Remington, S&W, and Glock distributor declares bankruptcy

OOPS!

drband said:

United Sporting does not own any gun manufacturer.

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Not only that, the three aren't even owned by the same company.

I read the article yesterday morning though. It was a gamble, but one I honestly can't say I wouldn't have taken if i were a distributor. Lol

The gun industry needs another panic to stay afloat. Two mainstays of other industries -- replacement and innovation -- don't apply to guns. First, with proper care, guns in the hands of consumers last virtually forever, and, secondly, any technological improvements in guns have been more or less marginal for the past century. Ironically, the threat of bans has been the lifesaver for the gun industry. This is another reason to think that the talk of gun control -- and the opposition to it -- has all been kabuki theater. It's interesting that the politicians from Connecticut -- traditionally one of the most important centers of gun production in this country -- have been in favor of gun control. Maybe there's method in their madness.

AlexanderA said:

Two mainstays of other industries -- replacement and innovation -- don't apply to guns.

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I Agree with your points and I've said the same thing on here before. but unlike most industries many gun owners are content buying the same thing over and over. Most people won't buy 10 cars/ computers/ video games etc. just alike. Many of us will do just that with guns we want. If that weren't the case I doubt any manufacturer would still be in business.

drband said:

The thread title is not accurate. United Sporting does not own any gun manufacturer. They are simply a distributor for a number of retail outlets.

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Really, talk about false news..... lol

I don't know about the others, but Glock seems to have no problem attracting gov't and municipal contracts world wide. Plus civilian sales are just added gravy. If and when my Glock wears out in 300 years, I'll buy another.

crestoncowboy said:

Most people won't buy 10 cars/ computers/ video games etc. just alike. Many of us will do just that with guns we want.

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Yes, those are the so-called "super owners" -- a small number of owners who have a disproportionate number of the guns. (I daresay that most of us on this board fall into that category.) The question is, though, how many such people are buying new guns. I know that I, as a collector, am more likely to buy a used gun than a new one. This doesn't help the industry. It just recycles existing product.

Ha! Looks like CDNN will be getting a fresh batch of guns to sell.....

AlexanderA said:

The question is, though, how many such people are buying new guns. I

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Fair enough, valid point. And I'll bet only 1 in 5 of my guns was bought new, maybe less. I've bought 7 new vehicles. I highly doubt I ever do so again, though.

AlexanderA said:

Yes, those are the so-called "super owners" -- a small number of owners who have a disproportionate number of the guns. (I daresay that most of us on this board fall into that category.) The question is, though, how many such people are buying new guns. I know that I, as a collector, am more likely to buy a used gun than a new one. This doesn't help the industry. It just recycles existing product.

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Last month I was in my local gun shop getting an FFL transfer done. This older gentleman was purchasing a new gun, and talking to the guy behind the counter about how he had purchased 100 new guns from them since they've opened, and then he mentioned that his buddy had purchased even more from this particular gun store.

This shop has only been selling guns for 5 years.

I'm more like you and buy almost all of my firearms on the used market.

I will pick up good used guns when there is a good by I also by some new guns

bassjam said:

I'm more like you and buy almost all of my firearms on the used market.

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And right now that's very easy to do, I've picked up quite a few myself. At certain points in time though, that wasn't the case. And someday sooner or later it won't be again. During the AWB the used guns, not lever action or revolving, were high. And even after the sunset it stayed that way. One had to really look for a bargain and then it was a one off. Not a website selling seemingly unlimited 3-400 dollar Glock, Sig, and HKs. and many stores didnt have used guns. I feel like if the current prices had always been the norm we wouldn't even have 15 different striker fired clones nor companies like Hi-point. I think that is what the company in the op was banking on again if Hillary had won. And I think it was a good strategy too. Had Hillary won this would be playing differently and the companies with the capital to invest would still be struggling to get inventory, much like during the AWB.

Just think if you had invested, the way this company did, before the AWB. Anything that said pre-ban multiplied in value pretty quickly and the supply dried up. Hell, its only been a few years since P-mags were going for 30+ bucks and 22 bricks for 100.

The company took a calculated risk. And one I think was pretty solid although they tied up too much apparently and it played out poorly for them.

ETA...and then there are guys who have to get something new every week. I know two of those. One guy I have shot with monthly for 20 years has never, not one time, owned the same gun from the month before. Very rarely did he have the same vehicle for that matter. And the other is nearly as bad.

It's clear that the gun market doesn't follow the normal rules of economics. For one thing it's a "mature industry" that has little true innovation and a product that doesn't wear out. So demand would usually be low. But then we have cycles of boom and bust that follow bursts of threatened adverse legislation. That makes it impossible to plan. And the trade is a quasi-monopoly due to the FFL system. Anybody would be crazy to go into business under these conditions.

There will always be those that “need” the latest and greatest. I wonder what percentage of new shooters, buy new guns. I’ve only bought a handful of new guns in my collection. The caveat is AR’s. Those I buy new or build from new parts. And I’ve never, and will likely never, buy a new vehicle. Give me a 3 year old truck with 30k miles any day over a new truck. The vehicle has lost most of its depreciation. And has been around long enough to prove it’s not a lemon.

I don’t know if it’s “ fake news “ or not. But I doubt those companies will go bankrupt considering they have a great hold on our market. And on the buying new vs old gun topic; I rather buy new but that’s just me.

Remington is the only one that is in dire straits due to the fact it was milked as a commodity by a brokerage firm.

I have never bought a new gun. I only buy used.

Things like this though will also affect the used gun buyers.

Also, when a manufacturer reintroduces a product the price of the older used ones spike. The Smith model 610 for instance.

earlthegoat2 said:

I have never bought a new gun. I only buy used.

Things like this though will also affect the used gun buyers.

Also, when a manufacturer reintroduces a product the price of the older used ones spike. The Smith model 610 for instance.

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What company makes used guns? This is where that logic fails.

crestoncowboy wrote:
...It was a gamble, but one I honestly can't say I wouldn't have taken if i were a distributor...

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Really?

Given the polling in July/Agust 2016 (when, as a distributor you would have had to place orders) is there anyone out there that really believes that as a "gun person" you would have behaved any differently?

Wonder if any/many of the mainstream manufacturers will go back to have dealer direct sales through Rep groups again? Lately, it seems most all of the manufacturers just go through distribution. I'm old enough to remember when Remington and Olin/Winchester used to have reps calling on local shops to write orders. I always figured sooner or later something would happen to disrupt the distribution chains.
There are still a number of Distributors left out there; Sports South and Davidson's comes to mind, so, all is not lost.

hdwhit said:

Really?

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I think maybe you misread my quote. I was saying that I believe I would have done the same thing they did. Order up and try to ride out the 4 years.

Time to take the slump for improving Q.C.