How best to sell most of my guns.

[Jerry N.]

I'm looking for ideas on how best to go about selling my collection (and I use the term loosely ). I have 4 revolvers, an old 22 browning pistol, 2 Glocks, and a couple long guns that I just want to get rid of. Unfortunately, I can't remember the last time I shot any of them and don't see me doing so in the future. So, I'm looking for a good way to handle getting rid of them. I'm pretty sure a pawn shop would be the easiest but would yield the least amount of money. Alternatively, selling them individually would be the most time consuming and likely result in the best amount of money. Is there something in between? I'd like to deal with one person/company and be done with it. Something that would give me a fair amount of money for the least amount of trouble. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I plan on keeping my tactical shot gun and will buy a nice 45 pistol for the night stand but with that, I'll have ammo that I won't have a gun for and will want to get rid of that too. Any help/ideas would be appreciated.

 

[DHernandez]

List them on the forum, or multiple forums. Members may buy them up faster than you think.

 

[Tazman11]

Forum members are generally a trust worthy group and pay a fair price. I generally look at Gunbroker for an estimate of price and depending on the gun list it to the lower average, depending on condition and special consideration. Listing on Gunbroker can be quite an undertaking and is not inexpensive. I purchase the majority of my firearms, not purchased on auctions, on the forums I belong to. I’ll bet there are quite a few members waiting to see your offering. Do pay attention to the forum rules or you will get some unwanted attention from the moderators.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Do your homework. Visit local gun shops and pawn shops.

I frequent a friend’s pawn shop quite frequently. He sells a lot of consignment guns. He charges 15%. Long time customers pay 10%. He sells consignments in the store, Gunbroker, and or Armslist. He’s very successful.

10%-15% is well worth the hassle. They sell the gun, do the paperwork, and ship it. You collect a check.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Yep.... I recently decided to get rid of an old Colt .38...I took it to a local dealer I knew and told him "no reserve" because he said in a large internet based gun auction like he has, guns always sell and most of the time for above average prices...He listed it on auction. It brought about $60 more than I thought it would and he took 15%...I did nothing but hand the gun to him and he did the rest.

 

[Jerry N.]

Thanks. I never thought of a consignment sale.

 

[REParker]

I'm looking for ideas on how best to go about selling my collection (and I use the term loosely ). I have 4 revolvers, an old 22 browning pistol, 2 Glocks, and a couple long guns that I just want to get rid of. Unfortunately, I can't remember the last time I shot any of them and don't see me doing so in the future. So, I'm looking for a good way to handle getting rid of them. I'm pretty sure a pawn shop would be the easiest but would yield the least amount of money. Alternatively, selling them individually would be the most time consuming and likely result in the best amount of money. Is there something in between? I'd like to deal with one person/company and be done with it. Something that would give me a fair amount of money for the least amount of trouble. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I plan on keeping my tactical shot gun and will buy a nice 45 pistol for the night stand but with that, I'll have ammo that I won't have a gun for and will want to get rid of that too. Any help/ideas would be appreciated.

You could post a comprehensive list here. Some of us have FFL's that would allow you to deal more or less directly, and those that are C&R eligible (pre-1975, currently) have a broader audience. Also, a lot of your answer depends on which State you live in. Good luck!

 

[crasig]

List them on the forum, or multiple forums. Members may buy them up faster than you think.

I agree, I closed my Gun broker account because I'm not looking to buy/sell any more + they got to be a bother.
Forum Listing IS best, & NO COMMISSION to pay. Last thing I had for sale I got a number of offers to "meet & sell" - who backed out - when I told them I use an FFL to ship to their FFL, OR do the transfer WITH an FFL . IMO it's asking for trouble selling to a possible unknown felon / terrorist & having trouble with the law.

 

[sjmjax]

I have a similar problem. I have a fairly sizable collection and don’t want to leave it to uninterested relatives.

My concern is not with listing but with shipping and potential legal restrictions to some destinations.

I no longer have a “working relationship” with a local gun shop or FFL holder. Most I use to deal with have retired or passed away.

 

[NavyVet24]

I'm in a similar position. Hitting 80 in a few months with not great health. I probably need to start listing things because I have no one to leave them to and my wife would not know what to do with them if I passed. Problem is that I open the safe and see too many things I hate to part with.

 

[Jerry N.]

If I sell on this forum, how does that work. I take it to an FFL and they ship it to an FFL where the purchaser picks it up? How much should I expect the FFL to add to the cost? I understand that it would be “paid” by the seller - e.g. I sell it for $100 and the buyer pays me $125 to cover the FFL, but that still factors into the negotiation/pricing. As mentioned, there’s no way I’d sell it except through an FFL or to a CPL holder here in Michigan. Anyway, please explain some of the details.

 

[ken158]

List them on the forum, or multiple forums. Members may buy them up faster than you think.

If you sell individually on forums and such you have to deal with packing, shipping and FFL’s. If you have a good local gun shop in your town that does consignments you set your price and let them do the work.

 

[Dave Lively]

Shipping can be expensive. Its been several years since I sold a gun using GunBroker so some of this may have changed.

As a non-FFL holder the major carriers like UPS and Fedex will only ship a gun using their most expensive overnight shipping option, about $125. If you go through a FFL on your side as well as the sellers side they can ship a gun using USPS priority mail. The last time I did this the FFL charged about $30 for his trouble and about $25 for the actual shipping costs including insurance.

Legally, any gun shipped out of state has to go to a FFL but does not have to be shipped by a FFL. You can ship the gun to a FFL and there is a BATF website where you can verify the FFL is currently licensed and the address is correct. Practically, a lot of FFLs will not accept guns unless they are shipped by a FFL and its also less expensive.

 

[mtgianni]

In my area a gun show table costs $40-$45. Set up and you should be done in 3 days.
IMO a pawn shop or FFL dealer would buy at less than 50 % of their selling price.

 

[65-2x2]

I have thinned out some by taking to a gun shop on consignment. No risk, no trouble and I have to do is wait on the check to come in the mail. I do not begrudge the 15% fee charged. My brother has sold a lot of stuff to auction houses, that worked for him. I also have a gun shop that will actually buy pieces at fair prices; not as much as you may get in a face to face, but then again, risk free. The last route I would take would be face to face sells to strangers. People are just too unreliable any more; no-shows, criminals, and people who think that you owe them something for nothing.

 

[Jerry N.]

Thanks for all the advice. Tomorrow is Monday. I’m going to make some calls and see if I can find a place to do consignment. I know there’s a local pawn shop that I wanted to sell some gold to and they said they’d only do that on consignment so maybe they do that with guns also. In the end, I’m probably willing to take less just to get it done. I have 2 older S&W’s that have the box and original grips. I might spend some extra time on those. I’ll start with everything else and see how it goes.

The good news is that they were all bought more that ten years ago so even at 50% of current value, I might do better that break even.

Again, thank you all for the input.

 

[Baxter6551]

I would definitely list the two Smiths with boxes in the classifieds here. As others have noted it is a great way to sell with the help of a good shipping FFL. Include FFl fees and shipping costs in your prices (so noted in the listing).
I would recommend trying to sell all of them here first. People generally list things here at a fair price to both seller and buyer. I have both sold and bought off Forums with no issues.

 

[Papaorca]

I'm looking for ideas on how best to go about selling my collection (and I use the term loosely ). I have 4 revolvers, an old 22 browning pistol, 2 Glocks, and a couple long guns that I just want to get rid of. Unfortunately, I can't remember the last time I shot any of them and don't see me doing so in the future. So, I'm looking for a good way to handle getting rid of them. I'm pretty sure a pawn shop would be the easiest but would yield the least amount of money. Alternatively, selling them individually would be the most time consuming and likely result in the best amount of money. Is there something in between? I'd like to deal with one person/company and be done with it. Something that would give me a fair amount of money for the least amount of trouble. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I plan on keeping my tactical shot gun and will buy a nice 45 pistol for the night stand but with that, I'll have ammo that I won't have a gun for and will want to get rid of that too. Any help/ideas would be appreciated.

If you have a Cabela's near by they will provide an appraisal at no charge and an offer to buy if they are interested.

 

[brians356]

If you have a Cabela's near by they will provide an appraisal at no charge and an offer to buy if they are interested.

That was to be my suggestion, if a Cabela's is reasonably close. They told me several years ago they would inspect my gun in front of me, explain its NRA condition, look up the value in the current Blue Book, and offer a fixed percentage of that, I believe 2/3. I haven't yet sold them a gun, but I plan to test it. If it's as described, I think it's a fair path to a "win/win" outcome. No haggling, no ads, no scammers, no nitwits, no packing, insurance, or shipping. If you insist on book value, you've got hoops to jump through, and need some luck as well. If you're an expert on values, and already a seasoned horse trader, knock 'em dead.
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[Jerry N.]

That was to be my suggestion, if a Cabela's is reasonably close. They told me several years ago they would inspect my gun in front of me, explain its NRA condition, look up the value in the current Blue Book, and offer a fixed percentage of that, I believe 2/3. I haven't yet sold them a gun, but I plan to test it. If it's as described, I think it's a fair path to a "win/win" outcome. No haggling, no ads, no scammers, no nitwits, no packing, insurance, or shipping. If you insist on book value, you've got hoops to jump through, and need some luck as well. If you're an expert on values, and already a seasoned horse trader, knock 'em dead.
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Cabela's is about an hour away. Seems like it would be worth the drive. I'll give that some thought. Thanks for the idea Papaorca and for the details brians356.