ACORN
Member
How much do you expect a pawn shop to come down off it’s listed price?
Buying from a pawn shop
- Thread starter ACORN
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As little as possible!
Only bought one gun from a Pawn shop and it was before the computer era. He knew what it was worth priced it a bit high and came down to a reasonable (AKA normal price)
I’ve bought a few guns from pawn shops and it depends on how long they have had the gun. The longer the better for you. Some actually have a policy of reducing the price every three months or so until it sells. I would guess that all pawn shops are not alike but you can be sure they probably don’t have near the asking price of any gun in it. Start low. You can always increase your offer but it’s hard to lower it.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
Little to none around here. The several shops in the area that have a decent selection of guns sell enough that they know about how long the gun will stay on the shelf, and will stick to their price. If I won't pay, somebody else is likely to.
There's only one pawn shop I'll shop at around here, it's an hour away, but he always has something nice and has a wide selection of long and short guns. He looks more like a gun shop than a pawn shop, I'd say 85% of his business is firearms.
You need to understand pawn shops a bit to answer that. They make a lot of their money by loaning out money. The interest on a $100 pawn is usually around $20 a month. An item sitting on the shelf for a month makes nothing. Most of them will drop more on something that has set for a while, than something that just got put out. Plus, certain times of the year more people pawn stuff, so they want to have more cash to put out. The month before Christmas is one. Then there is the how good a customer you are. Most of the pawn shops I go in will give me around 20% by just asking "whats your best price?" I usually pay that. I might try for a bit more on a bigger ticket item. They got to make money too.
Guns are a big ticket item. During the time leading up to hunting season they will not budge as much as right after. Simple supply and demand. Here revolvers are kind of hard to find and that limits the amount they will deal. Black rifles go up and down with the political mood. I bought a like new in box basic AR with 4 30 round mags for $400 cash after a certain Whitehouse regime change. They had been sky high then the bottom kind of fell out. I was in a pawnshop with a lot in the racks simply asked what is the best deal you will make me on one. He showed it to me stated a price and I asked if I could get a couple extra mags.
Guns are a big ticket item. During the time leading up to hunting season they will not budge as much as right after. Simple supply and demand. Here revolvers are kind of hard to find and that limits the amount they will deal. Black rifles go up and down with the political mood. I bought a like new in box basic AR with 4 30 round mags for $400 cash after a certain Whitehouse regime change. They had been sky high then the bottom kind of fell out. I was in a pawnshop with a lot in the racks simply asked what is the best deal you will make me on one. He showed it to me stated a price and I asked if I could get a couple extra mags.
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meaneyedcatz
Member
I’ve only bought one gun from a pawn shop. It was a replica Remington black powder revolver.
IIRC he only wanted $75 or $125. Not sure but looked it over and asked what’s wrong with it.
He stated nothing is wrong with it but nobody knows what it is.
Told him I do and bought it on the spot.
On a side note, I’ve bought some great music cd’s for cheap there.
IIRC he only wanted $75 or $125. Not sure but looked it over and asked what’s wrong with it.
He stated nothing is wrong with it but nobody knows what it is.
Told him I do and bought it on the spot.
On a side note, I’ve bought some great music cd’s for cheap there.
I bought two S&W revolvers from a local pawn shop, and the manager wouldn't budge the first time, but did come down 10 percent the second time when the owner saw me paying cash. I paid cash the first time too. I thought both purchases were fair and reasonable at the time.
I don’t think anyone can expect any pawn shop to “deal” a certain way simply because it is a pawn shop.
I would say that generally speaking, you can walk in to one with the thought process that they probably paid far less to get the gun you’re considering than almost any other brick & mortar shop that sells firearms.
Beyond that, just be friendly and don’t be one of those poor guys that will get all offended if their price is lousy or they won’t lower it as much as you think they should. Just keep it friendly and move on if you don’t like the deal that is offered.
I would say that generally speaking, you can walk in to one with the thought process that they probably paid far less to get the gun you’re considering than almost any other brick & mortar shop that sells firearms.
Beyond that, just be friendly and don’t be one of those poor guys that will get all offended if their price is lousy or they won’t lower it as much as you think they should. Just keep it friendly and move on if you don’t like the deal that is offered.
Pawn shops are a business just like any other.
Most pawns around me know very well the value they have in their inventory.
Most pawns around me know very well the value they have in their inventory.
If it is an item I am interested in , I ask, " How firm are you on the price?"
I already know what I am ready to spent......if we are really close anyway I accept it OR, do the old coin flip.....Heads is my price, Tails is their price.
Keeps thing fun on both sides of the counter.......
Randy
I already know what I am ready to spent......if we are really close anyway I accept it OR, do the old coin flip.....Heads is my price, Tails is their price.
Keeps thing fun on both sides of the counter.......
Randy
Maddog 521
Member
I usually decide what I want to pay and go from there. If their number is close to mine I'll dicker. If not I say thanks and move on.
In my shop, new guns you pay the sticker price/pay cash, no add on for sales tax. Pre-owned, usually will discount 10%, maybe more if multiple purchases or something I've had a long time.
And always Cash talks, B.S, Walks. Start laying down the C-notes and I'll let you know when it is enough.
And always Cash talks, B.S, Walks. Start laying down the C-notes and I'll let you know when it is enough.
I have purchased firearms, holsters, and other accessories from a number of pawnshops. It is the same as any other dealer, I will ask what is the best price for the item. If they ask what I am willing to offer I tell them. Most always I’m able to strike a deal.
I find if I can develop a relationship with the person, I often am able to make a deal. That is not always possible, it takes time, so I will visit just to go by and say hi.
I find if I can develop a relationship with the person, I often am able to make a deal. That is not always possible, it takes time, so I will visit just to go by and say hi.
Pawn shops can't loan money on guns in my state, so I've had no direct experience. OTOH, when my son lived in AL he bought a couple of guns from them. He got decent prices, but nothing spectacular.
He did much better buying tools. He figured out what times of year certain trades were slow and shopped accordingly.
It's amazing how "frugal" he became once he was married, had kids, and owned a home.
He did much better buying tools. He figured out what times of year certain trades were slow and shopped accordingly.
It's amazing how "frugal" he became once he was married, had kids, and owned a home.
In the shop where I work it depends on how popular it is, how long it’s been there, what we have unit, your attitude, and cash. We often discount hunting rifles a lot simply because there are few places close to our area that you can use them, so if we pawn or buy them we don’t have a lot tied up.
I've bought a lot of guns at pawn shops, and know when to walk away. If we're close to a price, I'll just agree with their price if it's out-the door". I had a deal with one shop that I would pay $50 for any Remington Express shotgun, regardless of condition - didn't realize how quickly I had too many. There's a shop in a nearby city that I stay away from because I suspect they're more than a pawn shop - like a fencing operation.
Good point on the cash. Some business that deal with stuff like this in cash might make some favorable "mistakes" on their books by not reporting all their cash sales correctly. I always offer cash.
Most pawn shop owners are pretty savvy people. They know about Gunbroker, etc. They might not be experts, but they definitely have a clue. They also understand places like that have fees and shipping etc and that a quick cash sale with a decent profit margin means bills paid and cash to put back to work.
Several of the pawn shops I visit when out of town, know me, I visit with the people there when I drop in and they are not busy, am friendly courteous. They also know I am a Smith guy. I think being a regular customer helps. I also buy tools, and a few other things. Sometimes I just ask to see something and they will tell me right up front what they will let me have it for.
Another thing is some pawnshops belong to chain or are associated with others. I have seen a gun that was in one pawnshop for a while appear in another a town a couple hundred miles away (remember this is a big state with not that may real towns)
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If I see a gun that I like in the pawn shop I always deal with I point out that I can buy gun on line cheaper and have no sales tax. At that point I can get some off the price because they know I will buy if I like the price. I still pay a bit more but I like buying local after I handle gun and can walk out the door with it. Plus no transfer fee.
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Have bought some nice older S&W revolvers few years ago when black guns were “ everything” and they had sat in the display case for several months. Also knowing the owner and his family helps as well as paying in dead presidents. Have a friend that works in one close to home, get a heads up if something “ nice” comes in.
Erich
Member
It depends on the shop and the owner - do they know what they're doing and do they really want to turn over merch? I've had some who made completely reasonable deals when I was completely reasonable. (One fellow from whom I've bought still sets every S&W revolver he has on the counter when I come in, with a reasonable reduction in price announced as he sets down each gun.) I've had some who suggested deals that were preposterous under the same circumstances. (I made a reasonable offer after a goofily priced gun sat for a year - it was rejected with an absurd story of market value and collectability. For a while there, I'd go back every six months to visit the preposterously overpriced gun - and I'd remind the owner of my reasonable offer with a grin. Three and a half years after my offer, the gun was no longer in the case: he had given it to his girlfriend. )
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