My Scheels gun buying days may be over.

[gunnutery]

So I finally made it into Scheels today to browse the guns. I mainly look for newer guns (black rifles usually). About 5 years ago I saw a used M1A Socom 16 for sale for about $1100-1200. Today I saw an M1A for $1800. I asked if it was a "loaded" model, and the clerk said he was pretty sure it was a "standard" model. I couldn't believe it.

Am I way off base here? That seems very high for a standard model. The highest I saw on gunbroker.com just now was $1700. Anyone else know of a going rate for the standard M1A?

 

[52grain]

According to Gallery of Guns, MSRP for a standard with a composite stock is $1640.

The Scheels near me always has prices that are competitive with the other local stores, but they don't have much in the way of black rifles.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Thats a bit high but not by much. One of the local dealers had a Socom for about $1,700 if I remember correctly

 

[dakotasin]

the scheels guys here are usually priced high, but competitive. very good selection in the way of black rifles.

i rarely buy from scheels because it is too much hassle to get out of the store w/ anything, let alone a gun. i can usually cope w/ their prices, but in order for me to deal w/ the hassle of buying there, they gotta compensate me for it by lowering their prices.

the guys who price the guns do a good job of knowing exactly what they have. that doesn't mean the salesman has a clue, though. sometimes you may have to dig a bit to find the info you want.

 

[BruceB]

The Scheels store in Reno has a large variety of firearms, and at generally-competitive prices. It still pays to shop around, of course. I have bought a number of rifles from the store since they opened a short time ago.

The M1A comes in MANY flavors. Condemning Scheel's on the basis of a clerk being "almost sure" of the rifle model seems rather odd. Instead, you should familiarize yourself with the various options, and do a trip through the M1A listings on Gunsamerica.com to really understand what you're looking at on the rack and the going prices for them.

What is the "hassle" of buying firearms from them? The process in Reno is exactly the same as it is at every other FFL store, meaning filling-out the 4473 form and waiting for the so-called instant check. Where's the hassle?

A friend bought a "loaded" M1A at Scheel's Reno store a couple weeks back, and is very pleased with the rifle, the price, and the service he received.

 

[dakotasin]

well, apparently scheels in reno, nv is run different than is scheels in sioux falls, sd.

 

[outerlimit]

Scheels is usually high priced on rifles and more reasonable on handguns, but a lot of them are high too.

My Scheels gun buying days ended when the management bought all the Walmart value packs and put them on the shelves for $50 apiece a little over a year ago.

I may stop in there again one day to see if anything has changed, but it will be awhile as I haven't forgiven them yet.

Funny thing is I had several hundred dollars worth of merchandise in my hands when I saw that. I put it all back and walked out of the store.

 

[Kernel]

Walmart value packs ...for $50

Do you mean the .22 LR ammo cartons that Wally World sells for $15.47?

 

[inherentical]

I dunno, Scheels here in Appleton seems pretty competitive on guns when you factor in shipping and FFL fees. I just don't like them because everyone and their mother handles the guns before you can buy them, and some of them show the use.

 

[alemonkey]

Scheels here is high on some guns and competitive on others. I've bought a few guns from them and never had any problems.

 

[gunnutery]

I've bought about 5 or 6 guns from them in the past with no problems. I'm not even saying I condemn them for the clerk not being exactly sure. All the prices seemed high, except for S&W, they're marked at the usual S&W price (which is already high). Thanks for setting me straight on the M1A prices. It's just frustrating to see such a price jump when the old $1200-1300 range on the "standard" was already past my funding. I've got some other options as far as gun stores that seem to be priced a little better. I'll still go to Scheels to see what they have, but I don't plan on affording anything there for quite some time.

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[outerlimit]

Do you mean the .22 LR ammo cartons that Wally World sells for $15.47?

It was the .45acp WWB value packs that were $29.97 and currently run about $32.. They bought a whole pallet and priced them at $49.99. The Remington value packs that they had were about the same price. There was some other WWB type stuff priced equally as disgusting which I don't remember.

 

[Matt-J2]

I'm also here in Appleton and don't go to the Scheels as much as I used to. I can deal with one of the salesmen there, but overall I get much better service at the Gander.
With either store though it depends on who's working at the time, a few of the Scheels guys get real pushy trying to get the commission.

 

[outerlimit]

I've always gotten good service at Scheels, even when they were busy. That was never the issue.

 

[mshootnit]

One darned nice thing about scheels is that they put the guns out and you can go through and handle as many as you want without asking anyone. That beats the heck out of Cabelas and Bass Pro where you have to ask someone because they are all behind the counter. You can get familiar with four times as many rifles at Scheels in the same time.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

I worked for Scheels for 5 years. They price their guns at a percentage over what they pay for them on most guns. Some guns were an exception ie. collectible firearms, and high volume low priced guns like 870's and 10/22's. Most of the time we made 3-5 bucks each on them after the small commision was paid the the saleperson. Guns are consistently and thouroughly marked down if they aren't moving. I haven't worked at a Scheels for several years, but I have gotten some killer deals recently. 99% Sig P230 $275, Swiss K-31 for $199, and a NIB HK USP Tactical for $879!
If they are higher than a competitor they will match prices provided they have it in stock. There is also a 30 day unconditional guarantee on anything in the store including guns. Try finding that at any other store.

 

[801sureshot]

Coming from Utah to North Dakota I had never shopped a Scheels before. In the past year four out of six purchases have come from Scheels. One private party, and one ebr from the local over priced gun shop. That was just because I could get the special price offered by RRA at the local spot. I almost always shop smaller local places at home but coming out here I have found that the local shop has a corner on the specialty market, plus the ability to handle guns at Scheels is a plus and over all the service was good. The two handguns purchased I would say, lower average price. One rifle at straight up retail, and one at "deer season opener special ", price. Overall the best big box store experience to date.

 

[outerlimit]

Guns are consistently and thouroughly marked down if they aren't moving

I've noticed that too. I bought my PM9 from Scheels at $525 which is what they claimed was just above or about their cost. I think it had been sitting there about 6 months.