Today a neighbor showed me...

[browncoatdawn]

Today a neighbor showed me his new handgun. It is an HK USP 40. He said he went into a local shop, and saw it in the case, and handled it. He told me that the tag on it was $1300. He then proceded to brag about how he talked the owner down to $1100. I thought this all sounded a bit high, so I got home and called the gun shop and found that he does indeed price the guns at $1300. This more than boggled my mind, since Scheels has the same pistol for $859 here. I get online and find the same thing for $813. This guy has the internet, and is always reading up on guns. I can't see how he would possibly pay that much for this pistol, but the price tag speaks for itself.

I am still amazed. I would love to have a USP but no way would I pay that much.

 

[rcmodel]

I bet the gun shop blessed it with their special magic wand.

That is worth an extra 2 $bills any day if you want it to work right.

rc

 

[malakili]

I finally had the chance to shoot an HK recently, after drooling over pictures of them for more than half my life. My local range had a USP 9mm for rent.

Nothing against them, it shot really good and sat low in the hand, I liked it overall... but honestly, it felt and shot no better than my wife's Glock 17 Gen3.

There's no way I would pay double the price of a Glock for something that's equal in all respects.

 

[PabloJ]

I finally had the chance to shoot an HK recently, after drooling over pictures of them for more than half my life. My local range had a USP 9mm for rent.

Nothing against them, it shot really good and sat low in the hand, I liked it overall... but honestly, it felt and shot no better than my wife's Glock 17 Gen3.

There's no way I would pay double the price of a Glock for something that's equal in all respects.

The Glock is actually MORE expensive then the USP.

 

[Rinspeed]

Your neighbor is not very bright.

 

[allaroundhunter]

The Glock is actually MORE expensive then the USP.

Huh?

 

[Warp]

The Glock is actually MORE expensive then the USP.

Uh...no it isn't?

 

[X-Rap]

I have a USPc in 40 and shoot it as well or better than any of my Glocks, my problem is with the high dollar 12 rd mags. Not worth it IMO, I did buy a bunch of the factory 10rd a couple yrs ago for $5 each, the 12 rd run about $35 last I checked.
The price he paid is outrageous.

 

[25cschaefer]

I bought mine (USPc 40) a few years ago for $815, I think, came with two 12rders and I bought a new one in a small town shop for $4 because, "nobody owns one of those dern thangs."

 

[smalls]

PabloJ, where do you come up with some of the stuff you post?

Maybe less expensive than a full custom Glock?

OP, your neighbor should have shopped around, and done some homework before just buying a gun for $300 more than it's worth. Shame on him.

 

[MyGreenGuns]

I had a HK USP 9mm Compact. I paid about $900 w/ tax. I love the texture on the grip. I had a striker fired 9mm and wanted one with a hammer and external safety.

Very nice gun but I ended up selling it to a friend so I could buy a truck. I dont know if I would buy another one, mostly because of the price.

I paid $530 for my XD. I would buy another one of those.

PabloJ ~ I can get a Glock for about $400, the HK is easily double that.

 

[browncoatdawn]

Since then

I have seen how HK prices things for retail. Most stores won't try to push their patrons to those levels, especially right now, during a buying spree. I took the neighbor in and showed him a few sites, Able Ammo, Buds guns, andfor an idea on what his older guns are going for, Gunbroker, and showed him how to look up the guns. He seemed intimidated by his computer and thinks it's just a money pit, having to update the security all the time and have someone come by and fix or maintain it.... I told him thats just like anything else in life, you never stop paying for the convenience.

Now he's aware of his price mistake, and said he will only go back to that shop if his next purchase is close to what he can get online.

I'm sure that that shop owner now hates me, but I have no respect for him due to a seperate issue. I was in the shop, and he was chewing out an MP in uniform, who stopped in to buy a CCW weapon. I guess this guy doesn't think that anyone under 25 should be allowed to carry a weapon in public. I would sooner trust a trained MP than most folks. At least the MP has to practice, and if he's an avid shooter aside from being an MP, I bet hes safer than most shooters in general.

 

[NG VI]

Nothing against them, it shot really good and sat low in the hand, I liked it overall... but honestly, it felt and shot no better than my wife's Glock 17 Gen3.

You're doing it wrong.

Try the same gun in .40 and get back to us. The USP doesn't shine with .40, it's incandescent.

 

[GojuBrian]

Maybe he just wanted to "support his LGS!" like I see chanted on the www........

 

[kb58]

So are we discussing the worth of a specific handgun, or talking about people who over-pay for stuff?

 

[mgmorden]

So are we discussing the worth of a specific handgun, or talking about people who over-pay for stuff?

Seems like both are bullet points (no pun intended ) within the overall discussion.

 

[Skylerbone]

My preferred LGS typically charges Internet prices for firearms and often times less. He's happy to check distributor stock while I wait and is the only shop locally to offer a good selection of reloading supplies.

When I feel the need to pay retail for something he simply cannot get in stock I drive 45 minutes to Scheels. Can't believe someone charges more. I guess there's no need to head further West on 80.

 

[itchy1]

There seems to be a high correlation between ridiculously overpriced gun stores and their owners being complete jacka$$es.

 

[hotwheels]

Usp 40 > $1300.

Is it possible that it's a USP CUSTOM SPORT, if so, it is not a simple run of the mill USP 40, it has a match grade barrel and trigger as well as fully adjustable target sights.

HOPE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS SAKE IT IS, OTHERWISE HE PAID WAY TOO MUCH FOR IT.

HOTWHEELS

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

At that price, the dealer only needs to sell one. Just smile and nod and say "nice gun," no need to tell him how much he overpaid.

 

[MachIVshooter]

There seems to be a high correlation between ridiculously overpriced gun stores and their owners being complete jacka$$es.

Agreed.

I can only surmise that many of them either have no bills or are independently wealthy, because they sure don't seem to care about making sales.

I have a one-strike rule for condescending behavior at gunshops, and a great many around here will never see me again.

Keep hearing that the internet put a bunch of them out of business, but I think it has a lot less to do with that than their lowsy CS. I'll gladly pay a little more to support local business, but not if I feel like it's unappreciated, and especially not if they treat me like they're doing me a favor.

 

[usp9]

Today a neighbor showed me...

Ask your neighbor to trade in his turnip wagon. They can see him coming.

 

[el Godfather]

Are you sure it is not tactical?

 

[meanmrmustard]

Can you get a picture of it posted so we can identify it?

 

[Sapper771]

There are a few shops in my area that are known for high prices. One of the places is a nice shop with friendly people, but they are an average of $150-$200 higher on a lot of firearms. I was speaking with the owner and he was voicing a pretty strong hate for Bud's Gun Shop and how he can't compete with them due to their prices. Then he asks me "what can I do to compete with Bud's?". Being honest, I told him to take his prices and compare them to the other area gun shops, gunbroker, and buds. He said that he had, and that his prices were higher because his distributors. I knew this was BS because he uses the same distributors as several other places. I think the issue for him is that he has a family and he is the only one working to provide for his family, so he jacks his prices up to make more money. I told him that if some of his customers start researching their future gun buys online, and smart shopping ......he may lose business. I asked him what he would so if he was the savvy gun buyer and he even said that he would buy from buds. The owner is a super nice guy, but I am honest and he asked. I have told him that if the distributors are skinning him the way he says they are, then he needs a new one. Guess what? He still uses the same distributor.

I understand that they have to keep the lights on and that its a business. I have no issues with that. I prefer to support my local gun shop, and I will, but not when they sell their guns at or above MSRP and I can visit their online competitor and save a lot of money.

Examples:

Springfield EMP: $1499.99
Springfield Loaded: $999.99
Ruger MkIII: $499.99
M&P 9c (used) : $499.99