Best Time of year to Sell Handguns?

Just guessing, but probably not the month that people are still trying to pay off Christmas bills. Perhaps when people's income tax return checks start rolling in like February or March?

I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I buy more guns during the warmer months. This comes from the fact that I shoot outside and the winter just isn't comfortable for shooting.

Best time to sell anything, IMO is right after Thanksgiving, and right after tax returns.

I would say sometime after tax season and before summer vacations start. So probably like early April to early June.

Immediately after Obama makes a speech on reasonable gun control laws

Im guessing its the Valor you were trying to sell here? Have you tried other sites like 1911addicts?

Pictures would help. the more the better.

*Personally I wont even look at an ad for a used gun without good pictures.

A great deal depends on the .45(sights, number of mags, grips., etc. Even what kind of holster.) and what you think is a reasonable price. However, handguns, unlike rifles and shotguns, don't really have a "season".
"...tax return checks start rolling in like February or March..." Most people who have income and can afford to buy anything, don't file until mid April. I think. Like bannockburn says, late April to early June is tax rebate time. The run up to Xmas is another buying time. DadOfThree makes a slightly daft but valid point too though.

Like everyone else, I'd say tax season is a good time. But another thing is season changes. When people are considering a change in EDC pieces, put a seed in their mind with an add. Maybe even bill it as that "good winter/summer/fall carry" or whatever haha.

Good guns priced fairly will sell anytime.

There's generally lots of "buy" talk on the gun forums around tax time. Lots of questions about "what will you buy with your refund".

March, April, May after people have their tax money and when they're interested in going out and shooting with the better weather.

I would say tax time is a good time. A lot of people I know turn around and spend their tax returns on a wishlist of toys. We generally do our taxes in mid to late February but I would say the majority of people to it in April.

I have a habit of prowling Gunbroker on a regular basis. Upon reading this I realized all my purchases have been in summer and winter. That is when I found what I was looking for at the best price. So I would say spring and fall is best for sellers.

Most people I know but according to price, take your reasonable price down to a deal then it may sell, if not take it down to a good deal.

The overwhelming majority of the time something isn't selling, it's because the asking price is either high, or average. No one buys at "high" and few buy at "average"

Based on my limited experience, exceptions being panic buyers.

I am much more likely to buy a gun with a good "buy it now" price. I like a few pictures and some discussion of the provanance of the gun. Be as truethful as you can and don't have reserves or hidden prices. I much prefer a deal that I can make NOW rather than to beat around trying to be sure I got the best deal. A very experienced guy told me "A fast nickle is better than a slow dime."

The best time to BUY in auctions is the couple of weeks before tax time...

Been trying to sell a Jennings / Bryco .380 for $300 for about 10 years now, not one potential buyer. A questionable firearm at a ridiculous price will never sell. A good firearm in good condition, for a fair price should sell anytime. Oh yeah the Jennings has a cracked LH grip and jams on every other shot... Any takers?
Seriously, some firearms are just difficult to sell, niche market, odd calibers, whatever. But a mainstream pistol or revolver in good condition, priced right should sell.

I don’t know about selling since I’ve never sold a gun. But starting in February, I make weekly trips to all the local pawn shops and check the local listings [Like Backpage] almost daily.

Given this is a presidential year, as the election gets closer, folks may start to get nervous thereby increasing the demand for it. Unless you are in a rush, I'd wait till a month or two before the elections.

Sunray said:

A great deal depends on the .45(sights, number of mags, grips., etc. Even what kind of holster.) and what you think is a reasonable price. However, handguns, unlike rifles and shotguns, don't really have a "season".
"...tax return checks start rolling in like February or March..." Most people who have income and can afford to buy anything, don't file until mid April. I think. Like bannockburn says, late April to early June is tax rebate time. The run up to Xmas is another buying time. DadOfThree makes a slightly daft but valid point too though.

Click to expand...

I don't necessarily agree. I set up my withholding to expect a small refund each year, so I almost always file in early to mid February and get a return by the beginning of March. I would say that March - May is a good time to try and sell a gun, and anytime around or after a major election.

That said, I hit a gun show on January 2nd this year, and the attendance was crazy. Lots of buyers... spending Christmas money? I figured there would be a lot of sellers there to off-load guns to pay for holiday bills. Maybe they don't come around until mid-January to February when bills are due. That being said, I did pick up a lightly used Glock 43 with two mags for $400 off a gentleman walking around the show, so I was pretty happy.

For higher end guns I think there is less of a season. People who buy 1000+ guns generally can afford the purchase no matter when. I think the same is true at the lower end of the spectrum (less than 300) assuming the price is right. I mean, you should be able to find a buyer for a $200 Kel-Tec whenever. However, I think that the market for mid-priced guns is definitely seasonal.

chiltech500:

Have you tried Armslist PA? At least lots of local people will see it, possibly within driving distance.

Fair price? How does somebody quickly determine an average market price on a specific type of used gun, other than whatever managed to sell under "Completed Transactions" on Gunbroker etc?

The way it seems to work is:
If you're getting a refund, you file as early as possible. Many larger purchases occur in Feb-Mar because of refunds. Auto sales are the best in Feb-Mar.

If you have to pay or break even, you wait until the last minute to file.... mid April. That is traditionally the slowest retail time of year (except for Easter spending). People who have to cut checks to the .gov aren't happy and don't spend any more than needed.

Thanksgiving to Christmas, people spend without the usual conscience of need vs want and after Christmas until mid-January (when the credit card bills roll in) people spend their Christmas money/gifts/bonuses.

There is also a small burst right before hunting season when we get that itch for the smell of gunpowder.