TTSH's "Poll of the Day"

[TTSH]

Today's poll: From a seller's perspective (optimizing overall return and speed of sale), how many magazines should one include when trying to sell a Smith & Wesson 3rd Gen pistol (or any other pistol with discontinued &/or generally hard-to-find magazines)?

More comments from moi on this question later, but first let's get the poll rolling.

 

[armorer951]

Minimum of three (3)

 

[mauser9]

I would vote for two TTSH. Sounds more appealing I would think to the perspective purchaser.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Minimum of three (3)

Have to agree 3 (or more) would help move a gun quickly!!!!!


But....... some of us 3G collectors who have built up our "stashes" of third gen mags..... might pass if the extra magazines bump up the price too much.

So price the extra magazines "fairly" without a premium to attract the most buyers.............

That said...... given how hard it is to get hi-cap mags in Mass........for you as the seller this is a tough call !!!!!!!!!!

 

[bigchuck83]

At least two preferably three.


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[TTSH]

Have to agree 3 (or more) would help move a gun quickly!!!!!

But....... some of us 3G collectors who have built up our "stashes" of third gen mags..... might pass if the extra magazines bump up the price too much.

So price the extra magazines "fairly" without a premium to attract the most buyers.............

That said...... given how hard it is to get hi-cap mags in Mass........for you as the seller this is a tough call !!!!!!!!!!

Well, right off the bat you are hitting on several of the key points:

1) Keeping the asking price low enough to be attractive.
2) Looking at magazine scarcity from a buyer's perspective.
3) Not giving away valuable magazines if you don't have to.

I'm just amazed lately at the spread I'm seeing in the 3rd Gens offered... as few as none and as many as 8 or 9. One gun I considered buying just for the magazines alone!

 

[BAM-BAM]

TTSH........Remember ..... if you "trade" a gun....... for the most part you get nothing for extra magazines or "leather"......unless it's something really unusual ....... like a Walther PPK/s in .32apc where extra mags will make it easier for the shop to sell it..

I bought the Walther described above for just under $300 OTD only because it had 4 magazines with it .......ya I know you can still get Mecgar magazines for $32-35 + shipping but it was easy to just grab the gun w/ 4 mags.

 

[petepeterson]

When I bought my 3914LS for $300 (a little dinged up, mind you) it came with 4 mags, all with the curved baseplate. Doing the math, I paid in the low 2's for the pistol.

As to your question, I try to sell with one extra mag, even if it comes out of the stash. I'll happily buy a pistol that only comes with one, as I can usually use that as a bargaining chip.

 

[TTSH]

TTSH........Remember ..... if you "trade" a gun....... for the most part you get nothing for extra magazines or "leather"...

Understood. Heck, in most cases you don't even get much for the gun itself, let alone the extra magazines.

But this poll isn't about trading. This is about seller strategy.

 

[Arik]

One or two but it depends on a few things. (I will be talking about normal states not ones with weird restrictions)
. How hard is it to get them. For instance 59XX mags are plentiful.
. Will I be buying more? If so why sell and buy again.
. Is this my last one of this model? If I don't have any more 59XX and don't plan on buying anymore why keep the extra mags?!?
. How much am I asking for the gun? If um asking $350 for an avg good condition 59XX you can find your own extra mags. If I'm asking $600 for the same gun there better be a reason or at least some sort of enticement.

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[TTSH]

One or two but it depends on a few things. (I will be talking about normal states not ones with weird restrictions)
. How hard is it to get them. For instance 59XX mags are plentiful.
. Will I be buying more? If so why sell and buy again.
. Is this my last one of this model? If I don't have any more 59XX and don't plan on buying anymore why keep the extra mags?!?
. How much am I asking for the gun? If um asking $350 for an avg good condition 59XX you can find your own extra mags. If I'm asking $600 for the same gun there better be a reason or at least some sort of enticement.

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All good points. For purposes of my poll, let's assume the seller either has other 3rd Gens that use the same magazines as the gun being sold... *OR*... that he or she plans to sell off any excess magazines separately.

In other words, I'd like to focus on how many magazines makes the gun most attractive to a potential buyer such that it sells relatively fast and at the best or optimal price in consideration of the value of the extra magazines.

 

[petepeterson]

So the real question is...What are you selling, and how much???

 

[Arik]

.

In other words, I'd like to focus on how many magazines makes the gun most attractive to a potential buyer such that it sells relatively fast and at the best or optimal price in consideration of the value of the extra magazines.

In that case the more the better. I've bought guns before based on the amount of mags that came with it. Now I had wanted that gun before but didn't want to spend the money on mags ($40 ea). Then this one came in used (so the pri e was already cheaper) but barely shot with 6 mags. That's an extra $240 in mags!!!


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[TTSH]

So the real question is...What are you selling, and how much???

Ha!!!! Nothing today Pete... but I'm getting ready to sell one of my cop trade-in Model 4566TSW pistols next Month.

My "used & abused" Model CS40 will likely come next... and then possibly one of my four Model 3913 pistols (still haven't decided on that yet).

In all of those cases I have more magazines than I think I should sell with the gun.

 

[Arik]

Ha!!!! Nothing today Pete... but I'm getting ready to sell one of my cop trade-in Model 4566TSW pistols next Month.

My "used & abused" Model CS40 will likely come next... and then possibly one of my four Model 3913 pistols (still haven't decided on that yet).

In all of those cases I have more magazines than I think I should sell with the gun.

If you don't intend to purchase the same gun again sell the mags separately if you have that many or add them into the sale and price accordingly. If someone wants a cheaper price you can knock off a few mags and then sell them separately.

Or wait till late fall and sell them.

I sold my last 45XX in January. I sold it to my uncle for the same price I bought it for and gave him all the mags (4 or 5) plus some Gold Dots

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[BAM-BAM]

To Arik's point........ remember magazines may be GTG with multiple guns...... for example......59 to 59xx magazines are good in 59s, 659s, 5906/04s, 915s, 910s and 6906/04s............

The more I think about it anything over three (3) magazines ...... the seller is probably going to be able to;

Not sell the gun as fast.........and

get a better price selling 4-? magazines as stand alone items vs included with a gun........

as 4 or more extra mags will drive the price up $100 or more and may discourage many buyers of a used 3G gun

 

[TTSH]

If you don't intend to purchase the same gun again sell the mags separately if you have that many or add them into the sale and price accordingly. If someone wants a cheaper price you can knock off a few mags and then sell them separately.

Or wait till late fall and sell them.

I sold my last 45XX in January. I sold it to my uncle for the same price I bought it for and gave him all the mags (4 or 5) plus some Gold Dots

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Except for the CS40, I can use all the magazines I own in other guns.

 

[TTSH]

The more I think about it anything over three (3) magazines ...... the seller is probably going to be able to;

Not sell the gun as fast.........and

get a better price selling 4-? magazines as stand alone items vs included with a gun........

as 4 or more extra mags will drive the price up $100 or more and may discourage many buyers of a used 3G gun

I think we are on the same wavelength here. Most of my own personal debate is between one spare (total of two magazines) or two spares (total of three magazines). My CS40 might end up as the only exception to that rule.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Unless a gun is going to be a "anib,minty safe queen"....it might be called to duty and carried by me or a family member........

This at a minimum* to me requires.....one in the gun with a spare carry mag............ and a back up/extra mag if one of the two primary mags. get lost or damaged!!!!!!!





*Minimum..... is really more like 6 if it's a gun I intend to carry....or pass on to one of the boys some day..........as a SHTF event requires a minimum of 3 mags to carry and a full spare set........... but......

If it's TEOTWAWKI , " THE BIG ONE" ....... or just a stroll through "The Walking Dead"...... you just can't have too many mags!!!!!

 

[Arik]

To me mags are like ammo.....never enough. Everyone has their comfort zone and that fine. Whether it's 3 or 300. I grew up in the AWB. I was too young to buy anything when it went into effect in 94 but I remember 98-04 wanting to have more capacity but not wanting to spend $100 on one mag. And now I just buy them, especially when there is a sale. They are not expensive when buying a few at a time and since they do wear and break having extra is always a good thing. I look at it this way. Out of the guns I have and use one mag cost roughly the same as 2 - 3 boxes of ammo.

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