How do you determine what you will pay for a gun?

[RaetherEnt]

When I decide to purchase a new (to me) gun, I usually check prices for a week or so on Gunbroker, Shotgun News, Guns America etc...For me these have always seemed to be pretty good indicators of what I should pay at a store or gun show. The same for the rest of you? Or are there other things I should be doing?

 

[BucksDC]

Hello

I usually go for a good to great deal. I don't need anymore guns (least wife says so). But, I love every gun I have ever seen. So to keep both of us happy, I don't buy unless I find a steal. I usually make the rounds at the local dealers once a week. Occasionaly I find a real diamond. Recently I found a 1st gen. G17 with 2 hicaps, in really good condition for 260.00 OTD.
Sometimes I am bitten by the new gun bug and impulse buy. My last 2 were like that. Sig 220R ST and a Lew Horton SW1911 PD, but they were both reasonably priced. For AR's I just scout the gunboards for pieces one at a time.
Gun shows are the best way to find a deal if you have the cash in hand. Don't be affraid to haggle esp. if it's a used gun.

 

[craig]

i usually by new so i check various online dealers, and check the local prices too.
most dealers are willing to haggle a little so don't be afraid to ask them.
another thing i take into consideration is the local guys willingness to help out if something goes wrong with the gun.
one local guys prices are a little high, but he will deal and he stands behind everything he sells. his staff is courteous and very helpful. he'll also order anything you want, if he can get it. that's worth a little extra $$$ on my part.
the other local guy is an arrogant type who now wants to charge admission/membership to browse his store. he no longer gets any business from me.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Sometimes I impulse buy.
Most of the time I check around and see what they are selling for. Then I'll get the best price I can find at a big gun show.

A few weeks ago I bought the first Kel Tec PLR-16 I saw, which is unusual for me not checking all the dealers first, but the dealer only had one and the price seemed good at $430. As it turned out the only other dealer that had the KT wanted $440.

I've got a big gun budget but I'll still spend hours at the show trying to find the gun $20 cheaper. That's part of the fun.

 

[Standing Wolf]

If you're partial to Pythons, you're always looking for bargains, but often have to settle for grossly overpriced guns. My one consolation is that they'll be more expensive next year.

 

[bpisler]

If it's a new gun or one that's still in
production i'll look in the area shops.
I can find them here for less money
compared to buying on line.Used or hard
to find pistols i start on line and then
start checking the local shops.I already
know what i'll pay,if i don't find it for
that i just don't buy.

 

[lee n. field]

I might post a price-check request here or other fora, just to get a range. Street prices around here seem to be higher than elsewhere, if what people report is true.

Recently I found a 1st gen. G17 with 2 hicaps, in really good condition for 260.00 OTD.

Howz-come I'm never around . . . Don't have a 9x19, no real intention of getting one, but I'd've been all over that one.

 

[UWstudent]

i ask them if the gun works and if they say yeah, i'll buy it.

i only buy glocks, kimbers, sigs and hk's and i know what they all go for.

 

[CajunBass]

There is usually a tag hanging on the gun with a price on it. I look at the gun. I look at the price. If I want to pay the price I do. If I don't I hand it back and say "no thank you."

 

[gezzer]

Depends on my available cash at the time