How much have you lost on a gun sale?
- Thread starter Orion8472
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Right now, my absolute worst was a RC K98 I sold with sling, lock screws, sight hood, and a nickeled bayonet I had probably $265 into and sold for $230. Second worst M-1 garand I lost six dollars on when I sold it at auction. Third worst was a #4 Rolling block I just lost four dollars on.
I'm very picky about what I buy, won't buy unless it's a deal, and don't sell cheaply. All three losses were auctions, and the K98 sold around tax-day.
I'm very picky about what I buy, won't buy unless it's a deal, and don't sell cheaply. All three losses were auctions, and the K98 sold around tax-day.
Nothing lost here.
I never paid for shipping in the sense that I bought a gun over the internet - I never did that.
I bought at a local, family owned, well known gun store back east. Other guns were bought @ local stores here in Montana plus at Sportsman's Warehouse. I bought products and gun books from other places but not firearms.
I have had a 'gift' of a firearm. I have given a couple of firearm gifts to VERY close family friends after my late husband died. I have sold a few firearms as I stated above with NO loss. I sold some as a 'package deal' with the leather holster, ammunition, original case, papers, book, etc. I did my sale that way because at the time... I had NO other firearm in that specific caliber and was not planning to get another one in that caliber for a LONG time. The person paid for the firearm which was NIB when I bought it, original owner, the holster and the ammunition.
They were happy because they KNEW that my late husband and I took VERY good care of our firearms as we did with everything else that we owned.
Catherine
I never paid for shipping in the sense that I bought a gun over the internet - I never did that.
I bought at a local, family owned, well known gun store back east. Other guns were bought @ local stores here in Montana plus at Sportsman's Warehouse. I bought products and gun books from other places but not firearms.
I have had a 'gift' of a firearm. I have given a couple of firearm gifts to VERY close family friends after my late husband died. I have sold a few firearms as I stated above with NO loss. I sold some as a 'package deal' with the leather holster, ammunition, original case, papers, book, etc. I did my sale that way because at the time... I had NO other firearm in that specific caliber and was not planning to get another one in that caliber for a LONG time. The person paid for the firearm which was NIB when I bought it, original owner, the holster and the ammunition.
They were happy because they KNEW that my late husband and I took VERY good care of our firearms as we did with everything else that we owned.
Catherine
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Want honesty? I got some honesty for you:
I bought a Remington 581T back in 1999, put a decent scope on it, and had about seven hundred in it. I also bought a S&W 617 for about four hundred at the same time. Altogether, I unloaded $1,100. Four months later, I hit the skids and hocked both for four hundred at a pawn shop.
Pretty sad. But true.
I bought a Remington 581T back in 1999, put a decent scope on it, and had about seven hundred in it. I also bought a S&W 617 for about four hundred at the same time. Altogether, I unloaded $1,100. Four months later, I hit the skids and hocked both for four hundred at a pawn shop.
Pretty sad. But true.
I've given guns away as gifts so 100% of the purchase price, I usually break even or make a few bucks, occasionally I make a good amount.
I usually consign guns thru local dealers which eats 20% or so of the selling price.
Also when adding in taxes and a state fee we have of $25-35 for every gun we buy it's hard to make good on a sale.
I don't sell too many guns relative to the size of my collection but two recent losses.
A nice shape Taurus mod 941 4" stainless .22mag revolver. It didn't live up to my acuracy standards and it ended up selling for $175 less 20%. I had paid about $250 otd for it.
A Ruger P94 stainless DAO I got for $330 plus tax and such was close to $400. I paid too much at an auction and I figured it make a good hd pistol.
It had a VERY heavy DAO trigger and I ended up taking home $265 in selling it.
I did buy a gun for $100 though in 2006, about $138 OTD, it sold for $400 on consignment, I took home $300. Not bad.
I usually consign guns thru local dealers which eats 20% or so of the selling price.
Also when adding in taxes and a state fee we have of $25-35 for every gun we buy it's hard to make good on a sale.
I don't sell too many guns relative to the size of my collection but two recent losses.
A nice shape Taurus mod 941 4" stainless .22mag revolver. It didn't live up to my acuracy standards and it ended up selling for $175 less 20%. I had paid about $250 otd for it.
A Ruger P94 stainless DAO I got for $330 plus tax and such was close to $400. I paid too much at an auction and I figured it make a good hd pistol.
It had a VERY heavy DAO trigger and I ended up taking home $265 in selling it.
I did buy a gun for $100 though in 2006, about $138 OTD, it sold for $400 on consignment, I took home $300. Not bad.
Will let you know if I ever sell one. Only gun I ever got rid of was one I gave $200.00 for and I traded it to someone for a Walther I needed for my collection...his receipt from 2 years prior at $400.00 was in the box with all the paperwork and the original target.
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
Selling guns is too difficult. Its kind of like selling your trusty old dog, to get a new puppy... Not fun (No I have never actually done that!)
I lost 50.00 on a black powder pistol. I just never shot it, wanted to get rid of it, and needed the money to finish the financing of a new AK 47.
Basically, I gave him the holster and accessories for the price of the gun.
I lost 50.00 on a black powder pistol. I just never shot it, wanted to get rid of it, and needed the money to finish the financing of a new AK 47.
Basically, I gave him the holster and accessories for the price of the gun.
22-rimfire
Member
When I was buying and selling for fun at shows, I suspect the most I ever lost was about $50 on a single gun. Tis life! I did better on most of them or broke even with trades. I don't factor in sales tax however. It certainly made gunshows more interesting. Knowing the law now has taken a lot of the fun out of it.
Stevie-Ray
Member
Lost about 70 bucks on a PT-111 a few years ago. But, at least I talked the guy down on the new gun I was interested in.
Lost 80 bucks on my AMT Govt. but again made a great deal on it's replacement. These were the only 2 I've ever sold.
Lost 80 bucks on my AMT Govt. but again made a great deal on it's replacement. These were the only 2 I've ever sold.
4D5
Member
Sold several
Most of the sales were the result of impulse buys, except for the problem ones.
One was a Browing BT99 trap gun. Initial cost $1000, trigger work, forcing cone work $300. Couldn't hit squat with it, sold it for $750.
One was a Taurus tracker 22 $350. Trigger work $90, forcing cone/ cylinder work $150. Never did shoot all that well, sold for ~ $250.
One was a Kahr PM40. Way too much recoil and the trigger guard ate up my trigger finger on the knuckle. Nothing done to it but ended up selling at a loss of a couple hundred bucks.
Sold a Browning over/under at a loss of $200.
Sold a Kimber and ate about $350, but wanted something else.
Probably could have done better selling FTF but I didn't feel like dealing with all the hassles and tire kickers.
I've also got some good buys too, so that helps offset the pain a little.
Most of the sales were the result of impulse buys, except for the problem ones.
One was a Browing BT99 trap gun. Initial cost $1000, trigger work, forcing cone work $300. Couldn't hit squat with it, sold it for $750.
One was a Taurus tracker 22 $350. Trigger work $90, forcing cone/ cylinder work $150. Never did shoot all that well, sold for ~ $250.
One was a Kahr PM40. Way too much recoil and the trigger guard ate up my trigger finger on the knuckle. Nothing done to it but ended up selling at a loss of a couple hundred bucks.
Sold a Browning over/under at a loss of $200.
Sold a Kimber and ate about $350, but wanted something else.
Probably could have done better selling FTF but I didn't feel like dealing with all the hassles and tire kickers.
I've also got some good buys too, so that helps offset the pain a little.
I always obviously try to buy guns at low prices, in a collection numbering in the 3 digits, I'd not be able to afford that many if I didn't! Only 2-4 times in my life have I paid too much I felt or a normal price for a gun, usually getting caught up in an auction or for an extra special piece.
When buying off brand guns that don't sell as well or are known for poor qc I try extra hard to get them at a low price to offset any loss I might have in selling them or having them fixed if I can't do it myself.
When buying off brand guns that don't sell as well or are known for poor qc I try extra hard to get them at a low price to offset any loss I might have in selling them or having them fixed if I can't do it myself.
Cannonball888
Member
I've never sold a gun, but I've bought A LOT.
Shung
Member
bought a lot, sold 3 or 4.. never lost any money.. I increased it 20% averagely
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Sadly, to get through lean times (like my current one), I've sold guns for much less than their worth in exchange for getting money now. When I have more time and wish to sell a gun, I have this local shop consign them. They charge 10% of the selling price plus $25, very reasonable IMO.
Ok will be really honest here. I TRY not to loose money but I do occasionally decide to take a big hit.
For example, if I need room in my safe for something new that I just bought and something has got to go, I will let it go for a loss.
The other reason I will take a big loss is that I found the gun to be a POS and I don't want anything unreliable PERIOD.
Occasionally my taste will change and I will get rid of something that no longer suits my fancy. However, the market may make it hard to sell for NIB price especially if the gun is still in production and readily available. So again I take the loss.
The biggest loss I have have taken was on the order of $300 or so.
But that is the exception rather than the rule. I would say that about 1/4 time I take a loss, 1/4 time I break even, and 1/2 time I make a few bucks.
For example, if I need room in my safe for something new that I just bought and something has got to go, I will let it go for a loss.
The other reason I will take a big loss is that I found the gun to be a POS and I don't want anything unreliable PERIOD.
Occasionally my taste will change and I will get rid of something that no longer suits my fancy. However, the market may make it hard to sell for NIB price especially if the gun is still in production and readily available. So again I take the loss.
The biggest loss I have have taken was on the order of $300 or so.
But that is the exception rather than the rule. I would say that about 1/4 time I take a loss, 1/4 time I break even, and 1/2 time I make a few bucks.
usp9
Member
I paid almost $300 for a used pistol that turned out to be a worn out piece of junk. I sold it for a parts gun for $200. That's my biggest loss and I was lucky to do that well. I usually break even or make a few bucks, but all total I've probably only made a total of about $400 on all the guns I've sold (about a dozen).
realmswalker
Member
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I have only lost 50 dollars in a gun sale.
I have been selling and buying guns quite a bit this year and have done nothing but profitable sales.
I have been selling and buying guns quite a bit this year and have done nothing but profitable sales.
Generally I find if you sell to a friend or family member, you can limit your loss. You can usually avoid the shipping or FFL fees, and keep that as profit.
If I sell (or buy) from a friend or family member, I generally throw in a clause where if I really would like to use that rifle again one weekend (or they would) I'll do my best to accomodate them.
If I sell (or buy) from a friend or family member, I generally throw in a clause where if I really would like to use that rifle again one weekend (or they would) I'll do my best to accomodate them.
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