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[williamlayton]

Where do these people get the prices that they put on guns?
Local pawn shop:
28-2 Nickle
Has rust and finish is poor, stocks are trash add-ons, really poor shape.
Not even 85% in the wildest of estimations.
$539.00
There is no room to bargain--I would not give a nickle over $439 out the door.
Blessings

 

[perrazi]

sounds like a gun you are not destined to have. much better ones out there than that one anyway.offer them $250 and see how bad they complain.

 

[1sailor]

All you have to do is take a look at GB.com to see that some people are trying to get rich selling guns. It's one thing when it's a collectors gun. A guy might honestly think it's worth that much. But on a new gun! When they start their bidding well above what your local GS sells them for I just don't get it. Are people actually buying them at those prices? One of the best places I've found for P&R guns is here on the forum. Not always giving them away but they at least are asking fair prices more often than not.

 

[505Gibbs]

Where do these people get the prices that they put on guns?
Local pawn shop:
28-2 Nickle
Has rust and finish is poor, stocks are trash add-ons, really poor shape.
Not even 85% in the wildest of estimations.
$539.00
There is no room to bargain--I would not give a nickle over $439 out the door.
Blessings

Relax!
He's studying to be a Gun Library mngr. for Cabela's!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stu Honea]

I cannot do busines with any of my local gun dealers.
They don't budge and have ridiculous prices on everything.
I expect to pay for what I get but,c'mon people.These are shop owners who have known me all my life,and throughout my LE career.
I have to go elsewhere and anywhere outside my county there are better deals.
Locally,my stuff is worthless. Their identical stuff is gold!

 

[zonker5]

You forget the first rule of gun trading, particularly at shows: "My stuff is gold, Your stuff is wothless ****!"

 

[fat tom]

All you have to do is take a look at GB.com. Are people actually buying them at those prices?

Take a look at the number of bids and your question will be answered to an extent. Not 1 out of 40 will even have a bid. It also amuses me that when a guy has a gun with a reserve and a BIN price of $1200,some schmuck will have bid $200. Why even bother? Does he actually think that $200 will meet the reserve?
f.t.

 

[Art Doc]

Somebody must be buying if they stay in business. Free Market- sellers ask whatever they think they can get. Buyers agree or walk away. When enough people walk away prices come down.

My favorite is a gun show dealer I see at every show. For past 2 years he's offered a butchered Victory Model with a 2" barrel, missing ejector lug, cheap, peeling nickel refinish and cheesy plastic stag grips. Looks like Hell. Asking $550 and hasn't budged in 2 years.

 

[Old cop]

I've picked up some nice pieces here at fair prices. In addition I've established a good relationship w/my LGS where I shoot. Their prices are a bit high but they really look out for their customers (service after the sale), and that is something I value.

 

[Badkarma 1]

I had a similar experience at the LGS I do business at. Had a NIB Smith 686 no dash and they had a NIB 66-2 that I really wanted!
So I took the 686 up there and entered negotiations, the "manager"(yeah their big on titles!) said "Lemme check my numbers." I thought "Check your numbers?, I thought this was a gun shop not an accounting office!" Anyways he comes back and shows me a piece of paper, it says "686=$375,66-2=$575"@.@!! I took said paper and scribbled my response which I won't put here due to its unsavory nature!
So I found a 66-2 at a local show for $375 and now own both! Dale

 

[Cooter Brown]

I was in a store the other day and they had a revolver I was interested in. Given the condition (scratches, small rust spots on a stainless revolver, somebody had been in the sideplate) I offered the tag price out the door.

The guy declined, and actually told me that at the price they were asking, they were only going to make ten dollars on the sale.

I'd be insulted if I didn't think they treated everybody like an imbecile.

 

[SuperMan]

My favorite is a gun show dealer I see at every show. For past 2 years he's offered a butchered Victory Model with a 2" barrel, missing ejector lug, cheap, peeling nickel refinish and cheesy plastic stag grips. Looks like Hell. Asking $550 and hasn't budged in 2 years.

..that the same guy who sold me that nice .38 Super with the extra .45 Slide...?

bob

 

[cjtraining]

I recently bought a Sig p229R DAK .40 w/ three 12 rd mags for $600.00 +$25.00 shipping on GB.com. My LGS charges $15.00 transfer fee. The gun is as close to new as a used gun can be. I was lucky. Three LGS wanted over $900.00 for less gun or close to $1000.00 for new. Which is no better than my $600.00 gun. Auction Arms is no better nor is the SIGforum. The same holds true for S&W's, whether at the LGS, on line auctions, or forums. Being at the right place at the right time seems to hold true.

 

[fat tom]

Being at the right place at the right time seems to hold true.

And there my friends,you have it in a nutshell. Consequently,the more places you put yourself,the better chance you have of it being the right one at that time.
f.t.

 

[Sprefix]

Anyone can ask for any amount. Even a squirrel can find a nut. Just seems most nuts try to price guns. I don't eat squirrel and I stay away from nuts. I can be patient. I get my gun in my mind and get the price I'll pay for it. End of story. Now, My birth year A-5 Magnum Browning took me 17 years to get with the prior system, but I got it NIB for $500!!!!!! Juss sayin'.......

 

[Waidmann]

On a recent rainy Saturday I queried .38 M&P on GB. 114 guns 7 bids. five of the bids were pretty retail on Model 340s, two on fairly scuffed veterans. No one bid the other 107, with ample reason.

 

[steamloco76]

Every couple of months for the past two or three years I've traveled seventy miles to visit two of the largest gun shops in PA.
One has thousands of used guns at all times, the other about 100 or less. Both used to have the occasional cherry S&W revolver or auto at a fair price. You just had to be lucky enough to be there before the guns sold.

The store with the 1000's of used always had a 'no haggle policy'. Price is the price, which wasn't bad because they valued their guns in a reasonable manner. The other store would check for you and often had $20 to $70 of 'wiggle room' for good customers.

The big store did inventory in January and raised all their used prices to the roof! They are a huge new gun regional distributor and now the used prices are all just a few percent below new! They sell new Browning A-Bolt .22LR hunter models for $599. They had two scratched used ones for $579 each- who would buy the used with scratches etc. for only $20 off new?

Any guns no longer made are now priced as 'Collectibles!!!'. Last year I bought an NIB 5906 there for $399. Now they want $550 for a worn LEO trade 5906 with no box. Bought a Thunder Ranch Model 22-4 for $499, now they have one in much worse shape for $899. The real kicker from my last visit was a Model 59 with one mag for $399 that had been priced at $299 in December. (The other store in town had a 59 in similar condition for $274 plus T&T- which I bought.) I talked to one of the counter guys I'd purchased several guns from over the years. He said they went from pricing the guns by local market and price guides like Blue Book to pricing via Internet averages. He told me most regular used buyers like me have quit buying anything used.

 

[Old Corp]

I have gained some interesting insight while working p/t at a large LGS.
In this area (not far from Raleigh, NC), the economy is comparatively very good compared to alot of the country.
There are many, read VERY many routine, reliable gun customers who literally HAVE NO BUDGET. Yes, that's correct. And we don't just have a few - there are DOZENS.

The ONLY determining factor when they purchase a gun is if they want it, and have room in one of their multiple safes for it.
Price is not even a consideration.

Kinda interesting to watch from the sidelines, since except for the owner, every employee there is of rather modest means.

 

[Dennis The B]

Relax!
He's studying to be a Gun Library mngr. for Cabela's!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of which, the Cabela's in Hammond, Indiana has a Model 28-2 for the bargain price of $1,249.99; an obvious refinish to nickel, and not a FHP model.

 

[oldafsp]

I have one LGS that I do business with. And at that shop I am treated very fairly. There are probably, over 15 shops within 20 miles of me.

The used prices range from the basic $100 over 98% in the Blue Book, regardless of condition to

So in reality what happens is the locals see these sky high prices and come to the gun shows or post thier gun on the local trader board for the same, if not more money.

Every couple of months the prices seem to jump another $30-40 since last summer.

Anyone want a 19-3 that looks like it spent it's life in a cement mixer for $695....his response when I said "Your kidding..right?" was "They don't make 'em like this anymore."

Jeez....I must not have had my dose of Kool Aid today.

 

[dlbx2]

My friend, who is also my FFL for shipping and receiving, says that business is so bad due to the economy. So without reasonably frequent sales, he has to make the rent on what he does sell. He never has used Smiths because he doesn't know the value of what is brought in. I ordered him a 3rd Edition, and he reads it often, and is now using it for a guideline for trading. At any rate, I am a retired Batallion Chief & he is a retired LEO from the same city. We have been friends for a number of years. I don't get the deals on items that I used to. I know that he is doing the best that he can. I have been there a number of times when he was sitting there by himself reading. He has cut his hours to Wednesday thru Friday, 10-6, Saturday 10-1, closed Sun, Mon, & Tues. I like a deal as good as the next guy, but some of the dealers are hurting financially right now. I am not taking up for those guys who want you to not only pay for the gun, but also finance their next vacation to the Bahamas. And, there is no need for arrogance for any reason, including telling you that, to agree with a previous post, my stuff is gold & your gold is stuff. Have a great week!
DLB

 

[Fishslayer]

In my area, somebody would buy it at that price. Quickly.

Where do these people get the prices that they put on guns?
Local pawn shop:
28-2 Nickle
Has rust and finish is poor, stocks are trash add-ons, really poor shape.
Not even 85% in the wildest of estimations.
$539.00
There is no room to bargain--I would not give a nickle over $439 out the door.
Blessings

 

[zelda]

For me, 'being at the right place at the right time' is catching Dad in a good mood with his safe open

 

[williamlayton]

Well---it was just an effort to let off steam.
I have been around this block more than once--learned how to walk away.
Gun shows present the same scene.
I have been known to do stuff that others would just roll their eyes at.
I put a lot more money into project guns than I expect to get out of them--just because it is fun and i want to do sometthing different.
Thanks for the conversation--I have enjoyed the reads.
Blessings

 

[Rugskipper]

Take a look at the number of bids and your question will be answered to an extent. Not 1 out of 40 will even have a bid. It also amuses me that when a guy has a gun with a reserve and a BIN price of $1200,some schmuck will have bid $200. Why even bother? Does he actually think that $200 will meet the reserve?
f.t.

I'm a schmuck, then. I do it to give them a reality check. I don't expect the reserve to be realistic, but I let them know that down here on Earth, someone would be willing to buy it, if the price were in line with the market. Sometimes I bid the same amount on the same gun for months on end. Probably irritates them a little bit, but I don't care. It doesn't cost me anything.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I cannot do busines with any of my local gun dealers.
They don't budge and have ridiculous prices on everything.
I expect to pay for what I get but,c'mon people.These are shop owners who have known me all my life,and throughout my LE career.
I have to go elsewhere and anywhere outside my county there are better deals.
Locally,my stuff is worthless. Their identical stuff is gold!

Same in my town. I buy all my guns on the net or from individuals in middle Tennessee. Don

 

[bob in texas]

I don't post alot mostly read and learn,the original post got me looking at the blue book of gun values brushed nickel commands a 300% markup but warns of fakes due to rarity. Was it bright nickel or brushed? It might be a very rare but well used/abused example.
Just a thought.
Thanks, bob

 

[williamlayton]

Bob
It was bright. If the Gun was in, say 90%, it might be OK in my neck of the woods--maybe a little high.
This was not even in the ball park.
Blessings

 

[planojack]

Have you ever noticed how few gun shops are open 3 years after they start. Just drop the ones that over price or treat you like dirt.

 

[Skip48]

We all seem to know how great it feels to find a gun we want at a good price. It doesn't happen enough! I go to as many gun shows and gun shops, as often as I can. I eventually find a nice deal. It usually happens at a show. I agree, there are those that have really high prices and won't come down. But, eventually I am at the right place at the right time. Don't give up the chase, guys!!! Skip48