Thoughts on used gun prices

[Corporal K]

I've been fortunate to secure several good deals over the past few years, but it still never fails to amaze me what some folks ask for when pricing their used firearms.

I don't know if it's b/c they overpaid and expect their next buyer to as well or if they have "gun-pride" , but I don't see the point in paying only a few bucks less for a used piece when I can get a brand-new one, with a warranty and/or return policy.

I'm always in the market for something to add to my collection but at the same time, I have so many already, that I only target the good deals, which are about 50/50.

Anyway, just a minor vent.

 

[El Tejon]

The free market at work.

 

[Drgong]

With Uses prices as they are, it is almost tempting to set up a company that produces guns "Used" without warrenty that are actually new production, and thus not need a warrenty department.

 

[jnyork]

With Uses prices as they are, it is almost tempting to set up a company that produces guns "Used" without warrenty that are actually new production, and thus not need a warrenty department.

Yeah, you could make a fortune on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica, prices there are absolutely insane!

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I don't see the point in paying only a few bucks less for a used piece when I can get a brand-new one, with a warranty and/or return policy.

Heck, some of the sellers I've seen are asking MORE than what a new one costs for guns that are still in production. If they belonged to someone infamous there would be some sort of reason to charge more but that's not the case in the ones I've seen.

 

[ColinthePilot]

I'm not selling mine for more. I took about 25% off what I paid for my Taurus Milpro. I'm asking $250 on the trading post right now. And it comes with a lifetime warranty from Taurus.
Shameless plug, i know, but nobody's biting on the trading post.

 

[Drgong]

Yeah, you could make a fortune on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica, prices there are absolutely insane!

himm... perhaps we should make THRRKBA arms.... anyone have tooling laying around....

 

[RonE]

It is not just guns, it seems to be everything...Whenever I am trying to sell something, prices are depressed and when I try to buy, prices are inflated. If you think gun prices are out of wack, try to sell some California real estate for what you think it's worth right now.

 

[weisse52]

Used guns / used anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I think at times I may have paid slighly more than I could have, but it was because it was somthing that meant something to me.
In Salt Lake city we have a web site that allows guns to be sold.
Sometimes you see some real bargins, sometimes you wonder what they were drinking / smoking when they price a piece

You have to know the value of anything before you buy. Otherwise you pay too much. New or used!

 

[shooting4life]

The worst is when they ask for trades and the trade that they want is easily 300 more than the gun they are selling and they do not want to add money to the trade. They don't want to add any money because they put 300 dollars worth of **** tapco accessories that no one wants and they think they should get exactly what they paid for the accessories.

 

[BlackJack]

A couple of thoughts...

The seller sets his price. He may choose to accept a lower offer, but he's under no obligation to do so. The buyer who wants his gun will pay his price or go elsewhere. That's how the market works. No one owes anyone else a steal and if you don't like the seller's price, you have no right to whine about it. You can only walk.

Used guns don't depreciate as rapidly or completely as other used goods. It's the condition of a used gun that is more important in determining it's value, not its age. Guns even tend to increase in value with age in some cases.

New guns sold by FFLs carry cost "mark ups" that used guns (specifically private sale guns) do not--i.e. taxes, background check fees, etc., as well as the price people pay for something shiny and new. Some people prefer to buy used to avoid these costs. Factory warranties on guns are honored whether the owner is the first owner, the registered owner or any other category. This has become the industry standard and all the big manufacturers honor it without question--they know they'll be skinned alive on boards like this if they so much as take too long getting the gun back to the owner. So buying new doesn't necessarily get you much benefit over buying used.

There are a large number of buyers who prefer to buy their guns from private sellers so they will not be "on the books" so to speak. There's no effort to evade any law, simply an interest in keeping private business private. You can't buy a new gun this way so there is value to such buyers in a transfer like this, and that value is reflected in price.

Finally, the seller doesn't usually care what 'the going rate' is for his particular gun. He's not setting a market price, he's selling one gun. That means he only has to find one buyer who will pay his price. And until he does, he will just keep the gun in his collection.

 

[Ala Dan]

Well said, BlackJack my friend~!

Today, many persons including perspective "firearms buyers" are members
of the "something for nothing crowd"; meaning that they literally expect to
find someone selling a firearm for 1/2 (in most cases) of what the original
owner paid for it~! Well folks, I didn't fall off the turnip green truck
yesterday; and I ain't gonn'a be beat down on price, if and when it comes
time too sell~! Thats just the way it is, pay MY price-or look elsewhere.

 

[ColinthePilot]

It also depends on how motivated the seller and buyer are. If the seller needs some money NOW, he'll likely let it go for less than its worth. If the buyer needs it NOW, he'll pay more than its worth to get it quickly.

 

[machinisttx]

Personally, I don't mind paying normal market value for gun X. I do wonder where some folks get their ideas for pricing though.

As P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute".

 

[MAKster]

I believe the way the internet auction sites operate actually encourages people to list their used guns for ridiculous prices. I see the same guns listed on these sites for months with no bidders or a secret reserve that no one reaches. The seller just starts a new auction over and over. Since it takes no real effort or cost to run an auction they are just hoping that eventually someone with more money than knowledge will come along. Another faulty logic often applies when someone tries to sell their gun on consignment in a store. People always want to get back what they paid for the gun, so they jack up the price by 15 percent to cover the consignment fee.

 

[Majic]

You also have to look at that particular gun in question. It's age, some particular feature, or the number of models made can influence the price. Case in point....you can get a new Kimber Pro Carry HD II. I have a Pro Carry SLE which was the first all steel Pro Carry. I'm not sure but I believe only 500 of them were made. If I were to sell it wouldn't be for what you can pay for a new model like it.

 

[garymc]

When you look at the auction prices you have to search for auctions in which the gun actually sold and you will see a different story. As mentioned above there are plenty of guns for sale for high prices and the auction keeps getting renewed. But there are some where the seller actually wants to sell the gun and settles for what someone is willing to pay.

 

[possum]

i think the fisrt problem is that that the seller didn't do his homework and payed too much from th get go, also a big issue i see is when people customize stuff and add things to a gun that they like that dosen't neccisarily mean that it adds value.
for example a glock 19, with xs sights, extended slide stop, and 3.5# trigger, i love the sights but the rest no thanks for me personally.

 

[CajunBass]

I figure if I have something to sell, it's worth what I'm asking. If you don't agree, feel free to mosey along.

I figure if I want to buy something, it's worth what I'm willing to pay. If you don't agree, I'll just mosey along.

 

[tinygnat219]

I figure that the price is a suggestion, and will try to go lower. If the seller doesn't want to haggle, that's ok.

 

[cornman]

Most things for sale are being sold because someone does not want it, no? Given this, I do not understand some prices on ebay for example. I see thing with prices 300% more than they would ever sell for under normal situations. If you have to rely on a sucker to make a profit you should get another gig.

 

[Corporal K]

I'm certainly a free-market guy. If you can get what you're asking, more power to you. But unless I think it's a good deal, it won't be from me.

There's also a certain amount of "law of diminishing return" for me, if I'm wording that correctly. I've put so many rounds downrange over the years, that I'm just not easily impressed with the latest, greatest, over-priced wonder-thunder. There are plenty of guns I'd like to add to my collection but none that I REALLY, REALLY want.

Example, I'm interested in the HK45 (not USP), but used ones are still priced over $800. There's no honking way I'm paying $800 for a handgun, period. So, I'll really be in the market for an HK45 in a few more years, when used ones are floating around for $600 or so.

But that's just me.

 

[IndianaBoy]

There are always beat up and possibly stolen Glocks for sale in the local pawn shops.

Usually they are asking for MORE than MSRP.

 

[Blofeld]

I have seen in shops used models right next to identical new models for $10 less. Marketing ploy?

 

[22-rimfire]

All I can say is "It depends." The ceiling on old pre-lock Smiths seems to be the new selling price. Most sellers aren't there yet except in cases where there is something special about the individual gun. I honestly expect prices on the in-demand Smith pre-lock revolvers to outpace new gun prices in the future.