INSANE prices at Hillsville, Va flea market

[98C5]

I decided to go to the Hillsville flea market this year and check out some firearms. It tradtionally started as a small gun show sponsored by the VFW a long time ago. Anyway, there are thousands of small tents/booths selling almost anything conceivable.

I noticed that prices of many goods are going thru the roof. One of the items are old signs, and I credit those prices to the American Pickers show.

Anyway, I saw a guy selling a used Ruger P94, one mag for $375. Now I was actually looking for a Hi-point 995 as a 9mm plinker. I saw one as in another booth mixed in with other rifles/shotguns. It was used and unfortunately(or fortunately) it was in .40.
$500. You have got to be kidding me.

Used Mossberg shotguns going for $400 and up...USED! Single shot H&R rifles for $325 and up.....
All around, the prices seemed 20% higher than any gun show in my area.

At least I got a italian sausage sandwich with peppers and onions....

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

Most people at gun shows, flea markets, and pawn shops price their items to be negotiable. For instance your guy with the P94 (great gun by the way) has it priced at $375. I would walk up to him and offer $275 out the door. He should take it. If not he'll sit on it for a while. Those guns can be found new for $299-339. Those also come with 2 $40 mags from factory. As for your Hi Point for $500 thats just lack of knowlege or hoping he can find a sucker. A used Hi Point? I would say $125 is fair. The shotgun and rifle prices, again negotiable i'm sure.

 

[Gik-tal]

some people who sell at the flea market like that know that someone who cannot buy a gun at a regular store ie. felons, mental health issues, or protective orders, will pay whatever they ask and won't ask questions, or haggle the price.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

A lot of flea market prices are simply people who have traded for something and don't know what they've got or what it is or isn't worth.

 

[oasis618]

This is why I go to gun shows for entertainment value only.

 

[merlinfire]

I have seen high priced guns on craigslist that I can only imagine got sold to someone who couldn't legally own one and was willing to pay a premium. Obviously an actual gun shop couldn't do it but a flea market probably could.

 

[robhof]

Had a friend pick up a P85 on Craigslist for $50; the lady told my friend that it's broken and unsafe. Turned out it was a recalled gun and he sent it to Ruger and it came back looking brand new, they even sent a mailer, so total cost was $50 and they even replaced the cracked grips.

 

[jnyork]

When did craigslist start allowing guns to be advertised? Last I checked it was strictly verboten.

 

[lab28143]

98C5. I went to the same gun show. Saw a lot of over priced junk. But I like to go look around and pick up some odds and ends. I found some 1911 grips. A few extra mags. some ammo (a lot of witch could be found cheaper at walmart.

I gave $5 for a box of Federal Tactical 00 Buck
$10 for new Magpul 5.56 mag.

A buddy of mine found a heck of a deal (i thought at least) A marlin .22mag.(good condition) with bipods and scope. He ended up paying $140 for the setup. And the scope was even lined in when he bought it

 

[oasis618]

When did craigslist start allowing guns to be advertised? Last I checked it was strictly verboten.

I am wondering this as well...

 

[HGUNHNTR]

You see guns for sale all of the time, they are usually disguised as sporting goods, projectile launchers, or hunting equipment. It is forbidden, but folks do it anyway.

 

[98C5]

One booth was selling American Eagle 9mm for $23/box of 50. My local gun store has it for $11.99.

 

[JohnBT]

The Hillsville Labor Day Flea Market? Oh yeah.

It's huge. www.hillsville.com/fmarket.htm

They estimate the crowd at 500,000 this past weekend. Half a million visitors.

You can find just about anything.

 

[Palehorseman]

True about dickering on prices. Few years back Wife and I were at a gun show and I looked at a two row 12 hammer gun, one muzzle was buggered and the ribs had separated in same area. They were asking $250.00, too much for this child, but I was not going to haggle. Wife asked me what would have to be done to make the scatter gun useable? I said not a big deal, cut the barrels down to 18.5" and resolder the ribs, but the price was too high.

About an hour later she showed up with the gun, I thought, WTH. But she told sellers the gun was useless as is and what would have to be done to it, pulled out 100 dollars cash, said take it or leave it, they took it.

And BTW, Wife is 69 years young, married to her for 50 years, she owns more guns than I do, and still reloads her own ammo.

 

[oldbear]

At least I got an Italian sausage sandwich with peppers and onions....

Ah yes, the sausage and pepper sandwich the best part of gun shows and flea markets across the country.