how do they do it

[Charleo0192]

how do websites like budsgunshop sale guns for so cheap? The guns I looked at were brand new factory sealed but were 200-300 dollars cheaper then other places. Im considering using buds but unsure if they leave some services or items out to make it cheaper. Just curious as to how they do it.

 

[CoRoMo]

I don't know how they do it, but they do it well. Someone here once said that they "buy like wholesalers and sell like retailers". To me, that would mean that they buy in large quantities to get bulk prices, but then they sell them off one by one to the public. This gives them the ability to price their guns better than most anyone else. I know they operate on a thin margin and rely on the mass of sales to generate their profit. The Walmart approach, if you will.

I've spoken to their staff a few times and asked them how much a particular gun would be once they got it in stock. He couldn't tell me because, he said, they don't know what price they will be able to get those guns for, and their selling price is based on the price they pay. That has to mean that they adhere to a strict margin.

I've bought a number of guns from Bud's. They lack nothing IMHO.

 

[yeti]

V O L U M E, V O L U M E, V O L U M E

Bus's prices and service are first rate, and you can't beat shipping included in an already amazing price.

 

[buck460XVR]

I have a local gun shop that will beat Bud's prices on most guns. It has to do with markup. My LGS feels they don't need to make a bundle off every gun if they can sell you a scope and a coupla boxes of shells at regular retail. Then again, they are a small family run business without huge overhead. Unlike Cabelas and GM they don't spend a ton on advertising and marketing and the building they are in has been in the family for over a hundred years. Even so they still do volume......they claim to have over 2000 guns in stock.

 

[SSN Vet]

Try to special order something that's not in stock and you'll see a different story...

On straight forward, popular production guns, where they're pushing large volume buys, they're price is pretty darn hard to beat.

That being said, I've beat their price on NIB guns listed on gun broker auctions, where small dealers where trying to move inventory.

 

[Hatterasguy]

They sell them with a 10% or less markup.

 

[MinnMooney]

from the O.P. :

The guns I looked at were brand new factory sealed but were 200-300 dollars cheaper then other places.

I'm not sure where you found guns are "$200-$300" more than Bud's price but they do sell for at or near the bottom of the selling range. I've bought several guns from them in the past but I've also received better deals on GunBroker.com occassionally.

If you are on Bud's website, don't pay much attention to the "Customer reviews" that are posted there. Some are made up and some use real customer reviews (including the customer's name) but Bud's has changed the review. Some customers have quit doing business with them for that practice. http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/buds-gunshop-c212331.html

 

[Chemistry Guy]

I also believe they have some sort of deal going on with Double Star, which is right down the road in Winchester, Ky. Their prices for Double Star AR's seem to be far under the market rate, although they do lack rear sights and carry handles. For handguns their prices are competitive but not always the very cheapest. When they have specials for police trade-ins though, the prices are again absurdly low.

 

[Palehorseman]

V O L U M E, V O L U M E, V O L U M E

How true, have a local cooling and heating business that undersells Wally World hands down on evaporative (swamp) coolers and parts for same by passing savings on to customers from volume buys.

Wife and I once had dental work done down in Algodones, Mexico, we chose the dentist from personal recommendations. The clinic was as clean and modern as any have ever seen, the dentist/owner was an America citizen living in Yuma. I asked her why she chose Mexico with very cheap rates for her quality services? She smiled and said, VOLUME, VOLUME.

 

[gb0399]

I was pricing some guns recently and found the same thing, that I could get any gun cheaper on Buds or Gunbroker even with the shipping and transfer fee. I am a believer in the American Small business and told several of the local gun stores the deal I was getting and asked if they would match it. The owners just apologized and said that they couldn't, then told me their transfer fee's. I would keep my business local if they could come close, but they just can't or won't.

 

[EddieNFL]

I recently bought a Blackhawk for less than used versions were selling for on gunbroker.

 

[smince]

I had a buddy recently semi-retire from the gun business.

His philosophy was he would rather sell a lot of guns and make $30 on each than try to make his weeks pay on one or two guns.

He's made a good living for over 20 years.