Buy more than you *think* you need when it's cheap and plentiful and you'll never have to worry about it.
Ammo Scalpers
- Thread starter Bhfromme
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pantannojack
US Veteran
I never sell anything cheaper than I can replace it for.
My thoughts too. They earned a BAD rep after Sandyhook when they canceled people's existing ammo orders and then relisted the exact same ammo for 2x-3x the price on their website the very next day.
$1.50 a round from them is no surprise whatsoever.
And that's the problem. I have plenty of ammo that I could sell. The problem is that I don't know when the supply will increase and the prices will return to what ever "normal" ends up being.
In 2019 and the first few months of last year, ammo was selling at unbelievable prices, especially 9mm range fodder.
In 2019 and the first few months of last year, ammo was selling at unbelievable prices, especially 9mm range fodder.
And what about people that bought that XX-X revolver for a hundred or two in the 70's, threw it in the safe and never shot it that are now asking 10 to 20 times what they paid for it?
Or the house with 10 acres I bought in 82 for 45k that is now worth 10 times that because farmers sold to developers on .5 acre lots?
Or the house with 10 acres I bought in 82 for 45k that is now worth 10 times that because farmers sold to developers on .5 acre lots?
AManWearingAHat
Member
Excellent point.
Judge not lest ye be judged people. We don't know people's needs or financial situations.
FWIW, although the scalpers trot it out to try to justify what they are doing, that comparison doesn't even begin to be valid.
There is a HUGE difference between buying and maintaining an appreciating asset and holding it for 20 or 30 or 40 years and then reselling it, vs buying a consumable commodity and selling it for 300% profit days or months later due to a shortage of said commodity.
It is even less valid when people are hitting every retail outlet in town, cleaning out the entire supply of that commodity at regular retail prices then turning around and selling it tomorrow or next week for 300% profit.
So, if that's what you're doing and making that ridiculous comparison is what it takes to helps you live with yourself or sleep at night, then keep telling yourself it's the same thing. It's not.
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Apples and oranges
I haven't sold 1 round of anything even though I could easily turn a 5 figure profit at this point.
But I plan in advance and bought what I needed, and not only guns and ammo, when the opportunity was there.
This is not the first, nor last time a shortage of something will occur. The same people that laughed as I bought xty 2 thousand 9mm, 22lr, 223/5.56, 38spcl, .270, 30-06, or 30-30 when it was on sale at every LGS every week are the same ones that are crying about gougers while they were spending on golf, sports, bars, and over-priced collectible Colts, Smiths, and Winchesters.
Sorry but if a person has dozens of guns but not the rounds to shoot them when they want or need, that is strictly on them. We all make choices in life and prioritize wants versus needs.
Less than a year ago you could get any and as much ammo as you wanted to buy. If you could not figure out that when paper products were wiped from shelves in a week that ammo would not be far behind, again, that is on you.
If you feel someone is unjustly profiting off the lack of insight of others, then don't buy it. Just like while I would like to have a NIB Registered Magnum and could afford it, I don't want or need it that bad to pay the price. I have lesser price revolvers that may not look as good or have the wow factor, but it shoots just as well at least in my hands.
Sorry about the rant, but this isn't much different than the whole Fight for $15 horse puckey going on right now.
You (the Royal you) did not plan or prepare accordingly, now blame everything on anyone but yourself.
Time to take guns out of the safe and replace with ammo, primers and powder...
max503
Member
But, but, but I could sell a couple K primers and buy a new 9mm with the money. (I haven't.......yet. Dang, it's tempting.)
I agree with all that and like you I don't need anything because I bought plenty in between the shortages. Both ammo and reloading components.
BUT neither of us are new first time gun owners either - like the 8 million who just bought their first gun in the last 12 months.
And none of that makes your previous comparison any more valid or any less a case of comparing apples to watermelons either.
It also doesn't excuse scalpers lining up to clean out the shelves at the big box store every time ammo comes in - just so they can turn a 300% profit on it the next day either.
Yeah, same here - except for the fact that I don't know when I would be able to buy them for a better price - or even if I ever will.
I want to retire in 4-7 years and I don't want to run to the LGS to pick up ammo, so about 15 years ago I started stashing back ammo.
I never thought I would see shortages like we see today so I cant say I saw this coming. I started by picking up a box on payday to shoot and some times 2 box's, one to shoot and one to put back,
If I had overtime I would pick up 3 or 4, shoot 1 stash the rest.
I moved up to a better job and started to buy by the case. I have a good supply of most calibers that I need. I thought about selling some to add to my retirement at these prices, but I just can't rip off anyone.
I never thought I would see shortages like we see today so I cant say I saw this coming. I started by picking up a box on payday to shoot and some times 2 box's, one to shoot and one to put back,
If I had overtime I would pick up 3 or 4, shoot 1 stash the rest.
I moved up to a better job and started to buy by the case. I have a good supply of most calibers that I need. I thought about selling some to add to my retirement at these prices, but I just can't rip off anyone.
LVSteve
Member
Explain your view of the real "need", please.
I'll admit if you buy your first gun you will need ammo for it. Right now, you'll be paying through the nose for any ammo you can find.
If you already have guns and ammo for them, I'm not seeing a need, unless you are into self defense shootings on a weekly basis.
If you buy a gun in a caliber you don't already have, then you have a choice to make, buy or not to buy in the current market, but you don't actually have a need, IMHO.
If I was a new gun buyer I'd see the need to buy some ammo to go with it. I'd look around and buy a box or 2 or 3. I would shoot a box or 2 for familiarization and keep the rest so I would have enough ammo for the uses I bought it for. I wouldn't "need" to buy a case to feel good about my purchase.
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What do those of you upset with the open market setting the price propose as an alternative?
If the going rate for 9mm FMJ is $.80/round someone is going to be making some extra money. I would rather see most of it going to the manufacturers and the normal supply chain than scalpers who have time to wait around for trucks to come and resell the ammo at a huge profit. I am with you on scalping being a problem but the way to solve it is to temporarily raise the retail price of ammo to match the market price.
Gun and ammo manufacturers are not huge corporations that normally make obscene profits. They are often on shaky ground financially. Remington just went bankrupt, Twenty years ago Saf-T-Lock bought S&W for $45 million (pocket change to the big tech CEOs), Colt was recently acquired by CZ after having gone through chapter 11 in 2013, etc. When I visited a LGS before the pandemic I never saw one that gave the impression they were swimming in money, a lot of them come and go. Most of the big box outdoor stores dedicate most of their store to clothing, hiking/camping gear and in the case of BassPro, fishing tackle. If the extra profit from panic buying goes to them maybe they will be better able to survive the lean time.
If the going rate for 9mm FMJ is $.80/round someone is going to be making some extra money. I would rather see most of it going to the manufacturers and the normal supply chain than scalpers who have time to wait around for trucks to come and resell the ammo at a huge profit. I am with you on scalping being a problem but the way to solve it is to temporarily raise the retail price of ammo to match the market price.
Gun and ammo manufacturers are not huge corporations that normally make obscene profits. They are often on shaky ground financially. Remington just went bankrupt, Twenty years ago Saf-T-Lock bought S&W for $45 million (pocket change to the big tech CEOs), Colt was recently acquired by CZ after having gone through chapter 11 in 2013, etc. When I visited a LGS before the pandemic I never saw one that gave the impression they were swimming in money, a lot of them come and go. Most of the big box outdoor stores dedicate most of their store to clothing, hiking/camping gear and in the case of BassPro, fishing tackle. If the extra profit from panic buying goes to them maybe they will be better able to survive the lean time.
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In 2008 (the 1st of the "modern ammo panics) I paid $60 for a box of then new Federal 9mm HST. As soon as things got "normal" again I bought a case if same for $300 or $15/ box. Still got half the case. It's going for $125/ box 50 if'n you can get them. Been offered "crazy money" for ammo lately. Not selling 1 round. Don't want to be called a scalper and don't know about "replacement pipeline" in the current climate. So folks call me selfish because they're out of ammo. Joe
germansheperd
Member
Ahhh the voice of reason. You see the forest through the trees. Ive been saying this for years.
It's ok when you rip someone's throat out for something other than ammo but I'm a bad guy for making money on something.
The biggest hypocrites on this board with cry like girls when they see someone sell a brick for $100 but wont think twice selling you a handgun for a 1000-1500 that they paid 1-200 for.
Jack Flash
Member
In the memorable words of one of our great political leaders:
"C'mon, Man!"
Do you really want me to go through the song and dance of
"Your need may be different from my need and different from the guy who is a serious action pistol competitor and blah blah blah"?
Next will you be asking me, in the words of another great political leader
"What the definition of "is" is"?
You can set yourself up as a czar who decides who needs what, but I won't.
