gun pricing

[4v50 Gary]

I guess it's my turn.

Widow asked me for help on pricing firearms for a local gun show. I'm not a dealer and I asked for a description of the items. Haven't bought anything modern in years and don't know prices.

 

[horsemen61]

We will need to know what firearms you are referring to

 

[Hikingman]

This sounds like a can of worms. Most dealers are probably going to offer her less than FAIR prices and well below fair wholesale. How do I know this?

Most spouses would not provide you a decent (the word accurate comes to mind) description unless they know what they are looking at, and know something about rating condition.

 

[Thomas Mayberry]

I usually go to gunbroker completed sales (with no reserve) to get a feel for current market values when I'm getting ready to shop.

 

[Legionnaire]

Is she trying to maximize her return or simplify getting rid of them? Which is the higher priority?

I'd consider finding a reputable local dealer and ask him or her to take the lot on consignment at a generous commission. That creates at least some incentive for the dealer to get a good price.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Horseman61 - I asked her for a list and condition. She'll get it to me next week.
Hikingman - I told her the same thing about dealers.
ThomasMayberry - was thinking the same.
Legionnaire - she wants to maximize (widow on deceased husband's pension). Consignment isn't a bad idea, but I don't know dealers in my county (except for a gunsmith)

 

[epags]

Is she trying to maximize her return or simplify getting rid of them? Which is the higher priority?

I'd consider finding a reputable local dealer and ask him or her to take the lot on consignment at a generous commission. That creates at least some incentive for the dealer to get a good price.

That worked for me. His recommended sell price was generally what I had estimated I could have sold it for plus his commission. He got (us) the selling price every time. FWIW, his commission was 25% (California requires him to store the firearm for 30 days as a check is performed to see if it was stolen.)
OTOH, I am not sure a 'widow', not knowing what she wanted, would have done as well.

 

[jmorris]

I would 2nd the auction. Some of the prices I have seen people pay are insane but that’s what you want if you are selling.

If she can wait until the next election, she can throw them into the typical panic buys that always occur and get a premium.

 

[Elkins45]

I’ve told my wife if I die first she needs to hire an auctioneer to get rid of all of my stuff. I went to an auction with a lot of guns right before Covid and the opening bids on most guns was above what my max was going to be.

 

[MarshallDodge]

If she wants them to sell fairly quick, take Blue Book and knock off 20%.

 

[reddog81]

Gunbroker Completed auctions where the gun actually sold should get you in the ballpark assuming you can find items in similar condition. Of course, taking a pile of guns to a gun show and trying to sell to dealers will net a much lower number than that. She'd probably be better off going to the show and trying to find a dealer who will sell them via consignment on gunbroker versus an out right cash offer from someone at the show. Of course the cash offer will be the easiest and quickest way to get money.

Either way, good luck.

 

[silicosys4]

As someone who's spent the last few months looking for the best way to price and liquidate a decent size gun collection...
Finding current market values is going to be tricky. Especially if selling at a gun show.
My strategy has been to go through Gunsinternational and Gunsamerica, find what current similar condition examples are being priced at,
Then go to gunbroker or another auction site, RIA if your guns are collectibles...and see what they are actually selling for.
Between the two you should find a good representation of current market value.
Then its just a matter of how much you are willing to give to the middleman if unwilling to sell them yourself individually.
Its a laborious process.

 

[JDeere]

Consignment is the way to go. I have been thinning my herd and getting what I want. My lgs gets his 15% and I don't have to mess with anybody or anything. Pick up a check and be done..

 

[LiveLife]

Is she trying to maximize her return or simplify getting rid of them? Which is the higher priority?

she wants to maximize (widow on deceased husband's pension). Consignment isn't a bad idea, but I don't know dealers in my county (except for a gunsmith)

If she wants to maximize selling price, she may consider consigning at larger city/gun store where there may be more buyers. You can always check with local gunsmith/gun dealers (FFLs)/pawn shops and feel them out (Some may have customers already with list of guns they are looking for ... Mine does locally).

If she can wait until the next election, she can throw them into the typical panic buys that always occur and get a premium.

Very good point. IMO, we are nearing the bottom of current shortage cycle as 22LR is back below $25/500 shipped and 9mm ammunition is fairly close to pre-pandemic pricing (My gauge of where we are on the shortage cycle) with reloading components back in stock with decreasing prices.

So if she wants to maximize selling price, may be another option to sell at next shortage's peak (Believe me, I have seen several shortage during past 30 years and I am sure there will be more during my retirement). Of course, she may have to wait several more years.

I usually go to gunbroker completed sales (with no reserve) to get a feel for current market values when I'm getting ready to shop.

This is a good snap shot of current market value.

I would 2nd the auction. Some of the prices I have seen people pay are insane but that’s what you want if you are selling.

If she is happy with those closed auction prices, then that's another option but not sure if she or OP is willing to spend the time to conduct auctions.

 

[jmr40]

How many guns? If just a few I'd take on helping sell them. I've been working on thinning the herd for several years. Not wanting to leave it up to my wife to sell them. A local gunshop has been fair with me and has bought several. Yes, I could have sold them for a little more, but I didn't have to deal with stupid people or worry about selling something illegally to someone who could not legally own the gun.

These were common guns BTW. I had several that I felt were rare enough to put on gunbroker and get in a bidding war. I used a different shop for this, they do it a lot. They did all the work. Advertised them on gunbroker, did all the paperwork and shipped when they were sold. They took a percentage, but those guns sold for a lot more than I could have gotten locally. All I had to do was go by and pick up the check a few weeks later.

I still have quite a few guns. But the remaining ones are ones I actually use and are earmarked for kids and grandkids. No one will have to worry about selling them when I'm gone.

 

[Coyote3855]

I have helped a couple of widows deal with the collection. There is an auction guy in the next town (that's 75 miles in Wyoming). So far, he's sold two lots of my guns and then for the widows. He takes 20% of the hammer price. Worth checking out locally. The advantage of an auction is she will get one check fairly soon after the auction. I've also sold guns on consignment. The process stretched out over several months before I received the final check.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I recommend everyone recommend CALLING https://durysguns.com/ if a old lady need to sell her lates or estate guns. They make it very easy, ship boxes to your door to mail guns back. Very Fair upfront prices.

 

[jmorris]

If she is happy with those closed auction prices, then that's another option but not sure if she or OP is willing to spend the time to conduct auctions.

Yeah, the easiest way to get rid of them is to haul them to the nearest pawn shop. I would expect an offer somewhere around 20% of their value. Most auctions end above 100% of my evaluations or I wouldn‘t lose many, many more than I “win”.

 

[lightman]

I usually go to gunbroker completed sales (with no reserve) to get a feel for current market values when I'm getting ready to shop.

This is what I have done in the past. I look for completed auctions and for items that are getting bids.
I sold a few back at the beginning of the pandemic. I have a buddy with a FFL that has will post guns and handle the shipping/transfer for a very reasonable price. His strategy is he list them for 1cent and lets them fight over them. I got more than I expected for a few and a little less than I expected for a few others. It averaged out where overall I was satisfied.

 

[PapaG]

I have done many appraisals for estates. Many times a widow or surviving offspring would express surprise at the value of their guns. "Why, dealer X told me there was no demand for old Colt cowboy guns and told me he'd give me X dollars just to be kind."
I have a couple dealers I work for/with that I send these folks to.
I normally quote two, or sometimes three numbers. Book value factor in in condition. (Best case scenario). Open market (gun club, postings, etc ). And, dealer likely offer (I estimate about 45% of actual retail value).
Good thing I have about everything I could want or use because I see some nice stuff Also, see a lot of formerly nice stuff butchered with buffing wherls, power sanders and cold blue and varnish.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Don’t Profit from Peoples Pain!

 

[Mosin77]

As a website of enthusiasts we’re naturally going to assume that a widow (of all people) is entitled to “full value” which is basically “used-retail” pricing. But every outlet is going to have its pluses and minuses. If you’re going to get a table at a gunshow my advice is don’t be greedy. There is a huge difference between pricing things at or slightly under real going rate, vs slightly over. Most dealers price things high at shows and sell very little. If your prices are 10-15% less than everyone else’s, you look like the bargain king and will have great success moving the bulk of the guns for a fair price, and more importantly, will not have to repeat this exercise many times until all have been sold.

If any are really expensive guns I’d recommend just sending them to a reputable auction house. It’s easier and probably more lucrative than trying to find a buyer for a $6000 gun at the typical show.

 

[4v50 Gary]

If she remembers, she'll share the list with me tomorrow. I can share it here for suggestions. She wants to sell it at a local gunshow in her town.

 

[Ignition Override]

First- describe any Semi-Auto gun as “Tactical”,

and “…like the type(s) tested by Navy SEALs.”

—. $$.