tie it up for as long as he wants. If I had a pawnshop or gun dealership, I'd prefer to turn my inventory quickly. I'd rather make the money in volume rather than my whole weeks profit on the sales of 1 or 2 overpriced guns.

 

[Boox]

Someone older, wiser, and more insightful than I once said, "You can never pay too much for a gun, but you can buy too soon" and that is the adage I go by. If the gun in question is one I 'just have to have' , I'll probably buy it anyway, if I pay too much, so be it. It's only a gun for crying out loud...they keep making and selling 'em everyday.

Boox

 

[Lenny_D]

We cause the "over priced" problems ourselves. If someone wants a gun bad enough they will pay several hundred dollars more than it is worth. Other sellers see this and feel if this guy got it I can get it. It's a fact that some guys have more disposable income than others. Youv'e just got to hope that he doesn't frequent the same gun shops you do! Gun auction sites make many more buyers availiable and that is very good for the seller and not so good for the buyers. We cannot control what other guys will pay. The part of this that bothers me is that most of my LGS are now looking at what is asked on the auction sites and setting their prices accordingly. My only recoarse is to walk and wait and hope the LGS don't advertise on the aution sites.

 

[dwpmusic]

I tend to think it's what you're really in to. Are you buying and selling to make a buck or are you just buying because you want the piece? I'm not really into trying to make money on guns. It's not that I wouldn't sell one of mine but that, at this point, in not my real intention. Price wise, they're all overpriced. For me, being 65 years old, there's no way I can look at any gun or anything else and justify 2012 prices. When you're my age there's no way you're not going to recall gasoline for 29.9 a gallon or less. I had a Model 94 Winchester 30-30 which I bought in Nov. 1962 for $83.95. A guy beat me out of it. He knew what I had, I didnt'. I currently have a .357 SA Ruger Blackhawk in absolute pristine condition which I bought in Jan. 1973 for $86.95. But, really, all that is not pertinent to the times we're living in today. Can't help but thinking about it though. Now, and this is from a rank amateur, if I felt like the current Smiths were as good as the old ones I wouldn't come near to paying a new price for a used gun. But, I'm finding out on this forum that the current production is not as good. So, until proven wrong, I'll steer clear of the new ones. I think what it all boils down to is that any item, gun or whatever, is worth exactly what someone is willing to give you for it. No more and no less. If you're willing to pay what someone is asking, then it was worth it to you. Just my 2c.

 

[DonDee]

The beauty of a free market is that it allows us to buy or sell as we please. You are taking this way too personally.

I could not agree with this more. The free market is self-regulating and always will be.

If you see something you want thats priced too high and you're the kind of guy inclined to dicker, make him an offer.

Otherwise, walk on by.

Why let it get to you? The seller doesn't even know you; he's just fishing. Besides, one never knows what a particular prospect might do, so what's the harm in trying?

 

[AveragEd]

I've overpaid for a gun. Several times, in fact. But I wanted it, it isn't being made any longer and before long, the price I paid seemed attractive - a "deal" even.

Model 66s are a good example. Sure, they lack the 686's underlug barrel and ability to digest a steady diet of hot loads but they feel less bulky in the hand and shoot accurately. I own three 66s and five 686s and shoot the 66s a lot more. And there are no more new ones to be bought. I've recently seen Model 66s sell for the same or slightly more than an equivalent 686. But soon I'll probably be able to say that I've seen Model 66s sell for considerably more than an equivalent 686.

I just won an auction for a like-new Remington Model 700 XCR (eXtreme Conditions Rifle; basically a stainless BDL with a weatherproof coating). I paid $651 for it and some will say that's too much. But the stainless XCR has been discontinued and this rifle is chambered for one of my favorite cartridges, the .25-06, which was the least common chambering for that model. So was it worth it? Ask me in about five years.

If you like it, want it and think the price is fair, buy it. If you don't, you're free to move on.

Ed

 

[gunlovingirl]

Some sellers may not know what a gun is worth. Some may price it higher so they have room to haggle. Some might not really want to sell, but if someone is willing to pay an inflated price...well, money talks. I don't usually let a high asking price bother me. I'll either offer what I am willing to pay or I'll just pass it by and keep looking. I figure a person has the right to ask whatever price they want for whatever they are selling, just the same as I do. It just depends on how bad, and how fast, you want to sell it.

 

[rsegars]

rsegars

easy for me to know my guns true value.Divide what I paid by three=real value.

 

[waffenmac]

The beauty of a free market is that it allows us to buy or sell as we please. You are taking this way too personally.

Amen on the above statement,yes there are horses asses on gun broker at gunshows and even on this forum but there are also very nice honest and helpful people at those same places.Relax its not worth worrying about.

 

[ischia]

The comments about the same over priced ladden tables over and over at gun shows got me thinking. Those older gents perhaps use a local show as a sort of portable "Man Cave". But hey, they get out of the house and away from the "Ol Blister". They get to jaw on and on about how they got this or that piece for a song(when Nixon was President). All the while fishing for suckers to snap up pieces for sale or moving parts of their "display" to other saps. Relax! Enjoy the show! Get some of those crummy fries from the fat ladies at the food booth. And there is always beef jerky to chew on as you watch all the ducks bent over tables that are TOO LOW.Never could figure that one. For $7 or $8 bucks it's a bargain of a circus.

All the Best,
Ischia