Do you negotiate on gun prices?

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Andrewsky

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I'm thinking about buying a Mossberg 500 with pistol grip and standard magazine, the survival kit model, and it's $269.99. I'm not sure how much to offer.

But the thread isn't about my situation, please tell everyone if you negotiate on gun prices at retail stores and/or gun stores.
 
Depends on the shop. Some negotiate, some don't. If they are the kind of place that doesn't negotiate and the price is too high, I go elsewhere. Hell, if they do negotiate and the price is too high, I'll go elsewhere as well.
 
No. Not unless I'm haggling for a price they'll give me when I'm trading in a firearm, and even in that case never for more than $10 or $20.

Haggling the price of buying a gun at a gun shop or retail store is no better than haggling for a TV or other big ticket item at any store. It's not only rude, but often just wastes time.

The only times I see haggling as acceptable are private party sales. If it's a legitimate business (other than a car dealership), I don't haggle.
 
I thought the rule of thumb was that its ok to negotiate for accessories like and extra mag, or maybe a box of ammo to go with your new purchase but thats about it.
 
This again

:rolleyes:

If it is something I want and the price is good, NO I don't.

If it is something I want and the price is not good, then YES I do.

It's not complicated. If the dealer gets their feelings hurt, they obviously didn't want your money anyways or they wouldn't have overpriced the gun so much in the first place.
 
If it's a legitimate business (other than a car dealership), I don't haggle.
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So why are car dealerships ok and other businesses aren't? While most business have fixed pricing, there are many places than car dealerships where haggling is the norm. If you ask what the deal of the day is on a particular gun and they look at the price tag and knock off 15% without batting an eye, you know that they are expecting to haggle and price accordingly. Then again, it's your money. If you want to pay full MSRP everywhere, knock yourself out.

I certainly don't haggle day to day items or at most shops, but at certain places on certain big ticket items, one can save a lot of money.
 
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I'm with atblis on this one. I won't bother to try to get a better deal if the gun is priced right already. I will however, if a gun is clearly overpriced, casually mention that fact. If the dealer then decides to make a more reasonable offer, I'll entertain the idea. If not, I'll buy it somewhere else.
 
So why are car dealerships ok and other businesses aren't? While most business have fixed pricing, there are many places than car dealerships where haggling is the norm.
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Most car dealerships expect haggling, and thusly inflate their sticker prices to compensate for the "loss" incurred during haggling. Besides, I don't buy cars from dealerships. Every car I've ever bought, I bought from a private party.

Then again, it's your money. If you want to pay full MSRP everywhere, knock yourself out.
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I don't pay MSRP, in fact I don't think i've ever paid MSRP for a gun. My previous gun shop of choice always priced their firearms well below MSRP. Furthermore, I like to give my business to a gun shop I like, that employs people I like. I'm not only paying for the gun, I'm paying for the service that the shop and its employees are giving me by selling the gun to me.

I do not need to buy more guns; I consider any more I purchase to be a luxury. As such, I will continue to pay the price asked for them, or if it really is overpriced, I'll shop elsewhere.
 
I don’t haggle unless it is a private party. I am willing to pay a reasonable premium to support a local business though.
 
You can negotiate any item, in any market, and its only wise to do so (IMO) if the price is not fair to both parties involved. Yes, even a pair of pants/shirt at a retail store can be negotiated, just ask for a A.S.M. and give it a shot.
 
Shop around, and haggle away. If you see it somewhere cheaper, but there's another shop closer or you just like better, ask them to match the price. Offer cash. Cheaper on their end than a credit card, gives them a reason to come down a little. Gun store owners aren't babes in the woods, they're not going to sell at a loss just to avoid hurting your feelings.
 
I'll try to haggle a bit, but if the shop doesn't allow it I'll either pay asking price if it's acceptable to me, or buy elsewhere.

I don't buy haggling being "rude". It's called being a consumer, and it's my right to see if I can get the best price possible, just as it's his right to tell me to hit the bricks. If a shop owner really gets that upset over a customer trying to negotiate, they're not doing good business.

They don't have to get my dollars, and they don't have to haggle. But the fact is, many shops these days (at least the ones around my way) act like they're doing YOU a favor by even opening their doors in the morning. If they treat me right, I'll treat them right. If they want to raise a stink because I want to see about a $30 price cut on a new pistol, a holster, and a buttload of ammo, I'll find myself a new shop where they like to do business.
 
But the fact is, many shops these days (at least the ones around my way) act like they're doing YOU a favor by even opening their doors in the morning.
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Maybe they are? There's a fine line between a buyer's market and a seller's market.

I personally find it rude to try and haggle with a legitimate business, because it's like slapping the clerk in the face and calling him a thief or scalper. My exception to car dealerships still stands, because I do consider them scalpers.
 
I'll haggle, often for "big ticket" items such as washing machines, furniture, etc. Sometimes it's just to get them to match their competitor's price. Sometimes it's to get free delivery thrown in. Sometimes it's to get a lower price, period. This isn't rude, it's smart shopping.
I've been able to get the price of new guns reduced substantially. In one case on a used gun I couldn't get the price down, but I got the sales tax paid by the seller and a magazine and box of ammo thrown in.
I don't understand why this would be considered rude. In fact, in some places, you're considered stupid if you don't haggle, at least a little.
 
No, if its a decent price I just pay it most of the time. When I walk into a gun store or pawn shop and see something like a used Glock 36 tagged at $600, I dont even bother with the store.

Most of mine were paid for over the course of two to six weeks. Hard to drive to price down to put it on layaway. So I dont haggle unless I plan on taking the gun with me that day, or unless I'm trading something in, and with a trade-in the new to me gun usually leaves with me that day.

I've got a few good deals, but I've never really got screwed on a gun. You may think otherwise simply because I paid $200 for an AMT hardballer a few years ago.
 
For something like that, no.

Remember, you do better with used guns. They are not making much of new guns and when the MegaLoMart or the Try N Save can order a rail car full of 870s or Mossberg 500s, the price on something like that is rock bottom.

1. Keep track of what has been on the shelf a while.
2. Don't be an attention hog when asking to look at a firearm.
3. Always spend money in the store, even if just buy a few boxes of ammo.
4. Remember if you ask about a lower price, they can only say no, not take away your birthday.:D
 
Depends on the situation. BTW I have negotiated price breaks at many different stores, including making offers at Wamart, whether on a new pc or on the display models (and usually getting them). If the price is where I think it really should be then I don't usually worry to much about it, but even then I like to try to get a few bucks knocked off. BTW even in shops I like I make sure to mention if I think the price is to high. I will support mom and pop but not if it costs me more. For example say walmart has the same thing on sale for $20 less, well I will tell them the price and buy from them if they match Wally world. They usually do, so we both win. If they don't or they don't give me enough freebees to make up for the difference then I go to wally world. I do want to support them, but not at the expense of wasting my money. I work just as hard as anyone else for my money. I am not giving it away just to be nice.
 
I'm a passive haggler when it is appropriate, usually only on used guns

My favorite is
" I'd like to get it but it is a little out of my range"
The sellers response will tell you if further comment will be productive or not

If I am selling and you don't at least attempt to haggle I get my feelings hurt a little


Andrewsky
I know this thread is not about you
But you are not going to get a much better price if the gun is new
 
I find that the shops with inflated prices are run by jerks - so I dont go there anyhow...

Im lucky to have a smaller local shop that has very reasonable prices and there is no need to haggle. He makes a few bucks, and thats fine. The service and local access is worth it to me. You might find a gun $50 cheaper online but after shipping etc...its not worth it. Fair is fair.

FWIW - the guy seems to do a lot of repeat business, not the "one time kill" of the moron run gunshops.
 
On used guns I'll sometimes make an offer. Only once have I "haggled" on a new gun. I picked up a Mossberg 590A1 and noticed a scratch on the receiver. They knocked a bit off when I pointed it out.
 
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