How to sell a collection? (not a for sale post)

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JoeS

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I may end up liquidating the bulk of my firearms collection. Its not large in the big scheme of things, around 70 pieces, lots of S&W, some Colt, Browning, Beretta and the like. Nothing terribly rare.
I don't think I want to mess around selling them piece by piece but would rather get it over with at one time.
How is the best way of doing this? Auction house, some type of dealer?
Any thoughts appreciated.
 
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I did the same a while back with my collection of cameras to help pay the bills during a long period of being out of work. I sold them a few at a time on a site like this one and when it did not sell it was over to EvilBay. You'ld have to use gunbrooker or somewhere like that. I'd read up on laws about shipping guns to different states and all (e.g. Gun-Free-Afornia).

I found that my stuff sold for less than I hoped or expected but it sold. If you are looking for money things are only worth what someone is willing to pay you for it. It might be worth twice what it will sell for to you but in the end, cash is king.

With auctions you need to think about your audience and time your auctions to end when potential buyers are in front of their computers (e.g. not work days or during the super bowl). Reserves turn off buyers IMHO, timing and trusting the market served me better.

Think about your return policy and clearly describe it.

PM me and I can tell you some harder lessons I learned. All in all it worked and now while I have a lot less cameras, I am happier.

Good luck.

B2
 
JoeS said:
I may end up liquidating the bulk of my firearms collection. Its not large in the big scheme of things, around 70 pieces, lots of S&W, some Colt, Browning, Beretta and the like. Nothing terribly rare.
I don't think I want to mess around selling them piece by piece but would rather get it over with at one time.
How is the best way of doing this? Auction house, some type of dealer?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Click to expand...

Joe,
You are close(Hillsboro, IIRC) to one of the most respected people around when it comes to consigning firearms.
He goes by the handle "Jack The Dog"
Call 503-805-9665 and ask for Mark.
Best,
Gary
 
Sell them one at a time. Guns go faster than you can imagine and you will clear a lot more money.

It would not be unusual for a person to take a 50% loss on a collection by getting rid of the entire group to an auction house, a gun broker or whomever.

I was in a gun store yesterday and saw a man sell a Python and a Remington 700 BDL with the monte carlo stock and some type scope. The dealer gave his $475 for the two of them. I would have given him $1200 for them right then if the dealer would not have tossed me out.
 
I second 'Jack the Dog'. I made one GB purchase from him and was very satisfied.

I believe I would have interupted the LGS transaction and told the seller, "I'll give you $1,200 now." The gunstore owner deserves a wake-up call.

Oldman45 -- you are a Southern gentleman, but I'm an arrogant Yankee that dislikes people in trouble or uninformed receiving only a third or fourth of the fair value of their property. I'll negotiate a good deal but that $475 offer was cruel.
 
It would be a lot more work, but I would sell them all individually if it were me. Guns move fairly quick on sites like this, and having a large amount of them will generate a lot of interest. As long as you priced them with a realistic price that you wanted for them you shouldn't have any trouble moving them. If I had to guess, your post already generated some PM's.
 
JoeS said:
I may end up liquidating the bulk of my firearms collection. Its not large in the big scheme of things, around 70 pieces, lots of S&W, some Colt, Browning, Beretta and the like. Nothing terribly rare.
I don't think I want to mess around selling them piece by piece but would rather get it over with at one time.
How is the best way of doing this? Auction house, some type of dealer?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Click to expand...

Joe - sorry to hear that you are selling, I hope it is not a forced sale due to troubles.
I agree with others about a GB Dealer like "Jack the Dog" - they know what they are doing, produce good pictures and good descriptions which produce good money.
It takes the hassle and any legal problems out of the picture for you.
Oh and be careful.........when there is blood in the water, the Sharks will come :)
 
VM said:
Joe - sorry to hear that you are selling, I hope it is not a forced sale due to troubles.
I agree with others about a GB Dealer like "Jack the Dog" - they know what they are doing, produce good pictures and good descriptions which produce good money.
It takes the hassle and any legal problems out of the picture for you.
Oh and be careful.........when there is blood in the water, the Sharks will come :)
Click to expand...

+1 on what Mike said as I've seen several people lose their shirts trying to sell guns at local auctions.
 
Joe, you could try Scott at The Gunrunner, he runs a monthly online auction and specializes in collections. He charges 10% and sales prices are very high.
 
Gun sellers on web sites are always looking for collections to purchase. I suspect you will probably only get about 80% of their value, if you are lucky. Remember those guys are expecting to realize a profit, as well. Might check with Joe Salter on line. They buy collections.
 
I don't know what a on-line dealer like Jack The Dog charges for consignment sales, but would imagine at least 10-15%. This is most probably a better deal than any retail store that will offer you no more than 60% of wholesale value. Good luck. I have heard many people vouch for Jack The Dog as a straight up dealer. You should be able to feel comfortable with.
 
Find a gun shop who will work with you and sell them on consignment thats the only way you can do it with no loss, you should even make a few $$ in the process. Or sell them on a gun for sale site and ship thru an ffl01 to an ffl01 this is even a better way of doing it. Guns right now are selling at an all time high.

DO NOT SELL AS A PACKAGE you will lose too much $$$$$.
 
Joe,

I'd just like to know how many PM's you've gotten with offers sight unseen since this thread has been posted- if any.

There are some sharks on various forums that have never posted a single post- but will send PM's or emails to people posting pictures of anything of interest (say if you posted pictures of your new acquisition) but these low-lifes try to "fish" for a deal by offering a couple of hundred bucks for a priceless piece. This forum helps educate people so well so it keeps them from getting burned- thank goodness! :)

I only had someone message me here once like that, but several times on another board. Makes my blood boil.
 
Andy Griffith said:
Joe,

I'd just like to know how many PM's you've gotten with offers sight unseen since this thread has been posted- if any.

There are some sharks on various forums that have never posted a single post- but will send PM's or emails to people posting pictures of anything of interest (say if you posted pictures of your new acquisition) but these low-lifes try to "fish" for a deal by offering a couple of hundred bucks for a priceless piece. This forum helps educate people so well so it keeps them from getting burned- thank goodness! :)

I only had someone message me here once like that, but several times on another board. Makes my blood boil.
Click to expand...

Well, actually none. I would not have been surprised by that nor offended, but I've bought and sold enough guns in 40 years of fooling with these things that I have a pretty fair idea what my stuff is worth and I have no intention of giving them away.
I never take offense at people making lowball offers but this is not a forced sale or anything like that, more like something I am considering.
 
I have sold a number of guns for both myself and a friend through JACK THE DOG and really liked the way that he handled the sale. He is very accurate in his descriptions which has elevated the trust in his auctions. This usually results in higher prices at auction time as buyers can be confident that the item has no hidden problems.
 
Joe,
Mark (Jack The Dog on Auction Arms) is a great person to deal with.He has auctioned off several firearms of mine and I haven't lost money on any of them.
He's right there in Beaverton,OR.
 
I agree with the above. I've purchased a number of guns from Mark. His photography is impeccable, fair and fast dealings and great communications. He is without a doubt the best in the business.
 
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