Have any of you out there basically stopped looking for new firearms at you local gun shops and pawn shops? Every shop in my area seems to have greatly inflated prices, even for items in very marginal condition. And don't even consider trying to trade in any firearms that you may have. They always offer an insulting amount and basically lie to your face telling you that "we wouln't be able to get more than $350 for that if we sell it here." You can expect if you do trade it in, you will see the same item with a $550-600 price on it next week. If you are going to low ball me, you do not need to lie in the process. If I offer even a bit below what they are asking for an item they look at you like you are crazy and do not seem to appreciate the fact that you have made a decent offer. I have gone to mostly private face to face transactions in my state. Once in a while I will buy online but only if it is a very hard to find item or a very good deal. By the time you add the FFL fee and state sales tax (which in Washington state the FFL MUST charge) you are usually adding at least $100 to the cost of a gun. I guess it is going to take a lot of time to build my personal revolver collection! I hope some of you out there have a better options. Perhaps there is just not enough competition in my local area.

I seem to buy most of mine at auction sites.I've learned to ask questions and fuzzy pictures aren't worth messing with.The local shops carry the latest and greatest,while a few carry consignments with optimistic prices.

It's dissapointing when everything seems priced out of reach or they just never have what you're looking for, or want an arm and a leg to special order something. If you're not into ARs, Glocks, M&Ps or XD whatevers there's not much to look at. The gun shows up here have been lacking lately and shipping prices are higher than just about anywhere else, plus we get ripped off with the "next day" BS from UPS since it's highly unlikely they can get it up here in one day. I've just about given up on looking for a particular item at local shops...if I happen to be in one and see something interesting I might consider it, but if I want something in particular, like a vintage S&W, I look to the internet more and more.

I keep trying to buy from my local but i can almost always get it cheaper online and used guns?...forget about it. Very few used guns show up in my area worth looking at. When I read about all the good finds my fellow forum members come across I turn green with envy.

I would prefer to buy local but I'm not a Glock or an AR buyer. The dealers that don't "only" offer the above seem to think their stock is rare and collectable! Used guns are usually trash at full retail, so I buy most of mine off the internet. I've been lucky so far in that I've been able to pick up some nice ones here and on GB, but as you say - you have to add shipping, FFL transfer fee and "WA State Sales Tax" so you need to buy right or live with your decision to have more invested in it then you should when it's finally yours.

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Don't tread on me

I am very lucky that I have a great old fashion gun shop with an indoor firing range five minutes from my home. The firearm prices are much higher here in Tennessee than in Florida where I am from. However
Tennessee is a "Gun Culture" state and everyone owns guns. Also every third person I have met in Tennessee is a un-licensed gun dealer, so this might be why the prices are so high.
My friends purchase firearms privately thus avoiding sales tax (9.5%) and FFL fees, plus background checks.
Surviving on a disabled pension I do not buy but have sold most of my firearms to meet medical expenses not covered by insurance.

I guess it has a lot to do with competition in your area, up here in the Boston vicinity I have 5 gun shops I can shop at within a 10 mile radius.

When it comes to a new gun purchase the prices especially on S&W's are usually $100+ below the MSRP.
But in used guns, especially pre locks, different story.

I purchased a revolver in 1990 for $300.00, two weeks later decided I made a big mistake, traded it in (unfired) for $150.00.
But once I walked out of the shop, it no longer was considered new, just like purchasing a brand new Automobile.

Up here in this neck of the woods, the dealers have huge expenses just to be able to operate, taxes, rent, employees etc.

Another thing, people that buy online can't physically see or handle the firearm they are interested in, so off to the local gun shop with no intent of purchasing.

So I guess if selling or buying, go the private sales route and see if you can get what you want.

In many states the hand gun purchased on line would have to go through a FFL, no FFL then what?

The shop I always do business with, check it out Specials at Four Seasons in Woburn, MA

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Not very many 'new' guns interest me. I'm more into finding the good old fashion real steel classic autos and sixguns that were traded in on the tupperware.

About two weeks ago , I watched some nimrod trade a near mint with box & papers 70s Colt Det Special and $100 cash in on a Taurus auto!

Absolutely. I'll bid lower on an out-of-state auction than I will on something local. You're paying tax no matter what, but I can drive quite a few miles on the $60 or so shipping and transfer fee would cost, plus you can see it in person rather than rely on a picture or three.

Pete - have you been to Double Eagle pawn up in Deer Park?

Yes! All they have anymore is Taurus at S&W prices. Cannot deal at all, and they wonder why no guns are selling. Nothing but cheap dirty ammo. Bleh.

Well..no..I believe you pay for the privilege of having a selection of stuff you can look at and buy first-hand.

You cannot expect a store to pay it's overhead with a minimum of profits. And it's not like a gunstore is government subsidized. In fact in Oklahoma an extra tax is charged on sporting goods for the state wildlife department.

Reminds me of a joke..two fella's decided to buy a truck load of watermelons and sell them along the road to make a few extra bucks. They buy a bunch of melons for $1.00 each and sold them for a $1.00 each..when they tallied up at the end of the day..gas..time..lunch and all..they lost money on the deal. They concluded that they needed a bigger truck!

If I can buy a firearm or other product local..and the price is not just ridiculously high/out of line..I will do so. I figure both the merchant and myself will profit in the long term.

This is why God invented gunshows.
Steve

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Steve

I don't buy black guns or spazmatics, just the old stuff. FL seems to have a love affair with preparing for the next holocaust. I guess I will be undergunned with my Winchester 38-55 and my S&W 38/44. I don't even own an AK47 and that is about all the gunshops in my neck of the woods have to offer. The FL gun shows are not much better, however the AL shows are much better and offer some chance at old stuff, usually a table or two. In recent years about the only old guns come from friends or from on-line. Pick'ins are scarce at best.

I have been dealing with three local gunshops for the last few years. One has always had the best prices, and the best inventory...but they really lowball on trades. I have spent a small fortune with them, and I am not exaggerating. The end of our "relationship" came a couple of months ago. As I said, they lowball on trades, and I know that...I prefer to trade rather than try to sell outright, even though I know I am going to lose money, because I don't have to deal with shipping, and I don't have to worry about keeping records, etc.

So anyway, they had a NIB S&W Model 908, and I decided I needed it. I took in a new, unfired Ruger LCR .357 (which I had bought at this shop) wanting to trade it in on the 908, and of course I knew I'd have to put some cash as well. Well, the owner said he wouldn't take it in trade, because he had others in his inventory...wouldn't even make me his usual lowball offer. So, I said I'd just buy it outright. When we were at the register, he hands me a beat up, really scruffy looking 908 that he said he had taken in trade, and would sell it to me a lot cheaper than the new 908.

So, he'll take a beat-up used gun in trade, but not my NEW revolver, and from a customer who has spent a great deal of money there? I said no thanks, I'll just buy the new one...and I wish I had said no to even buying it, but you just don't come across NIB 3rd generations very often (or at least, I don't) so I bought it and left...but I'm not going back, if that is how they value my business.

The dealer I go to most never has the kind of primers or powders I need. I get those at the gun shows as they're cheaper and no hazmat fees. Use to you could buy all sorts of primers, powders, brass, dies, presses, etc and most gun shops but not anymore. they are all but worthless when it comes to reloading or casting needs.

Most all the guns are out of sight in price except Glocks which are on par with the Internet prices. I have yet to see any Ruger SAA's, double actions or any S&W autos and for sure few, if any, revolvers.

Seems to be a problem common to my hobbies: you see all this lovely kit in the magazines and can't find anywhere that sells it - they have to order it - which takes months. There was no ecommerce back in the early 90s so you had to go to the local gun shop or order it through the post.

I seem to be a bit fortunate in the the Detroit area has a multitude of gunshops both large and small who tend to be competitive. So, while I don't see prices as low as some of the internet dealers they are normally within what the total for purchase, shipping, and transfer fee would be. About the only negative is that I have yet to find a shop that I would consider revolver specialists, so the selection is limited to just those revolvers that are percieved as being "easy" to sell. One odd aspect of this is that in the past 3 years I have only seen one single 22 caliber revolver for sale and that was a model 63 which went fast. You'd think that with the demand for 617's out there that at least one of the larger shops would stock the 617.

No. My favorite local shop is pretty fair on prices. You will never find a bargin there, but you will never get cheated either.

No - but I hear from a neighbor that I should go up and take a look. They also have a shop in Spokane.

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Don't tread on me

My Sentiments exactly, I had a local shop try to take advantage of me (misrepresented a WASR AK) even though I had bought other guns from him for years.. Must be the dollar crunch affecting their thinking....

The one dealer in my area who had all the widows bringing him their estate guns has retired. People seem to have taken to the auction sites (which I hate) and the internet sales sights. I've gotten my best deals here. Forum members seem to offer the best guns for the best prices.

Where I live there are a number of gun stores. The majority of them are over priced and carry a horrid selection of firearms. There are some that have great selections but their prices are high and their customer service is cold then absolute zero.

I will not do business will a place that has horrible customer service. I'm only 27 years old but I've spent my time behind the counter of a gun shop. Sometimes our selection wasn't great but I made sure that my customers were treated great. If I didn't have it I'd order it ASAP!

I enjoy purchasing and collecting old firearms like MilSurps and S&W Revolvers. Most stores don't carry the older guns simply because they don't sell (in enough numbers to support the store). But I do shop at my local stores for supplies like mags, ammo, cleaning parts, etc... I give them my business because they treat me right and will bend over backwards for me. Those stores are few and far between sadly.

The gun stores make their money when they buy the used trade-in. They low-ball the trade in, because they know that the customer has a pretty good idea of what he wants and what it costs. But he has no idea what his trade-in is worth.

That said, I have gotten some good deals from my gun shop. Some of the popular junk is way over-priced, but people buy it.

The collector "Triple Lock" will never be seen gathering dust in one of these shops though. These shop owners have to know guns to stay in business, and they also have to know people... Like the guy that just has to have the new pistol just featured in the latest gun rag and is willing to trade his great uncle's old WWII .45 to have it.

The gun business has changed a lot since I was a kid.

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Fuego

Gun shows have become full of flea market items and tables of new black plastic guns. Years ago , ya rarely saw tables full of NEW firearms and stuff at shows.

There are a few local shops I don't spend my money at anymore, for various reasons, including personel, as well as prices. But my favorite LGS is a little hole in the wall in town that has a great selection of used guns, pistols and rifles. His prices are usually right on or a bit less than I see elsewhere. I've bought a 66, 17, 64, 28, 19 and more... Prices always seem to be less than what I see when I research. He has a large selection of used parts as well as new guns. His new gun prices are better than most in my area, actually, very good for such a small shop. Buying and Selling Guns and Gun Parts

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Jack C

I've been pretty lucky here. The one gun store I go to sells primarily new stuff, at fair prices. Also has parts/accessories. Great treatment.
My gunsmith's shop doesn't carry new stuff. Seldom has many used handguns. That said, he's a good 'smith, and gets really good prices on new stuff. After that, it's the internet auction sites, or right here on
the Forum. I don't expect a great deal here, but fellow members sell for what the guns are worth. Can't get fairer than that. TACC1

I'm one of the lucky ones. I have two great shops (sorta local. One's 15 miles away the other 65).

I hate to say it because I remember when gun shops around here were actually good places to buy guns, buy I don't trade much with them anymore.

It seems that local shops base pricing on what they see on internet auction and sales sites. And I'm not talking about what guns actually sold for, but the ridiculous wishin' and hopin' prices people put on guns. I guess they're not sophisticated enough to know that what they need to determine real value is the price the gun actually sold for.

I understand that they need to make money. That's why anybody is in business.

But letting a beat up model 17 with rubber grips sit under glass in your shop for 3 years priced at $795 (actual example) and being unwilling to work out a fair price ain't no way to make money.

We have at least 4 great gunshops in my area that have amazing stuff from time to time and fairly decent prices on a lot of it. In fact, some are far more competitive for selection and prices on some items (not necessarily across the board) than anything I've found at gunshows or online lately. I've bought from the local shops over the last 2 years a S&W Model 681 in excellent condition for $250, a old model Single Six in about 90% condition for $225, and a Marlin 39-M Mountie also in great shape for $300. A ladyfriend just got an excellent Model 640 38 Special with factory goncalo grips that looks all but unfired for $375, which I thought was pretty decent for it.

Then we have a Cabelas and Bass Pro....(laughter).

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" I said, good DAY! "

We have 3 and I've 2written off two. One is a "toy" store. One is overpriced and charges extra for credit cards (and a customer got shot there a week or so ago). The other is still pretty good but bargains are getting scarce.

Been to Double Eagle. Their advertised prices sound pretty good but the prices in the store are significantly higher and they only take certain forms of payment.

Stopped at a couple of shops in western Wash over the weekend. One was REALLY high. The other was a pawn shop and prices weren't bad==only fair.

I have mixed results at my local gun shops. I have not bought a "quality" Smith at any of my local gun shops. However, I find Smiths that need to be "spiffed" up or just flat need some attention, and I end of buying those. I wish that I could find some quality Smiths, but they just do not have them. Mostly plastic guns. I have 4 that I can and do go to on a regualr basis. Just the way it is in my area.

I just did some quick calculations in my head. I have bought at least nine S&W revolvers, three Model 19, four or five Model 10, and a Model 37, plus a new Marlin 1894 Carbine, at my local store in the last 10 months or so. All the revolvers were pinned, and all the magnums recessed. When they get in an older S&W, they call me. This shop, the NAPA I talk about so much, probably has the largest new gun inventory in GA. I have been dealing with them since 1968.

I don't even attempt to trade a gun in. I know that they can't afford to give me in trade anywhere near what I can get from an individual by advertising in a GA S&S. It works real well. They call me with a gun and a price. "Yeah, put it back with my name on it." I go in, if it is what I want, I buy it on credit. (I have an acct. at the store.) If it taxes my cash-flow situation too much, I advertise something else on the S&S. I can usually move a gun to cover most of the cost within 10 days.

Several of you have mentioned that your lgs is basing prices on what they see on the 'net auctions. My shop actually sells a lot of guns this way, so they know what the market is.

Funny thing. My brother is part owner of three pawn shops that all have great inventories. He still buys a lot of his guns at our local shop, and I buy all those I don't get from individuals there.

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Georgia On My Mind

I was just thinking when I was writing my previous post: "I wish I had kept that Model 19 I sold Jerry."

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Georgia On My Mind

You can't quick sale guns locally for much more than the gun store is going to give you?

I don't go to the shows. All I hear is that they are very crowded, aisles are slim, and everything is too close together.
AND there are NO good buys there.
I don't need the aggravation.
I've only been lucky enough to buy 2 guns locally, one from a sporting goods store someone told me about, and the rest on online auctions.
My lgs has very high prices and small selection of revolvers.
Even with fees, I'm better off buying online.

Hey redlevel, now I know why your NAPA store didn't have anything good, they call you and you come get it. Was down at our club range near Cusseta below Fort Benning a couple weeks ago and decided to swing by and check out your NAPA. Didn't think I would ever get there. Lots of new stuff, took me awhile to figure out the way they had stuff sorted out in the cases. Yes lots of guns but nothing that interested me. So I headed for home(Newnan)

My LGS is owned by a friend and is my favorite hangout. They even keep beer in the bait refrigerator. He does transfers for me, ships guns, helps me with various problems, etc. Last couple of guns I bought, I looked at the price tags, told him I would take them and in both cases I was charged much less than they were listed for.

Gun Shops are like Gun Shows. You never know whats going to be on the table/rack or under the glass. Trade ins come and go fairly quickly if priced right. They hang around if not.

New stuff,,you can price that anywhere. It usually comes down to how much the difference is between shipping, transfer costs, tax, etc between a FTF purchase and ordering it.
I haven't bought myself a new gun in 40yrs anyway so that doesn't matter to me.

To get a really great deal you have to find a mistake made by the proprietor. That used to be more common, but now with the miracle of AlGores Internet,,everyones an expert wether they really are or not and price things out in the stratosphere,,,"cause that's what they're goin' fer".

There's some shops and GS dealers that you just know never have or take in trade what you are interested in so you generally pass them by.
But the others are worth a look,,if you can stand repeated disappointment with an occasional shining moment when a decent deal is snagged. Can be alot of work w/little reward.
Kind of like hunting and fishing and I gave those up long ago.

Give up? NO!

I support many of the local mom and pop gun shops because I don't care for Cabelas and such.

I have a friend that owns a gun shop and another that owns a pawn shop. I learned a lot working at both.

First off, anyone that expects a good deal from ANYONE when trading in a gun is foolish.

The markup on new guns isn't much. Used guns is where the money is unless you sell a hell of a lot of new guns.

Pawn shops? Almost everything you see at a pawn shop will be overpriced. There is such a thing as being a savy shopper. Watch an item for a while or ask how long it's been there. If it's been there a while then they may take less.

Instead of complaining, learn how things work, be a better shopper, or shop somewhere else.

It can get pretty frustrating at most shops, but there are a couple around here that are well worth checking out:

The Hunting Hut in Belvidere, IL has been a pretty good spot for me. This location has had three operations in the same building, one was there for many years, and over the years I found a lot of nice guns there, some of which I still have. When the longtime owner retired, there was another owner for a relatively short period of time; less than two years. From him, I bought a prewar HD and a Highway Patrolman, both at reasonable prices.

The current owner has been there about a year and a half, and while it is a small shop, he carries a great inventory of used guns. Late last winter, I picked up a beautiful nickel HD, and last Saturday a very early postwar (Ser C63xxx) 2 inch M&P round butt, with service stocks, and a Savage 1907 .32 in just about new condition. I would guess he had at least twenty-five used Smiths and Colts, quite reasonably priced.

Under three owners, over forty years, I have bought at least fifty guns from that location. As far as I can recall, only one was new.

I presume that I am very lucky. My local shop owner is a good businessman, very knowledgable, and I consider him a friend.

I have posted in the past that he will call me when there is a revolver he thinks I would like and his assistant is even more evil, by putting them back and them spring them on me when he knows I am weak, (which is most of the time when it comes to older revolvers).

He is a little higher but I am a firm believer in establishing a relationship with the business, as it pays off in the long run.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Have several of the type OP refers to but also have several that are not like that. One in nearby town will do FFL transfer for free, and fair prices. Gunsmith/dealer in another town stopped me at a gunshow and asked to see the Belgian Browning A5 I was trying to sell, told him I was hoping to get $450 for it. Said he would give $600 but would be cheating me, and would sell it on the net for Gunbroker fee and 10%. All said and done I cleared $835. Guy has business and customers out the ying-yang. Gee, I wonder why?

Several of the gun shops I deal with know that if their price is too high, I will pass them on buy. If the price is reasonable I will plunk out the Money. I don't try to deal on new guns as their prices leave less for profit, but in used guns, sometimes you can find a real deal. They make money and I buy a gun for a reasonable price. I bought a 1911 with a Crimson Trace Lazer Grip the other day for about half of what a new ones cost and the gun and grip were almost new.

A good deal is where the seller thinks he got a good deal and the buyer thinks he got a good deal.

Rule 303

I won't patronize one local shop. The owner is perpetually suspicious and acts like he's doing you a huge favor even talking to you. God forbid you try to haggle on his overpriced used guns, even though he'll try to beat you up on a trade.

Thank goodness there's another shop nearby that's staffed by counter guys that warmly greet patrons when they walk in. They will gladly show you anything in the case and dicker on the price, even on new guns.

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"Shall not be infringed"

My local dealer is a know-it-all punk and I refuse to darken his door ever again. Last time I was in there, looking for a used .22 rifle, he started whining about getting fingerprints on his guns. I apologized and promised to never do it again. Then I drove the 100 miles to the big box store and bought a better rifle for less money. I wouldn't go back in there if he was giving the place away. There is another dealer in a nearby town that I do deal with occasionally. His inventory is a bit thin and prices a bit high but I try and give him some business when possible.

I'm pretty fortunate as we have several shops here which helps keep the prices reasonable. One guy knows me pretty well and calls me when he gets something I'll like.

I got some real good deals on revolvers a few years back when we first had our CCW law revised. Everyone was buying small concealable guns and big old N frames were going for $300-400. I did well then.

+1 on this, Even when they Know, that You Know they are lying you will get that Look and some Dumb reason they have to give you less and charge more.. I know the shop needs to make $100 on a gun BUT Not $300... I try to buy anything I want Private Party face to face....

you guys are all lucky to have local gun shops. there are exactly none in my town of 30,000 people. the closest is about 30 miles and has nothing but plastic guns. the next closest are 100 miles away and are scheels and bass pro. since i can't walk much anymore, the internet has allowed me to spend money on guns i would never have seen.

There was one in Abilene, TX that I wasn't real fond of. The guy purported to be a gunsmith of some sort, but he rolled his eyes, muttered something about "assault rifles", and told me "no" when I asked him to look over an M1 Garand. In retrospect, I guess it was more of a hunting store that sold a few guns.

Don't try to find a used S&W for less than about $700-900 in Fayettenam.

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Where's my dad's America?

Three LGS in my area:

1. Long-established joint - Way overpriced on everything . . . until the owner suddenly died about nine years ago. Then, his wife (NEVER a gun person or merchant) attempted to run the place with the help of their teenaged daugthers.

Today they carry on the tradition of overpriced items but now have the most horrible product mix one can imagine . . . the WRONG items, large and small and it has been several years since I've been able to buy anything from them. With the teenage daughters influence though, they now have the best stock in America of pink-laced camo, pink and camo bikinis, pink t-shirts, etc.

Needed a few K-frame speedloaders last week and wasted my time again by going there (no surprise). "Uhh, we don't have any, but we can order them for you," I was told. Heck, I can do that and not have to pay them a cut to do so!

2. New LGS/Pawn Shop - You are greeted upon entry by thick, stale cigarette smoke, nasty old merchandise and ignorant staff. Saw a ROUGH 4" 686 they wanted $600 for. I haven't been back. The smelly shop was the real dealbreaker and I won't be back.

3. Four year-old LGS/pawn shop - He knows what used smiths are worth and tries to get more . . . but he knows now that I know what they are worth too and are willing to pay a fair price for a fine old S&W wheelgun.

However, my son and fiancee just gave birth to twins 7 weeks ago and they've had to move in with us to survive, so . . . I AVOID THAT SHOP LIKE THE PLAGUE . . . for he always has something hidden back in his safe that I want!!!

When things aren't so scary-tight, I'll be back for more!!! I'm a sucker for a REAL gun guy/owner who knows firearms and keeps good, interesting guns in stock! No camo bikinis for ME