Selling two guns at Cabelas.

Status
Not open for further replies.
A lot of speculation going on here. I've asked. They go to the book (may or may not be dated), exam the condition, and offer you 30% under that price. They then sell at or more than that price. That 30% is profit for them. They were really upfront with it and left it as a take it or leave it offer. I knew the street price of my firearm and said "no thanks."
 
See what they offer. Keep in mind they are buying a gun for one reason and one reason only and that is resale. That is what I told folks bringing guns into my shop. If I knew I could quickly turn a gu worth $1,000 my best and final cash offer was usually around $600 to $700 or about 60% to 70% of the face value of the gun. You will fare better with a private sale to an individual. Buying a gun for $1,000 and selling the gun for $1,000 doesn't pay the bills.

Ron
 
They are some what like a pawn shop when it comes to buying/selling.

You can ask what you want but they know the market way better than you.
 
Gotta remember that they can buy a new gun for 80% of selling price. Why would they pay the same for a used gun as a new one, unless it's something special?

And, everybody taking in a gun expects to get full value, and everybody going in to buy a used gun expects a screaming deal.

I'd list them here in the classifieds. I've had good success doing that. Maybe hard to do if you live in Alaska. Dunno.
 
seems to me 50% of retail for a common gun was always the norm, it's hasn't been until recently when newbies got into the game that asking prices on used guns went cattywampus.
 
IMO Cabela's buys their used guns for about the same prices as local dealers in my area. All they do is look up the retail value in their computers from a number of sources and then will offer 50-60% of that value. Then they put them in their used case with about a 35-40% mark-up. That's why their used gun prices usually end up being close to new pricing. That's the corporate formula that covers their overhead and give them a small profit.

Local dealers usually price their used guns a bit lower, but only because they have a lot less overhead to cover.

The only alternate is to try and sell used guns FTF. Then, it's what-ever you can negotiate between the two parties.
 
One nice feature of Cabela's is the gun library guns get nationally advertised. If I go online and see a gun at for example Cabela's Wheeling WV and am interested they will send the gun to Cabele's Columbus, Ohio for me to view and buy. So if I look at the Gun Library, Anchorage Alaska and see one of Jim's guns I may want to buy I can request they send that gun to the Cabela's Gun Library, Columbus Ohio for me to view and buy if I want it. Also Cabela's offers Veterans a 5% discount and if they have a good sale running like 20% off over $500 you can save a buck.

While none of this has to do with the seller it does make nice for the buyer. :)

Ron
 
I personally don't like to sell guns privately. Here in IL we have to verify that the buyer has a valid FOID (Firearm Owners I.D.), and the actual transfer of the gun has to be handled carefully (would never sell at my home or at a location where I might be robbed or worse, but sitting at the local McDonalds is probably not a wise idea to be openly handing a gun back and forth.) Just recently I decided I wanted a certain handgun and they had one at Gander Mountain. Their price was a bit high but I did not want to have to wait to find it somewhere else. I traded in two guns that were sitting unused in my safe. I know that they lowballed the trade-in, but for the convenience and speed of both selling and buying it was worth it to me. Just don't go to a big gun shop and expect to get a really decent price on the guns you are selling. But if you are willing to lose a few bucks in return for convenience, then Cabela's is not a bad place. I first tried selling the two guns through my gun club, but when there were no takers is when I decided to go to a gun store to get them sold.

FWIW, I'm the same way about cars. Putting an ad online or in the paper, waiting for people to come look at it, haggle, maybe buy it, maybe not, etc. makes me usually just trade it in when buying a new car from a dealer. I know I am getting bottom value on the trade in, but it is worth it to me just for the smoothness and ease of the whole transaction (and it does reduce the sales tax on the new vehicle).
 
Here's the deal at Cabela's. You bring your gun in. The gun is examined and rated for condition, then the blue book value is assessed. You are then offered 70% of that value. Cabela's is in business to make a profit period. If your firearm has a jillion dollars of sentimental value, do not even consider walking through the door, you will be disappointed. If you think that Cabela's (or any other business) is going to give you current market value for your firearm, you are just deluded. I have seen more than one person walk out in a huff because they were not offered 100% of what they paid retail or 100% of what they see similar models going for online. The good thing is, it's all above board and documented, no possibility of blowback from a future owner doing bad things. Just be sure you take off your rose tinted glasses before evaluating your particular firearm. Because Cabela's most assuredly calculates without emotion or regard to your feelings.
MR
 
They offered 350 for my 4.2" Ruger SP101 AND NAA guardian. No difference if I went with store credit. You would be a fool to sell any normal gun to them.

HB
 
I guess if you need some $$$ right now, selling outright is fine, but I always use consignment. My LGS charges 15% of the sale price for storing, displaying, selling and handling the paperwork- seems reasonable to me.
 
I always found that as far as selling guns go the most profitable way is to find a dealer who will sell it on consignment. Typically the get 10% of the sale price (one shop I use will take 15% if you want to have it listed online as well. Since I set the price I know what my profit margin is and usually what I put up for sale goes fairly quick.
 
Well I sold the Ruger to Cabelas. They gave me $375. The clerk actually tried to talk me out of it, said he'd get 550 for it and so could I if I sold it myself. Told him I'll just take the cash thanks.
Changed my mind on the .375, didn't take it with me.
 
Cabala's is a joke! WAY overpriced , especially on the used firearms yet they give well less than other shops. Visited our local one soon after they opened and witnessed a customer bring in a HK USP in trade. Excellent condition and he had a couple extra magazines. The "expert" looked it over and took it out back. Few minutes later returned and said they could offer him $400. :uhoh::roll eyes: I wanted to say something but not my place. Actually thought, heck I'll pay him more than that but again, not my place to intervene. Seeing that they gave $400 for that and then priced it at just a hair below brand new pricing, I decided it wasn't a place I wanted to shop.
 
On a side note, they seem to offer a little better price on trades.

Also, a Cabela's visa is a good way to supplement the hobby. I've gotten over $2500 in free guns.
 
Also, a Cabela's visa is a good way to supplement the hobby. I've gotten over $2500 in free guns.
Click to expand...

Absolutely and at Christmas we have maybe a half dozen friends and family we send the bacon samplers and other food products to, all covered with Cabela's Bucks. My last 70 Series MK IV Colt I used the bucks with my 5% veteran discount.

Ron
 
I gotta say, every time I see threads like this, It just makes me feel awesome about my shop.


Its sad that people literally get swindled on guns, because that seems to be the norm.

I know that every business is set up differently, but holy cow, what people accept for their guns other places astounds me.

While you're never going to get a cent for sentimental value, when people accept these incredible lowball offers, thats why you keep getting them, its sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Beyond me to change, but thats the truth.

OP : I'd suggest a private party sale in your area. Shipping form Alaska is basically cost prohibitive unless it IS going through a retailer like Cabelas that can eat the shipping. As you get closer to your local areas "shooting season", you'll find more receptive buyers. If you cant wait, well, I guess you bite the bullet, so to speak.

Desperation breeds desperate solutions, and most buyers of used merchandise know this, and haggle accordingly. If you CAN wait, you certainly should.
 
Our normal practice is to grade them, estimate whether the blue book value is anywhere we can sell them for and then offer about 80% of that on trades, a little less on outright buys. More than fair from a brick and mortar store.
I know of others that are in the fifty per cent and less category. We don't buy much stuff that we know will languish on the racks.
 
Its sad that people literally get swindled on guns, because that seems to be the norm.
Click to expand...

Swindling implies deception or fraud. A store low balling someone on a price isn't swindling them. The person selling has the choice to do as Jim did and decide that they are satisfied with the offer and accept, or to say "no thanks" and leave. Nothing dishonest about it.
 
A business buys a gun for one reason and I made that clear, I buy to resell. Now if I pay you the full value of a gun how much should I hope to sell it for?

During the early 90s when we had the shop a young kid would hang out and visit quite a bit. Not a bad guy but not real bright. One day a gentleman came in with a gun to sell so I made the gentleman an offer. This kid spouts off with a higher offer telling the guy he will give him more money than I offered. This is in my shop right in front of me. I to this day believe that was the only time in my life I considered shooting somebody.

The gentleman left and I didn't buy the gun but as soon as he cleared the door I was up one side and down the other of this kid. Told him he could make offers on guns in my shop when he began paying the insurance, business phone, gas and electric and the rest of the bills. I still can't, to this day, believe the kid did that. :)

I was also straight with people and offered a fair price but explained I was buying the gun for one reason and that was to sell it. May see an estate with 10, 15 or 20 guns. I would make an offer on the lot and always a cash offer. Out of 15 guns there may be a few cherries I knew I could turn immediately but there were also guns not likely to move fast. I would make an offer on the lot as in all or none.

Ron
 
well there are gun shops that will screw you if they can in a heart beat. notice i said some not all. i was in a gunshop when a man came in with a mint early german 98 mauser and as i watched the shop owner looked at all the marks and numbers and said they matched and with a ex bore and offered him 300.00 for it. i said nothing, but after the owner of the rifle said maybe he should keep it and walked out. i then ask the shop owner why he only offered 300.00 for it and he said well i thought he would take it. i have seen rifles like the one that was brought into the store sell north of 1500.00, amazing! eastbank.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Guns you have bought and never fired?
2 3
Replies
57
Views
2K
MJ
MJ
flightsimmer
  • Locked
immeron Arms Venders at the Indy 1500 Gun Show
Replies
0
Views
230
flightsimmer
flightsimmer
L
  • Locked
Best and worst gun deals you've ever made
2 3
Replies
53
Views
4K
XavierBreath
XavierBreath
D
  • Locked
YOUR dream gun cabinet...
Replies
22
Views
2K
mustang_steve
M
J
  • Locked
ruger 32 h&r mag value
Replies
5
Views
435
peyton
P
Back
Top