About To Purchase

[Boz]

Hello,

I'm close to purchasing my first rifle, a MOE (811034). I've been trying to buy local and support the local economy. An arrangement that I believe would be mutually beneficial for both the dealer, and myself.

So for the past two weeks I've gone to 4 dealers. Because I wasn't entirely sure which version I wanted, the first dealer suggested that I return when I had a better idea. Fair enough.

The second dealer didn't have any in stock and when they checked on the phone, none were available. They took my name and phone number and said they would call this past Monday. Today is Friday and no call. A bit flaky.

The third dealer said after placing a call, that they could have one in the store the next day. I can't say exactly what it was, perhaps the dealer not knowing what a MP22-15 was, or the general feeling of the store, I declined.

The forth dealer said that they could get the MOE in today (Friday). That's $568 (base price)+NICS+tax is ~$640. However, they didn't recommend any Smith & Wesson 15-22 products because they are prone to ejector failure. Instead, the dealer suggested the Colt M4. I read various posts on the topic and I wasn't interested in the Colt.

With a trip looming and the scarcity of the MOE, I thought it might be in my best interest to make the purchase. So, I put a deposit on the order by CC to lock the order.

Later at home, I was thinking about the scope the dealer recommended, but I couldn't remember the brand (a 4x illuminated crosshair scope). So I went over to the dealers website. While there I decided to check out the MOE, and wouldn't you know it, the price is different. And, this is with the in-store pickup option selected, which includes tax. Total (with tax+NICS), $634. I guess the $6 difference is the manual labor charge.

I noticed that the dealer uses the same store engine (National Firearms Dealer Network) that other dealers use. So I randomly went to a different dealer, which happens to be out of state, Texas to be exact, and they are selling the MOE for a base price of $517+$25 (shipping)+NICS=$567, a difference of $73.

Do I have a case of buyer's remorse or am I just nick-picking?

I'd appreciate your input.

Thanks.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

Buying locally usually means paying more when it comes to firearms. If you want to support them, you just have to bite the bullet.

Ammo and parts are the same, unless they push a lot of it.


"colt" over the 15-22...

I don't listen to gun counter suggestions. They like to sell what has been on the shelf for a while or whatever puts the most money on there side of the counter.

I had a guy yesterday tell me the Bushmaster is where it's at. That was right after I looked at a LWRC and a SCAR H, so I left.

 

[Guy A]

Do I have a case of buyer's remorse or am I just nick-picking?

Neither--you have just seen how the firearm business works!

 

[RolandW]

I've been trying to buy local and support the local economy.

If there's a local dealer that you like for reasons besides the fact that it's local, that makes sense. Both of the gun purchases I've made this year have been online. The local dealer I chose to do the FFL transfers did them with a smile and at reasonable cost, so I will definitely keep him in mind when I want to make another purchase. If I do decide to buy online again, he can still make a nice hourly rate by taking my package from the UPS guy and spending a few minutes on the phone doing my background check.
Local businesses who think they can charge me more just because they are local won't necessarily get my business.
Almost forgot: Welcome to the forum!

 

[Majorlk]

Buying locally usually means paying more when it comes to firearms. If you want to support them, you just have to bite the bullet.

Ammo and parts are the same, unless they push a lot of it.

That's not always accurate. I have bought four firearms in the last year and in every case, what I paid locally was less than what was available online, when you add in shipping, FFL fees and so forth. For instance, my 15-22 was $399+ tax (031 model), which is their everyday price and they are never out of stock.

And I walked out the door with it 20 minutes after I walked in the door.

 

[w0ady]

i find the larger stores will sometimes price match online deals so you can use that to your advantage. if either party does not know what they are talking about, you could end up overpaying. with my 3 guns ive ordered online, ordered in store and bought in store. did i pay a little more because i wanted them all to be od green? sure but i got the guns i wanted and am very happy with them. so really it comes down to what you want and how much work you want to put in.

you got the gun you wanted so enjoy it and chalk up the extra $ to a lesson learned.

 

[Quark]

Buying locally usually means paying more when it comes to firearms. If you want to support them, you just have to bite the bullet.

I have to disagree with you there for my neck of the woods. I got my 15-22 locally for less than I could get it anyplace online once you add in the FFL fee. I also picked up a different gun just this week from a different dealer (it pays to shop around) for less than what it costs online before you add in the FFL fee.

I guess it is just a matter of where you live and if you get to deal with the owner/manager. I just play the "if you would rather have me order online and you do the transfer" card if they are over what I can get it online for.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

We don't have any big gun stores in Spokane. Cabelas is a 30 minute drive for me, but I don't like to feel like I'm at the DMV. Their prices suck anyway, and the employees either don't know a thing about what they're selling or are so opinionated I can't stand it.


For what it's worth, I buy most of my firearms in Montana. Even the pawn shops here (in MT) sell more new firearms than the shops in Spokane. I paid $419 no tax for my A2 model.

I guess it is all about location.



hint:
once you find a shop you like with decent prices and knowledgeable employees who aren't fanboys, keep shopping there. By the second or third purchase, they should remember you and hopefully give you better prices. The one I go to does, and they usually throw in some free ammo.

 

[hkyplr]

I think if you tell this store you found it elsewhere for $73 cheaper, they might give you a better deal, assuming you haven't already picked it up. As you have read here on the forum there aren't that many failures with the 15-22. So obviously this person didn't know what they were talking about, is that someone you really want to deal with?

 

[swopeti]

I have bought on line and local. I know a lot of people get killed with the ffl fees but i have a local pawn shop i use that charges $10 so it almost always worth it for me since the tax saving normally make up for shipping and the better gun price. I am in texas so the 8+% sales tax get pricy.

 

[Boz]

Thanks for all of your input.

 

[Cde1218]

If you are a member at a local range/ shop/ gun club I'd see if they can help you out as well... It just worked marvelously for me!

I just picked up an FDE MOE model 15-22 including pinning the stock and mag to make it NJ compliant for $550.00 + tax.

My range randomly happened to have one for sale and were asking $639 for it.... A bit too high if you ask me. I inquired on it a few weeks prior from one of the sales reps but it was already "sold". I was told however that they'd be happy to FFL it for $50.00 + $135 in labor to pin it...add in the best price I could find at the time of $515.00 + $50 + $135 + 7% sales tax and I was looking at $750.00 OTD.

I tried again a few weeks later noticing they still had and asked the owner of the club what they could do for me as I'm a "valued member of their range" and found out I was entitled to a 12% discount on the gun and he would pin it for free. $550 is much better than $750 so i jumped on the offer and could not be happier with it 500 rounds later.

FYI I pay $225 per year to be a member at the range but considering I shoot 3x a week think its been a great investment.

Hope this provokes you to ask more questions of the seller and press him for a better price or to think outside of the box where you get it.