We all see certain classic guns with reserve prices that are never met or starting prices so high they never see a first bid.
Are people making money on this model.
Are people making money on this model.
What is the business model for the very expensive guns on Gunbroker that don't sell
- Thread starter bushmaster1313
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I wonder if it's done as free advertising,waiting for questions and a price is negotiated behind the scenes.
dougb1946
Member
You can always come down.
I think buyers see a ridiculous price and move on. That's what
I do.
I do.
S&WIowegan
US Veteran
Many sellers are terrified of selling too cheap..which I think is reason number one for high price. Also, I've known gun sellers who are absolutely determined to wait until the dummy-of-the-day happens to grab the high price. It happens.
The last point about private negotiation is correct. A friend listed some items within the last year which he purposely priced so high he expected and got no bids. However, several months after the post he was contacted privately by a person who paid his full original price. Once that happens for you, it probably effects your posting philosophy.
The last point about private negotiation is correct. A friend listed some items within the last year which he purposely priced so high he expected and got no bids. However, several months after the post he was contacted privately by a person who paid his full original price. Once that happens for you, it probably effects your posting philosophy.
I know of a few guns that have been on auction for years on GB.
A couple of sellers when i see there name i know the reserve is gonna be way above what that gun brings.
Just move on.
A couple of sellers when i see there name i know the reserve is gonna be way above what that gun brings.
Just move on.
Exactly.
I listed one with a reserve of a couple of hundred more than I actually expected to get. After being listed and relisted and closing without anyone meeting the reserve, I relisted it with a $100 lower reserve. Still no one met the reserve.
I relisted it again at that price, and someone bid it up until they hit the reserve. So basically I ended up getting $100 or so more than I originally expected to get for it. I did basically the same thing with a set of nice but not pristine cokes I got on my pre-model numbered 24.
As long as you're not in any hurry to sell something, listing it in an auction with a high reserve and relisting it repeatedly with decreasing reserves until the reserve gets low enough for it to sell, is a good way to figure out the actual market value.
Sometimes even better than asking opinions from the experts.
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Sooner or later....
Sooner or later someone will come along with a lot of money that wants the gun, mostly on account of the high price tag. "Rare" works on some people so they can tell others that it's "rare".
Sooner or later someone will come along with a lot of money that wants the gun, mostly on account of the high price tag. "Rare" works on some people so they can tell others that it's "rare".
There's one born every minute.
Just look at "gun stores"--you know the ones. Big, bright, huge amounts of new stock, usually out on a major road or main drag. They charge MSRP or more for everything, and cater to / rip off new shooters that don't know any better.
Just look at "gun stores"--you know the ones. Big, bright, huge amounts of new stock, usually out on a major road or main drag. They charge MSRP or more for everything, and cater to / rip off new shooters that don't know any better.
You betcha. American capitalism at it's finest. Buy low sell high, and any item is worth just exactly what someone will pay for it!
FWIW, I advertised my Cokes on here for 75% of what they sold for on GunBroker for over a month and got little to no interest. I only had to list them two, or maybe three times on GunBroker to find someone who had a gun that was in comparable condition and who wanted them enough to pay the reserve price. He wasn't some noob either - he seemed to be a pretty well informed buyer - possibly somewhat of a collector.
I think that maybe sometimes folks around here get so used to seeing deals that they get a little jaded and expect every thing for sale to be a below-market bargain.
I've actually bought a couple of used guns from Cabela's at decent prices.... a Stoeger coach gun and a ruger SP101.
I've often thought some folks on GB, and other similar sites, don't really want to sell what they've advertised. And I can think of at least one good reason for that...
"Honest, honey, I'm trying to sell those guns, just like I promised I would, but nobody wants to buy them!"
"Honest, honey, I'm trying to sell those guns, just like I promised I would, but nobody wants to buy them!"
grizz700
Member
I have a gun saved on GB that has been on for over a year. Would I like to own it, Yes. But it is priced double what it should be, will I pay that much? No.
DWFAN
US Veteran
You betcha. American capitalism at it's finest. Buy low sell high, and any item is worth just exactly what someone will pay for it!
FWIW, I advertised my Cokes on here for 75% of what they sold for on GunBroker for over a month and got little to no interest. I only had to list them two, or maybe three times on GunBroker to find someone who had a gun that was in comparable condition and who wanted them enough to pay the reserve price. He wasn't some noob either - he seemed to be a pretty well informed buyer - possibly somewhat of a collector.
I think that maybe sometimes folks around here get so used to seeing deals that they get a little jaded and expect every thing for sale to be a below-market bargain.
I stopped trying to sell my stocks here over a year ago. Now I use ebay and most time get twice what I wanted here. Works for me.
DW
I have seen guns set on GB for over two years unsold when listed with
a reserve. I have reached a point where I almost never even look at
any guns listed with a reserve.
a reserve. I have reached a point where I almost never even look at
any guns listed with a reserve.
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Some people (NOT ME) as soon as they buy something put it up for sale at a ridiculous price. They probably and realistically do NOT expect to sell it but if for some strange reason someone is crazy or naive enough to pay the asking price then then have made a bundle of money and can easily replace it with another one for much less.
Once in a while we all see something (gun, car, home etc.) that sells for a stupid price, but hey - - - if someone is willing to pay for it then why wouldn't the seller sell it?
Once in a while we all see something (gun, car, home etc.) that sells for a stupid price, but hey - - - if someone is willing to pay for it then why wouldn't the seller sell it?
357-RevolverGuy
Member
They have no business model. I am convinced that if you really want to sell something you will sell it and do so at a fair deal to both parties. Most of those sellers have guns listed to show off and tease buyers with. They have no intention of ever wanting to make a sale. They have no intention of answering your email's and they have no intention of paying attention to any offers. These same people will also list things on armslist or other venues and sometimes not even list a price. They just put "best offer" which leaves everything in limbo. Avoid these sellers like the plague.
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Lee's Landing Billy
Member
I have done quite a bit of business on GB. The most frustrating thing for me is when some one starts an item at .01 cent and then has a reserve on it. Just start the D... thing at what you want and if at the end you get more it's gravy. Starting at .01 and getting 30 bids that never reach your reserve is a waste of everybody's time.
High reserve prices, I can't help but wonder if some private sellers are getting pressure to get rid of some of their toys. This way they can honestly say they are making an effort to sell them off. I've seen this happen with cars and motorcycles.
