Do used guns sell for used prices in your area?

Used guns in the consignment counter at LGS's are usually reasonable. Used guns at the gunshow are usually outrageous.

This is a peeve area of mine. I have seen gun shops with a new gun for $899, and a used example of exactly the same gun for....$899. When I pointed that out they said they could take $20 off the used gun because "it doesn't have the box any more" but apparently I am crazy for thinking a less than 2% difference between new and used indicates that the used gun is overpriced by at least 23%.

I have bought a few used guns at what the market apparently considers "fair" prices, but it always rubs me wrong because I can buy a used (but good condition) car that originally cost $60,000 ($140,000 in today's dollars) for less than I can buy some revolvers of exactly the same age. The revolver would have sold for maybe $1000. I'm not saying the revolver should sell for $50 today but...well...I guess I am.

I shouldn't complain. If this craziness continues I will make bank in the long run.

" Used guns in the consignment counter at LGS's are usually reasonable. Used guns at the gunshow are usually outrageous."

This. Everybody bitches about gunshow prices but it's gone way beyond ridiculous.

This is a peeve area of mine. I have seen gun shops with a new gun for $899, and a used example of exactly the same gun for....$899. When I pointed that out they said they could take $20 off the used gun because "it doesn't have the box any more" but apparently I am crazy for thinking a less than 2% difference between new and used indicates that the used gun is overpriced by at least 23%.

I have bought a few used guns at what the market apparently considers "fair" prices, but it always rubs me wrong because I can buy a used (but good condition) car that originally cost $60,000 ($140,000 in today's dollars) for less than I can buy some revolvers of exactly the same age. The revolver would have sold for maybe $1000. I'm not saying the revolver should sell for $50 today but...well...I guess I am.

I shouldn't complain. If this craziness continues I will make bank in the long run.

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Guns just don't depreciate the same as cars a used but well maintained gun be almost as good as it was NIB. $20 off $899 is crazy, but if the they were indistinguishable just by looking I wouldn't expect to get too much off.

vamo said:

Guns just don't depreciate the same as cars

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Obviously, but there is no good reason for the difference. A well maintained old high-end car weighing 4200lbs has more residual intrinsic value than a pistol weighing 2.7lbs. It has more utility for most people. Both are (even when quite old) aspirational purchases for many people.

It is also a new thing. My grandparents considered old guns junk and treated them accordingly. My grandfather had an old Colt made around the time he was born. He carved his name and social security number in it with a knife, used surgical tape and plumber's solder to make a S&W aftermarket grip fit, and in general treated it exactly like old junk he bought only so he could get a job as a deputy. I have seen guns owned pre-WWII by grandparents of my friends that had stocks extended with what looked like cut-off construction lumber, and handgun grips held on with wood screws, and other things that make my blood boil but to them, hey, those are just old junk guns who cares? Can you imagine someone born in the 1980s buying a Python and treating it the way my grandfather treated his Colt? I suspect not, because our attitude towards guns has shifted.

The only real difference I can see is the special status GCA '68 and other laws have given guns. Without that, I suspect a 40 year old revolver would just be something to throw in tool box or give to your kids to play with.

I’ve seen prices all over the place in my area, especially local online listings. One extreme being a guy trying to sell a Model 66-1 (No box, papers, etc.) with Packmyer grips for $1,400. Then about 15 listings later was another Model 66-? listed for $500.

I think a lot of the high prices are the result of guys who bought at the peak of the panic and now they’re trying to get their money back. And if they’re looking at some of the exorbitant prices on GunBroker, they may actually think their gun is worth the price.

Gun show prices still seem a little high, but there are some good buys if you keep your eyes open, usually from the guys who run an FFL out of their garage and just sell at shows.

To those who do not know, Here in Texas we have a wonderful little website called Texas Gun Trader. I usually make a tactic of posting my guns at whatever the lowest retail price I can find for my gun is. I do this because everyone is trying to make a buck on what they get. Most people are trying to trade up. Its actually kind of silly. So ill put it up for retail and when someone offers ill counter slightly under retail, and they'll buy it. That's how it works (I take pretty good care of my guns so even fired they're usually like new). Anyways, If I didn't post there, all of the low ballers would still offer my significantly less for my gun no matter what price I set. Many people are still asking way more than retail right now which made sense during the panic, but doesn't fly anymore. Its my thoughts that these folks paid too much for these guns in the first place, I don't know. But one thing I have noticed is no one is paying cash for costly guns right now. 3 and 400 dollar guns go very quickly, but once you get over 500 or so no one is buying. They all want to trade.

Some of this points to the reason we probably all have a preferred LGS and at least one that we avoid. I once asked a dealer to throw in a box of ammo with a used pistol and got an earful about how difficult that would be. I had purchased a fair amount of merchandise from him over the years at so-so prices including new and used rifles o he offered me $25 off instead. The box of ammo he couldn't include, $17. No, didn't make sense to me either.

Sure I've bought five or six online but those were purchases made because local guys simply could not requisition those firearms from distributors or I would have been all too happy to buy local. One other thing about MSRP I learned from working retail, it can vary. Before the Internet, dealer listed MSRP had a "range" allowed depending on the size of the retailer. A Minn Kota trolling motor might list at $499 for us and sell for $449 while an actual boating shop would list MSRP as $539 and sell for $475. They had the bigger discount but we had the better price.

I find that people on armslist want new gun prices for their used gun. In fact, I just sold an used blued finish PF9 for $285... That's damn near what I paid for it.

I rarely see anything for much less than new prices, locally or online. Thats the main reason every gun Ive bought has been new. I have no aversion to buying used, virtually all of my sports equipment was bought used for good prices. But if I save little to nothing buying a gun used, there's not much point.

I have nothing new to add so I will just reaffirm a couple of what I thought were the best points.

1. Just because people are posting guns at new prices online and at gunshows doesn't mean people are buying at those prices.

2. There are a number of people who are willing to pay near or above retail to buy a gun without a 4473 form. And there are a few who will do that for most or all of the guns they buy.

It would be interesting to compare pricing trends on Armslist in states that don't allow private sales with the rest that do. I wonder if used gun prices are as high in states where private sales require going through an FFL?

commygun said:

" Used guns in the consignment counter at LGS's are usually reasonable. Used guns at the gunshow are usually outrageous."

This. Everybody bitches about gunshow prices but it's gone way beyond ridiculous.

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In general, I agree with the comment about gun shows. However, I got to watch a master at play during the last gun show I attended...GoWolfpack. Walking around with him, I watched him note what was interesting to him and how he made his offers. If the people he made the offers to were unreasonable to him, he thanked them and moved on, with the philosophy that maybe they'd be more flexible at the gun show wore on and they hadn't sold what he was interested in.

And he ALWAYS kept an eye out for other visitors walking around with guns for sale. I watched him steal a sale to one of the vendors for a gun he was looking for. He watched the guy working a deal with a vendor to sell his gun to the vendor...at a significantly reduced price from the vendor's asking price for the same gun. He looked the gun over, appologized to the vendor, and made the guy an offer $25 above what the vendor quoted...and walked away with the gun.

Gun shows are always entertaining, even if you don't buy anything. And if Georgia Arms is there, you're at least assured of getting a decent price for ammo if they have what you're looking for. And there are innumerable little gizmos and gadgets that are dirt cheap.

The local gun stores can make it difficult. I am predisposed to support local business and normally willing to live with the "convenience" fee of paying more to buy local or handle a particular firearm before buying the unknown. When a store sets their prices at or near MSRP and sales tax adds another ~9% you're taking a huge hit to buy locally. There is always a waiting period so you can't even justify the higher costs for immediate gratification.

An average price online plus shipping (often free) and including the FFL transfer fee can easily beat the local price. Any attempt at negotiation is met with failure. Pay the sticker price or go home. They don't care if you can get it cheaper online and recommend that you do so. If their margins really are that high then they don't need another middling sale from me anyway.

This is a good example of a used gun is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. 99% of the people here may not pay a certain price for a certain gun but it only takes one buyer to make a sale. One thing for sure, if you don't ask for it, you won't get it.

It's easier to come down than go up. Some people think they got a great deal paying $450 for a gun the guy was asking $600 for yet it's worth maybe $400 on a good day.

no reason a beat up used 10/22 should bring $200 when they are $227 for a brand new one

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You are making an assumption that the used gun is of lessor condition than a new gun. Firearms are often shot very little and simply stored in the owners home. Second issue is that a $227 gun in the store actually will cost you $247 or so after sales tax, something you don't pay in a private sale so the "savings" on the used gun is more like $47 or about 20% off. A used gun often comes with accessories like spare magazines, gun case, ammo, scopes, upgrades that also factor into the savings on a used gun purchase.

The bottom line is we live in a free market society where individuals make their own decisions regarding how they spend their money. The seller can ask any price they want and the buyer can decline or pay whatever price they are willing to pay.

Do used guns bring used prices in your area? We have a gun classified forum for our state that I browse very often. 95% of the guns I see are posted for more than new on there. Occasionally I see one listed for $25-50 less than new and it's snatched up in minutes if not seconds.

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Can you post a link? I am kicking around the idea of thinning the herd a bit.

Hunting rifles don't increase in value as fast as a milsurp, but you're likely seeing a rifle that a guy put a scope on and now he thinks the thing is worth more.
"...belief that all guns sold by dealers are "registered" with the feds..." All those ATF forms are defacto registration. That's how the ATF knew who had purchased/sold a .223 when those criminals were shooting up the DC area. You don't really think they destroy the forms do you?

LGS, Pawnshops, Armslist, and any website is a waste of time in my opinion.

I buy used and I get in touch with people through word of mouth. My last $1,000 purchase got me a Ruger BH 7.5" .44 magnum that is a scope only sight setup, a Yugo SKS in fair condition, a MAADI Ak variant in good condition (I know they aren't the most accurate but it came with five mags and 2016 is right around the corner, and a 85% condition Ruger Security Six with a 6" barrel.

I think I did ok. I didn't go to a gun store or pawnshop. I think those guys are still high off of the panic and don't want to change with the market. But I put it out there I buy used guns in large cash amounts for realistic prices that beat what gun stores and pawnshops will pay people.

The other guys good to buy from are the greybeards that are at the gun shows at 8:00 a.m. and are looking to liquidate their collections. They are realistic and will let you buy their guns for around 50% of the NIB value unless it's a 1911 or some rare odd or end.

If you don't like the market, stay out of it. The more of us that do, the lower the prices will become.

big retailers aren't bad on pricing, some local stores are ok. then there are the pawn shops and local stores, always full of regulars and 'hangers on' that like to try to sell a cobra derringer for $200, new hi points for $300. Saw a Rock Island 1911 here in town for $900.

It Depends Rugers,Colts and Smith's are closer to retail than Charter,Tarus or Rossi.

It all depends,,,

It all depends,,,
On if I'm buying or selling.

If I'm selling a used gun,,,
All I hear is "It's used so 25% of new cost.

If I'm buying a used gun,,,
All I hear is "It's like new so I want full price."

Of course those deals never get made,,,
But that is the current trend.

I had no intention of selling it,,,
But a man at my rifle & pistol club,,,
Made an offer on my pristine S&W Model 15.

"It's a revolver they don't make anymore",,,
"I'll give you $200.00 for it right now."

I'm usually not like this,,,
But I laughed in his face at that.

He thought I was being rude,,,
I laughed some more.

In this area good quality S&W revolvers,,,
Have been bringing premium prices.

Aarond

.

We don't have true private party sales here in Ca but I have met lots of guys online and the at the FFL to do a deal and complete paperwork. Saves sales tax for one. That's could be $90 on a 1000 purchase. Here. Also. Older guns are usually made better. My LGS has a rule of strict blue book for consignment guns. They don't get many but when they do some can be a screaming deal. Otherwise Used glocks at 600 languish unless its a Gen4. And then If its a current made gun why not buy new for a few dollars more. New glocks at 550-600 when used are running 500 or so.

A couple of years ago, the Cabela's in Buda, TX had "The Cabela's Gun Show" . . . inside the store they set up tables and had a great many used guns laid out . . . with new gun prices. And Higher! I asked the salesman why a used Bushmaster rifle was priced $100 higher than the exact same model, brand new, behind their new guns counter not 100 paces away. He shrugged and said "That's what our gun room manager wants to price it at."

To those who do not know, Here in Texas we have a wonderful little website called Texas Gun Trader.

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Some stuff on there is fairly priced - some isn't. But I check in on it almost every day.

Otherwise . . . last gun show I was at, someone was selling a nice blue 6" M19-3 . . . for $1350.

And right now, a local guy is trying to sell a Mk4 No2 Enfield like I've been looking for - but he's asking $1000.

mgkdrgn said:

Everybody thinks their rusty pipe not fit for firewood stock guns are gold plated and "rare".

Just 'cause they post 'em with that price don't mean they get that price ... or anywhere near that price.

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Same here. I saw a Ruger 44 Carbine at the local gunshow last saturday that had a $1075 price tag. It was pretty clean but lets get real. That gun should go for $650-$700 tops.

Facebook group that folks post their "low round count" or "got this in trade" pieces for way over retail and then get bent out of shape when they get called on it. The gouger mentality carried over to the firearms too.