Why should we buy used guns at anywhere near new gun prices? If I'm going to pay a premium price for a gun, I'll get a new one. I've bought guns from local shops, but the prices are much higher than what you can get the same gun for on the internet. There's no way local gun shops can compete with online sales.
Only because they are using a 20th century pawn shop model.
Take Rainier Arms for instance. Most of you know of them as an online dealer, but here they are local to me. Instead of the old timey gun shop, it looks a lot more like an automobile showroom. So they manage to function as both an online entity that offers low prices competitive with other online dealers, but they also keep a warehouse that has a storefront.
Those kinds of buildings are getting popular here. Warehouses with small storefronts or office space. Maybe that is a clue too that commerce is changing.
Problem is that firearms dealers are just living in the past. The days of being able to partially screw your customers and get away with it and come out shining are over. The shops need profit? I do understand how paying $200 for a $500 weapon and selling it for $700 yields a profit, but I also understand how it can drive customers away nowadays. Again, this isn't the 20th century, and folks on here griping about how bad shops and gunshows are nowadays SHOULD be motivation for some shops to change.
But most likely they will run themselves into the ground, push their customers away, and close the doors. Seeya, bye, the market still exists so you'll just be replaced by someone with a better deal. Kind of like Rainier --why would I buy AR parts anywhere else unless they don't have it?
As for used, Gunbroker is good and so is the gunshow's monthly rag. They offer free advertising for members, and if you ask a decent price you get a response. If you ask a crazy price, you don't. This is how gunshow members seem to be trading today since the shows themselves have become flea markets with, like was said, the same junk for the same price for sale by the same guy year after year. So most of the action I assume takes place behind the scenes. Local sites are also a good place, but you have to be patient because they don't get the same traffic. Selling on here is also no good unless you are giving it away, just want to get rid of it.
Another local shop offers veteran discounts, same as mil and police. So obviously they are always packed being in an area where lots of veterans retire --why go to their competition and pay more? I am absolutely dumbfounded when I call a shop in this area and they don't offer veteran or military discounts, mostly because it seems like such a huge draw. So the one place local that does do this is ALWAYS packed, and I wouldn't buy a new handgun from any other store.
Yeah, gunshops are holdouts for the 20th century, they tend to be more conservative and less accepting to change. But they will be forced to change one way or another: keep up or shut your doors and let places with a more modern model take over. I like those old timey stores too, but if all you sell is overpriced junk, then all you'll ever be is a place where people come to ooh and aah and remember the old days. People don't really spend money in places like that regularly when there are options, and the internet is basically one big option for everyone.
. But for the most part, most of the guns I see for sale here (that interest me and that I would buy, pistols like Glocks, HKs, Sigs etc.) are going for below market, especially if you take a bit away for negotiation (I always try to negotiate for my used guns). And honestly, there is one HK on here that I'm not sure how it's stayed up this long. I would say with all the extras (mags, night sights etc) that it is a great deal (I just don't have the extra cash right now or I'd pick it up).