What's Up with Online Gun Prices???

[bmcgilvray]

Lots of guns are available on the auction sites with lots of dollars in the inflated reserve prices but not a lot of takers.

There's plenty of deals on desirable guns. One just has to cut through all the lard to seen them. Looking at the vaunted Colt Python on GunBroker finds THREE PAGES of revolvers to peruse. That's an awful lot of Pythons for sale for a firearm that is suppose to be so desirable. Few of the Pythons with a starting price of greater than $1000 receive any bids. Check the bid column. All the attention and recorded bids are on auctions where the sellers have their feet firmly planted on the ground. The Python is entirely too available in top condition to warrant the prices seen. It's an overpriced bauble in a handgunner's collection right now.

There are a number of sellers who aren't seriously determined to sell a gun. Far more than there are buyers with crazy money to throw at inflated asking prices.

 

[ladder13]

I hear ya loud and clear.....I wonder is MO about the same as AK? As I may be living there someday.

I'm heading for Nebraska, free medical care ya know

 

[lagavulin62]

I think there are definately deals on gunbroker, but you do have to keep at it. auction arms seems to have pretty decent buys too but just not as much to choose from. as far as gunsamerica I couldn't agree with the original poster more. I am on their wishlist and everyday they send me the new s&w revolver ads. I'd say about 95% are overpriced and I don't mean by a hundred dollars or so I mean WAY overpriced. the deals I see don't last long or they are posted by some person without a reputation and poor or no pictures at all. I keep an eye on the pawn shops and a local dealer who specializes in classic guns, although most of his stuff is more than I usually want to pay. I have purchased my guns from all sources and you just never know when the next deal will come around. don't give up on the auction sites, just remember they are one possibility of where you might find the next bargain.

 

[WVfishguy]

I see what I consider good deals on auctions sites - but it does not bother me to pay $450 for good Model 28-2.
I think a lot of people want something for nothing. I don't mind paying a good price for a good gun.
However, the best deals I've seen were local buys. Here's a couple of examples:
1963 Model 15-2, very minty, $350 out the door at a gun shop:

1978 Model 13-1, also very good, $300 out the door at a gun show:

Likewise, I got this Walther P99 AS, new in box, for under $450 at a gun shop:

Truthfully, I doubt I'll ever see deals like this online.

 

[fyimo]

WVfishguy you are lucky because I don't see deals like yours above at gun shops around here either.

 

[james56]

YOUR STATE IS OUT OF CONTROL AND WAY OUT OF CONTROL!!!

 

[james56]

YOUR STATE IS OUT OF CONTROL AND WAY OUT OF CONTROL!!!

KALIFORNIA

 

[doublesharp]

Louisville has 3-4 shows every week end within a 100 miles. Buyers have dried up. Guns are off 30% and more. Take cash to a gunshow and you're king. Some super deals on the net, too. Hope everybody has stocked up on the Ruger pc4 Atlanta pd trade ins. Around $400 and they've led a soft life riding around in hardcase in a squad car's trunk. Mini 14s are back to earth. Good time to buy if you've got the means of storing them.

 

[cavedog]

part of has to do with the fact most of the current production guns look like hell and are not cheap. folks are realizing that the workmanship that went into the older guns they likely will not see again. Remingtons - and I like them - have always been cheaper guns that were good designs and shot well. the new 700's S-U-C-K. all these gunmakers are cuttting costs and corners to remain profitable in a flat / shrinking market. the fit and finish is gross, except on custom shop work.

we are in a unique opportunity as buyers of some truly classic and well cared for guns of all makes, as unfortunately the WW2 generation of shooters / hunters are rapidly dying off along with their spouses, and as the estates of a lot of avid shooters that really appreciated fine guns when they made them right are being settled and sold off by heirs who dont shoot...

well, buy them while you can!

 

[fighter62]

We have a different situation in CA. A lot of people , just want to get a certain gun. They ( Including me ) have no problem paying a high price tag for a gun that they REALLY want. I bought my last 3" inch 66. LNIB and 99.9% for 825.00 shipped and feel like I GOT a deal. I will pay top dollar for my second Jovino Effector. Because I WANT another one. Everyone want's a DEAL. I agree. I do too. But if there something that I really want, I will be more than happy to pay what it takes to get it.

 

[stevieboy]

I watch GB carefully. I use it as a research tool but I only rarely bid on guns that are listed there.

About 18 out of 20 guns put up for sale on that site receive no bids at all. Obviously, the market price is not determined by what's asked but by the sale price. On GB, there are a lot of sellers who are hoping against hope that someone uneducated will come along and bite. The result is that very few guns actually get sold on that site in relation to those that are listed for sale.

The actual gun market as opposed to what's being asked on line has definitely softened considerably in the last couple of months. Six weeks ago I paid $375 for a 36 no-dash in excellent condition that was on consignment at my local gun store. Compare that price with what's being asked for comparable models on GB and you'll find that I paid at least $100 less than what's typically being asked for equivalent guns.

 

[sw282]

siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

 

[fyimo]

I watch Gunbroker also and it seems to me that the dealers up there set very high prices hoping to get someone to bite like said above. However, I've bought a few guns (rifles) lately up there and I bought them from private individuals and I have got some really good deals. I picked up a an H&R 300 Ultra rifle 30-06 in 98% condition a couple of days ago that was built in the 1970's and has a FN Mauser barreled action made in Belgium with scope rings and a 3x9x40mm BSA scope on it for $450. I actually bid on it thinking I wouldn't win it because a dealer up there had the same gun in the same caliber with out the rings and scope for $599 in the same condition.

You just have to really shop hard because the gun market is really soft right now and prices have fallen from the highs during the post election surge.

 

[diamonback68]

As my old mentor used to say: "We create our own situations".
We, as collectors have created our own inflation, but most of us refuse to own up to it. All of us have, at one time or another, used the excuse, "Well I just HAD to HAVE that ONE gun". Others see it, figuring we ought to know best and a new price norm is then established. So who created that situation? Not me!

 

[chuckusaret]

The local gun shops in my area are being avoided because of their outrageous prices and the buyers, me included, have switched to buying from private sellers and on line. There are deals to be had from the on line auctions. I purchased three handguns and two rifles this year, five from online and one from a local shop. I beat the local prices on all five online buys by at least $50-$100 per weapon to my front door. The only added service by a local gun shop is the ability to have your purchase that day. There are no guns that I need today that would warrant an added $50-$100 to their cost.

 

[davel686]

The two local gun shops we have are selling at over inflated prices also, but there are enough people around here that will buy from them because they don't know any better.
I have found some good deals on-line and some that where just plain stupid to high.
the one on-line gun site I have found with decent prices was Guns America, they actually have had some good deals that i have seen and I know of 2 buddy's that bought off there and got good deals.

 

[Sportsterguy]

My local Pawn/Gun shop prices are too high and he does not negotiate even though I have purchased 4 guns from him over 4 years. It's an hour and a half drive for me to get to the next city that has a great shop, with fair prices.

Seeing as how my F-150 gets 15 miles to the gallon I try to keep my buys mostly PRIVATE or on the forums. I have won some really nice guns on GB at great prices but with shipping and paying the associated fees they ended up being good prices.

Lot of timing and luck involved here. I picked up a Ruger 77 Varmit 22-250 in excellent condition with a Burris 6.5X20 scope at a lawn sale last summer for $425.00 even. Probably the best deal I've ever made!

 

[rpg0123]

I usually think gun values quoted on some of these threads are artificially low actually. I don't find much difference between on line prices and shops in my area. I don't see any dip in gun prices in the near future though.

 

[fyimo]

I usually think gun values quoted on some of these threads are artificially low actually. I don't find much difference between on line prices and shops in my area. I don't see any dip in gun prices in the near future though.

Well at my local gun shop the owner (Jamie) goes online on GunBroker and checks the prices of sold guns and that's how he sets his prices on used guns. I'm sure there are many other dealers doing that as well and Jamie told me that he feels those prices realized on sales on GB are where the market is at.

 

[rock doc]

Well at my local gun shop the owner (Jamie) goes online on GunBroker and checks the prices of sold guns and that's how he sets his prices on used guns. I'm sure there are many other dealers doing that as well and Jamie told me that he feels those prices realized on sales on GB are where the market is at.

That is exactly what my favorite dealer is doing.