Am I getting ripped off?

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scurtis_34471

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Last weekend, I bought a Walther P22 at my local gun shop. I have not picked up the gun yet, due to the waiting period. I know my local shop cannot compete with internet pricing, but I can't help but wonder if I'm not being taken for a ride. The regular version of the P22 costs $350 at the gun shop. The version with the 5" barrel and barrel stabilizer that I bought was $425. When I look online, there is only a $10-20 price difference between the 3.5" version and the 5" version. If you own the 3.5" version, you can buy the 5" barrel and stabilizer for $105 through online retailers. If you have the 5" version, you can get the 3.5" barrel for $90.

It seems to me like I'm getting jacked. The owner is supposed to call me in the morning to discuss my complaints on pricing. It seems like the simplest thing to do would be to "return" the 5" and get the 3.5" version instead. I don't think this starts the waiting period over again, because I am "trading" another gun. If I can do that, I can buy the 5" kit online, have both barrels and only spend $25 more than I already have.

Here are my questions: 1. Am I being over-charged? $425 is about $100 higher than I see the gun listed for online and is a full $8 higher than MSRP as listed on the Walther website. Isn't it a little odd the get charged full retail and then some? 2. Do barrels and parts have to be shipped through a tranfer dealer? 3. Is there anything else I should know before I talk to the owner tomorrow? I hate feeling like I'm getting screwed.
 
I think the barrel upgrade is making you feel "cheated". The biggest competition for the walther .22 is the sig misquito and they are priced about the same range $350-$420 (I have seen the mesqutios even higher). I dont think you are getting ripped but I would have decided on the 3.5" barrel. If the accuracy was satisfactory to you after doing some range plinking then you would have no need for the longer barrel and then save some money for other upgrades on it. I have seen those 'lil boogers at the range decked out with all kinda goodies and from what I have seen is good accuracy with the standard 3.5" barrel.
 
They wanted nearly $600 for the Sig Mosquito.

I think I'm going to ask them to let me get the 3.5 for $75 less, as long as that won't restart the waiting period.
 
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Last weekend, I bought a Walther P22 at my local gun shop.
Click to expand...

That, in and of itself, means you got ripped off. Huge POS... :barf:

Is there anything else I should know before I talk to the owner tomorrow?
Click to expand...

Pick out a decent gun...
 
local shops have no obligation to sell at internet prices(that's a whole nother argument in itself). sounds like to me that the research you are doing now, should have been done before you forked over the money.
 
I agree that I should have researched the pricing more. I did research the gun though and am confident that I will like it. While I did fork over my credit card, I have not picked the gun up. If the shop owner decides to be a dick about letting me trade down to the 3.5" version, I can always tell him to shove it and put a stop payment on my credit card. I don't expect to pay internet prices at a dealer, but I also don't expect to pay full MSRP and then some.
 
you are overpaying for the p22 in five inch. MSRP is the max you should pay and most cases, it should be well below that.

Barrels are available on line and so not need to be shipped to an FFL.

I paid $90.00 for my 3 inch barrel after paying $294.99 for the "compenstated" p22 when it first came out, in january of 2003 (i still have the receipt) from a local gun shop. So for $384. plus tax, I had the gun with both barrels.

Shop around
 
Ooo, the 3" price is a little high and the 5" is steep.

I've had my fair share of not researching enough and gotten taken early on, but, IMO, that's life. You live and you learn. Chaulk it up to a lesson learned and, IMO, it isn't as expensive as some of the lessons I've learned. Don't let the price get to you and enjoy your new toy.
 
Is that an "out the door" price, or price before taxes, transfer fees, including any fee for a credit card?

I'm hestitant to be a jerk in a business transaction. Once you do this, you should expect to never go back into that shop again. And, shop owners, even competitors, tend to know each other in any business. The cigar shops owners I visit do.


You should have haggled the price earlier. The sale is done, the waiting period has nothing to do with it.
 
All I am going to do is call the owner in the morning, tell him I'm having second thoughts about the 5" barrel and see if he'll let me get the shorter barrel gun instead. I won't be confrontational about it unless he takes the, "Too bad, so sad attitude." At that point, I will nicely explain that I just bought a .380 a couple months ago and I have plans to buy a 9mm and a .45 during the next year. If he wants to keep me as a happy return customer who will spend lots of money in his shop, he should do this small thing for me and let me pay his full asking price for the cheaper gun. Unless he is a total idiot, he should say yes. If he is an idiot, I don't need to be doing business with him anyway and I'll put a stop on the card payment and buy my gun elsewhere.
 
In the future make sure you haggle a bit. There is always a little room for a deal at almost any gunshop. At they very least figure Internet price+ shipping+FFL fees. I will take that price and try to get them near it. I don't mind paying a few extra bucks to support the local gunshops. If I still think the price is a bit high I get them to throw in a box of ammo to make me feel better.
 
If the store had to order this gun (is that the case?) then they almost certainly won't let you swap models. They'll be left with something that might not sell quickly in that particualr market.
If both guns are in stock then you have a chance of doing the swap out, but as you are asking for a refund of some of your initial outlay, and as the NICS check was done for the 5" specifically I don't think it will fly.
I would let it go and suck it up.
At the end of the day it really is a few dollars a week spread over the year,I spend more on coffee. Lots more.

Incidently, my first handgun was a P22. I thought it was cheap enough for me when I bought it, but that was before I started really researching prices. I could've saved a few dollars if I had been better prepared but it was what I wanted at the time and I was (and am) happy about buying it.
My next gun purchase I took no prisoners though.
This is probably how things will be for you.
Enjoy the P22, treat it to some CCI MiniMag ammo.
If you really hate the 5" barrel ( I have heard reports that they work loose during use) then you can always sell it on this site.
 
Both guns were in stock. They did not order it for me and they have the other gun. They also charged me the paperwork fees on top of the gun, so they are not eating that either. If they won't play ball, they are not worth doing business with.
 
Paperwork fees????

Is that normal in most areas? Certainly not here in the Northeast. Bottom line, if you have not taken delivery, you have not purchased yet.
 
Here in TN we pay a $10 background check fee when we purchase the gun. It takes a few minutes for the clerk to get the Ok (or otherwise) and then the gun is yours. You pay the $10 first, then pay for the gun.
I assume Florida differs.
I also thought the background check made a link between you and the gun, ie the serial number and model were included. I may be wrong on that though.
 
Its pretty strait forward local stores have allot more overhead. My local shop spends thousands fighting local laws and ordnances protecting not only their store but your right to buy a gun. Also local stores are the places that provide all the door and raffle prizes at local friends on the NRA and other like events. They just plain have more overhead then fulltime online shops. Although I have bought online most of my purchases are from my local shops. Besides if your a loyal customer and a regular after your third purchase or so every successful shop I have been in will start giving you the "wink wink nod your head know what I mean" (Monty Python) price.
 
just pick up your gun

If anything, you ripped yourself off. Ever hear the phrase "Buyer Beware"?

consider the few extra bucks you paid as a rather inexpensive lesson to learn. If this small amount of money is a large concern you might want to stop buying guns and start saving and investing.

Did you just want a gun or did you want a great deal on a gun? I have had great deals and I have paid too much. You win some and you lose some. I am glad I have what I have and the joy they bring me negates the stress of "did I get this at $5 over cost so I can be damn sure this dealer is out of business within a year."

Another thing people exagerate the size of their groups and the prices they pay. why I don't know.

I knew a dealer I could always get a really good deal from. guess what, he is out of business.

The way I see it. if you split the difference of what you over paid to allow the guy some money to feed his family, you only screwed yourself out of 40 or 50 bucks. That is not too bad in the gun business. In case you were not aware, firearms is a very expensive hobbie.
 
Obvious Question?

Why didn't you RESEARCH the price on this gun before you bought it?????

My other observations:

Your gonna pay a premium at any gun shop over online pricing such as Buds or Gunbroker.

What you get in exchange in a gun "right on the spot" (presuming you have a CWP)

Your gonna pay more in Florida anyway - at least that's how it is down here in Miami.:(

Enjoy your gun. If you get the price down, great. Either way, its a learning experience.
 
I researched the price of the 3.5, not the 5. The dealer talked hard to upsell me and even gave me some bad info, such as telling me it had a compensator. All I'm asking him to do is exchange new merchandise for new merchandise and get the model I originally wanted. People do this every day in retail. What makes a gun store exempt from the type of customer service everyone takes for granted everywhere else.
 
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