New Gun or Is it Used

I guess it's a question of perspective. Buyer=used, Seller="test fired"
If it is new, why did he feel that he needed to "check it out"?

Probably because he has sold a "new" but "defective" gun before and then had to go through all the paperwork nightmares involved in doing a refund (log it out of his book, log it back into his book and then having to sell it as an actual used gun and log it out once again). Just because it's new doesn't mean it's functional. Especially with the defects some of the big companies are putting out now. I would not have any problem buying a new gun that the dealer has "tested". Just might save you both a bunch of trouble. Besides, even a "new" gun will have been test fired at the factory. I wouldn't think of a new gun that has been fired several times as "used". I used to work for a shop that built custom 1911 pistols and believe me they each got plenty of range time (several hundred rounds through them) before we placed them on display with a target and a price tag of 1000 to 1700 bucks. But we knew the customer would be happy when he took it to the range. If you're a collector kind of guy and just want a nice S&W revolver to put in your safe with no trace of a turn line on the cylinder then I could see the distinction you're making.

I do not test fire NIB guns. Used guns-yes. To check magazine and firearm function. I feel if I were to "test fire" an previously NIB gun, it is no longer NIB, but LNIB and won't command the higher price.

IMHO it is still new, unless you are wanting a safe queen as previously stated. I would gladly pay new for a checked gun because nothing irritates me more than having a new gun worked on.

Sorry to disagree but if a dealer takes a gun out to the range and shoots it it's no longer new. There is no difference between the dealer shooting it or a previous owner. If it went to the range and was shot it's a used gun. I would not buy it for the same price as one that's really NIB. Just my opinion though...

Some people wouldn't know the difference.
JT

I wouldn't mind the test shooting as long as full factory warranty still applied.

Unless is it intended as a collector piece, I'd view it as new.

ArchAngelCD:

Sorry to disagree but if a dealer takes a gun out to the range and shoots it it's no longer new. There is no difference between the dealer shooting it or a previous owner. If it went to the range and was shot it's a used gun. I would not buy it for the same price as one that's really NIB. Just my opinion though...

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This is how I feel, too.

Gee, at what point DOES it become used if you disagree with the above?

One range trip, 50 rounds?

One range trip 200 rounds?

How about one range trip, 50 rounds, with two different shooters?

What if the dealer went to the range twice with it...still new?

That's why "New" is like "Pregnant": there are not degrees of either.

It may still be a perfect gun, and well worth buying, but it is not NEW anymore.

Bob

Sorry to disagree but if a dealer takes a gun out to the range and shoots it it's no longer new. There is no difference between the dealer shooting it or a previous owner. If it went to the range and was shot it's a used gun. I would not buy it for the same price as one that's really NIB. Just my opinion though...

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I disagree with your disagreement.

I buy guns to shoot. If he puts 50 or so rounds through it...I'm ok with that. I'll be in the quadruple digit range shortly afterward, anyway.

Now if he runs it through a course or competition which causes some holster or wear and runs 500 rounds through it...I want some $$$ knocked off.

At the shop I worked at, it was a cardinal rule, we never shot a new in the box gun. Now, we would take out a used gun, especially if we had any reason to suspect that it might not function properly(like a semi auto that the previous owner obviously never cleaned). But new in the box meant that the buyer would be the first guy to shoot it.
I know this doesn't apply to cars. New cars get test driven all the time and if you buy one off the lot, it's going to have a few miles on it.
For us, it was just a matter of courtesy to the customer who was paying for a brand new gun.

Just about every gun I've purchased recently was test fired at the factory, and they're still considered new. I guess some of it depends on how MANY rounds he fired. Did he just load up one magazine, or did he dump a few boxes through it?

But new in the box meant that the buyer would be the first guy to shoot it.
I know this doesn't apply to cars. New cars get test driven all the time and if you buy one off the lot, it's going to have a few miles on it.
For us, it was just a matter of courtesy to the customer who was paying for a brand new gun.

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I can respect that. My gun store of choice is much the same, and their level of respect is what gets my business even when they are $20-$50 more than the competition.

But still, I did buy a glock 19 off the salesman's hip. He had been wearing it for a week to see if he liked the new at the time rtf2 finish. For all I know he could have fired it, but I don't care. It still had the copper grease on it and looked new enough to me.

But to each his own. I have a buddy that won't buy a display model because "too many people racked it." He's also the type to buy one, not shoot it often and complain about normal wear marks. You know what they say about the customer being right...

While in truth probably no damage done, (would could even argue that he helped finance the "break in" of the gun), consider the below:

Just to minimize any buyer remorse, find a brand new one, NIB...

Sometimes best just to circumvent a perceived problem and move on.

-TikiG

Odd that he didn't replace the mag into the box.

Used. NIB should be unfired since it left the factory.

I will not even buy a display gun as NIB. If it has been handled a lot in the store and shows wear as a result I will not buy it as a new gun.

I have nothing against used guns. I buy them all the time but a NIB guns should be unfired and in the condition it left the factory.

I tend to agree with rellascout to a point. For instance, yesterday I was in a gun shop looking at a black SR9c. There were handling marks ALL OVER it. The metal around the front site was all dinged up as well. I wouldn't feel comfortable paying full retail for that gun. On the other hand, the Sig P239 next to it was immaculate and I would consider it new. I always ask for the stock in the back of the store if there is any. A gun store owner who shoots guns out of his display case and keeps the loaded mag in his desk would not get the price on the tag from me.

Airburst said:

I do not test fire NIB guns. Used guns-yes. To check magazine and firearm function. I feel if I were to "test fire" an previously NIB gun, it is no longer NIB, but LNIB and won't command the higher price.

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ArchAngelCD said:

if a dealer takes a gun out to the range and shoots it it's no longer new. There is no difference between the dealer shooting it or a previous owner. If it went to the range and was shot it's a used gun. I would not buy it for the same price as one that's really NIB. Just my opinion though...

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^....what they said.

A new gun is a new gun, period. I have several handguns I bought used for significantly less than the price of a new gun. These guns had(according to the original owners) less than a box of shells thru them. This is no different than the GS owner shooting a box of shells thru the gun you're interested in. A loaded mag thrown in a desk drawer is not NIB. If it's a demo gun, you should get a demo price...as is it is a used gun. Tell the owner you want him to order you a NIB or cut you a deal. If he won't do either.....walk.

If given the choice, I would prefer a new gun to come out of the stockroom, not the display case. If all that's available is the one in the display case, then I would look it over very carefully before making my decision whether to buy it or not.

As to the store owner putting some rounds through it before I bought it; to me that gun is no longer NIB but LNIB. It's been used by someone after it left the factory. I didn't ask him to check it out and test fire it. If that were the case, I would want something taken off the price.

NOT new anymore---take $50 bucks off and I'll think about it.

Just cause they come in his shop inventory doesn't mean they are his playtoys to take out back and try out---he can sell them as used but they definitely aren't new anymore.

This on par with say a Walmart employee taking a tv out of the box--trying it out "just because"--then boxing it back up and trying to sell it.

NOT NEW.

How much should it be discounted? I don't know. Have him order a new, NIB; discount that one some, or walk away.