Negotiating at gun shops

[OldBillThundercheif]

Pennsy: You think that haggling drives gun dealers out of business and makes them hate the customers who do it?

That's just not true. It's standard procedure in the trade. Gun dealers expect you to haggle and tag the merchandise accordingly.

There is nothing forcing them to accept your offer. If it is too low they can laugh at you and say no. The firearms trade is a capitalist enterprise not a charity. It's American business in it's purest form and I have no problem with that at all...

 

[aaronrkelly]

Ive never been a big haggler.

I either pay what they ask

or

I find somewhere thats asking closer to what Im willing to pay

The most haggling I will do is the "I will buy this if you toss a box of ammunition in" - works every time and I can stop by the range on my way home without needing to pick up ammo.

 

[GEM]

When offered a new job, I haggled on salary and start up funds - why should one not haggle on price of a gun? Same when buying car.

At Sears, we were buying a new refrigerator - I asked if that was their best price and saved 10%. If they say NO, that's OK. Just be polite all around and it doesn't hurt to ask.

Like I said before, the shotgun vendor who had a hissy - lost a sale and I saved $10 down a few tables.

 

[madmattmd]

I HATE to haggle over prices. It took me years to get comfortable with the give and take in the used market. That said, I don’t do it on new guns as I figure their price is their price and I always try to have a handle on the going rate.

Now, on used guns, I will always ask “Is that your best price?” if it’s a cash purchase. I try to deal with the same folks (about five different gun shops & pawnshops in my bi-monthly rotation). If they have something I want and I want to pay over time, I’ll let them know and won’t haggle over price. I figure that’s the freight I pay for not paying all at once.

I recently picked up a 1960 vintage S&W Model 17 on consignment. I had just stumbled on this shop and there it was. I wasn’t specifically in the market for that revolver, but the condition and price seemed right. The shop called the owner to ask if they would accept the asking price but wait 30 days to complete the sale. I put about a third down so that they knew I was serious. It worked out well.

I figure on used guns there is usually (never say “always”) a little wiggle room and it doesn’t hurt to ask politely. Many shops seem to expect/want some respectful back and forth on what’s reasonable.

Take care,
Matt

 

[johnster999]

I pretty much always haggle on guns, new or used.

 

[kludge]

I always ask "Is this the cash price?" Credit cards charge up to 3% of the purchase price for the transaction. This goes staight to their bottom line. Also, they only get money from the credit card companies once a month, so chances are the dealer won't see his money until next month. On the other hand if you pay cash he can immediately pay his bills or have a steak dinner tonight when you pay cash.

I saved $25 on one and $38 on another this year.

If you are trading used for used, this might work, but when trading used for new it might not, in my experience... The dealer has money tied up in the NIB gun, and if you offer a trade now he has money tied up in your used gun.

Think Win-Win (I stole that from Steven Covey)

 

[PennsyPlinker]

Pennsy: You think that haggling drives gun dealers out of business and makes them hate the customers who do it?

That's just not true. It's standard procedure in the trade. Gun dealers expect you to haggle and tag the merchandise accordingly.

There is nothing forcing them to accept your offer. If it is too low they can laugh at you and say no. The firearms trade is a capitalist enterprise not a charity. It's American business in it's purest form and I have no problem with that at all...

No, I don't think that. I do think - actually I know, from being on the receiving end, that people constantly asking for a deal or a handout from the little guy in business tend not to get the same treatment that other people who don't haggle get.

I run a one man manufacturing business. People who constantly ask me to "do better" find out that they can't afford anything I make. People who don't haggle/hassle me end up getting deals all without having to ask.

I don't do things like buy guns "for charity". I support plenty of other charities already. I buy guns because I like them, and I want to see my local dealer around to sell guns for a long time to come. There are plenty of things in life I don't mind haggling about. This is not one of them.

 

[PennsyPlinker]

I always ask "Is this the cash price?" Credit cards charge up to 3% of the purchase price for the transaction. This goes staight to their bottom line. Also, they only get money from the credit card companies once a month, so chances are the dealer won't see his money until next month. On the other hand if you pay cash he can immediately pay his bills or have a steak dinner tonight when you pay cash.

I do credit card transactions almost every day, and the money is in my account by the next posting day. I don't know of anyone who has to wait a month to get their money anymore. I do agree with the discount issue, but that is a cost of doing business that people choose to deal with in a number of ways. For me, I am content with increased sales by taking credit cards, and the volume takes up any losses due to the convenience of using the cards. Others seem to think it is unfair for the bank to make money for offering the service. PLEASE NOTE: This is not an endorsement of all the fees banks regularly stick to we the people. It is only an observation that they offer a service for a fee, and it is up to us to make the decision as to whether it is worth it or not.

 

[hotpig]

quote: You wouldn't believe how many bucks I've saved at all sorts of stores simply by asking for a "cash discount." I've gotten sale prices at Sears, Ace Hardware, and yes, a gunshop or two. It never hurts to ask.
__________________


Many people on this forum are against dealers giving cash discounts. I do not charge a credit card surcharge like many other internet dealers. I pay Linkpoint 40.00 per month plus .30 plus .05 watts line fee per transaction and 2.9 to 4.29% depending on the customers card. Linkpoint has my money in my bank account in three working days.It does not take a rocket scientist to figure credit card processing costs have to be figured in the price.

 

[battlehatch]

I don't ask for a break at my local shop. They treat me fairly and they usually will throw in some ammo for free. I usually pay MSRP, but I won't pay more than that. I like supporting local businesses.

 

[thebaldguy]

I'm smiling, friendly, and polite. I always ask if they can come down a bit. If they won't come down, I will ask them to throw something in.

They usually do one or both. It never hurts to be nice and ask.

 

[antagonist22]

This is what I do: if I want something new,I research on the gun I want(which means look around different shops for its price). But I usually go to the one where a member of my rifle club works at.He can usually give me a good deal.

 

[fantacmet]

I've never haggled as of yet, but then again all but one of my purchases have been at a chain store. The only other store that has reasonable prices, they are usually rather rude to you unless you come in obviously dropping of cash. Although in fairness this was the first gun I had bought at a shop and it was theirs. I didn't ask for a discount, just said what I was looking for, and how limited my cash flow was and that I needed to be able to afford to get my CHL the next month. They knocked 25 bucks off the top, then an extra 25 off for it being a used gun, plus another 25 off because it had been there awhile, and they never charged me for the background check. Still rather rude though. So all I've done since is just kinda walk in and browse sometimes. I can get better service, and better prices somewhere else. If I want something that the chain store doesn't have however, I go to the shop and get my bad service, and higher prices. Too bad I've not yet had the money to do so. There is a pawn shop nearby has horrid prices on handguns, but good prices on semi-auto and automatic rifles. Thinking about getting something from them one of these days(rifle of course, be nice to have a semi auto rifle alongside my bolt action).

Rev. Michael