"Dickering" on gun prices with sellers.

[Duke of Doubt]

MachIV: "If someone wants to get a better deal from me, and thinks that saying "your price is way to high" will get him anywhere, he's wrong."

Around here, we have a sort of polite code. When I ask "Is this one a consignment?", that means "Who the heck set THAT price?!" When I ask "I haven't seen this one before; did it just come in?", that means, "Yeah, this price is coming down in a couple months. I'll try a deal then." When I ask "This one still here, huh?" That means, "Cut the price about 25% and I'lll consider it." When I ask, "Is the box and other stuff in the back?", it means, "Whether I'm interested or not, just for your information this price is about 25% too high."

It's all how you put it.

 

[meef]

He was asking $100 but I thought that was too high. It went unsold for a couple weeks before I told him it was worth $60 to me. He was happy to unload it.

Geez.

You'd think he would at least have left the ammo in it.

Tightwad.

Or did he just hand them to you after unloading it?

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Fuff: "Lets say that someone goes to an attorney, and the lawyer says, “this initial conference will cost (whatever).” So the potential client says, “Oh no, that’s much too much, instead I’ll pay you something less.”
Is the attorney likely to dicker and deal, or throw the individual out of the office?"

I never charge for initial consultations. But if they try to negotiate the fee down, that's fine. I explain that I can do less work for less money (subject, of course, to bar rules on representation) if they can't afford full boat, and how they can still save money by paying the discount rate in full in advance, rather than the full rate over time. They eventually figure out that I'm going to get paid what I want and what they're willing to pay if they hire me, no less and no more, and the details of exactly HOW I get paid won't affect how MUCH I get paid. They're free to go elsewhere, of course, but my rates honestly are a lot lower than most, as I've cut expenses to the bone and beyond. Of course, if I don't like them after the first few minutes into the initial consultation, I'll quote them a ridiculously high fee. If they pay it, fine; the money covers their sins. If they don't, no loss; life is short.

 

[22lr]

Sorry for the 3rd post in the tread already but I just had another good one.


I had a AR lower that I was semi trying to sell (I.E if it didnt sell I would in clear conscience finish the project). However a guy started asking about it and asked if I could do anything on the price. I had $350 on it (back when that was above retail, LOL), well I wasn't wanting to sell but im a nice guy so I said id throw in a mag for free, he handed over $350 in fresh crisp bills. I was stunned that he had actually paid $350 for a DPMS home-build (I made sure he knew that), and a unmarked aluminum mag, that was flaking finish (yes I did point that out to), and he went away happy to have a AR lower. Now I wish I waited a few more months, but o well such is life.

 

[f4t9r]

"

Dickering" on gun prices with sellers.

I always try to get the best price and that does not happen if you do not ask !!
Ever notice some people are better at this then others. I think it is the approach and way of asking.

 

[rioalumni05]

usually ask for best price then get that plus make it out the door... then when paying ask for a holster/case to take my new purchase home in..(learned that from a buddy hes the best at "dickering" ive ever seen).. usually pawn shops/used gun places have them laying around from when the gun was brought it....

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Yeah, it's a shame they don't keep the holsters with the guns. It's a display issue, but there are ways around that. I've sometimes found the right holster for the gun in the big bins in the back, but often it's lost in the pile. Considering they often give the holsters away as part of a deal later, they ought to try a little harder to keep the right holster tagged to the gun.

 

[Jim K]

Haggling at a gun show is normal and expected; haggling on used guns at a gun shop is also common.

But I strongly urge retailers not to haggle or make deals on new guns. They should set the retail price at a figure they feel is right to stay in business and keep most buyers happy, and leave it there. If they want to run a sale, fine, but the price should still be the same for everyone.

Why not haggle, or give discounts to your friends? Because it is bad business, that's why. If dealer "Joe's" customers meet at the range and one says that he bought his rifle from "Joe" for $700 while the second says that "Joe" charged him $900 and a third says he got a deal from "Joe" and paid only $500, "Joe" has lost two customers. Not good business.

Jim

 

[Norinco982lover]

HEHE....I love this thread I have to admit...I'm not much of a haggler! Ok, I'm terrible at it!

So I went to a gunshow when I was just turned 18 looking for my first gun...a cheap home defense 12 gauge...I found some here and there for $200-500 ...kept looking...an hour later I saw it. An all black short barrel beautiful shotgun. I went over to take a look at the price tag and boy was I shocked. $120 OBO !!! I was so excited I handed over the $120 and didn't even think about giving him the $100 he would have taken for my Norinco 98 The shotgun still shoots like a beaut and I don't regret paying full price

~Norinco

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Jim Keenan: "Why not haggle, or give discounts to your friends? Because it is bad business, that's why. If dealer "Joe's" customers meet at the range and one says that he bought his rifle from "Joe" for $700 while the second says that "Joe" charged him $900 and a third says he got a deal from "Joe" and paid only $500, "Joe" has lost two customers. Not good business."

Well, maybe. That's a very good point, though. I'm not a gun dealer, but if I were I doubt I'd do a lot of base price variation on new guns. Maybe I'd sweeten the deal in other ways; extra magazines, ammunition, a good cigar, et cetera.

 

[Myles]

I love haggling. Keep in mind that cash is king when it comes to a deal. Green folding money is required; a checkbook for a car/large ticket item. Don't even try to haggle with a credit card. Processing fees already eat up some of the seller's profit.

However, I will never haggle over a knife or any edged weapon. Superstitious of me, but I won't dicker with a knifemaker, ever. I want his best wishes and his keenest edge.

 

[sarge83]

At the local pawn/gun shop I trade with I always use the is that the best you can do line. Most of their stuff is pretty fairly priced for a pawn/gun shop. Some is way over the top, some prices are bargains right off the bat and I buy as priced and usually they will knock off the taxes. Their prices are for the most part pretty fair.

I have bought dozens of guns from them so they know I will buy and am not just a look and put it back customer. I buy from two guys in particular and try and alternate sales between them. Sometimes I make them an OTD offer and they take it right off the bat, or they come back with their offer OTD, if fair I take it, if not I pass and wait and watch the gun sit on the shelf for a while and go back again in a few months and offer again, usually they take it or are very close to it. If it sells in the meantime to someone else, so be it, they made what they wanted on it.

 

[Justin]

There's nothing wrong with dickering over the price of a gun. About the only time I don't haggle is if I'm buying a gun from a friend, in which case, we both usually know the value of the firearm. If it's worth their asking price, I'll pay it. If not, I pass.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Anyone else have any good stories about haggling?

I would not have posted this experience up if this thread had not been started. I met some real *ahem* class acts at the gun show this weekend. I'm not worried that the folks selling at the show will read this on a forum because, well, I don't think they do much reading. Sorry for the length of this.

I found a Kel-tec SUB2000 in 9mm (Glock) on a table. It was being offered with 10 of the Glock 33-round mags for a total of $800. I looked at it briefly and mentioned to the gentleman that my local FFL gun dealer told me he'd sell the same gun to me for $300. He said "well, mine is brand new and his is probably used". I said, "no, his is new too". I also mentioned that I don't want 10 of the 33-rounders. He said he'd sell the gun with only 5 mags for $600 and keep the rest to sell on his own, if I wanted. I went to get cash. I came back to him, in no rush. The older gentleman who I spoke with was sitting next to his son, who was probably 18-20.

I came back to look at the gun and noticed powder residue all around the chamber and in the internals. I asked if it was new. He said "it's been fired at the factory". I said, "yeah, one shot". He turned to his son and asked if he had fired the gun. His son said "no"; I don't believe that based on the amount of build-up. I pulled the cash from my pocket and I said to him "I'd like to offer you $550 for the gun and 5 mags". He stated that "the gun is worth $425 and it is going up". I said, "I can get the gun cheaper from my FFL and I know I can get the mags cheaper from a friend who owns a gun shop". He said "the dealer can only sell cheaper because he buys at wholesale; I have a lot of money in this gun and you are asking me lose money". I responded "it is worth less than $400 to me". He said "you can have the gun and 3 mags for $550". I thought for a bit and said "I'll do it for 4 mags". He said "now you are asking me to lose money - you think you can get these mags for $20 and that's just crazy, blah, blah, ...". At that point I cut him off and said "no, I never said $20; I said I can get them cheaper". He went on ranting and then his son got into the argument, yelling "you think you can get these mags for $20, well there is no way!! I went all around this gun show and they sell for $40 and no cheaper!! Tell me where you can get them for $20!". I said "alright, please stop putting words in my mouth; I never said $20; I can get these mags for a dollar or two dollars cheaper from a gun shop by my house". He went on yelling "well, does he have a whole stack of them? you can't get them for less than $40 anywhere at the show; tell me where you can get them cheaper!!". I said "I just did". At that point I walked away and walked around with friends for an hour or more.

Thinking about the math, I thought our argument was pretty silly. The mags he values at $40/ea., making the gun valued at $400 by him. For $550 for the gun and 4 mags, that means he'd be giving me a $10 "discount" - actually $10 closer to the real value in my perception. I walked back just to mention that we were only talking about a $10 difference here. His son was the only one at the table. They had a new sign that said "3 mags $550/5 mags $600". I mentioned to him that the math works out to a $10 difference with the 4 mags and now he is asking $50/ea for the mags(?). The kid said "if you bought 5 mags, you'd get them for $25/ea". I said, "huh?" and then spelled out the math for him, essentially "5 times $40 is $200, plus a $400 gun equals $600". He looked puzzled and got his cell phone calculator out!! As he did the calculations for himself, I said "look, I didn't mean to cause any hostility -sorry if my offer was taken the wrong way; have a good one". I walked away.

As I was walking past the table with my friends nearby, later in the day, my friend (who knew about the dealings earlier) told me he heard the kid say to his dad "oh, here comes that f**king ******". He then got up, told my friend "move!" and literally pushed past him.

Before I left the show, I spent 5 minutes looking around and ended up buying several of the Glock 33-round mags for $36/ea

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Arguing isn't haggling. It doesn't matter WHY the seller's price is higher than you want to pay; it only matters that it IS. It doesn't matter why YOU want to pay less; it only matters that you DO.

When I haggle, most of my "reasons" for asking or suggesting a lower price might be in order are either obvious jokes or half in joking. I mean, come on. "I assume the box for this [1926 Colt revolver] is in the back." Stuff like that. Don't get into a substantive argument with the seller. You won't convince him, you'll only rile him up, and the floor of a gun show isn't the place for a well-considered debate on the merits.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Yep - if you keep some humor in the discussion, no one has to take offense. If an arguement develops, I just apologize and walk away.

 

[coloradokevin]

Haggling at a gun show is normal and expected; haggling on used guns at a gun shop is also common.

But I strongly urge retailers not to haggle or make deals on new guns. They should set the retail price at a figure they feel is right to stay in business and keep most buyers happy, and leave it there. If they want to run a sale, fine, but the price should still be the same for everyone.

Why not haggle, or give discounts to your friends? Because it is bad business, that's why. If dealer "Joe's" customers meet at the range and one says that he bought his rifle from "Joe" for $700 while the second says that "Joe" charged him $900 and a third says he got a deal from "Joe" and paid only $500, "Joe" has lost two customers. Not good business.

I can see your point here. I recently bought a new gun from a shop where they claimed that they were giving me the bare-bones bottom price on the gun (honestly, it was a decent deal, so I can't be too unhappy about it). But, one of my co-workers was there in the very same week and was given the same gun for $125 less than I paid. I didn't like that.

As a retailer I was a true S.O.B.

As a rule I didn't haggle because all I was doing was waste my time for the sole purpose of losing money. I felt that my prices were fair and competitive, and I saw no reason to lower them just because someone wanted to pay less. I did however offer a flat, no-questions-ask guarantee that if anything was wrong it would be made right, with no charge to the customer.

I remember one potential customer in particular that told me, “I never pay the asking price, so I’ll give you…” I told him, “goodbye …” So he want to a competitor and bought a similar gun from him. However he was soon back because he discovered that his new (used) gun didn’t work and he wanted it fixed. I quoted him a price that dropped his jaw.

However my regular customers did quite well.

I don't have a problem with that philosophy, and I've purchased guns from a number of retailers who felt the way that you do. Honestly, if your prices are fair, and your service is right, I'm not going to try to haggle with you in the first place. Still, some retailers (not saying you) claim to have the "best" prices, but are consistently much higher than the competition... At that point I may ask them to price match, or proceed to another dealer.

All in all, I am willing to pay a slight premium to buy from a dealer who will provide excellent customer service, as opposed to the guy who runs everything with an "all sales are absolutely final, with no help from me whatsoever" attitude.

Also, I feel that gun shows are haggling territory. The buyers and sellers both know this, and many of the guns are used. I don't have any issues with haggling at a gun show, and always do so in a respectful manner. I still don't understand that dealers who get all offended when someone tries to politely ask for a better price... The guys who blow up at customers over something this trivial often don't deserve the business they get in the first place.