USED XDm .45 4.5 inch for $749? You've got to be kidding me!

[StrikeFire83]

I'm interested in getting back into .45, and I think that Springfield does a better .45 than Glock so I'm looking at the new XDm. So I walked into a local shop in Lubbock and I made my way to the Springfield section, and they want $749 for a USED XDm 4.5 incher. No night sights, no extras, no nothing. I checked with the clerk to make sure that they didn't put the wrong price on it. Nope, that's the price, he says. He looked at me like I was a fool for asking.

That's about $125 higher than I've seen the same gun for NEW at a shop in Austin, and that Austin shop is not known for especially low prices. What are they thinking? While there I also heard them offer a guy $250 for a spotless LNIB Gen4 Glock 19. Today was first time walking in there, and it'll be my last. I don't know how gun shops can survive gouging their customers like this, but I guess a sucker's born every minute.

 

[daytodaze]

You generally get shafted pretty bad when you still your gun to a shop. A shop owner in my area actually said he loves selling used because the margins are so much higher.

As far as the Xdm goes, in that price range I'm looking at USPs

 

[StrikeFire83]

Agreed. This shop is laughable. Excellent selection, rows and rows and rows of hardware, and barely anybody's buying. I hope they're having a good time gouging the old timers and first timers who don't know about the internet, because they're living in fantasy land.

 

[smalls]

Ik made a similar comment on a gun at Gander Mountain once.
"Is that the right price on that used gun? That's like $150 more than a new one anywhere else"
I came back two days later and they reduced the price by $150.
Some places will punish those who don't do their research.

 

[StrikeFire83]

^ Exactly, and this guy's even $50 higher than GANDER MOUNTAIN, king of ridiculously high retail prices!

As always, caveat emptor.

 

[Kiln]

Yeah I went into a shop near here a while back and saw one around that price. He said "you know we just can't sell these things".

I wonder why?

 

[StrikeFire83]

Yeah, I think some of these older family shops are going down the drain all over the place. I'm from San Antonio and there's an old family-owned shop that went down the tubes as well.

$125 higher than Buds is frankly laughable.

Them: "Give me a $100 bill because I'm local and I've been here for awhile."

Me: "Nope."

 

[MyGreenGuns]

A place around here called "Discount Guns" is more expensive than anywhere else I've found.

I was in a smaller store and someone asked the clerk, "Is this a good price for this gun?" (Referring to a XD9)
The clerk said, "Best price around!"
I felt obligated to tell the customer that it was $150 more than I paid for mine before the XDm came out. I suggested the internet.

 

[smalls]

I honestly don't know why I go into Gander Mountain anymore...

Their prices are ridiculous, their selection sucks, and the salesmen follow me around telling me the 9mm won't save me. I guess I keep hoping to find a deal somewhere there .

But, we do have a few other gun shops around here, and some are really good, and have decent prices. I'll usually buy accessories there rather than the internet.

I do have a family friend who happens to run a gun shop out of his house, too. That's where I get my guns .

 

[ForumSurfer]

I honestly don't know why I go into Gander Mountain anymore...

Their prices are ridiculous, their selection sucks, and the salesmen follow me around telling me the 9mm won't save me.

You mean you were able to get a salesman?! I'm invisible when I go.

I think Gander may actually be listening to all of our forum rants about their prices. They were only about %10-%20 higher than Budsgunshop prices when last I stopped in...I nearly fell on the floor. I was mainly checking to see if they had any bulk ammo at a good price. The ammo was still overpriced despite being on sale.

 

[Kubrick]

A place around here called "Discount Guns" is more expensive than anywhere else I've found.

I was in a smaller store and someone asked the clerk, "Is this a good price for this gun?" (Referring to a XD9)
The clerk said, "Best price around!"
I felt obligated to tell the customer that it was $150 more than I paid for mine before the XDm came out. I suggested the internet.

I've never been to "Discount" Guns, but I read the online reviews and avoided it. Most of the other shops I've been too are pretty close. Sure they aren't Bud's prices, but I picked up an FDE glock 21 this weekend for $5 more than Buds is listing a black 21 for. I figure as long as they are less than $40 or so above internet pricing(since you don't have to hassle with an FFL transfer fee), it's a good deal to keep a local business local (especially if they are nice people).

 

[smalls]

Their ammo!
Nearly double the cost of anywhere else. If they have any on the shelves. I go to wally world for my plinkin crap, and Duhnam's (who isn't exactly cheap, but not through the roof expensive) for my defensive stuff.

 

[BamAlmighty]

I remember my first and only trip to Discount Guns in Aloha. Walking in, glanced at the prices and it wasn't 30 seconds later I walked out laughing.

 

[coalman]

Ahh, the oft ethical and moral arguement of due dilligence meeting American capitalism. Something is only worth what someone else will pay for it. The buyer establishes value. I've had that laughable price experience experience many times on many things. It pays to shop around.

 

[jon_in_wv]

My rule of thumb is to look online first. If the local dealer can match that price plus what I would have paid for shipping/transfer fee and maybe a $30-40 or so markup I will buy it locally. Its worth it to handle and inspect it and not have to wait for one to be shipped and not being sure what you will get. Also, the local shop will help me out if I have any problems with it.
On the other hand they also tried to sell me a Bersa .380 for $435.00 claiming it was a rare two toned model. I ordered one online and had it shipped to him for around $225.00. Even with the transfer fee it was about $200 cheaper than what he would have charged me.

 

[kim breed]

typical gun dummies. buy at 20% sell at 150%. Then complain that no ones buying. I mess with them at gun shows and in their stores all the time just for kicks. warn customers any time I can to do their homework first.

 

[StrikeFire83]

If the local dealer can match that price plus what I would have paid for shipping/transfer fee and maybe a $30-40 or so markup I will buy it locally.

Exactly, but there's a big difference between $30 over online and $125 over online. Like you, I'll pay around that much to keep a local guy keeps a good stock of guns and ammo who treats me well in business. But I'm not gonna give you a freaking c-note because of a "charitable soul." Like I said, when the last of the old timers die off (think Greatest Generation, my grandpa's age) and the rest of the Boomers learn about the internet these "gouge em" gun shops are going to go away. And I won't feel the least bit sorry for them.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Some guys think you owe them something for being there and because they can't sell as cheaply as Bud's or Walmart then you owe it to them to pay more for what you want. That business model is what is killing the LGS. I'll gladly pay a little more locally if I'm getting a fair deal and good customer service. However, I don't OWE it to the dealer to pay too much or to cover his other poor business practices.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Their prices are ridiculous, their selection sucks, and the salesmen follow me around telling me the 9mm won't save me. I guess I keep hoping to find a deal somewhere there .

My local Gander Mountain has come down from spectacularly gouging customers to merely being slightly unreasonable. It's not the staff's fault, though, they're all pretty nice guys. They know why they can't sell anything.

We used to rent a meeting room they had to do CCW classes in, but then they wanted to start charging us $50 a person to do those classes. Which is more than a third of what we charge for the class. And whenever we held a class there, somebody always bought a gun from them. Guess they don't want that anymore.

 

[smalls]

The employees do price the used guns, which are usually more outrageously priced than the new ones. In fact, I often see used guns priced more than their new gun prices.
That one had me scratching my head for a while.

 

[Skunk Pilot]

$749, just WOW.

I thought I read in the local paper 2-4 months ago that Gander sells the most guns of anyone in the whole country. The times I've been in there, I just don't see how. Last time was 5 months ago or so, barely looked though. Just glanced after doing that V Sim 300, which was very cool though. I do remember thinking why anyone would buy from them. Used prices like that you might as well sign up to 4-8 more gun forums and check out ArmsList and the regular gun auctions before even considering spending that much money, just crazy.

The LGS I mostly go to is Bills in Robbinsdale. There prices are also very high for most things. Like others have said, $40-$50 more than Buds... seems like a reasonable price for most guns under $800 to $1000. However they did have the M&P22 at a very competitive price in Dec. '11 or Jan. '12 though. All the other ones I'm familiar are really expensive though. IIRC they sell the new G17 Gen 4 Glocks at $649. That was at the "Shooters Show" which is great, so it was $599 since for the weekend they take $50 off for guns over $400 to ____. The M&P handguns regularly are $540 or $550. So even with the $50 off, it was still too much. Of course if your unlucky to be in an area where they charge $50 for a FFL transfer then the M&P prices aren't that bad then.

I used to own a XDM9 which I liked, I just like the M&P so much better. For that price you could have a Apex FSS & Trigger installed and have some money left over on a new gun.

I think the more gun stores the better, but there is a point where if you especially charge over $125 to $150 more than an online item with FFL fees then I'm sorry you should go out of business. The only problem with more going out of business is you also might loose a good gun smith. Let alone if gas prices go crazy, you'll loose out on a close place to get accessories and ammo. They really need to take a better look at they're business models. I love going to Cabela's though, they have good prices on ammo, some handguns are at good prices, but then others are way too high also. Of course buying from Cabela's for some people, they may spend $10-$20+ just in gas, but usually if you go there you buy multiple things to make it worth your while.

Madcap_Magician $50 per person is asking way too much. I guess now that they spent so much money on those V-Sim stores they're trying to make up for it somewhere.

 

[coalman]

In some of these over-priced shops you'll also see "the bait" pricing where two of the same model have a lower and higher price, but both are over-priced. The arguement goes something like, "The cheaper one was in the prior/special order, current orders have the price increase... so buy now because it's the last one at that blowout price!". This can also be implied by the pricing psychology, or even assumed by the uninformed buyer, if not spoken.

Bottom-line is salespeople's job is to sell stuff and a business' goal is to get (your) money. And so, most salespeople are not your friend and do not have (only) your best interests in mind. Kinda a Captain Obvious statement there I figure.

 

[StrikeFire83]

Bottom-line is salespeople's job is to sell stuff and a business' goal is to get (your) money. And so, most salespeople are not your friend and do not have (only) your best interests in mind. Kinda a Captain Obvious statement there I figure.

Agreed. But when your USED gun is $100 to $125 over your competitors NEW gun for the same model...either your head is completely up your butt or you're taking advantage of people in your market who don't know any better. As I said at the beginning, the old timers are dying off, and pretty soon it will only be those of us who know better...and these shops will go belly-up.

 

[offtarget]

Support your local shop (if honest!)

I have always supported one local gun shop. They sell new and used a prices generally below list. I check there prices for competitiveness on a regular basis and they are always less then most others. They also provide excellent service on any item purchased from them. As far as internet pricing goes, by the time I add in shipping their everyday price is usually less. A friend who used to shop there ordered a T/C Venture thru Gander and after spending over 2 hours at Gander to get them to agree to send his Venture back for the recall, he has gone back to our local gun shop. The only thing I have found they can not be competive on is bulk bullets. As far as trading in used guns, they will tell you upfront that they will give you 70% of book price max and that you would be better off selling it yourself, and then the decision is yours. If your near Dayton, Ohio, then Olde English Outfitters is a shop well worth dealing with. No, I do not work for them, but I have dealt with them since the late 70's when he operated out of his house. If everybody bought everything off the internet, we would not have a local place to go for help, service, and advice.

 

[StrikeFire83]

When you find a good local shop that's always the best. The one I'm talking about is the largest independent gun shop in Lubbock and they're in fantasy land. There are other good shops around, and when I need something local I take my business to one of them.