Special Order Firearm

[sig226]

The way I look at is that most manufacturers require their stocking dealers to sell a certain number of their guns and give them nice bonuses and perks if they sell more. When I special order something through the dealer, they get credit from the manufacturer for the sale, so I expect at the very least the price will be no more than similar models in the case. I've got a dealer who is a good friend and gives me a discount anyway since I do computer work for him for free, but I would expect normal pricing(same as their other guns) from any local gun store. The big warehouse stores, not so much. I'd rather spend most of my money with local businesses and help out the guys I know.

This is not quite correct. The stocking orders are usually made at the SHOT Show and involve deals for x number of guns, then a bonus is awarded. You'd be surprised at how little the bonus can be. We used to get a few free Marlin 60s with our stocking order, but we got about three of them for the fifty or so rifles we ordered for three stores.

Dealers mostly get access to allocated firearms when they have a large account. Even that doesn't guarantee the dealer will get a new or hot product. The salesman for the wholesaler can do what he wants with allocated guns. He might use them to maintain interest from his smaller customers. He needs the small accounts, too.

It can also work the other way. In order to get the FN FS2000 rifles, we had to place a stocking order that included products from all of their lines. We wanted the Five - Sevens and the PS-90s, but we also had to take the P-9s, P-40s, and the shotguns. These were nice enough, but we would have been better off if we had spent the same money on Glocks and Mossbergs.

Mostly what we got was T shirts and coffee mugs. Some dealers sell this stuff, but many of them give it away with a purchase or to a favored customer.

Edit - I should add that stocking orders do not have to be placed at the SHOT Show. Agents will come around in the beginning of the year to present stocking deals to retailers. They can get some better deals at SHOT, but you don't have to do that. One store where I worked got six month dating from AccuSport for large ammunition orders. Our rep was able to give us the SHOT deals over the phone, which saved time for our buyers and his sellers at the actual show.

 

[sacp81170a]

Mostly what we got was T shirts and coffee mugs. Some dealers sell this stuff, but many of them give it away with a purchase or to a favored customer.

I stand corrected.

 

[hotpig]

If I do not have any money invested in a special order than it is the same as a transfer 10.00.


Profit margins on new guns are real slim. I mailed of a Springfield 1911 yesterday. The customer paid by credit card so my bottom line is cut deeply. On a 699.00 gun I will profit 4.27 +or - a few cents .

 

[DMK]

Dealers mostly get access to allocated firearms when they have a large account. Even that doesn't guarantee the dealer will get a new or hot product. The salesman for the wholesaler can do what he wants with allocated guns. He might use them to maintain interest from his smaller customers. He needs the small accounts, too.

It can also work the other way. In order to get the FN FS2000 rifles, we had to place a stocking order that included products from all of their lines. We wanted the Five - Sevens and the PS-90s, but we also had to take the P-9s, P-40s, and the shotguns.

OK, I'm confused. Are you saying that certain models are only available through big dealers? That if I wanted a certain hot new model that my smalltime local dealer would not even be allowed to get it for me?

 

[hotpig]

DMK
I did not get any of the rifles sig226 posted about because I would have had to purchase the other stuff. The other guns would have been real slow selling and it would eat up my inventory money and space.

We could get the rifles from other sources but the price would have been higher.

 

[sublimaze41]

My small shop dealer up the road charges 15% of the guns price to do the service

 

[DMK]

I did not get any of the rifles sig226 posted about because I would have had to purchase the other stuff. The other guns would have been real slow selling and it would eat up my inventory money and space.

Wow, that sucks. I would not want a dealer to have to order a bunch of other stuff just to get the one gun I wanted.

 

[SWATcashJeremy]

Heh my dealer doesn't charge me any extra to special order. I ordered a Barrett, and he charged me the exact price the factory charged him.