Price Gouging? Lets help each other!

[Hillbilly77]

Why were you trying to take advantage of a young shooter? He offered you what is probably a fair price in today's market. You countered with an offer that is probably about half of what he could get, again on today's market, yet you accuse him of trying to take advantage of you?

What he has in the ammo is totally irrelevant. What the ammo is worth today is the only thing that matters.

There are plenty places still selling ammo for what it is actually worth. All of the ammo I have bought recently has been purchased at the regular, "before" price, which tells me that anybody running up their prices is simply taking advantage of people.
I refuse to be taken advantage of. I offered what would be full retail price on two full boxes of ammo for two partial boxes of ammo - more than fair on my part. I didn't argue with the kid, we just each had a dollar amount in mind, and those amounts were too far apart to make a deal. Again, I refuse to be screwed. I don't need ammo that badly. I even told him "You're right - you probably can sell it for more, I'm just not stupid enough to pay twice what something is worth."

I'm also tired of this "current market, capitalism" BS excuse.
People are taking advantage of people, plain and simple. Many have said that it requires two willing participants, and I agree - I'm just not willing.

I could sell you a flaming five pound bag of manure for $75, and it doesn't make it worth $75 - it just means that I have your money, and you have a flaming bag of ****.

Just my opinon of course, and my opinion and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee.

 

[labworm]

Pay more if you like, I know I am not.

You want to show me your used car for $10,000, well I am not biting but you may bite at my offer of $8000.00.

Otherwise we both walk and no harm done.

 

[redlevel]

There are plenty places still selling ammo for what it is actually worth.

Hmmmm . . . . then what is all this fuss about?

 

[Hillbilly77]

Hmmmm . . . . then what is all this fuss about?

Fuss? What fuss?

 

[skwchock]

I agree. I cannot find ANY 22 LR. At gun shows, I see "old" beat up boxes of .22LR --with a price of $10 per box of 50.. Sale 500 round brick -$90. What's going on? They are making 22LR aren't they??

 

[army]

Boy y'all are right, I'm a disabled vet and I live from check to check I work but I have been trying to buy a gun for years and had a fight with my other half because I'm trying to but a smith 9mm and can't afford really any extras but their school loan at 16 grand is killing me and the prices for the guns are way up there. 1600 for an 800 dollar gun wow. Don't think guns are going to be the problem, I believe they are going to try to go after the ammo just my thought because a gun with out ammo is just a club.

 

[ladyT]

I had a kid at work offer to sell me his .22LR ammo. He mentioned that he was going to sell his .22 rifles and all his ammo.
I asked what he had for ammo and how much he wanted for it. Turned out he had 2 partial boxes from a couple years ago, approx. 700 loose rounds of Winchester & Federal. He had all of about $40 into it when he purchased it. I asked him what he wanted for it and he said "$60" without batting an eye.
I told him he was out of his mind and there was no way I would pay that kind of money for a couple half-boxes of ammo.
I offered him $45 for all of it and told him "That refunds your original purchase price, and several hundered rounds are missing. That's a nice profit for you, but $45 is my limit."

Turns out the kid is a "take advantage" type and figures he can sell it for way more than that.
I agreed with him that he probably could, and that it was his and he could do what he wanted, but I wasn't willing to pay centerfire prices for rimfire ammo. I'll quit shooting .22 altogether first.

I wish him the best of luck in his venture to screw the next guy - it ain't gonna be me.

Average price for 22lr is around 10 cents a round and he has 700 rounds. Thats $70 worth of 22lr in todays market. Why did you low-ball him. He gave you a fair price on ammo in today's market but you said no and then call him names. You are the problem not him.

 

[ladyT]

As long as there are buyers willing to pay the gougers' overly inflated prices, we'll see empty shelves. It happened in '08, it's happening now, and it will happen again. Too many otherwise sane and sensible people have turned into "can't find it, gotta have it" addicts, and are willing to pay the ridiculous prices that the gougers are asking. Yes, I call them gougers. You can call them "opportunists" or "enterprising individuals" if it makes you feel better. Too many Joe Blows, who otherwise wouldn't even be in the sporting goods section of their local WalMart, are now there every day, buying up everything they can get their hands on, just so they can resell it for multiples of what they paid for it to people who have a need for it but can't get it, because Joe Blow bought all of it. I know a lot of people see nothing wrong with that. The Joe Blows are just trying to make a profit, recouping what they have into it (many times over), this is America, don't like the price don't buy it, etc etc. But I see it as taking advantage of people, screwing people, and yes, if you don't like the price, don't buy it. But if it weren't for the Joe Blow gougers, no one would have to. There'd be ammo on the shelves. Maybe not as much as there used to be, because there's still a greater demand, thanks to Obama. But take away the gougers, and maybe, just maybe, I could walk into Dick's or the lgs and pick up a box or two of 9mm. And the only way to take away the gougers, is to stop buying from them. Save the money you're going to pay the gouger for that box of ammo, and in a few months, take that money you saved and buy 5 boxes from your lgs.

The position that those like yourself take on the present ammo crises is that people are buying up all the ammo and that frankly is not true. I know of no dealer that sells ammo that doesn't have a limit on the amount of ammo one can purchase. Also given the sporadic deliverys and minimal amounts of ammo being delivered one has to ask where are people finding ammo to sell. Now they may be selling their own stock but no one is standing in line,buying all the ammo and then reselling it. The costs involved make it a losing proposition.

People taking this position of yours conveniently forget about all of the new firearm owners that have taken up the shooting sports. Using the NRA membership to gun owner ratio in November 2012 (20-1) and apply that ratio to today the shooting sports have seen 20 million new gun owners since Jan 2013. Even if the the ratio is 10-1 you are still talking 10 million new gunowners and that number would cause the system to crash because of new demand which BTW it has.

Blaming others for ones own failure is not the course to take.

 

[the ringo kid]

Hope you're right friend. Because there are too many dummies out there spending way too much!

Exactamundo--I saw this at the gun show last Saturday. I saw people still fighting to buy a box of 500 22 LR--for $180.00!!!! when Academy and WM DOES get some in and sells them for from between $18.95 to around $22.00.

After this one gent wrote out a check for a four hundred clams-as he was buying other ammo and stuff as well--he walked up to me to crow about his ""great Deal"" he just had-and I said well--if you would only go by WalMart or Academy--you would be crying in your beer instead of crowing about your purchase. The guy went from having a big s__t-eating grin to a clowns sad face instantly.

 

[the ringo kid]

It is a free country, nobody has to buy and nobody has to sell. I have a lifetime supply of most of what I shoot acquired at what look like very low prices now. The gunshow last weekend, one of my premier ammo sources was offering 500 rounds of target 22lr ammo for $125. Shotguns and shotgun accessories and shells are still reasonable. For rifles, handguns and their ammo, I can wait for the return to sanity. Good luck finding what you need/want. Houston Rick

I wonder if Corpus Christi's "Indian" was selling at your show as he was not at the one here.

 

[the ringo kid]

The hoarders and preppers were buying before this panic set in, and you could still find ammo on the shelf. Sorry if you think I'm whining. I'm not. I just don't have any particular fondness for people who take advantage of other people, no matter what the circumstances are.

Great point. Im also all for Capitalism however, in the case of when the last time we were supposed to get a Hurricane through my area--I went to WalMart--and saw dozens of slimebags in the WM parkinglot-selling needed necessities like Bottled Water, Flashlights, Batteries etc-from WM shopping carts and making a milking of a profit. I almost didnt go inside as I was there only to get another flashlight. I swaggered my way through throngs of people to where I knew the flashlights were normally placed--all of them including the cheapies--were gone as well as all batteries and bottled water.

I was leaving when my right elbow hit a box on a shelf in another section-and it fell over-I picked it up and noticed an object hidden behind it. Holy Moses--it was a very nice-rubberized flashlight with a pack of Duracell batteries and a 6-pack of Dasani Water. I grabbed the kit and kaboodle--and had to endure about 4 hours in line to pay since so many were there.

The next morning when the rains had already started-I made my way to a nearby gas station to top off my cars tanks--and saw pallets full of Dasani bottled water. They had a sign that said only 5 cases per customer. I was approached and I asked if I could have a case? and a Newspaper-the attendant looked at me sideways saying: "Why arent you taking advantage of getting 5 cases?" I said: "Because I dont need them". I paid I think all told water and gas--maybe $15.00.

My point is--I say I do believe in Capitalism--but not in emergency situations like the above. I dont care what a person charges-ite their right but--if I ever am in a situation when I need to sell? im NOT--going to participate in price gauging.

And no--im NOT crying either. I just do not see a point in Taking advantage of others.

 

[the ringo kid]

There are plenty places still selling ammo for what it is actually worth. All of the ammo I have bought recently has been purchased at the regular, "before" price, which tells me that anybody running up their prices is simply taking advantage of people.
I refuse to be taken advantage of. I offered what would be full retail price on two full boxes of ammo for two partial boxes of ammo - more than fair on my part. I didn't argue with the kid, we just each had a dollar amount in mind, and those amounts were too far apart to make a deal. Again, I refuse to be screwed. I don't need ammo that badly. I even told him "You're right - you probably can sell it for more, I'm just not stupid enough to pay twice what something is worth."

I'm also tired of this "current market, capitalism" BS excuse.
People are taking advantage of people, plain and simple. Many have said that it requires two willing participants, and I agree - I'm just not willing.

I could sell you a flaming five pound bag of manure for $75, and it doesn't make it worth $75 - it just means that I have your money, and you have a flaming bag of ****.

Just my opinon of course, and my opinion and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee.

Damn, a cup of Joe is starting to get mighty expensive--I wonder who is hoarding all the beans?

 

[the ringo kid]

Boy y'all are right, I'm a disabled vet and I live from check to check I work but I have been trying to buy a gun for years and had a fight with my other half because I'm trying to but a smith 9mm and can't afford really any extras but their school loan at 16 grand is killing me and the prices for the guns are way up there. 1600 for an 800 dollar gun wow. Don't think guns are going to be the problem, I believe they are going to try to go after the ammo just my thought because a gun with out ammo is just a club.

Send me a PM and I can get you a good new gun buying contact who will save you money--and they are here in Texas. )

 

[blujax01]

There are plenty places still selling ammo for what it is actually worth. ...
I could sell you a flaming five pound bag of manure for $75, and it doesn't make it worth $75 - it just means that I have your money, and you have a flaming bag of ****.

Just my opinon of course, and my opinion and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee.

Hillbilly, my friend, the point of this whole thing is that whatever an object sells for, regardless of the price, is exactly and precisely what it is worth. Not one penny less or more.

Simply because a person asks what is, in your opinion, a ridiculous price doesn't make them a gouger. They can ask all day. And sometimes they score!

For instance:
I was raised in the country where cow manure was free for the shoveling. Tons and tons of it. Now that I live in the city, every spring when the suburban gardens start up, I see folks pay $10 a bag for it. Every day, day in and day out. And if someone is willing to buy a flaming bag of manure from you for $75 it is worth exactly $75. Furthermore that does not make you a gouger, it makes you an opportunist with a twisted sense of what's valuable! And good luck with that!

 

[Hillbilly77]

Average price for 22lr is around 10 cents a round and he has 700 rounds. Thats $70 worth of 22lr in todays market. Why did you low-ball him. He gave you a fair price on ammo in today's market but you said no and then call him names. You are the problem not him.

Since you felt like commenting on a situation that happened several months ago, let me set you straight.

10¢ per round of .22LR is an insulting, gouger price.
I have managed to buy several thousand rounds of .22LR since then, all at 4¢ and 5¢ per round - half of your professed "fair price".

I didn't lowball him. He tried to take advantage of me.
I believe he still has his ammo too, as he was unable to find a buyer willing to pay his "fair price".
If you think it's such a great deal, PM me your info and I can put you in contact with him.

In the meantime, I don't need a lecture or accusations, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I was raised in the country where cow manure was free for the shoveling. Tons and tons of it. Now that I live in the city, every spring when the suburban gardens start up, I see folks pay $10 a bag for it. Every day, day in and day out. And if someone is willing to buy a flaming bag of manure from you for $75 it is worth exactly $75. Furthermore that does not make you a gouger, it makes you an opportunist with a twisted sense of what's valuable! And good luck with that!

That just goes to show you....

Some people don't know ****!

 

[photobiker]

I'm going back to the OP thoughts. Over the last 6 months I have sold powder, pullet and ammo to folks in needs and some I have never met, they were just in need. I felt I had enough that I could share some with others. If I shipped to them I charged them shipping and plus a couple of bucks over what I paid for them. If it was face to face it was a couple of bucks over. And I mean a couple of bucks is a couple of bucks. Pound of powder plus $2 or 1000 bullets plus $5. That's how we help our fellow shooters, especially the new ones.

 

[blujax01]

Give a man a fish or teach a man to fish - your choice I guess.

I assume you add the $24 Hazmat fee to your $2 markup? Congratulations, you have doubled his cost!

And what do you do when they run out and come back to you for more? Because they have learned nothing other than they are to rely on you for their needs.

I regularly pick up range brass. Free to me, you say? I should give it away, right? Uh, no. When I sell brass in the Classifieds I charge for shipping ($6) plus the cost of 2 hours labor at minimum wage ($7 per hour for gathering, sorting, cleaning and packaging.) Works out to $20/400 for common calibers.

I am also teaching a friend how to reload and his first lesson is in scrounging components. When he's out and about he is to stop at any of three of four sources for powder, primers and bullets. And when he gets those, we'll begin.

If you want to make rabbit stew, the first thing you gotta do is catch the rabbit.

 

[smokindog]

Based on other threads we both read, I'd say we need to teach most to first identify the rabbit

If you want to make rabbit stew, the first thing you gotta do is catch the rabbit.

 

[M29since14]

...What upsets me is the fact that when one of us needs info, dozens give it for free, without prejudice. But...when some of us ask for things, others triple the value. And it's not just here.

Everyone enjoys being an "armchair expert" or probably 90% of us wouldn't be here. That said, I have learned a lot from the real "experts" here over the years. There are a few.

...Personally, if I were to sell some equipment, the most I would charge is what I paid plus shipping. I have a job to make money. We need to help each other, not take advantage of one another.

Admirable sentiment Russ, which I tend to share to a degree, but as Fishslayer said, the unscrupulous, being what they are, will take advantage of people like us (usually, if asked, they will outright lie about it ) and flip what we sold them in good faith thinking they needed/wanted it just to make a few bucks. Since even "friends" will resort to this tactic, and since I resent it, I try not to set myself up for disappointment. One way to do that is sell at prevailing market prices - or at least not at what might be considered bargain prices. Another way is to trade items of similar value.

It's just not a perfect world when it comes to this "flipping" stuff. The folks that legitimately need the money, I can sometimes sympathize with to some degree. The guys who think they are really clever and you are just stupid... Most of us transition out of the "legitimately need the money" phase of our hobby as time passes, but not very many of us can shed the old habits.