orvpark
Member
When someone brags on the new gun they bought and what a sweet deal it is I will shoot them a message and tell them if they ever want their money back to give me a call.
How do you guys that get deals on stuff find them?
- Thread starter hometheaterman
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jnyork
Member
My wife and I are avid yard salers in the summertime, we go every Friday and Saturday. Even if there are no guns or related stuff on the tables, I always ask "Do you have any guns or hunting stuff you want to get rid of?" You would be amazed at what comes out of the woodwork. Not only guns but reloading gear, components, gun cases, spotting scopes, you name it.
FROGO207
Member
Gramps said it best "Good luck is just that but bad luck is poor planning".
That said I look to swap/sell publications, a reputation of buying from friends when they need a little cash, and always internet auctions such as Gunbroker.
That said I look to swap/sell publications, a reputation of buying from friends when they need a little cash, and always internet auctions such as Gunbroker.
LeonCarr
Member
I have two rules to get good deals.
Always have cash available, and always be prepared to walk away from a deal that sucks.
Always have cash available, and always be prepared to walk away from a deal that sucks.
Hoxviii
Member
I get most of my real good deals sitting in the "wrong" bar at the right time. Someone'll walk in needing cash in a hurry and will have a gun to sell. So long as you have the most cash in your pocket, you'll get it regardless of how little you actually have. This is typically .22 rifles, an occaisonal hunting rifle and "whore house guns".
My big win this way was an all numbers matching 1915 Luger for $250. Checked it with the police to make sure it wasn't hot and haven't looked back since.
My big win this way was an all numbers matching 1915 Luger for $250. Checked it with the police to make sure it wasn't hot and haven't looked back since.
hometheaterman
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Well, I'm kind of surprised. BTW since he lives right across the state line we would have had to go through a FFL dealer. I told him I'd pay $250 then split the FFL costs. I however, was fully expecting to pay the full FFL costs.
The reason I'm surprised he didn't take that offer is he was about to lose his truck and actually ended up having his truck repoed. If I was in that position I'd rather have made my truck payment and kept my truck rather than a .243 you can go to Wal Mart and get anytime. I can't imagine that $250 would have gotten him all that far away from the payment.
I just don't think it was a great deal. As I said earlier I would have had to pay FFL transfer fee's which seem to be around $25 at best. So that puts me at $350 for a used gun I can go buy for $400 brand new. Then on top of that I know he doesn't take very good care of his guns or anything else really. It was in pretty good shape since it wasn't that old but I highly doubt the year he has had it has been the best life for it.
On top of that it's probably not the gun I'd have bought if I was going to buy one. It was halfway what I wanted and if it would have helped him out some I would have bought it to help him. However, I'm not going to pay darn near full price of a new one when it's not exactly what I wanted. It was a .243 and I really don't want a .243. I'd like a gun in a 25-06. I could have lived with the .243 though. It also like I said above I'm sure hasn't had the best life. Then on top of that I can get the Marlin XL-7 in 25-06 like I want for right around $300 brand new at the gun store. I could then put a $50 scope on it that would be just as good as the Simmons scope on that .243 and have a brand new scope and gun for the same price that's closer to what I want. I would have actually gotten a lot better scope more than likely and may have even gotten a bit nicer gun. I also don't really need one just kind of have a desire for something like that.
Just doesn't seem like a deal to me.
As far as not helping out a buddy. I don't mind helping him out but I'm not going to just give him the money either. If it was a relative or really close friend I might have worked something out. However, while he is a friend and a guy I hunt with he isn't a super close friend and like I said the gun wasn't exactly what I wanted and it was very close to being full price.
I think at $250 plus me paying the transfer fee's that is way more than fair for a guy who is losing his truck and needs money. Plus it would be fair for me as it wouldn't be exactly what I wanted but would have been cheap enough I could have lived with it.
I guess he just decided he'd rather have the rifle than his truck.
TehK1w1
Member
A truck is just a truck. But a man's rifle, now...
I fully understand his reasoning.
I fully understand his reasoning.
Quoheleth
Member
Hometheaterman, I hear ya. I bought a gun last week, not so much because I really wanted it, but because I sorta wanted it as a gift for a bro-in-law, and the guy selling it needed a bump. It wasn't a smokin hot deal; it wasn't a bad deal. It was fair. If I didn't know the guy and he didn't have a real need I wouldn't have done the deal. So, if my BIL wants it, he can have it. If not, I'll move it on down the road.
Sounds like you were trying to help by offering to buy something you only half-way wanted/needed. His need wasn't at the level of your offer; no sale. Likewise, your desire wasn't at the level of his need; no sale. Happens all the time in sales. Seen the story about Sams and Coke? Sams wanted to sell Coke at X-price for Y% profit. Coke wanted more than X, cutting into Sam's profits. Neither was willing to budge. Sams lost one of their name brand products; Coke lost one of their big retailers.
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Sounds like you were trying to help by offering to buy something you only half-way wanted/needed. His need wasn't at the level of your offer; no sale. Likewise, your desire wasn't at the level of his need; no sale. Happens all the time in sales. Seen the story about Sams and Coke? Sams wanted to sell Coke at X-price for Y% profit. Coke wanted more than X, cutting into Sam's profits. Neither was willing to budge. Sams lost one of their name brand products; Coke lost one of their big retailers.
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Be patient Little Weedhopper.
One day, when you are ready, you will be invited to the inner sanctum where you be shown the Holy Book of Deals. You will read of all deals past, present and future. Only then will you be ready to snatch the deals that will be yours.
MachIVshooter
Member
Can only really parrot what others have said. Lot's of contacts, cash on hand, and a knowing what's worth what well enough to make snap decisions.
And sometimes stuff just works out. I just traded a mint PSL with 5 mags and a couple hundred rounds for a NIB 1974 Mauser Luger .30 and a well used new model Single-Six .32 H&R. And it worked for both of us. He wanted the PSL and had less into the two pistols than what a new PSL would cost without the extra mags and ammo, yet the value of the two handguns easily exceeds the PSL. Win-Win.
This often works out with vehicles as well. Perceived values have alot to do with it. Those of us who wrench for a living can often trade into something that is worth alot more than what we let go of after a few hundred dollars worth of parts.
And sometimes stuff just works out. I just traded a mint PSL with 5 mags and a couple hundred rounds for a NIB 1974 Mauser Luger .30 and a well used new model Single-Six .32 H&R. And it worked for both of us. He wanted the PSL and had less into the two pistols than what a new PSL would cost without the extra mags and ammo, yet the value of the two handguns easily exceeds the PSL. Win-Win.
This often works out with vehicles as well. Perceived values have alot to do with it. Those of us who wrench for a living can often trade into something that is worth alot more than what we let go of after a few hundred dollars worth of parts.
Fleetwood_Captain
Member
Well I can't say i've really had that many "steals" in my collection, but I feel everything I have has been purchased at a fair price.
The trick is just to be patient, and have an open mind. If your in a hurry, you will probably overpay. Very rarely are you going to find a "great deal" on the gun you want "right now." Most of the stories I hear about great buys are on guns the current owners wern't even looking for in the first place.
The eye of the beholder is crucial in situations like this. If anything, lack of desire is the key point to many "great deals." Some people wouldn't pay any money for a long-action .455 S&W hand-ejector with a chopped barrel, shaved .45acp cylinder, and a million proof/import marks. But the guy that buys it for $200 just got the "deal of the day" on a "custom antique."
The trick is just to be patient, and have an open mind. If your in a hurry, you will probably overpay. Very rarely are you going to find a "great deal" on the gun you want "right now." Most of the stories I hear about great buys are on guns the current owners wern't even looking for in the first place.
The eye of the beholder is crucial in situations like this. If anything, lack of desire is the key point to many "great deals." Some people wouldn't pay any money for a long-action .455 S&W hand-ejector with a chopped barrel, shaved .45acp cylinder, and a million proof/import marks. But the guy that buys it for $200 just got the "deal of the day" on a "custom antique."
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