Guns lose value

[silentflyer]

Believe me, I share your concern. As investment/collectible guns, 98% of plastic guns are the absolute pits. The "why" part is pretty simple: They can pump them out all day long for chump change while the market determines the selling price. There is no intrinsic value there. The value of plastic guns is based on real time market demand and usefulness only. It's why I've sworn off all plastic guns for other than immediate needs. In my case, that means cheap, lightweight "mouse guns" for pocket carry only. For everything else, from this point forward, it's all-metal guns only for me.

This sums it up in a nutshell, if you want lasting value buy wood and steel firearms keep them clean and cared for.

 

[TTSH]

In MA, for political, not financial reasons, used Glocks start at about $500.00 and go up. Gen 4 versions, if you can find them, start at about $700.00.

Not worth it to me, but there are people who pay those prices.

Further explanation for free-staters: We have a bizarre, twisted situation here in loony moonbat Massachusetts wherein Glocks are on our EOPSS approved handgun roster but are disapproved by our crazy AG's (5 of them in a row so far) under the AG's broad consumer regulation-making power. What that means is that cops can purchase them from dealers but we normal peons cannot. We have to get them by other means or buy Glocks that were made pre-the AG's regs. That senseless situation makes new (or newer) Glocks very expensive in Massachusetts and keeps older used ones at an artificially high value too.

But even Massachusetts Glock's make for a risky investment if you are one of the (apparently very few) people here who actually care to some degree about what they buy retaining its value. Political situations can change. Court decisions can also change the landscape. It's entirely possible that one day Glocks will go down to free state values in Massachusetts practically overnight (kind of like the $75 rebate just did for Shields).

I'll admit that I had to have one back in 2014 and paid the Massachusetts scalper price to get one. In fact, I ended up with three of them that year, all costing right around $700.00. I had my reasons... but just to be clear, I knew damn well that I was crazy overpaying for a bunch of cheap plastic moldings and stamped metal. I had no illusions that I'd ever recover my "investment" later if/when I decided to sell.

 

[Arik]

So then are you saying that 30 years from now, a 2017 shield will sell for 2x-5x what it sold for new? Just like the 15's and 6906's are doing today?

No. According to my LGS they're only worth around $300 give or take a few depending on condition.

I'm saying that you'd be crazy to pay 2x - 5x more for a tool

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[Yeahya]

You do understand that Glock holds steady on their commercial pricing in order to get $600 from your pocket so that they can sell the same guns to LE for $200, resulting in a high percentage of LE market share that drives the commercial sales,.......right?

I've never paid more than $300 for a used Glock. I don't know where your premise comes from.

And I never suggested that poly framed pistols were xxx,.....only that they were all $200 pistols with various levels of MSRP. I probably own fifty of them but bought them all at deep discount. Some call that shopping.

If I said this it might get construed as unpatriotic in the free market and if you consider the fact they are using the weapon to protect the public glock is just capitalizing on an opportunity.LMAO
I also love the comments, I can get glocks for 300. Anomalies should stereotype the value from the poor soul who fell on hard times and stumbled into such a wise bargain hunter.

I also love when guys don't read the whole thread and comment on my car comparison as well...I wasn't the one who made that comparison initially. Then they make a comparison to a 3 year old car....gesh!

 

[Yeahya]

too bad gander is closing..



know how i know you don't know much about cars? check out any current s-class merc or 7 series bmw that is 12-36 months past the year model and compare the MSRP to the current dealer prices. anywhere from 40-60% cut depending on location, options, mileage and condition.

if you are truly looking at a S&W shield as an "investment vehicle" not only is it a depreciating asset but it is a fixed cost. so not only did you buy something designed to loose it's value but it doesn't even net you any cash flow. great investments not only appreciate but provides dividends and/or reoccuring income.

so there are 3 choices left: a) sell at market value, with a poor rate of return, b) hold for long (but use it, leveraging the opportunity cost of you holding on to it but enjoying it) - in the hopes you minimize your poor rate of return or c) don't even use it or shoot it - leave it as a paperweight in your safe - which effectively turns your "fixed cost" into a "sunk cost".

for another S&W forum member in need, im available to help you go through choice A so that you have more capital to invest in your favorite glock stocks

Plethora of variables here Next time unbutton your top button, and read the whole thread! Not an "investment"...we got it! Has nothing to do with what I'm saying! Any stock tips? Notes taken, don't shoot it, not a car,.......duh and I thought it was gonna be worth a lot by this time Lenny!

 

[ladder13]

Get used to it, happens all the time.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

 

[Shield9mm]

I'll keep buying all cheap S&W I can, so far have (5) trouble free guns. I had more troubles with overpriced glocks than with S&W.

 

[TTSH]

I also love when guys don't read the whole thread and comment...

Plethora of variables here Next time unbutton your top button, and read the whole thread! Not an "investment"...we got it!

Get used to it, happens all the time.

Yeah, this thread has really gone off the rails with this mistaken notion that someone has actually advocated buying plastic guns as investment pieces bought to yield a profit. No people! Chill out! It's exactly the opposite!

Another thing: The term "investment" can mean different things... and in the context of typical (non-dealer) firearms accumulating/collecting, it generally means a simple, reliable, physical store of wealth... not speculating or trying to produce an income or profit. In fact, many would argue that would be illegal in a strict reading of Federal law.

Most of us are happier if our guns don't lose value just sitting in the safe. Yes, with use and wear (especially excessive wear & tear), any gun can lose value. Some will also rise in value over time. But what we are seeing here is plastic guns nosediving in value not even accounting for use or wear & tear... and that is a little disturbing to some of us. But it really shouldn't have been entirely unexpected given how cheap they are to make.

I was one of the damn fools who bought a Shield .45 just a few days before the first hints of the rebate hit the Interwebs. Do I feel I got the Big Zingaroo from S&W and somewhat from my dealer too? Yes, I do. Turns out I threw away a C-note (or more as it turns out) for nothing and I can't afford to do that sort of thing too often on my pitiful retirement income. So lesson learned the hard way for me: No more plastic ever again unless it's something I really, really need.

 

[ladder13]

Let's all hope the gov't doesn't confiscate our guns like FDR did with gold in 1933.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I still have the first 4 Smiths I ever bought.
27- $135
Outdoorsman $75
17 $110
19 $105
The 19 , I bought it in Guam, was new, the others used.

 

[Steved13]

Then you are not a very astute buyer. I bought my Shield when it retailed for $419 and got a sale price adjustment of $385 for it. I've had it for several years now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Was it overpriced when I bought it? No, otherwise I would not have bought it. If I thought it was overpriced and bought it anyway, I'd foolish. The fact that it can be bought some places for $239 now has nothing to do with paying $385 for it when I did. I certainly got more than $150 worth of enjoyment out of it.

If you only think that you are a wise shopper only when you get something at the rock bottom price, good luck. You'll be sitting on your money scouring the ads rather than shooting.

This^^^

Only I would add life is short, I'll be enjoying the gun range with my purchases, while the next guy is worried about paying too much. I can make more money, it's time I cannot replace.

 

[epj]

Years ago, I dabbled in old Corvettes. Bought at least a dozen over a period of several years. Sold every one of them at a profit. Sometimes a very good profit. Also bought a brand new 98 convertible when they first appeared. $50K give or take a bit. 4-5 years later when she decided she wanted something else, the Vette brought about $20K in trade value. Same thing with guns. If you expect your guns to hold their value, buy older, collectable guns. Don't shoot them, as it may detract from the value.

 

[Arik]

I also love the comments, I can get glocks for 300. Anomalies should stereotype the value from the poor soul who fell on hard times and stumbled into such a wise bargain hunter!

Not anomalies. A typical used glock goes for around $350 depending on accessories and such. The only new Glock I ever bought was the 43. All others were used and between $300 - $350

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[Arik]

Yeah, this thread has really gone off the rails with this mistaken notion that someone has actually advocated buying plastic guns as investment pieces bought to yield a profit. No people! Chill out! It's exactly the opposite!

Another thing: The term "investment" can mean different things... and in the context of typical (non-dealer) firearms accumulating/collecting, it generally means a simple, reliable, physical store of wealth... not speculating or trying to produce an income or profit. In fact, many would argue that would be illegal in a strict reading of Federal law.

Most of us are happier if our guns don't lose value just sitting in the safe. Yes, with use and wear (especially excessive wear & tear), any gun can lose value. Some will also rise in value over time. But what we are seeing here is plastic guns nosediving in value not even accounting for use or wear & tear... and that is a little disturbing to some of us. But it really shouldn't have been entirely unexpected given how cheap they are to make.

I was one of the damn fools who bought a Shield .45 just a few days before the first hints of the rebate hit the Interwebs. Do I feel I got the Big Zingaroo from S&W and somewhat from my dealer too? Yes, I do. Turns out I threw away a C-note (or more as it turns out) for nothing and I can't afford to do that sort of thing too often on my pitiful retirement income. So lesson learned the hard way for me: No more plastic ever again unless it's something I really, really need.

I'm not sure a rebate for 3 months on 3 models constitutes a nose dive in prices. What happens on July 1st when the rebate is over? Is it all of a sudden a price hike? It's simply a sale, almost everyone has one every now and then.

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[greeenteeee]

I'll keep buying all cheap S&W I can, so far have (5) trouble free guns. I had more troubles with overpriced glocks than with S&W.

That's far from the norm-- what kind of troubles?

 

[ladder13]

I paid 600+ for mine, now look


Heads up - Sport II $399.99 shipped FREE

 

[digiroc]

Cheap in Cheap out ...

You get what you pay for. Buy a cheap plastic gun and you have not invested in value, you have invested in utility.

If you use it to defend you life and home you made a great investment. If it stays in your sock drawer you have still invested in peace of mind.

If you try to sell it or trade it in for a quality firearm you will not have made a good investment.

Simple economics.

digiroc

 

[Muss Muggins]

The only thing I have ever purchased wherein I am watchful and concerned about the potential resale value is my home. I'm not counting my investment in my government pension fund, as the only active management I did of that fund was to slowly shift more money into safer funds as I approached retirement. I can understand how purchase of stock is always with the resale value in mind. Other than that, I buy stuff to use and enjoy. As someone who watched a $25 bar t shirt with the tag still on it go for $2 at a garage sale, I can imagine that most others are of the same mindset.

I have some pistols that have appreciated nicely in value over the years. I carry the most profitable one (a four figure gain) nearly every day. Others have held steady or decreased, but that doesn't bother me. I bought them because I liked them.

 

[S&W Rover]

Sumpin is up with the Shields, in particular. Market forces are pushing prices down, in general, but it's more than that: S&W is pushing out excess stock, probably in anticipation of a Shield 2.0.

And if you like your Shield -- and I am enjoying my new one, and thinking about how I can use it, to the point of maybe leaving my 642 on the shelf except for the quickest trips to the ATM -- you might buy another S&W pistol!

3d Gen prices are more interesting -- they bounce around. After a lot of 5906's hit the used police market over the past couple of years, bringing prices down into the low $300's, I think they are starting to go up in price - despite the general market conditions. Condition is everything, though.

 

[Arik]

Sumpin is up with the Shields, in particular. Market forces are pushing prices down, in general, but it's more than that: S&W is pushing out excess stock, probably in anticipation of a Shield 2.0.

And if you like your Shield -- and I am enjoying my new one, and thinking about how I can use it, to the point of maybe leaving my 642 on the shelf except for the quickest trips to the ATM -- you might buy another S&W pistol!

3d Gen prices are more interesting -- they bounce around. After a lot of 5906's hit the used police market over the past couple of years, bringing prices down into the low $300's, I think they are starting to go up in price - despite the general market conditions. Condition is everything, though.

Then why wouldn't they do that with the M&Ps when 2.0 came out? Or wait and have a sale on all right before all new 2.0 come out? And is there going to be a 2.0 SDVE? Cause they're on sale too!

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