Negotiating price

F14Tron asked:
Is the pricing akin to buying a car where everything is negotiable, or is the price you see what you pay? Thanks for your advice.

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At the big box chain stores like Academy, Cabella's, etc., the price on the sticker is the price you can expect to pay.

At local gun shops, the price is generally negotiable. But, as others have already pointed out, you need to do your homework first so you don't get stuck asking for a price the seller is just not going to meet you at.

Also, don't fixate on the price of the gun. The seller might not be willing to budge on the sticker price of the gun, but he might be agreeable to throwing in some ammunition, a spare magazine or a case. Be familiar enough with the shop, what it sells, what isn't moving that you might want and be creative in your deal making. I once bought some reloading equipment from a store. The owner (who was also a locksmith) wouldn't budge on the price of the equipment, but we did eventually meet on him throwing in some padlocks.

Never, ever walk into a gun store looking for a gun where you're not prepared to walk out without it no matter how much you wan it. With all the information available at your fingertips there's no reason to overpay for a handgun. I love to haggle and am a car salesman's worst nightmare. I never buy a gun unless I've asked about a price and see where it goes from there. I have a good rapport with a couple local gun stores and they are willing to work with me on price, but I also make sure I buy something ever time I'm there. Even if it's not gun related. A regular customer will always get a little extra preference on price.

Depends on the price. MSRP or above? Sure, I'll ask. If its 10% above cost? No, I wont ask. There's a pretty well defined line between being a deal seeker and being a jerk. At my shop, we usually have some wiggle room on used guns. Our new guns usually have much less wiggle room. If we cant make at least $50 on a new handgun, its simply not worth our handling time.

I like the 2 shops near but, they are always firm on their price. In fact the one shop will give you a frown if you try to ask them about the price. They really do hate the internet.

I hate price negotiating at retail counters. I'm ok paying a fair price as marked and don't mind the store making a reasonable profit on a sale. Some of you think you always have to get the upper hand on a sale and get one over on them. All of you depend on profits in the line of work you do, it goes both ways.

I have a local shop that will price match any brick & mortar store. So I do my research and as long as my price is above their cost I get the deal. Doesn't get much better. Ask if the shop will price match.

I'll politely negotiate on used firearms at the LGS or a gun show. I'm well informed on values and the going internet prices on both used and new guns. As best I can recall, I've only purchased one new gun in the last 10 years, the others have been used or mil surp. So I don't know how much negotiations will change the price of a new firearm. As another poster noted, the big box stores usually won't budge.

Depends on the shop(Big box places usually just don't haggle. Part time clerks working there don't know how and aren't allowed to anyway.) and whether or not the thing is new or used or on consignment. And if it's new(dealers buy 'em and may or may not get credit terms from their supplier), how long it's been there. Making it known you served can make a difference too. So does the time of year for long guns. Deer season is over in most places. Good time to buy a deer rifle that's been sitting since August or thereabouts. Very good time to buy a used deer rifle. Usually a higher end scoped rifle for roughly the same money as a BNIB lower end rifle.
"...buying a car..." Biggest difference is that 'used' is not an ugly word when talking firearms. Takes a lot of abuse to damage a modern firearm.