How Do FFL's Buy Police Trade Ins?

[Jackal]

I'm the manager at a small 6,000sq ft gunshop/sporting goods store. While we sell a ton of used guns (trade ins and consignments), I have recently taken an interest in acquiring Dept trade in guns as well to offer customers some good deals on quality firearms. Before I jump on the phone with the local PD's, I was wondering how some of you folks go about setting up purchasing/trade in program deals with local law enforcement? I'd love to have some insight from THR members before diving in head first.

 

[243winxb]

I would ask about there programs?? https://www.smith-wesson.com/law-enforcement-sales-training

But each department, state may want a different brand?

Interesting question.

 

[George P]

Most PDs turn them in to the company in bulk or to a wholesaler when they get their new ones and those then get sold to dealers/distributors.

 

[Wisco]

The State of Wisconsin contracts with an auction company for whichever agencies want to participate. Issued weapons for sale, along with confiscations. Also vehicles, equipment, etc.

You can have your pick of a beat to crap Glock 22 with dim sights for the astonishingly low price of $400...plus 17% buyers fee...plus tax...plus $15 gun fee...plus a 2% fee for anything but cash or check...

I don't know what the state/local governments get out of that deal for money, but the auction company makes a killing on the fees.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Ive seen a few on govdeals.com. That’s a site for government items up for auction. In the case of guns the auction is limited to FFLs and govt law enforcement agencies

 

[243winxb]

The used guns get checked by an armorer before being sold to dealers/distributors from what i have seen. The armorer replaces worn parts and checks function.

 

[JONWILL]

Another idea. One of our local places buys Evidence room guns. Gets them really cheap. Not always the best but there are some good ones sometimes.
Got a Colt Diamondback "Snubby" awhile back like that. Had pitting all over end of the barrel. Said it was more than likely blood splatter from a contact wound. Murder weapon it was.
Little 600 grit and some cold blue and it looked much better.

 

[entropy]

You might have better luck getting in on evidence guns, as JONWILL mentions. The last shop I worked for took them in in exchange for gunsmithing and maintenance on two different counties' Sheriff Dept's guns. (He is on the highway that divides the counties.) They took in a big batch of them, and each employee got to pick out one that they could buy at a (low) price set by the boss. I actually got two, because nobody would touch the Ithaca 37 because they were dead sure the barrel was too short. (I measured it the way the ATF does, and got 18.1") I also got a Colt Cobra. (plus I did most the cleanup and test firing, so he let me get the two.)
Getting in good with the Sheriff helps. My boss had work on both Sheriffs' campaigns, and puts signs in front of the shop every election cycle.

 

[Peter Gun]

Our local shop sells tons of police trade in stuff at great retail deals so they must be getting them cheap.
Not sure if they would view you as competitors so may not be helpful to you but the owner is retired cop and a great guy so he might be helpful.
Parros.com
Parros gun shop in Waterbury, VT

 

[herrwalther]

I know how 2 main gun stores do police trade ins. One is in VT and the other here in AL. The stores combine discounts for officers such as Blue label program for Glocks + whatever local LEO/mil discount they offer to the department as a whole. Basically to save the department as much money as possible. Gun stores know that the your typical police duty firearm will not see much use outside holster wear. So many departments turn their issue firearms to the store they got them from. Out goes new firearms to the department. Stores earn a profit selling police trade ins to civilians.

Our local shop sells tons of police trade in stuff at great retail deals so they must be getting them cheap.
Not sure if they would view you as competitors so may not be helpful to you but the owner is retired cop and a great guy so he might be helpful.
Parros.com
Parros gun shop in Waterbury, VT

I miss that store. Have bought many of the firearms I still have from Henry. His were the closest deals I ever got to be a Glock fanboy. With my military ID he sold any Glock model you wanted for 300.

 

[shafter]

I don't know if it's just me, but it seems like police trades are going up in price. Part of me wonders if it's because most departments are using kydex holsters now which limit holster wear to just a few places on the gun. Police trades used to look pretty ratty.

 

[boom boom]

I don't know if it's just me, but it seems like police trades are going up in price. Part of me wonders if it's because most departments are using kydex holsters now which limit holster wear to just a few places on the gun. Police trades used to look pretty ratty.

Melonite and Tennifer are much harder finishes than older ways of finishing firearms.

 

[Riomouse911]

Our office did a credit swap with the dealer we purchased them from. That dealer then sold them as used to others I guess.

We got to buy our old Glock for the trade in value, so my former duty gun is in the safe.

 

[waterhouse]

Like others have mentioned, our department put out a bid process that basically said “We have this gun. We want that gun. What is the lowest price you will take in cash for the new gun if we give you the old gun?”

Whichever dealer came in the lowest got our Police trade ins, minus whatever guns the officers were allowed to purchase at the trade in cost.

As an FFL, if you can’t work the deal above, your best bet may be to find out who did work the deal above and go in on it with them. I know a local store here bought something like 300 guns from a small department, but they didn’t want 300 of the same gun in inventory so they sold them cheap to other local dealers at bulk pricing. I bought about 15 from them and sold them for profit on gunbroker because the local market was so saturated.