Geez, how back-stabbing are some people?

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That's where you're wrong. A ban would make them much more valuable. There would be grandfather laws (worst case-black market). Look what happened to high capacity magazines after the "assault weapon:banghead:" ban 15 years ago! If cigarettes were illegal, how much could you get for a pack of Camels?
 
I can understand how you can get upset. Thinking up upgrading to another AR? Then you are losing out on the dime.
Its panic buying for sure. I am not one to profit off anyone. Not in my nature.
 
I have posted this before.

Captialism is free market. When the government steps in and starts banning things the market is not free and the price of substitues might go well up.

If you can no longer buy a new AR then you have to settle for a used one as a substitute. Since there is a limited supply the price will rise a bit. Captialism did not cause the price to go up the government did.

In this case the ban is only a notional one and not an actual one. Until it becomes real (and it very well may) we are dealing with real capitalism. You have two people who believe that the exact opposite things are going to happen. The SELLER of the AR believes that the price of ARs will hold steady or go down (otherwise why would he sell it?). The BUYER of the AR believes the price will go up significantly (otherwise why would he pay ''inflated'' prices?). This is eaxctly how the stock market works. The only real difference is the reason for the price change. Since the government ban is the reason the market is not free so there is a big perception of unfairness about the arrangement.

So long as the government is manipulating the market there is no true captialism.
 
As Titan6 eloquently put it,

It's supply and demand pure and simple. You either want it bad enough to pay a higher price, or you don't. If it's too much money for you, walk away. Those whose prices are too high will have to lower them when people refuse to pay a 2K markup on a semi-auto poodle shooter.

At our shop, we are selling everything we have in the store whether it's an "EBR" or non-reduced capacity plastic handgun. Glock 19, Glock 17: Gone. Beretta M9: Gone. S&W M&Ps: Gone. Ruger SR9: Gone. Not a surprise, the hunting rifles are collecting dust. Revolvers are moving ok, but not at the pace the dishwasher safe polymers are.

There's a genuine concern among our management that we won't be able to get anything new for quite a while as the distributors are backlogged and manufacturers are as well. When supply dries up, the prices will increase.

Also, one thing to note is DISTRIBUTOR costs to dealers have gone up. Look at Southern Ohio Gun's .pdf file for an example. They don't publish their prices anymore on AK variants. Their instructions are: call for Price on Request.

It's not all the seller's fault prices are so high, it's also the consumers for waiting until the last minute.
 
Some were definitely buying en masse so they could immediately resell at a higher price.

If they aren't FFL holders, then they're breaking the law by buying rifles with the specific intent of reselling them. Do they deserve much sympathy?

Anyway, I think the original point--that of using fear to hype prices/sales--is a pretty old tactic. I can't count the number of times I've seen someone selling a "band" [sic] weapon at a gun show, even when the item was nowhere close to being on a prohibited list. (Maybe they meant that the gun was once owned by a trumpet player.)

Regardless of the issue, it seems that there are always those who will come late to the party and end up (over)paying to join in. Think of those who bought Google stock at $700/share, or planned on flipping million-dollar Florida condos. They are usually called "suckers". The amazing thing is that typically, they don't have to be hustled into handing over their money--they can't wait to join the parade.
 
Captialism is free market. When the government steps in and starts banning things the market is not free and the price of substitues might go well up.

If you can no longer buy a new AR then you have to settle for a used one as a substitute. Since there is a limited supply the price will rise a bit. Captialism did not cause the price to go up the government did.

Government caused the price of these guns to go up? What did they do? I thought it was all supply and demand, regardless of what caused the demand. There must be some point that I'm missing.
 
I consider these people to the lowest of low form of human being.

Not even close. Just a little mere sales puffery - all a good and entrenched part of capitalism and caveat emptor. If you think they're the lowest form of human, I guess you haven't had a malignant computer virus or watched the news yesterday where a guy murdered his girlfriend AND her 4 children. There's a hot corner of hell reserved for people like that, and it doesn't include contributing free market entrepreneurs.
 
I get a chuckle every time this topic comes up. The same people that rant over government control (AWB), wanting to turn it around, and have some sort of control to prevent "gouging". Do you really want to open that can of worms, politicians deciding when, where and what firearms can be sold at what price... Oh wait, that's what we are all fighting against:banghead:.

You can't have it both ways Either you accept capitalism at it's best/worst, or you accept government contol over it for better/worse. Personally I don't want any more government intervention in my life. I have plenty now.

I absolutely abhor "Nannism". If the buyer wants the "fill in the blank" at x amount of dollars, then I say all power to him. I don't feel an overwelming need to go out and protect him. I figure he's a big boy, and can handle his own finances. The only people who get pissed off, are the ones that wanted the "fill in the blank" at last years prices, but didn't pony up the green when they had the chance. There are still enough decent deals out there, if someone spends the energy to go out and find them.
 
Nothing wrong with Capitalism, however one must remember there are consequences to their actions.
There are two large (not big box) gun shops in my area. They both have AR’s & AK’s on the wall right now.
At one store the AR’s are around $1100 & AK’s $700 at the other the AR’s are $2,000 plus and AK’s close to a $1000. Yes I am comparing Apples to Apples.
Which store do you think I will buy from and shop at after this mess is over?
 
Bill beat me to it but I agree. That's the way our market works. On the other hand buyers have long memories. It may not matter if its a one-off purchase but I will remember who scrooged me.
 
of course there's been profiteering. just look at the companies that jacked their prices on nov. 5th.

i'm exercising the ultimate power in the capitalist system. i'm not buying anything from those companies ever.

if you didn't prepare ahead of time you can a. try to find the best deal.
b. pay through the nose.
c. wait and see if prices drop.
d. do without.

if the companies that jacked their prices go out of business it'll be their fault. i don't think they will though. too many people are falling for the hype and are buying anyways.
 
Craig, you're confusing cause and effect. The stores didn't raise prices hoping people would come and pay them. They raised prices in response to increasing demand and diminishing supply. If they go out of business, it certainly won't be anytime soon. The one out of business will be the one who holds down his prices and runs out of inventory for a year when everyone buys everything he has on the shelves and he cannot replace them at the older prices or at any prices.
 
well i refuse to believe that demand shot up in 4 hours and caused ammo at a certain company to go up about $120, and mag prices to triple.

another company raised stripped lower prices almost double. they have since come down.

we'll see what happens to prices when/if the makers get caught up.

if the companies keep prices up and make money, more power to them. if they fold, they brought it on themselves.

this consumer has enough guns ( i know, blasphemy) to last his lifetime and refuses to pay the high prices being asked.

i'll shop around for the best deals on ammo and whatever parts i need.

if i can't find a good deal, i just won't shoot as much. i know, blasphemy again.:rolleyes:
 
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well i refuse to believe that demand shot up in 4 hours and caused ammo at a certain company to go up about $120, and mag prices to triple.

Strangely the same exact thing happened with oil last year, except in reverse. Do you not believe that the economy crashing caused the price of oil to drop by 66%., because it did.
 
Well, it had to go up sometime. I mean, they're not going to raise it a dime or two every day until they get it to where it ought to be.
 
For you complainers about the high prices. Can you imagine the screaming if the gov decreed that you can't sell anything for more than you paid for it?
I can think of all kinds of guns I would pick up for their original retail price.:evil:
 
There is no such thing as price gouging. An item will sell for what a person will pay. Caveat emptor.
 
The whole notion of a semiauto AR as a "must have" for self defense is the most laughable part of this thread.

If you can't afford a newly inflated poodle shooter, go get a Mosin Nagant. Those old commie bolt rifles will still blow a hole in a bad guy, though not as tacticooly.
 
I think when it comes to firearms there is a difference. To me, if you care about your rights, capitalism has to take the back seat.

I'm saying we as a group, firearm owners, should stick together. We should want to give the next guy a fair price. I know you can say the same for just about anything. Say HDTV sets. I'm sure there are hardcore AV enthusiasts out there and forums for them. Say there is a severe shortage of HD sets. Well of course the price is going to go up. I totally agree with that. The reason the price is going up is not because of a ban or a complete defiance of our constitutional rights.

For me it's more about principle. We have to fight for what we have. We have to fight for our rights everyday. That in itself makes us a family. So why would you want to gauge a guy that makes your being able to buy and sell guns possible? I know the people that are gouging don't share these principles.
 
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