Ammo Scalpers

[BC38]

Gimme a BREAK! 8 million new gun owners who bought their first gun in the last year has got to include a lot of young folks just trying to be able to protect themselves and their families. Not everyone who is just barely getting by is living on welfare. There has been this thing called a pandemic that has closed a lot of small businesses and put a lot of people out of work - maybe you guys have heard about it?

And as far as one box of ammo being enough to "get by", is that the level of shooting and practice you guys think is appropriate for a new gun owner to become familiar and proficient and SAFE with their new weapon? I see a lot of people pontificating about how anybody who has/carries a gun for self defense darn well better practice with it. How the heck do you propose some young guy with a family do that, when he's struggling to earn enough of a living to just get by, due to the current economic downturn, when scalpers are buying up all the ammo and reselling it for $1-$2 a round?

I think we've got a lot of well-off older people around here who are so comfortable in their own situation that they lack any empathy for those not so well situated who are struggling right now. The need for self defense has never been greater, and a lot of people seem to have forgot what it is like to be just barely getting by.

 

[Drm50]

I see used and I do mean used brass for sale in crazy little batches. There will be 14- 308s, 27-9mms , 8- 300 mags, ect. The price $25 and shipping, that's $8.50. There are hammer heads buying this stuff. What do they do treat component inventory like milk. You get some more when you run out?
I just saw a rifle of common variety in pretty well ragged condition for a little less than a new one. Hunting rifles and shotguns aren't that hard to come by. I don't like to be scalped but it's a free country (yet) and you can put whatever price makes you happy. Supply and Demand.

 

[Bumpus13]

Gimme a BREAK! 8 million new gun owners who bought their first gun in the last year has got to include a lot of young folks just trying to be able to protect themselves and their families. Not everyone who is just barely getting by is living on welfare. There has been this thing called a pandemic that has closed a lot of small businesses and put a lot of people out of work - maybe you guys have heard about it?

And as far as one box of ammo being enough to "get by", is that the level of shooting and practice you guys think is appropriate for a new gun owner to become familiar and proficient and SAFE with their new weapon? I see a lot of people pontificating about how anybody who has/carries a gun for self defense darn well better practice with it. How the heck do you propose some young guy with a family do that, when he's struggling to earn enough of a living to just get by, due to the current economic downturn, when scalpers are buying up all the ammo and reselling it for $1-$2 a round?

I think we've got a lot of well-off older people around here who are so comfortable in their own situation that they lack any empathy for those not so well situated who are struggling right now. The need for self defense has never been greater, and a lot of people seem to have forgot what it is like to be just barely getting by.

*shrug*

In 2013, that was me. I was relatively new to firearm ownership, and hadn't experienced one of our panics yet. When prices went to the moon, and availability dropped dramatically I got confused. Then mad. Then determined to not be in that position again.

It taught me something. Shortages don't affect me now. The new gun owners now have an opportunity to learn from their current situation. From all the whining I'm hearing, it seems as if some of y'all still haven't learned your lesson.

These panics keep happening. It's a cycle. When the insanely expensive prices come back down (and they WILL) ... THEN buy a good supply so that your stockpile can last you through the next panic. (Or two) That way, you won't be left without a chair when the music stops.

I don't buy at these insane prices, so why should I care if others who chose not to prepare are now forced to? I'm not going to cry for their lack of foresight. The newbies will learn from this, or they won't.

 

[touchoneoff]

This happens all the time, and internet sales is the main culprit. If people could not buy ammo online, this would not be happening the same way. There would be shortages, but not to this extent.

Like said above, not buying it would shut down this sort of thing.

 

[reddogs]

I can't get up early and stand in line 3 mornings a week waiting on a truck to deliver ammo that maybe i can use. 9mm is only caliber i don't reload for may start if that is a option in a couple years.If i had to pay scalpers or pay someone to stand in line to get ammo i would be cutting way back on shooting.

 

[BC38]

*shrug*

In 2013, that was me. I was relatively new to firearm ownership, and hadn't experienced one of our panics yet. When prices went to the moon, and availability dropped dramatically I got confused. Then mad. Then determined to not be in that position again.

It taught me something. Shortages don't affect me now. The new gun owners now have an opportunity to learn from their current situation. From all the whining I'm hearing, it seems as if some of y'all still haven't learned your lesson.

These panics keep happening. It's a cycle. When the insanely expensive prices come back down (and they WILL) ... THEN buy a good supply so that your stockpile can last you through the next panic. (Or two) That way, you won't be left without a chair when the music stops.

I don't buy at these insane prices, so why should I care if others who chose not to prepare are now forced to? I'm not going to cry for their lack of foresight. The newbies will learn from this, or they won't.

You're preaching to the choir. I learned this lesson long ago, bought plenty when it was cheap, and am in need of absolutely NOTHING. I probably have enough ammo and components to last me the rest of my life. So your "whining" comment isn't relative to me or my situation at all.

HOWEVER, the fact that I don't need anything doesn't keep me from recognizing and speaking out when I see others in our own community stabbing their fellow gun enthusiasts in the back. I'm not one to adopt a "let them eat cake" attitude about something I view as wrong - even if it doesn't have a direct effect on me personally. I'm kinda' funny that way.

The "I've got mine so to hell with the rest of you" attitude is a big part of what is wrong with the world IMO.

 

[BC38]

This happens all the time, and internet sales is the main culprit. If people could not buy ammo online, this would not be happening the same way. There would be shortages, but not to this extent.

This may not be an issue much longer. There are those on the left in high places who have vowed to put an end to internet sales of guns, gun parts, and ammo.

Are you in favor of that?

 

[beaverislander]

A poll would be interesting right about now, as it looks to me like our "seasoned" members are against scalping and the scalpers (who seem to be mostly newer members) think it's an honorable way to make a living.

Personally, I kinda miss the old days.

 

[BC38]

A poll would be interesting right about now, as it looks to me like our "seasoned" members are against scalping and the scalpers (who seem to be mostly newer members) think it's an honorable way to make a living.

Personally, I kinda miss the old days.

LOL, you noticed that too, huh? So is it a chicken or the egg situation?

People are comfortable with the idea of charging other gun owners 300% or 400% markups so they become scalpers?

Or people who are scalping others convince themselves it is OK to make obscene profits off a shortage, and even prolong the shortage to profit off others for as long as they can?

 

[Gary M]

So I guess we then need to go the California route where you have to show proof that you own a certain caliber and then are limited in the amount that you can buy over a period of time for that caliber only and you can only buy from State licensed sellers.

That would certainly cut down on private resale and take away all incentive to buy more than someone other than yourself thinks you need to have or be allowed to buy.

Then if we get into a shortage of available firearms, we can expanded this to gun purchase limits and price restrictions on the amount a firearm cam be resold for. 50% over original MSRP should sound good to everyone, right.

Why shouldn't these new buyers have the opportunity to buy that 1980 Model 29 for $500 when you bought it for $325 some 40 years ago and it sits in someone's safe with another dozen Model 27 and 28 that are rarely used?

In fact, the Government should make owners report numbers and types of firearms owned and quantities of ammunition so they can be equally redistributed among poor people when crisis times as these hit. No one needs a dozen Model 36 or Model 10 or 3rd Gen bottom feeders when there are others that have none.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Other than one local pawn shop, Sportsman's, Walmart, Cabelas and LGSs appear to be keeping their prices at pre-Covid margins. Any increases are reflective of supplier increases. One LGS is buying from folks who are selling their stashes of ammo and components. Still exceedingly reasonable.

Exactly. They have a set mark up and nothing changed for them. 10-15% price increase passed on to the consumer.

I have it from someone who knows what ammo costs are to LE agencies. 9 mm ammo is now about 0.24/rd for their contracted ammo. Distributors aren't in business to loose money. When you see 124 ball for 0.30/rd or more the middle man (LGS) will be sending his kids to college on your dime. Just the facts ma'am.

 

[peter-paul]

What a passel of WHINERS

The extent to which many people in this thread feel that their emotional need for ammo prices to be some amount THEY declare is "moral", and then think that their preferred price should somehow govern the market is completely cringe-worthy. Nobody owes you ****. To think people "should be" doing otherwise is the same way some of the worst entitled people think.

People making a profit because they are hustling to make it to an LGS to find a good deal? Out-hustle them. Suggesting that those who are participating in legal commerce are immoral is simply your opinion. Suggesting we should use another type of system is anti-free market.

 

[LostintheOzone]

The extent to which many people in this thread feel that their emotional need for ammo prices to be some amount THEY declare is "moral", and then think that their preferred price should somehow govern the market is completely cringe-worthy. Nobody owes you ****. To think people "should be" doing otherwise is the same way some of the worst entitled people think.

People making a profit because they are hustling to make it to an LGS to find a good deal? Out-hustle them. Suggesting that those who are participating in legal commerce are immoral is simply your opinion. Suggesting we should use another type of system is anti-free market.

Not preferred price. 15% markup over cost.

The gouger LGS's will get their rewards when this is over. Buying ammo online is a thing. I buy all of my ammo online by the case. The online dealers will get resupplied at the same time the LGS's will. It's a brutal business but most who scalp get scalped eventually. Like you say, it's a free market. Double edge sword, cuts both ways.

 

[ladder13]

Anyone got a shipped $200 case of 9's to help a poor downtrodden brutha out? Send a PM.









mods, this is not a solicitation outside the classifieds. Just making a point.

 

[Bumpus13]

You're preaching to the choir. I learned this lesson long ago, bought plenty when it was cheap, and am in need of absolutely NOTHING. I probably have enough ammo and components to last me the rest of my life. So your "whining" comment isn't relative to me or my situation at all.

HOWEVER, the fact that I don't need anything doesn't keep me from recognizing and speaking out when I see others in our own community stabbing their fellow gun enthusiasts in the back. I'm not one to adopt a "let them eat cake" attitude about something I view as wrong - even if it doesn't have a direct effect on me personally. I'm kinda' funny that way.

The "I've got mine so to hell with the rest of you" attitude is a big part of what is wrong with the world IMO.

Sooooooo ... You're mad at supply and demand?

 

[ddixie884]

I feel no need to sell my .38spl ammo, bought by the case with free shipping a coupla 3 years ago for close to what I paid for it.
On the other hand if someone should like to subsidize my retirement. That would be different. I bought it because I had a feeling it might come in handy. I use handloads for practice, mostly.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Anyone got a shipped $200 case of 9's to help a poor downtrodden brutha out? Send a PM.









mods, this is not a solicitation outside the classifieds. Just making a point.

You aren't fooling anyone. You have more 9mm ammo than most stores do and you probably paid about $75 a case. Just a guess.

I have a case of 22LR (5K) unopened. IIRC it was $285.

 

[BC38]

Sooooooo ... You're mad at supply and demand?

Nope. Disappointed in people within our "community" profiteering on each other.

No better than the folks who bought up every bottle of hand sanitizer, package of disinfectant wipes, and can of Lysol etc for a 200 mile radius, and then started selling them for 500% markups on eBay and Amazon when we had the first COVID breakouts last year.

Opportunists. Profiteers. Scalpers. Whatever you want to call them - I'll stop there before I get myself in trouble for inappropriate language.

Though I actually suspect it is less people in our community and more outsiders who are doing most of it - since most scalpers on the boards I frequent seem to be the newbies.

They're generally pretty easy to spot. They make justifications for their behavior comparing the appreciation on the house I bought and made payments on, and maintained, and made improvements to, and paid taxes on for the last 3 decades to the 9mm they bought at Sportsmans when they opened the doors yesterday morning.

 

[ladder13]

You aren't fooling anyone. You have more 9mm ammo than most stores do and you probably paid about $75 a case. Just a guess.

I have a case of 22LR (5K) unopened. IIRC it was $285.

No, I have none, waiting on one of the anti "scalper" crusaders to step up and sell me some.

 

[BC38]

Call me a crusader if you will. At least I am consistent.

I could make several thousand dollars selling off my ammo, powder, and primers. But I won't.

I didn't buy any of it to sell. I bought them for my own use and I'll keep them for that purpose.

I can earn more money. I can't make more powder or primers so easily.

I won't contribute to the current insanity by buying anything at ridiculous prices either.

I also won't clean out the shelves when I find ammo at one of the big box stores for a reasonable price.