Belly Gun Finds Its Way Home

[Bullseye 2620]

Stopped by the LGS yesterday and looked at a 66-2 with a 2-1/2 inch barrel. Price -- $619 for a 94-95% gun, and the dealer would not come down off the price. I figured it was worth maybe $425. Maybe.

This morning I was browsing around AA, and found this 19-3 for $599, plus $20 shipping -- $619 delivered for what I'd say is a 98-99% piece, and it's a P&R'd nickeled gun.

So. . .how'd I do?

It's too bad that my local dealer tries to make his next boat payment off of every sale. Now, all he will get from me is the transfer fee when this one shows up. It will be worth it when I tell him what I paid for it. That's three gun sales--two from another member of this board--involving me that he's lost recently because of his "optimistic" pricing policies.


Bullseye

 

[Joe Kent]

I don't think I'd try too rub his face in it. He may very well tell you to take your "transfer business" and put it where the light does not shine. There is no law that requires dealers to do only transfers. I very much appreciate those that do. Remember " THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO THEM!

 

[sipowicz]

If it's too high, then don't buy it....but stores have more overhead than someone selling over the internet...and I like going to my local gun store....I would hate to see them put out of business by the web.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Let's clarify one thing: the "internet seller" is a local gun shop in another state, and I just may take the transfer business elsewhere since the guy closest to me charges $15.00 more to do these than does the guy 12 miles further down the road.

I too like visiting my local gunshop. It's just that this particular local gunshop owner has prices on everything that are out of line. And shoddy business practices too, like selling refinished guns as original, etc., etc. Last year, when I bought a 27-2 from him and later -- in good light -- discovered a rusted area on the underside of the trigger guard that had been cleaned up and cold blued, he claimed no knowledge, took the gun back, refunded my money, and then, three days later, sold it to a friend of mine without disclosing the defect, all the while stating that the finish was original. Some people are just in it for every cent they can squeeze, and I guess that's my objection.


Bullseye

 

[feralmerril]

I dont belive I would do business with that dealer or even walk through his door to browse if I felt that way about your dealer. The other side of the coin is I bought most of my guns when I lived in california that usualy was traditionaly high too. Now everyone on this board would have heard of him were I to drop his name. He was considered one of the top gun guru`s in the country! YET! No one can know it all. I always knew what I was looking for. Many times I caught that dealer napping on prices of some rareitys! I lived close and was inspecting his stuff twice a week on the average for close to 30 years. As a result I have a fine collection that probley is worth far more than what I paid. AND THIS WAS IN CALIFORNIA! You know, the state that everyone cuss`s out, makes fun of and those that live there complain they cant find good guns? I have posted by now pictures of most my guns at one time or another and I am sure most of you have seen many of them. Once in a great while I might have overpaid for something I really, really wanted. However I also was given chances occasionaly a crack at other fine guns early! You have to use some discreation and lee-way. When you play blackjack or a slot machine, you dont expect to win the jackpot with every bet or coin, do you?
One other thing. A dealer in his right mind can not pay you anyway near as much for a used christmass tree gun, (Thats a gun still in production that can be eaisly found) as most people would like. Lets say you paid $400s full advertised retail pop for a gun. You might take it out just once, or maybe NOT AT ALL! You lose your desire soon and/or see something else you just got to have. You take that gun to the dealer that you just paid $400s for. Now you get POed when he offers you $175s for it! Well do you expect more when he can buy the same gun new from the warehouse for maybe $280s? AND he has to sell yours as used even if its 100%? Remember, it aint a old rare classic. Not too many knowledgable gun people EVER trade in a gun or sell it to a dealer. In round figures I have owned maybe 400 nice guns in my life. Only once did I trade a gun in to a dealer. And that was when I was 12 years old and belive it or not, it was to a sears roebuck store! I traded a 20 guage single barrel iver johnson and boot for a J.C. Higgins pump 12 gauge. There is no way in hell you can make out good by tradeing or just selling a gun to a dealer!

 

[Scary Gary]

My 11 year old boy and I are in our local gun stores all the time and we are always saying " if only that was $200.00 cheaper ". We have so much fun just going and looking and talking. Just to expose my son to polite well mannered well spoken Americans in itself is worth the trip the time and the effort. But if we see something we like and we make the decision that we think that we are happy with the price and can afford it we may get it. If we can't afford it then God Bless America we don't get it. Our local gun dealers can ask whatever they want. We don't have to buy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Walker45]

I think you did very well, I also enjoy sticking it to an overpriced dealer.

 

[pistolite]

Sales Tax?

You did not mention sales tax. I assume you saved on that by buying over the internet. Local sales tax can be significant. Mine is 9.5% and that is mostly what drove my last four gun purchases to the internet. It more than covers shipping cost.

 

[Reddog]

My dealer charges me $40 per transaction to ship a firearm.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Yeah, the $619 locally was before 5% sales tax, which would have added another $31 to the out-the-door price.

David Carroll has a couple of 19-3s and -4s in blue and nickel with snub barrels in similar condition in the $875 range right now, so I think I did get a good deal on this one. I am satisfied.

I've been considering what Merril wrote: why do I even set foot in the place? Given the history of overpriced goods, overpriced transfers, and deceptive dealing, I think I'm done. Nice to have a dealer 15 minutes away in this very rural area, nice to go in and browse his sometimes decent collection of P&R'd Smiths for sale, but on balance, I think I'm done hoping that this leopard will change his spots.

Anyway, I got a really nice carry gun, which I will carry, and next month, when the gun budget is replenished, I will see about finding a nice pair of Executioner's stag panels to complement it.


Bullseye