Trading in a firearm

[packarat]

I'm looking to purchase a shotgun to start a collection of longarms. I'm thinking of trading in a gun I don't shoot very well. The gun in question is a Taurus .45 24/7. While I like the ergonomics and the fact that it has only failed to fire once (dud) with 400 rounds fired. I just can't get over the recoil and my lousy groups at a distance farther than 15 feet. I have a CZ75b that I am acurate with out to 50 yards. Takes maybe 3 shots to work the target (empty 5th) but it is a pistol after all.

My question is; what is the best way to trade in for the max amount of return. Should I walk in with it straight away and start haggaling? Or would it be better to start the purchase of a new firearm and then say "let me show you what I have".

 

[Just Jim]

Sell outright to a private party as dealers want to make too much profit off what you trade in. Sell online or anywhere else that is legal. You will save alot of money.

jj

 

[RyanM]

Sell outright to a private party as dealers want to make too much profit off what you trade in. Sell online or anywhere else that is legal. You will save alot of money.

Exactly. My experience is that gun stores will offer about 2/3rds of blue book value, whereas you can often get right around blue book value yourself in a private sale.

 

[kingpin008]

Agreed. Dealers are not going to give you anywhere near top dollar if they can help it, becuase in the long run, it's going to make them less money on the resale.

If FTF sales are legal in your state, definitely go that route first. Otherwise, try online as Just Jim mentioned.

 

[CapnMac]

As a trade in, figure to get half present retail at best.

Consignment can get you 75%, but, you generally have to cut i nthe dealer holding for you.

In a FTF (face-to-face) sale, you can try for 95% retail and probably count on 80% of present retail. But, you have to be prepared to be offered 55-60%, too.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've made that mistake. You will be lucky to get half of what your gun is worth, and a third is more likely. Sell it on an auction site, or here in the classified section for that matter.

 

[Lightninstrike]

Just like a car or motorcycle. You get more selling to private party than as trade in.

 

[maksim]

consignment at a store nets you 75% of sold price minus fees... try selling it locally.

Go visit local gun clubs, or post a want ad with them. Other option is posting online here, or finding a local message board and posting it there.

Gun shows? find a person there.

just some ideas for you.

 

[mnrivrat]

Just for some contrast on the subject, keep a couple other things in mind when making the decision.
If you do a trade in, you know that the firearm goes through a system that relieves you of liabilty , also , in states where there is sales tax, the trade in can save you money by lowering the sales tax amount you pay on the gun you want.

That said, the amount you receive on trade from a dealer will vary from poor to not bad at all , depending on the dealer. Will you get more from a private sale ? possible , as the dealer is in the resale business and someone(he or she) has to pay for the store operation costs. Private people want your gun as cheap as possible also, so know what it is worth to you, and go from there.

 

[Sunray]

"...blue book value..." The Blue Book value means nothing to a dealer. Dealer's don't use The Blue Book for anything. It's out of date and doesn't reflect local supply and demand.
Dealer's base what they'll pay on their wholesale cost. That and how fast they think they can sell a used firearm.

 

[jnyork]

Just put an ad in the local paper classifieds, you will come out much better.

 

[hometheaterman]

Yep, I'd sell it too. Trade in seems to be less than blue book from what I've read. However, the blue book has always been low on most of what I've looked at recently. Like a blue book on a shotgun was $80 in one and $100 in the other and I watched one sell for $255 on gunbroker plus you have to add in shipping and transfer fee's. It says a 30-06 like mine is worth $600 new in the box yet I've had trouble finding beat up ones for $700.
It also said a buddies .22 was worth $150 yet there was one on gunbroker for $300 with several bids and a few days left. Another one starting at $388 but no bids.