I have. The gun library manager was the only person allowed to give offers so I had to go back when he was there. I had a Colt 1911 Officers Model - stainless with 3.5 inch barrel, walnut grip panels and 2 colt mags. In 2019 he offered me 250.00 cash or 350 trade. The gun was easily worth 7-800.00 having very little wear box etc. Needless to say I sold it on-line netting 750 after it was all said and done. I personally will never deal with them on used guns again.
How best to sell most of my guns.
- Thread starter Jerry N.
- Start date
Could try your local range, especially if they have their own gunsmiths. One of the local ranges here buys guns of all types, their gunsmiths do the appraisals and make the offer as either check or store credit if you’re looking to buy something else. They have been known to give a “fair” price, but since they are planning on reselling it, it’s not top dollar. JM2CW.
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Now that's real data right there. Thanks! Forewarned is forearmed. I'll go run my own such test transaction at the Cabela's only 10 minutes away.
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-Every type of sale has its problems. We have a gun shop in my area that will take in used guns and sell them for a fee for you. The down side, many people handle them and put marks on them from their wedding rings and the more marks they accumulate the less money you get on the sale.
Local Auctions often get you the most money but again many people get to handle them and also do damage to them lowering the resale value.
And putting them on line may get you even higher prices but is a real pain in the you know what because you must take in focus pictures with a high definition camera and lots of pictures and answer many questions about them before the auction and then have to package them up, insure them and send them and some people get cold feet and want to then send them back and they can get stolen on their way to the buyer or back to the seller creating a real nightmare with the police and the claims department of the insurance people.
Pawn shops will often give you only half of what they are worth but you get to dump them all at once and the Pawn shop must register them on their books and this provides a paper trail to protect you if the gun is ever used in a crime and they trace the gun back to you as you can then tell the police to go to the pawn shop and deal with them because your are totally out of the picture.
Selling face to face with your buddies does not protect you if the gun later is used in a crime either from being stolen or from the guy that bought the gun from you.
Selling at a gun show is a nightmare also because you will get way less money out of them and again if the gun was originally papered in your name and then used in a crime you are now in real trouble as who is going to believe you when you say, "I sold it at a gun show and I do not know who I sold it to".
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If considering an auction site I would recommend Kramer Auction Service in Prairie du Chien, WI I have used them extensively for many years. Their fees are in line with other auction services but Curt evaluates every item and gives it an expected selling price along with a series of pictures. Items can be shipped to them, Not sure of that works since they are 85 miles from home. I deliver items to them and pick them up.
Here is the website and phone number Ask for curt
https://www.kramersales.com/ (608) 326-8108
What you got?
Criminals don’t usually buy expensive smith and Wesson revolvers to rob convenience stores.
I support my local business by shipping firearms with them . They charge a reasonable amount for packing them up and I get to say hello !
Hi Jerry. I’m a class 1 FFL in Pa and deal mainly in collectible firearms. Let me know what you’re looking to part with and maybe I can help you out. JScott Firearms
Hi , I am In Florida and am in the same boat . I went thru Locusts Fork guns in " Renlap / Remlap " Alabama . Kasey " A lady " charges 10% + Gun Broker fees . They take 40 to 75 hi def pictures . I have been overjoyed with results and no shipping no hassles no USPS telling me they can't cash a money order this early and everything thru an ffl and out of my name . so far about 100 from rusty 22s to high end rifles and pistols . she will send you boxes and labels for a few or come get them for a very very reasonable fee . I think I have done better than doing it my self .Again , A very nice person to deal with , I could not be happier . I hope this helps and good luck . Bill ps if you need more info e mail me [email protected]
A powerful feature of selling on this site, or others like it, is that there is no Buyers Premium or sales tax and that means you get to keep more of that sale price you are asking, rather than the State or the Auction house.
In Michigan if you have an "Estate sale or Estate Auction" there is no sales tax. Now if you mix that estate sale items in with a general consignment auction taxes are now charged on all items, which means buyers will take into consideration the cost of the sales tax and bid less to cover that cost, less money for you and auctioneer figures their Buyers Premium after hammer price AND sales tax, terrible.
Don't go to Cabela's they simply do not know what to do, at least around here. You want some real time answers and info? I sell mostly always on this Forum. I have no trouble at all dealing with people on this Forum. I have a 03 (C&R) FFL which allows me to ship those guns that qualify (pre 1975) direct to the buyers house IF....IF...IF they also hold a valid 03 C&R FFL. If the buyer has no FFL then I have to ship to the buyers FFL. No big deal as long as the buyer checks with his FFL and makes sure they will accept a gun from me with only a copy of my 03 and my Virginia drivers license.
All my shipments are made using Federal Express, 2nd day air and they are picked up at my house. That is Fed-Ex rules not mine.
Anyway.........here are some very recent examples: Five guns offered for sale on this Forum, a few weeks ago. Model 639 with original box and accessories, Model 745 with original box and accessories, a Model 1899 US Army, (oldest known surviving serial number), Model 637-2 Airweight, and a Model 66-6 357 Magnum revolver.
The 1899 Army, the Model 639, the Model 745, the 637-2 sold very quickly to other Members, money received, packed and shipped, all went well...everybody happy.
The Model 66-6...........just wouldn't sell, even after a couple major price drops...I had it at $500 shipped and fully insured which is about $100 in costs if shipped to the lower 48..........so I would have netted maybe $400-$425.....still no interest, no sale.
In this area of Virginia, there is only 1 big time, big box, LGS and they will not do any "external" transfers anymore. They used to for $75.00 plus shipping but they stopped even that. They will buy your gun but the offers are about the same as pawn shops...40% of what they think they can re-sell for. The only other places are a Cabela's and a Bass Pro. The Cabela's is a joke with clerks, and nothing in the gun library. Used to be good, now all gone.
On the other hand...I took the Model 66-6 to the Bass Pro in another county. Bass Pro OWNS Cabela's so it is really a different experience. I expected the same sort of "pawn shop" attitude..........what I got was something entirely different! Very knowledgeable clerks, and Used Gun Manager... looked at my gun (the 66-6) which had to be tagged and trigger lock installed at the service desk when you first come in, and he asked me for a copy of my concealed carry permit, and my DL, so he could check on my legal ownership status, went in the back, came out a few moments later and offered me $560 even to buy it! He said his reasoning was that .357 revolvers are hot at the moment, he had none in the case, S&W always brings quality, hence bigger sales so we made the deal on the spot. A week later that gun was gone so someone wanted a 66 for $749.
Yes................he said he and the other clerks are aware of Cabela's just 20 miles away and most of them know their gun policy's are quite different. Cabela's here has turned into a Dick's with fishing, clothing, kids stuff, SOME new fantastic plastic guns and ammo but not much in the used gun category at all
Bottom line...............maybe try Bass Pro in your area...you might find good people and a reasonable offer!
There is one more anecdote to this "selling handguns" philosophy that I would like to share. A Member on this Forum was looking for a pristine old no dahs Model 36. I have one, in the box with all docs, etc. I contacted the Member and mentioned I would sell it to him as long as his FFL would accept from me with a copy of my 03 FFL and my Virginia DL. His 01 FFL in New York City would NOT accept from me, only from another 01 FFL of which there are none around here with a decent price fro taking it on their books and shipping it, so unfortunately the deal fell through.
Sorry for the long winded tale, but if you would take a simple cell phone pic of each gun you want to sell, post them here on the For Sale subforum (no more than 5 pics ), list some details for each and for sure list a price that you want to get, then I am absolutely sure you will see a lot of response and fairly quickly. The beauty of listing here is that the Members themselves will let you know fast if you have priced about right and fair for condition...then you will get "I'll Take it" right away. If you are too high in price you won't get any response and can lower your price after a week or so. Someitmes you will get a DM (Direct Message) from a Member offering a lower price and you can negotiate direct with them.
I am 80 years old and have begun moving out a lot of my collections of handguns, long guns and Mil-surps, but I'll still buy if I see something I like so this hobby is still great for me.
All my shipments are made using Federal Express, 2nd day air and they are picked up at my house. That is Fed-Ex rules not mine.
Anyway.........here are some very recent examples: Five guns offered for sale on this Forum, a few weeks ago. Model 639 with original box and accessories, Model 745 with original box and accessories, a Model 1899 US Army, (oldest known surviving serial number), Model 637-2 Airweight, and a Model 66-6 357 Magnum revolver.
The 1899 Army, the Model 639, the Model 745, the 637-2 sold very quickly to other Members, money received, packed and shipped, all went well...everybody happy.
The Model 66-6...........just wouldn't sell, even after a couple major price drops...I had it at $500 shipped and fully insured which is about $100 in costs if shipped to the lower 48..........so I would have netted maybe $400-$425.....still no interest, no sale.
In this area of Virginia, there is only 1 big time, big box, LGS and they will not do any "external" transfers anymore. They used to for $75.00 plus shipping but they stopped even that. They will buy your gun but the offers are about the same as pawn shops...40% of what they think they can re-sell for. The only other places are a Cabela's and a Bass Pro. The Cabela's is a joke with clerks, and nothing in the gun library. Used to be good, now all gone.
On the other hand...I took the Model 66-6 to the Bass Pro in another county. Bass Pro OWNS Cabela's so it is really a different experience. I expected the same sort of "pawn shop" attitude..........what I got was something entirely different! Very knowledgeable clerks, and Used Gun Manager... looked at my gun (the 66-6) which had to be tagged and trigger lock installed at the service desk when you first come in, and he asked me for a copy of my concealed carry permit, and my DL, so he could check on my legal ownership status, went in the back, came out a few moments later and offered me $560 even to buy it! He said his reasoning was that .357 revolvers are hot at the moment, he had none in the case, S&W always brings quality, hence bigger sales so we made the deal on the spot. A week later that gun was gone so someone wanted a 66 for $749.
Yes................he said he and the other clerks are aware of Cabela's just 20 miles away and most of them know their gun policy's are quite different. Cabela's here has turned into a Dick's with fishing, clothing, kids stuff, SOME new fantastic plastic guns and ammo but not much in the used gun category at all
Bottom line...............maybe try Bass Pro in your area...you might find good people and a reasonable offer!
There is one more anecdote to this "selling handguns" philosophy that I would like to share. A Member on this Forum was looking for a pristine old no dahs Model 36. I have one, in the box with all docs, etc. I contacted the Member and mentioned I would sell it to him as long as his FFL would accept from me with a copy of my 03 FFL and my Virginia DL. His 01 FFL in New York City would NOT accept from me, only from another 01 FFL of which there are none around here with a decent price fro taking it on their books and shipping it, so unfortunately the deal fell through.
Sorry for the long winded tale, but if you would take a simple cell phone pic of each gun you want to sell, post them here on the For Sale subforum (no more than 5 pics ), list some details for each and for sure list a price that you want to get, then I am absolutely sure you will see a lot of response and fairly quickly. The beauty of listing here is that the Members themselves will let you know fast if you have priced about right and fair for condition...then you will get "I'll Take it" right away. If you are too high in price you won't get any response and can lower your price after a week or so. Someitmes you will get a DM (Direct Message) from a Member offering a lower price and you can negotiate direct with them.
I am 80 years old and have begun moving out a lot of my collections of handguns, long guns and Mil-surps, but I'll still buy if I see something I like so this hobby is still great for me.
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Something the OP can do is to go on Auctionzip and look for auction houses in his area that regularly have gun sales. I did a quick search for the Livonia, MI area and found one north of him called Rowley Auctions in Attica that does them often. They may be a little too far from him but there should be others closer. The best thing about going this route is that the auction house takes care of everything once you consign to them and sends you a check when it's over. Most places in my area charge between 20-25% as a sellers fee, so he will want to determine that beforehand. But they will usually get you a good price and everything is sold in one sale. Consigning to a gun store is another alternative and you can set a price, but it will take longer to sell everything.
One last bit of advice to the OP. Whatever you decide, clean them all up nicely beforehand. I can't tell you how many times I've seen firearms at sales that failed to bring top dollar simply because of their dirty condition. Good luck.
John
One last bit of advice to the OP. Whatever you decide, clean them all up nicely beforehand. I can't tell you how many times I've seen firearms at sales that failed to bring top dollar simply because of their dirty condition. Good luck.
John
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Nope, they steal them.
Jerry, I am also in Michigan and if I knew what kind of S&W revolvers you have and condition I may be available for a face to face sale and I do have a CPL.
Zippo Guy
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I’ve had guns sitting in my safe that I haven’t touched in years. Our LGS has a consignment section. They help you come up with a fair price that is also a “local” price for the gun. I’ve seen such a big difference in used gun prices from different parts of the country that make me jealous most of the time. Our prices are usually a couple of hundred dollars more plus more state fees than anywhere else. Local buyers are used to our prices.
Once the gun sells, the LGS gives you a check for 70% of the sale or gives you 100% store credit. I have always taken the store credit. If I’m not shooting a gun, it doesn’t matter to me if it sits in my safe or the store safe. I love the phone call telling me of my new store credit.
Once the gun sells, the LGS gives you a check for 70% of the sale or gives you 100% store credit. I have always taken the store credit. If I’m not shooting a gun, it doesn’t matter to me if it sits in my safe or the store safe. I love the phone call telling me of my new store credit.
Depends, Jerry. I don't know Michigan law, specifically, and I can only speak for myself. But I'd bet that I'd you could sell to one of the FFL holders here and they wouldn't charge ANY transfer fee. The shipping FFL probably would...last I knew those rates were going for $15 to $25 or so... and as someone else said, you'd avoid any commissions. For me, I only have a C&R so I'm limited to "modern" guns over 50+ years old but I'm sure there are others here who could accommodate you better.
* Put up a list of what you have.
* Do your homework and see what they're going for elsewhere.
* Evaluate them honestly (hard to do when you're emotional attached).
* Tell us what you're asking.
I'm willing to bet you'll have success.
Good luck!
Me? I'm in South Carolina...outside Charleston.
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