Opinion: Am I asking too much?

[Ga Johnny]

The shows here are overflowing with beautiful N frame Smiths ranging from 850.00 too 1100. and have been laying on the same venders tables for 7 to 8 months.

So we can assume if the asking prices were lower, then sales would increase.....correct?

Kinda like Pizza Hut now selling a large 5 topping pizza for $10, 3 years ago that was a $18~20 pie.

It's not inflation.......it's deflation.

It's supply and demand in reverse

More people with less money, the only way to shake 'em loose and move the product is to drop the price.

ETA......

I can understand wanting to keep it FTF, but high end collector piece may do better on the internet where you can get it in front of the right people

 

[diamonback68]

The shows here are overflowing with beautiful N frame Smiths ranging from 850.00 too 1100. and have been laying on the same venders tables for 7 to 8 months.

And what does that tell you? Tells me we have, or soon will, be pricing ourselves out of the market. Gun prices are only as good as the market will bear.
As snubbiefan said, "It's always only worth what you can get for it". And I think we are there and a lot of folks are going to be sorely disappointed in the very near future with their "investments" if this economy continues the way it's going.

 

[snubbiefan]

The 686 is a good example of deflation. Not long ago the going rate was $700-$750 where I come from. You can generally buy just about whatever barrel length you want now for closer to $475-$500 from a passer-by and put it on the table at $600.....and it just sits there. I saw a 8-7/8 on a dealers table this weekend marked at $465 and I'd be betting he had less than that in it.

If a customer can be found that really wants a gun at a retail, or book price and is willing to pay that.....ALL you have to do is find him/her. A dealer has to try and buy the gun at a wholesale price to leave some room to make-a-buck. They don't give you those tables for free.

 

[GPJohn]

I recently purchased a blue and a nickel 3 1/2" M27 from the same seller in two auctions on GB. They are both unfired and in perfect condition. Neither had the matching box, paperwork or tools, although they both arrived in mint, unlabeled Bangor Punta boxes.

I paid an average of $840 for each and am thrilled to have won both auctions. I don't plan to sell these so I haven't spent a lot of time worrying if I overpaid. I'm to busy enjoying them.

 

[1 old 0311]

over 10 people stopped you and wanted to look and none bought?

the price was good for 2015, but we're not there yet.

A high end wheel gun is a WANT not a NEED. It is actually priced at low retail. MOST people at gun shows want to BUY at wholesale then RESELL at retail.
It doesn't eat much, and I don't HAVE to sell so I will bring it out occasionally. At $975 I am making $25 and compared to what they are doing on G-broker it is a very fair price.
It does have a twin that would miss it

 

[1 old 0311]

I recently purchased a blue and a nickel 3 1/2" M27 from the same seller in two auctions on GB. They are both unfired and in perfect condition. Neither had the matching box, paperwork or tools, although they both arrived in mint, unlabeled Bangor Punta boxes.

I paid an average of $840 for each and am thrilled to have won both auctions. I don't plan to sell these so I haven't spent a lot of time worrying if I overpaid. I'm to busy enjoying them.

You did REAL well on those. Don't know how I missed those. I check g-broker every few days but the site is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO slow I pack it in pretty quick.

 

[snubbiefan]

I agree....if I can turn a gun over for $25-$50 or take it and trade it for something that I can turn over....I feel like I "done good". Now....the ones I buy for me....I may pay more than I should, but those don't get put on the table. Yes....I have been called an idiot by my table-mates on occasion, but I was purchasing for me...not a turn-over.

I almost had a little lady climb over the table and claw my eyes out this past Saturday. She came in and started darn-near yelling about how high our prices were and how she knew she could buy guns off the internet for a lot less. She told me I would not be in business very long at these astronomical prices. I was going to try and explain to her that unless she had a FFL and received free shipping on one of those cheap internet deals...she would not get a better deal than what was on the tables. She pointed her little finger at me and told me to shut-up...twice. I held-on and simply told her...yes mam....yes mam. I was waiting for either a scream, or a gun-shot from some other "not so nice" dealer on down the line, but I guess she got out of there without being strangled. This woman had serious hormone problems.

Sorry to get off the subject OP...just had to tell that story.

 

[1 old 0311]

I agree....if I can turn a gun over for $25-$50 or take it and trade it for something that I can turn over....I feel like I "done good". Now....the ones I buy for me....I may pay more than I should, but those don't get put on the table. Yes....I have been called an idiot by my table-mates on occasion, but I was purchasing for me...not a turn-over.

I almost had a little lady climb over the table and claw my eyes out this past Saturday. She came in and started darn-near yelling about how high our prices were and how she knew she could buy guns off the internet for a lot less. She told me I would not be in business very long at these astronomical prices. I was going to try and explain to her that unless she had a FFL and received free shipping on one of those cheap internet deals...she would not get a better deal than what was on the tables. She pointed her little finger at me and told me to shut-up...twice. I held-on and simply told her...yes mam....yes mam. I was waiting for either a scream, or a gun-shot from some other "not so nice" dealer on down the line, but I guess she got out of there without being strangled. This woman had serious hormone problems.

Sorry to get off the subject OP...just had to tell that story.

In 30+ years of being a 'gun show rat' I have seen that happen more than a few times. It is better not to argue, just tell them to have a nice day.
The argue people and the 'I am a genius about EVERY make and model' sure get around.

 

[mkk41]

Might be the light , but I do see some fine lines in that plating. Some soft flannel and a little dab of Simichrome or Flitz will get that nickel shining and just might fetch that price.

 

[jimmyj]

$850.00 to $900.00

 

[Garywapx]

If only it was blue.... But a very nice piece!!!

 

[CajunBass]

If it were at the shop where I buy most of my guns, I'll bet that's what they'd price it at. Of course they really wouldn't be looking to move it quickly and they'd dicker a bit on the price, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to see $975.00 on the tag.

I've been selling off a few of my guns recently. Colts, Rugers, and such. I've bought a couple of nice, probably overpriced, Smith & Wesson's with the proceeds. I didn't have any trouble selling any of them. I listed them on a local gun trader board and they all moved in a few days. Nothing in the class of the OP's gun, but some reasonable stuff. Most people like to dicker a little, but I got my asking price, or close to it with all of them.

 

[Mule88]

For what its worth I bought one last year for 650 but no box or paper it was blued about 95% or so.

 

[Danny Abernathy]

It's your gun, you know what you have in it and you know what it will bring. I don't pay much attention to people who try to price other peoples guns.
On the other hand I try to sell my guns for what they are worth, not what I have in them. You also need to consider what things are selling for in your neck of the woods, not in another part of the country.
Just my two cents worth.

 

[alenworn]

I think a grand is too high. I bought a mint 27-2, blue, 6" this year for $800. Admittedly, 6" may not be as desirable as the snubbie. I looked and looked for a few months, and there were dozens on GB and the shows, all overpriced I thought. I contacted a seller that was at one of the shows at a later date and made an offer and he sold me one at what I felt was a fair price. There was no way was I paying 950+ for a 27.

 

[semperfi71]

I am just starting to attend the local gunshows on a regular basis and in my area we do not have a lot.

I am on Gunbroker, AuctionArms, and GunsAmerica a lot. I watch what is being sold and I put faith only on what is sold that started with a low bid. I also look at what is bid on a weapon that has too high of a reserve. For instance if the bids go to $700.00 on a S&W that has a reserve of over $900.00, that, to me is a possible indication of its value. People are willing to pay $700.00 and no more.

And again, as someone else posted, your "area" or "region" might indicate a difference in "market value" over another region.

I suspect in California, at a gunshow (if they still have them), your M27-2 would not have been too high. Based on the internet, your price might be okay IF the bidders are there to bid. Sometimes they are on vacation while you're trying to sell your gun.

As far as your local area and your desire to sell face-to-face I do not know. At our local gunshows it just depends on who walks in and what they are looking for. I have seen some nice S&Ws that I thought should have sold and they did not. I have seen some not-so-nice get scarfed right up.

Your current price, Christmas, and THAT one show probably all came together to cause a "no-sale". But at the next gunshow you might get it sold. Again depending on what they sell for in your area.

Two years ago, at the gunshow I passed up a NIB M27-2 blue 3 1/2 inch, with all the accessories for $700.00. Only because I already have one, in not as nice shape, that is a shooter. And the one I was looking at would have become a shooter as well. So I passed, BUT, I find myself sometimes thinking I should not have.

Good luck on your future attempts.

 

[SpectrePilot]

A nice blue 27-2 3 1/2 inch gun just sold on this forum for $900. It was in slightly lesser condition with a non-original, unnumbered box. It sold in 10 minutes, there are buyers for quality guns at fair market price. You lowballs are just wishful thinking in my opinion.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

You're so right, it doesn't matter what the book says or what people say. When people ask "what's it worth" with no intention of selling, the answers are totally worthless. Let's face it the answers are only good for what, six months or a year, then you'd have to ask the same question all over again ad infinitum.
To me, my guns are exactly worth what I paid for them and what I feel they are worth to me now, not what someone would be willing to buy them for now or in the future, which to me is a totally meaningless number.

................BIG AMEN..........

 

[Jack Flash]

Well, you asked for opinions and boy have I got 'em.

Don't think about "what you have in it." Don't worry about the opinions of others. You need to do an honest evaluation of your M27's condition, the current market, etc. Then in your own mind come to a reasonable price.

In regard to timing - my Dad always said that the month before and the month after Christmas is the worst time of the year to be a seller and the best time to be a buyer. If you absolutely can't put off selling it, you will probably have to take a beating on it. "Them's the breaks."

A lot of people like to talk down your gun, point out its flaws, and ridicule the price you put on it. This is especially the case at gun shows. Truth be told, 95% of them couldn't scrape together the money even if you cut the price in half. At any gun show I have ever been to, "hot air" is always available in abundance. The bigger the talk, the smaller the wallet.

Set your price and stick to it. Well, now you've heard my opinion. That, plus a dollar fifteen, will get you a large coffee at McDonalds.

 

[Camster]

In the pond that you were fishing the price was obviously too high.In another pond,perhaps an online auction site,perhaps not.
One must also realize that most guys trolling gun shows are only looking for bargains,not to pay an individual the same as table prices, and most don't have more than 500 in their pocket.
That said,it also seems obvious from the responses here, that those that would cough up a number in your range,prefer to do so for a blued version.