For those who trade guns
- Thread starter wamj2008
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bushmaster1313
Member
Guns bought used often sell for more the next iteration,
And they often go for less.
RockyMtnTactical
Member
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- Oct 21, 2006
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You must be the guy I sell to and buy from. I buy low and sell high so to speak. I don't think I have ever lost more than a few bucks on any gun sale of mine. I usually sell for a profit, if I sell...
KosmicKrunch
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I usually take 10-15% off the newest blue book for all my used guns I sell in the shop. In listings and on forums I usually trade even up for guns I actually want and I usually list what I am looking for and the conditions of the guns in the trade. I sometimes take a loss on a gun if I really did not like the one I have or want something else more.
ObsidianOne
Member
I think by "new" he means "different", as in a gun new to him, but not NIBMags said:
Obsidian you missed my point.
Here is an example of what I meant.
Yoy buy a Glock NIB for 500 bucks, you shoot a box of 50 through it and want to sell it. You price it at 475. It is worth the extra 25 bucks for the buyer to buy the gun NIB yourself.
Here is an example of what I meant.
Yoy buy a Glock NIB for 500 bucks, you shoot a box of 50 through it and want to sell it. You price it at 475. It is worth the extra 25 bucks for the buyer to buy the gun NIB yourself.
RevDerb
Member
Not to me. The extra $25 + 6% sales tax is better in my pocket than some one else's. 50 rounds down the pipe just gets me that much closer to reliable functionality. I buy &/or trade frequently and I welcome the opportunity to save money when I can. When I decide to dispose of a firearm, I price it reasonably and someone is usually willing to pay my price. Sometimes it takes a while for the right buyer to come across the ad. Many tire kickers come through and think that they should be allowed to steal a gun because it's used. I disagree. Unlike a used car most gun warranties follow the gun and not the owner so there is a level of confidence in the transaction that doesn't exist in other second hand situations. JMHO - YMMV.
I've made money on guns and lost money on guns. I usually buy a used gun to begin with anyway, and always negotiate prices. I shoot it, get to know it, see what it can do. Sometimes a gun just doesn't work for me, for a wide variety of reasons. But, I get my money's worth out of it. Then, if i trade, I have no regrets.
CajunBass
Member
I used to trade guns a lot and won't say I won't do it anymore, but these days I realize that I won't get anywhere near what I paid for them from a dealer. If it's something I have decided I don't like, need, or want, it's not problem, but I'm not as quick to do it anymore. That may be because I don't have any guns I don't like, need or want anymore.
I used to buy and sell guns quite a bit back in the 80s and 90s. I only bought one if it was a great deal and I saw great deals everywhere - $125 for a Marlin 39A, $80 for a Remington 1100 magnum, $150 for a Colt Trooper MKlll 22,etc.
If I saw a gun I liked and the price was right, I would buy it, play with it a few months and sell it if it wasn't something I wanted to keep. I always made money when selling a gun.
I hardly ever see a bargain anymore. In fact, most are way overpriced. Haven't bought a used gun in quite a while. I'm not going to pay $475 for a gun that I can buy new for $500. Just because the guy said it's been fired only 100 times, doesn't mean that's true. In reality, I don't know what that gun has been thru and a $50 savings isn't worth it to find out.
If I saw a gun I liked and the price was right, I would buy it, play with it a few months and sell it if it wasn't something I wanted to keep. I always made money when selling a gun.
I hardly ever see a bargain anymore. In fact, most are way overpriced. Haven't bought a used gun in quite a while. I'm not going to pay $475 for a gun that I can buy new for $500. Just because the guy said it's been fired only 100 times, doesn't mean that's true. In reality, I don't know what that gun has been thru and a $50 savings isn't worth it to find out.
I buy, sell, and trade all the time, and usually manage to break even, or even make a buck. The secret, I'm not picky. I obtain it at a good price, play with it for a while and then get out of it. If I HAD to have xyz model then I'd be losing money, but this way I eventually get to play with ALL the toys, and not come out of pocket.
I haven't sold but a couple of the guns I've bought over the years, and I've never sold one for less than I paid for it. Looked at as an investment, most of the one's I still have are worth more than I paid for them, or at least as much, adjusted for inflation.
dirtyjim
Member
i pretty much only buy used guns and if i trade it will be to my benefit.
i do take guns to the gunshows to taunt the dealers with. i already know they're not going to offer anything close but they all ways seem to think i'll trade them. after they tell me maybe we can do some trading i'll look over their table then ask them if the have a truck outside or a good looking daughter because their whole table wouldn't be enough to cover my rifle.
i do take guns to the gunshows to taunt the dealers with. i already know they're not going to offer anything close but they all ways seem to think i'll trade them. after they tell me maybe we can do some trading i'll look over their table then ask them if the have a truck outside or a good looking daughter because their whole table wouldn't be enough to cover my rifle.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I agree with Walkalong. I trade what I am willing to give up for what I want to have. Monetary value seldom is considered.
Well, it depends. On guns I've bought brand new in the box at full retail, I paid $36.50 for my Mossberg 340K, $59.00 for a High Standard Sentinel Deluxe .22 revolver, $89.00 for a Stevens 311 12-gauge double barrel shotgun, and $99.00 for a Norinco clone of the Browning .22 auto rifle, and $119 for a brand new Chinese SKS. I'm pretty sure I could sell each and every one of those for more than that, though inflation has taken its toll on what dollars are actually worth.
I've probably done better on used guns I've bought from individuals and estate sales, since I didn't pay retail for those, like $150 for an original M1 Carbine.
I've found out it's mostly true to buy what you like when you see it, because it's unlikely to be cheaper when and if it comes around again.
mcdonl
Member
I buy, sell and trade a lot of guns. But I do not do it for profit. When I own something, and I no longer want it I typically sell it for what I need to make the new purchase. If I can make someone happy, and give someone a good deal on a gun AND walk away with what I want... well... that's profit enough for me.
Leathermarshmallow
Member.
yeah, I got taken recently on a trade. The guy told me he had additional mag that he would bring to me. I have tried to contact him several times. He won't answer phone or text. I thought he was honest. I thought wrong.
The bad thing is, I knew he was getting the better end of the deal and I did it anyway because my son wanted the gun I was trading for.
The bad thing is, I knew he was getting the better end of the deal and I did it anyway because my son wanted the gun I was trading for.
Leathermarshmallow
Member.
I recently took my pristine condition Deerfield carbine to a local gun store to see about trading for something else. he offered me $200 for the gun! Needless to say, i walked out.
jerkface11
Member
If you're selling a deerfield try listing it on gunbroker. You'll get more than $200.
I only buy used (exception is a new Ruger blackhawk in 327 purchased last year, wasn't willing to wait until I could purchase one used). After I play with it for awhile, if it doesn't suit me or I can't get it to shoot as I feel it should, I put it up on Gunbroker and usually get more than I paid for it, as I mostly purchase guns that have been "undervalued" by the dealer or individual I purchase from. I haven't traded a gun to a dealer for twenty years, found out years ago that many of them subscribe to the philosophy "if it's yours it's worth little and if it's mine it's priceless." Now you ffl holders out there don't take offense, note the "many of them" not "all", there are some exceptions and I deal exclusively with them and individuals.
rellascout
member
My rule of thumb is never sell a used gun or trade in at a gun store. Its like trading in a car. You are never going to get as much as you are going to get from a private party. Sell it here or another forum. Learn to ship it directly to someones FFL and get cozy with your transfer FFL so he/she will ship cheap for you if need be. A good transfer dealer is a gun buyers best friend. Buy Global shoot local. LOL
The same is true for buying. You are almost always going to pay more for a used gun at a store than you are going to pay from an individual. Not to say I have never bought a used gun at a shop. I have. $300 Beretta 84FS & $700 DW CBOB both LNIB are two exceptions to the rule.
I personally think that RockyMtnTactical is spot on. If you are smart you can buy and sell guns at no loss or a small profit. You have to buy smart and sell smart. If you do that horse trading does not have to cost you money.
The same is true for buying. You are almost always going to pay more for a used gun at a store than you are going to pay from an individual. Not to say I have never bought a used gun at a shop. I have. $300 Beretta 84FS & $700 DW CBOB both LNIB are two exceptions to the rule.
I personally think that RockyMtnTactical is spot on. If you are smart you can buy and sell guns at no loss or a small profit. You have to buy smart and sell smart. If you do that horse trading does not have to cost you money.
I usually can't seem to connect with someone who wants what I have, and also has what I want, as well as wants to trade in a mutually favorable way. So, I usually end up selling, and then buying what I want. I rarely deal in gun shops, can't get a good exchange there, as one poster said, yours is worth nothing, theirs is priceless. I have come to realize that there were hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of most guns made. Paying $400 for a model 10 Smith is not smart, wait and find one for $250 later, it will show up if you are diligent in your search. Who doesn't like to cruise the pawn shops and classifieds for guns? Gun shows are another good place, as long as you keep your head, know a good price when you see it, and have cash in hand.
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