Interesting consignment observations

[S&W Fan]

There are three shops in my area that I use if I want to sell a gun on consignment.

Shop A is one I've been doing business with since 1984 and is known for some of the best used/consigned guns in the area. I take a gun in, they ask what I want to sell it for, they will go to one or two books right there at the counter and we'll talk about it before settling on the marked price and my lowest offered price. They don't take offers until a gun has been in the case more than two weeks. Works for me.

Shops B and C both have the same process. They look what I have, ask what I think I'd like to sell it for (not my take home), take the gun in the back and a few minutes later come out with "here's what we think it'll sell for because on "pick a website" they've sold for a lot less". Shop C will sometimes offer to buy it outright and while I've only done that once I was happy with the offer. I usually check completed sales on the popular sites before I go to any of them to see how far off I am in prices haha.

I'm not ranting about the processes just curious how it works in other parts of the country. Here in Colorado we lost the "face to face with a handshake, cash and carry" way in July 2013. Now everything has to go through a dealer for NCIC/CBI background check. Having an item in a shop is many times more convenient than trading emails and arguably more people see it.

All the shops charge the same fee of 15% by the way.

Thanks for letting me know how things work in your areas and have a safe holiday.

 

[Struckat]

20% here and you should know your price before you bring it to them.

I've sold three that way this year. Sure I took a hit, but I look at it as I rented them for a while.

 

[S&W Fan]

Oh, I definitely have prices in mind-both what to start at and my lowest selling price. The shops used to charge 10%, went up to 15% a number of years ago, shop C goes up to 20% if an item has been in 4 weeks or more. Shop B drops it down to 10% if you buy something else, doesn't have to be of equal value.

Shop A has a really nice 19-2 with the original box, grips, etc for $1100, didn't look to see if there are any rework marks on the grip frame. They do get nice stuff.

 

[TTSH]

All the shops charge the same fee of 15% by the way.

Thanks for letting me know how things work in your areas and have a safe holiday.

I use different shops depending on what I'm trying to sell... or, for some items, I sell them myself via Armslist and, if/when necessary, I pay the dealer's fixed transfer fee (we are still allowed 4 F-T-F sales in MA and often reserve them for non-roster guns).

I consider 15% to be a fair consignment commission. Unfortunately, some of our best (highest volume) shops charge 18% or more while some of the smaller (lowest volume) shops are still at 10%. In general, you get what you pay for. Just don't pay 18% at a shop with low volume or a different clientele unless you want to wait a very long time. On the other hand, if you aren't in a hurry, sometimes a 10% shop can be a good answer.

 

[cndrdk]

I use different shops depending on what I'm trying to sell... or, for some items, I sell them myself via Armslist and, if/when necessary, I pay the dealer's fixed transfer fee (we are still allowed 4 F-T-F sales in MA and often reserve them for non-roster guns).

I consider 15% to be a fair consignment commission. Unfortunately, some of our best (highest volume) shops charge 18% or more while some of the smaller (lowest volume) shops are still at 10%. In general, you get what you pay for. Just don't pay 18% at a shop with low volume or a different clientele unless you want to wait a very long time. On the other hand, if you aren't in a hurry, sometimes a 10% shop can be a good answer.

Have a LGS in Hurst, TX that is a one man operation. Does a lot of sales from his web site as he is competitive with the large volume dealers. Great guy, but best part is the large amount of quality consignment guns he has on hand. He charges a straight fee of $35 for consignment sales which includes all the paperwork/checks. And the best part, he charges no sales tax on consignment sales. Seems to draw in a lot of customers.

 

[Ribwizzard]

Best ever was when Facebook let us post guns for sell or trade. Those were the best times. Allowed you to buy , shoot, enjoy a gun for a little while and if it wasnt your cup of tea, trade or sell it off and try another. I never felt I was losing money, no taxes, no transfer fees. Too bad nothing else has come along to fill the void. Everything I've checked into is full of scams and hacks