Lennyjoe
Member
Whew, talk about bringing a thread back from the dead. 
Price Negotiations
- Thread starter priv8ter
- Start date
- Status
Tejas Gunwerks
Member
Negotiations
I am a dealer. My average markup on a firearm is between 10% and 15%. When you lowball me with an offer below 30% of my asking price, you are asking me to sell it to you for less than I paid for it. There are many pricing structures for dealers. Some factors for this is: volume of sales, how long you have been with your supplier, your personal relationship with your supplier, your credit history and your bankroll. Not all dealers get the same price. We have to set pricing based on what we paid for it, how many people want this item, our overhead and how we wish to live our lives. Bargining to me is like your employer coming to you each payday and negotiating your paycheck for that week. Joe Blow across the hallway makes $50.00 less than you, so why don't we take that off this week, you had too many cups of coffee this week or you were 5 minutes late, whatever. If it is a fair price, not price gouging, pay it or move on. Keep your comments to yourself. If you find it cheaper go buy it. I'm not stupid, when I'm not makeing sales I try to find out why. Maybe I need to lower my price to be competitive, or find a different supplier. If you still insist on negotiating, make an offer, just don't ask me to come down. "Best price" to me is a much higher price. I need a new truck.
My price is clearly indicated, counter it. Don't even ask if you are not paying cash. Don't haggle a cash price for an hour, reach an agreement then whip out your checkbook or credit card, cash means cash, worse don't tell me you need to think on it and you will be back 
. Don't handle my merchandise then buy it off the Internet. Why do you think they have lower prices? They don't have to waste their time on you!
I am a dealer. My average markup on a firearm is between 10% and 15%. When you lowball me with an offer below 30% of my asking price, you are asking me to sell it to you for less than I paid for it. There are many pricing structures for dealers. Some factors for this is: volume of sales, how long you have been with your supplier, your personal relationship with your supplier, your credit history and your bankroll. Not all dealers get the same price. We have to set pricing based on what we paid for it, how many people want this item, our overhead and how we wish to live our lives. Bargining to me is like your employer coming to you each payday and negotiating your paycheck for that week. Joe Blow across the hallway makes $50.00 less than you, so why don't we take that off this week, you had too many cups of coffee this week or you were 5 minutes late, whatever. If it is a fair price, not price gouging, pay it or move on. Keep your comments to yourself. If you find it cheaper go buy it. I'm not stupid, when I'm not makeing sales I try to find out why. Maybe I need to lower my price to be competitive, or find a different supplier. If you still insist on negotiating, make an offer, just don't ask me to come down. "Best price" to me is a much higher price. I need a new truck.
My price is clearly indicated, counter it. Don't even ask if you are not paying cash. Don't haggle a cash price for an hour, reach an agreement then whip out your checkbook or credit card, cash means cash, worse don't tell me you need to think on it and you will be back . Don't handle my merchandise then buy it off the Internet. Why do you think they have lower prices? They don't have to waste their time on you!as evidenced by some of the above posts...
it doesn't take you long to figure out which gun stores EXPECT to haggle, and which gun stores DO NOT haggle.
no problem either way. you'll generally know from the look on the dealer's face within about half a second after the first time you ask him.
both of the shops i frequent love to haggle. they mark their guns up quite a bit and expect to take at least 10% off, sometimes more.
i've found a lot of stores that advertise on the internet are already at their lowest price because of the competition and refuse to haggle on a sale. (unless you up the stakes by offering to buy a bunch of accessories, then they might cut you some deal)
it doesn't take you long to figure out which gun stores EXPECT to haggle, and which gun stores DO NOT haggle.
no problem either way. you'll generally know from the look on the dealer's face within about half a second after the first time you ask him.
both of the shops i frequent love to haggle. they mark their guns up quite a bit and expect to take at least 10% off, sometimes more.
i've found a lot of stores that advertise on the internet are already at their lowest price because of the competition and refuse to haggle on a sale. (unless you up the stakes by offering to buy a bunch of accessories, then they might cut you some deal)
Sir Aardvark
Member
Negotiation:
Ask for a pony... get a kitty.
Ask for nothing...
Ask for a pony... get a kitty.
Ask for nothing...
Tejas Gunworks,
Obviously it's your right to set your prices and run your business how you want. That's part of the reason I suggested that the original poster first observe a seller's style ... it may keep him from wasting the seller's (and his own) time if it's obvious negotiating is out of the question.
But really, is your policy "don't handle my stuff then go buy off the internet" (or any place else)? How in the world do you prevent that? I'd imagine saying something like "look liverlips, serious buyers only--show me the money first" would be effective. Of course, I'm assuming you wouldn't say that.
Surely you don't just keep everything boxed-up and simply display a list of what you have. Now that I think about it, that's kinda how internet dealers work...
Anyhow, I can tell you I'm not one bit concerned with what a seller "paid for it". That's his business/problem. As you know, fair market value is never driven by what someone "paid for something". Hell, as far as I know, a seller may "overpay" for everything. I thought the bottom line for any business boils down to getting the most a REASONABLY informed buyer would expect to pay for something. Which was really my original point.
I wanted to check out your website but the link is dead. Jeez, I guess you don't want people even looking at your website, then buying on another.
Obviously it's your right to set your prices and run your business how you want. That's part of the reason I suggested that the original poster first observe a seller's style ... it may keep him from wasting the seller's (and his own) time if it's obvious negotiating is out of the question.
But really, is your policy "don't handle my stuff then go buy off the internet" (or any place else)? How in the world do you prevent that? I'd imagine saying something like "look liverlips, serious buyers only--show me the money first" would be effective. Of course, I'm assuming you wouldn't say that.
Surely you don't just keep everything boxed-up and simply display a list of what you have. Now that I think about it, that's kinda how internet dealers work...
Anyhow, I can tell you I'm not one bit concerned with what a seller "paid for it". That's his business/problem. As you know, fair market value is never driven by what someone "paid for something". Hell, as far as I know, a seller may "overpay" for everything. I thought the bottom line for any business boils down to getting the most a REASONABLY informed buyer would expect to pay for something. Which was really my original point.
I wanted to check out your website but the link is dead. Jeez, I guess you don't want people even looking at your website, then buying on another.
Tejas Gunwerks
Member
Link
The link just needed .com added. No, I have no way knowing if you want to take a look at my product before you buy elsewhere. To me, that is a dishonest practice. In a sense you are stealing my services. I am displaying that product and answering all your questions and you go elsewhere to buy. If you have no intent to buy from me in the first place you have just stolen from me. The reason that person can sell cheaper on the internet is because he doesn't have to waste his time with you. He may not even have the product in stock. You certainly can't handle it. So, what is my time, my knowledge and the fact I have it right there in front of you is worth. If something goes wrong with the product after the sale what is the Internet guy going to do? This next part won't come out right, but frankly, if you can't afford my prices, go find a better paying job, don't ask me to lower my prices because you can't or don't won't to pay what I think are reasonable prices. Go get your own FFL and set up shop and deal with those who think they can do it better than you.
The link just needed .com added. No, I have no way knowing if you want to take a look at my product before you buy elsewhere. To me, that is a dishonest practice. In a sense you are stealing my services. I am displaying that product and answering all your questions and you go elsewhere to buy. If you have no intent to buy from me in the first place you have just stolen from me. The reason that person can sell cheaper on the internet is because he doesn't have to waste his time with you. He may not even have the product in stock. You certainly can't handle it. So, what is my time, my knowledge and the fact I have it right there in front of you is worth. If something goes wrong with the product after the sale what is the Internet guy going to do? This next part won't come out right, but frankly, if you can't afford my prices, go find a better paying job, don't ask me to lower my prices because you can't or don't won't to pay what I think are reasonable prices. Go get your own FFL and set up shop and deal with those who think they can do it better than you.
Tejas Gunwerks
Member
Business name
By the way it is Tejas Gunwerks.
By the way it is Tejas Gunwerks.
Father Knows Best
Member
My rules of negotiating:
1. Always know what a comparable item would cost somewhere else. Be sure to figure in FFL transfer (if applicable) and shipping, but keep in mind that by buying out of state and having it shipped you generally avoid sales taxes. When the gun costs $750+, shipping and FFL fees are generally less than the sales tax where I live.
2. Convenience, good relationships and being able to inspect before buying are worth something. If local shop has something I want, I will generally be willing to pay $25-50 more for it there as opposed to over the 'net for those reasons.
3. Always have a ceiling price in mind, as well as a "good buy" price. Your objective is to get the item for as close to the "good buy" price as possible, but you should never exceed your ceiling.
4. Never "ask" if the price is negotiable, or if the seller "would take" a lower price. That just invites the "no" answer and makes you appear weak. Instead, you make an offer. Just tell him what you're willing to pay (which is generally somewhere between your "good buy" and "ceiling" prices. If he says he can't do that, then put the ball in his court. Ask him what he can do.
5. Always be willing to walk away. If not, you'll pay too much.
FWIW, shops around here will ORDER anything for 10% over their cost, plus shipping. That's because it's a guaranteed sale. If they have to inventory it, their costs are actually higher (it ties up capital sitting there in the case), so they have to price it higher. The longer it sits there, the more expensive it is to the shop. No shop can afford to price things in inventory at 10% over their cost, or they'd go out of business quick.
Finally, when something has a good price on it to begin with, I don't dicker to try and get a stupendous deal. When I came across a like-new Arsenal SA-M7S the other day with a $399 price tag on it, I just said, "I'll take it." As the old proverb says, never look a gift horse....
1. Always know what a comparable item would cost somewhere else. Be sure to figure in FFL transfer (if applicable) and shipping, but keep in mind that by buying out of state and having it shipped you generally avoid sales taxes. When the gun costs $750+, shipping and FFL fees are generally less than the sales tax where I live.
2. Convenience, good relationships and being able to inspect before buying are worth something. If local shop has something I want, I will generally be willing to pay $25-50 more for it there as opposed to over the 'net for those reasons.
3. Always have a ceiling price in mind, as well as a "good buy" price. Your objective is to get the item for as close to the "good buy" price as possible, but you should never exceed your ceiling.
4. Never "ask" if the price is negotiable, or if the seller "would take" a lower price. That just invites the "no" answer and makes you appear weak. Instead, you make an offer. Just tell him what you're willing to pay (which is generally somewhere between your "good buy" and "ceiling" prices. If he says he can't do that, then put the ball in his court. Ask him what he can do.
5. Always be willing to walk away. If not, you'll pay too much.
FWIW, shops around here will ORDER anything for 10% over their cost, plus shipping. That's because it's a guaranteed sale. If they have to inventory it, their costs are actually higher (it ties up capital sitting there in the case), so they have to price it higher. The longer it sits there, the more expensive it is to the shop. No shop can afford to price things in inventory at 10% over their cost, or they'd go out of business quick.
Finally, when something has a good price on it to begin with, I don't dicker to try and get a stupendous deal. When I came across a like-new Arsenal SA-M7S the other day with a $399 price tag on it, I just said, "I'll take it." As the old proverb says, never look a gift horse....
I had a revolver I was trying to sell at a gun show. I wasn't all that impressed with what I was offered, negotiated some, then said thanks but no thanks, and walked away.
The fellow chased me down with cash in his hand about five minutes later. He gave me what I had originally asked for.
This of course could have simply been a charitable person making sure I was a satisfied customer.
Or, he could have had a buyer in mind.
Nevertheless, he was out of breath when he caught up to me.
The fellow chased me down with cash in his hand about five minutes later. He gave me what I had originally asked for.
This of course could have simply been a charitable person making sure I was a satisfied customer.
Or, he could have had a buyer in mind.
Nevertheless, he was out of breath when he caught up to me.
Hawken50
Member
Wow, somebody remind me to know exactly what i want if i ever go to Tejas Gunwerks. Calm down man.
Reminds me of a certian Seinfield episode.
"NO GUN FOR YOU"
Reminds me of a certian Seinfield episode.
"NO GUN FOR YOU"
- Status
