Pathetic Prices in Springfield, IL

[luis]

I went to a couple of local stores the other day and I was shocked what they are charging. Hard to understand since Gander Mountain has come to town. 686-4 2-1/2" $999.00, NIB current 686 4inch $1,299.00 new model 10 $799.00, new 649 $899.00. It looks like I will be shopping at Gander. Greed has got out of hand.

The only reason I visited all the local stores was to compare them to the Decatur gun show 2 weeks ago. Prices were sky high and less than 5% of the people at the show purchased anything. I was about to buy two holsters from a dealer, when I heard him arguing with his partner to raise the price of some 10-year-old 9mm ammo from $15.00 a box to $50.00. A profit is fine but greed is ridiculous. I purchased the holsters from another dealer.

 

[GF]

Dealers can ask what they want. But only someone who doesn't shop around, even a little bit, will pay those high prices.
Gunbroker, gun forum classifieds and buying FTF with someone is still a way to find a deal.

I don't know why anybody has to ( or why they'd want to) pay more for a gun than what it's worth. There's a lot for sale and good prices are out there for folks that keep an eye open and a little CASH in their pockets!

Good for you for not supporting the high priced dealers, even for a holster.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

GREED is a bad thing, and when you get bit by the bug there is no help. I was proud about three years ago of my gunshow buddy when a young vet in a wheel chain came up to the table with both legs gone and scares on his head the size of golf balls. He was looking at a 45 acp and said he wanted one of those. He handed him the paper work and told him to fill it out, and the kid said I don't have any money. He looked at him and told him - you have paid for it with your service. The kid about fell out of his chair, happy as hell. So some times being nice can pay off in the long run, and jacking prices isn't one of them.

 

[TNDave]

Those prices are crazy. Those guys will be taking those guns to the grave with them sounds like.

 

[devildog66]

That's unfortunate that those dealers do not have the foresightedness to know that this short-term shortage will be reversed but those shoppers' memories of being raked will be long.

 

[Beans]

. I was proud about three years ago of my gunshow buddy when a young vet in a wheel chain came up to the table with both legs gone and scares on his head the size of golf balls. He was looking at a 45 acp and said he wanted one of those. He handed him the paper work and told him to fill it out, and the kid said I don't have any money. He looked at him and told him - you have paid for it with your service. The kid about fell out of his chair, happy as hell. So some times being nice can pay off in the long run, and jacking prices isn't one of them.

I hate it when something makes a grown man tear up.

SEMPER FI

 

[TAC]

Gander Mountain in Utica, Michigan is doing the same thing! They're prices are insane!!!

 

[smitholdtimer]

Jacked up prices

I always feel that those that raise their prices to such high levels are not in the business except for the money. Unfortunately many so called dealers are in the gun business only for the money. May be, you can't love something and expect to make a living at it, I don't know. I had a dealer tell me at one of the gun shows that as long as the black guns and ammunition continue to be the craze he was going to borrow the money to buy all he could get his hands on so as to realize the profit from their sales. (Believe me the greed is running rampant) This was in response to my question of where all his Smith & Wessons had gone. He didn't even bother to bring them. I have never minded a fair profit but the gouging by some exhibits their true character. Gas prices are, in my opinion, caused by the same type "Characters". Bullseye, you post was refreshing and you had reason to be proud, I appreciate your friend's respect for those that have given so much and the method he used to show that respect was spectacular.

 

[USAF385]

I used to highly recommend one particular shop around here. They always had (and still have) a good stock, and USED to have good prices. I went in for the first time in about 3 months and was stunned by their prices. I was very upset. I think they're taking advantage of the current market.

 

[stevieboy]

That's outrageous. Take heart, there are several Internet sellers who will beat those prices by huge margins. That's the nice thing about being able to shop online. Information is available to buyers with a mouse click that would have been simply unknowable a decade ago. A couple of months ago I went to a local store and asked for their best price on a Smith & Wesson 1911 model. They quoted me a price that was less than MSRP but very high. I told the clerk that I thought I could beat it and he smugly reassured me that no one sold it for less. I went home and, within 10 minutes, found the same model on line for 20% less than the local store's asking price.

 

[furyalecto]

The Gander Mountain in Springfield, IL had a lot of good Smith & Wesson's semiautomatics the last time I made the trip. It's too bad they are priced so high otherwise I would be flush with 3rd gens. The local shops have a few that are priced pretty high. They had a few revolvers there too. I was surprised by how many Smiths they had.

I would love to support the local shops & I have bought from them when I found reasonable deals, but it's hard to do when they price themselves that much higher than what I can get via the internet. I think twice about not buying local. I want the gun shops to be there. I am willing to spend more for them to be able to be there.

 

[luis]

Even the higher prices of Gander are still below the other stores. Today I placed an order for a Ruger Blackhawk online for $425 a LEO FFL will do the transfer for $25. Two dealers had them in stock. Dealer A wanted $678.95 OTD and Dealer B 699.92 OTD.