Has anyone else given up on their local gun shops?

[johnsonl]

The one dealer in my area who had all the widows bringing him their estate guns has retired. People seem to have taken to the auction sites (which I hate) and the internet sales sights. I've gotten my best deals here. Forum members seem to offer the best guns for the best prices.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Where I live there are a number of gun stores. The majority of them are over priced and carry a horrid selection of firearms. There are some that have great selections but their prices are high and their customer service is cold then absolute zero.

I will not do business will a place that has horrible customer service. I'm only 27 years old but I've spent my time behind the counter of a gun shop. Sometimes our selection wasn't great but I made sure that my customers were treated great. If I didn't have it I'd order it ASAP!

I enjoy purchasing and collecting old firearms like MilSurps and S&W Revolvers. Most stores don't carry the older guns simply because they don't sell (in enough numbers to support the store). But I do shop at my local stores for supplies like mags, ammo, cleaning parts, etc... I give them my business because they treat me right and will bend over backwards for me. Those stores are few and far between sadly.

 

[Fuego]

The gun stores make their money when they buy the used trade-in. They low-ball the trade in, because they know that the customer has a pretty good idea of what he wants and what it costs. But he has no idea what his trade-in is worth.

That said, I have gotten some good deals from my gun shop. Some of the popular junk is way over-priced, but people buy it.

The collector "Triple Lock" will never be seen gathering dust in one of these shops though. These shop owners have to know guns to stay in business, and they also have to know people... Like the guy that just has to have the new pistol just featured in the latest gun rag and is willing to trade his great uncle's old WWII .45 to have it.

The gun business has changed a lot since I was a kid.

 

[mkk41]

This is why God invented gunshows.
Steve

Gun shows have become full of flea market items and tables of new black plastic guns. Years ago , ya rarely saw tables full of NEW firearms and stuff at shows.

 

[turbo38gn]

There are a few local shops I don't spend my money at anymore, for various reasons, including personel, as well as prices. But my favorite LGS is a little hole in the wall in town that has a great selection of used guns, pistols and rifles. His prices are usually right on or a bit less than I see elsewhere. I've bought a 66, 17, 64, 28, 19 and more... Prices always seem to be less than what I see when I research. He has a large selection of used parts as well as new guns. His new gun prices are better than most in my area, actually, very good for such a small shop. Buying and Selling Guns and Gun Parts

 

[TACC1]

I've been pretty lucky here. The one gun store I go to sells primarily new stuff, at fair prices. Also has parts/accessories. Great treatment.
My gunsmith's shop doesn't carry new stuff. Seldom has many used handguns. That said, he's a good 'smith, and gets really good prices on new stuff. After that, it's the internet auction sites, or right here on
the Forum. I don't expect a great deal here, but fellow members sell for what the guns are worth. Can't get fairer than that. TACC1

 

[LoadedRound]

I'm good

I'm one of the lucky ones. I have two great shops (sorta local. One's 15 miles away the other 65).

 

[Cooter Brown]

I hate to say it because I remember when gun shops around here were actually good places to buy guns, buy I don't trade much with them anymore.

It seems that local shops base pricing on what they see on internet auction and sales sites. And I'm not talking about what guns actually sold for, but the ridiculous wishin' and hopin' prices people put on guns. I guess they're not sophisticated enough to know that what they need to determine real value is the price the gun actually sold for.

I understand that they need to make money. That's why anybody is in business.

But letting a beat up model 17 with rubber grips sit under glass in your shop for 3 years priced at $795 (actual example) and being unwilling to work out a fair price ain't no way to make money.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

We have at least 4 great gunshops in my area that have amazing stuff from time to time and fairly decent prices on a lot of it. In fact, some are far more competitive for selection and prices on some items (not necessarily across the board) than anything I've found at gunshows or online lately. I've bought from the local shops over the last 2 years a S&W Model 681 in excellent condition for $250, a old model Single Six in about 90% condition for $225, and a Marlin 39-M Mountie also in great shape for $300. A ladyfriend just got an excellent Model 640 38 Special with factory goncalo grips that looks all but unfired for $375, which I thought was pretty decent for it.

Then we have a Cabelas and Bass Pro....(laughter).

 

[BearBio]

We have 3 and I've 2written off two. One is a "toy" store. One is overpriced and charges extra for credit cards (and a customer got shot there a week or so ago). The other is still pretty good but bargains are getting scarce.

Been to Double Eagle. Their advertised prices sound pretty good but the prices in the store are significantly higher and they only take certain forms of payment.

Stopped at a couple of shops in western Wash over the weekend. One was REALLY high. The other was a pawn shop and prices weren't bad==only fair.

 

[JCS&W]

I have mixed results at my local gun shops. I have not bought a "quality" Smith at any of my local gun shops. However, I find Smiths that need to be "spiffed" up or just flat need some attention, and I end of buying those. I wish that I could find some quality Smiths, but they just do not have them. Mostly plastic guns. I have 4 that I can and do go to on a regualr basis. Just the way it is in my area.

 

[redlevel]

I just did some quick calculations in my head. I have bought at least nine S&W revolvers, three Model 19, four or five Model 10, and a Model 37, plus a new Marlin 1894 Carbine, at my local store in the last 10 months or so. All the revolvers were pinned, and all the magnums recessed. When they get in an older S&W, they call me. This shop, the NAPA I talk about so much, probably has the largest new gun inventory in GA. I have been dealing with them since 1968.

I don't even attempt to trade a gun in. I know that they can't afford to give me in trade anywhere near what I can get from an individual by advertising in a GA S&S. It works real well. They call me with a gun and a price. "Yeah, put it back with my name on it." I go in, if it is what I want, I buy it on credit. (I have an acct. at the store.) If it taxes my cash-flow situation too much, I advertise something else on the S&S. I can usually move a gun to cover most of the cost within 10 days.

Several of you have mentioned that your lgs is basing prices on what they see on the 'net auctions. My shop actually sells a lot of guns this way, so they know what the market is.

Funny thing. My brother is part owner of three pawn shops that all have great inventories. He still buys a lot of his guns at our local shop, and I buy all those I don't get from individuals there.

 

[redlevel]

I have mixed results at my local gun shops. I have not bought a "quality" Smith at any of my local gun shops. However, I find Smiths that need to be "spiffed" up or just flat need some attention, and I end of buying those. I wish that I could find some quality Smiths, but they just do not have them. Mostly plastic guns. I have 4 that I can and do go to on a regualr basis. Just the way it is in my area.

I was just thinking when I was writing my previous post: "I wish I had kept that Model 19 I sold Jerry."

 

[hatt]

I prefer to trade rather than try to sell outright, even though I know I am going to lose money, because I don't have to deal with shipping, and I don't have to worry about keeping records, etc.

You can't quick sale guns locally for much more than the gun store is going to give you?

 

[Florida Guy]

I don't go to the shows. All I hear is that they are very crowded, aisles are slim, and everything is too close together.
AND there are NO good buys there.
I don't need the aggravation.
I've only been lucky enough to buy 2 guns locally, one from a sporting goods store someone told me about, and the rest on online auctions.
My lgs has very high prices and small selection of revolvers.
Even with fees, I'm better off buying online.

 

[Fkimble]

Hey redlevel, now I know why your NAPA store didn't have anything good, they call you and you come get it. Was down at our club range near Cusseta below Fort Benning a couple weeks ago and decided to swing by and check out your NAPA. Didn't think I would ever get there. Lots of new stuff, took me awhile to figure out the way they had stuff sorted out in the cases. Yes lots of guns but nothing that interested me. So I headed for home(Newnan)

 

[max]

My LGS is owned by a friend and is my favorite hangout. They even keep beer in the bait refrigerator. He does transfers for me, ships guns, helps me with various problems, etc. Last couple of guns I bought, I looked at the price tags, told him I would take them and in both cases I was charged much less than they were listed for.

 

[2152hq]

Gun Shops are like Gun Shows. You never know whats going to be on the table/rack or under the glass. Trade ins come and go fairly quickly if priced right. They hang around if not.

New stuff,,you can price that anywhere. It usually comes down to how much the difference is between shipping, transfer costs, tax, etc between a FTF purchase and ordering it.
I haven't bought myself a new gun in 40yrs anyway so that doesn't matter to me.

To get a really great deal you have to find a mistake made by the proprietor. That used to be more common, but now with the miracle of AlGores Internet,,everyones an expert wether they really are or not and price things out in the stratosphere,,,"cause that's what they're goin' fer".

There's some shops and GS dealers that you just know never have or take in trade what you are interested in so you generally pass them by.
But the others are worth a look,,if you can stand repeated disappointment with an occasional shining moment when a decent deal is snagged. Can be alot of work w/little reward.
Kind of like hunting and fishing and I gave those up long ago.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Have any of you out there basically stopped looking for new firearms at you local gun shops and pawn shops? Every shop in my area seems to have greatly inflated prices, even for items in very marginal condition. And don't even consider trying to trade in any firearms that you may have. They always offer an insulting amount and basically lie to your face telling you that "we wouln't be able to get more than $350 for that if we sell it here." You can expect if you do trade it in, you will see the same item with a $550-600 price on it next week. If you are going to low ball me, you do not need to lie in the process. If I offer even a bit below what they are asking for an item they look at you like you are crazy and do not seem to appreciate the fact that you have made a decent offer. I have gone to mostly private face to face transactions in my state. Once in a while I will buy online but only if it is a very hard to find item or a very good deal. By the time you add the FFL fee and state sales tax (which in Washington state the FFL MUST charge) you are usually adding at least $100 to the cost of a gun. I guess it is going to take a lot of time to build my personal revolver collection! I hope some of you out there have a better options. Perhaps there is just not enough competition in my local area.

Give up? NO!

I support many of the local mom and pop gun shops because I don't care for Cabelas and such.

I have a friend that owns a gun shop and another that owns a pawn shop. I learned a lot working at both.

First off, anyone that expects a good deal from ANYONE when trading in a gun is foolish.

The markup on new guns isn't much. Used guns is where the money is unless you sell a hell of a lot of new guns.

Pawn shops? Almost everything you see at a pawn shop will be overpriced. There is such a thing as being a savy shopper. Watch an item for a while or ask how long it's been there. If it's been there a while then they may take less.

Instead of complaining, learn how things work, be a better shopper, or shop somewhere else.

 

[bigolddave]

It can get pretty frustrating at most shops, but there are a couple around here that are well worth checking out:

The Hunting Hut in Belvidere, IL has been a pretty good spot for me. This location has had three operations in the same building, one was there for many years, and over the years I found a lot of nice guns there, some of which I still have. When the longtime owner retired, there was another owner for a relatively short period of time; less than two years. From him, I bought a prewar HD and a Highway Patrolman, both at reasonable prices.

The current owner has been there about a year and a half, and while it is a small shop, he carries a great inventory of used guns. Late last winter, I picked up a beautiful nickel HD, and last Saturday a very early postwar (Ser C63xxx) 2 inch M&P round butt, with service stocks, and a Savage 1907 .32 in just about new condition. I would guess he had at least twenty-five used Smiths and Colts, quite reasonably priced.

Under three owners, over forty years, I have bought at least fifty guns from that location. As far as I can recall, only one was new.