What's Up, AIM Surplus?

[Speedo66]

Last week AIM had an ad for LE turn in S&W Model 10 revolvers. Price was $299, which included a holster, 2 speed loaders, and two speed loader pouches. Not a bad deal, it sold out quickly.

This week, they priced what appears to be the same condition revolvers with the same add ons for $399, a hundred buck increase. They made a point of saying these were good for +P rounds, but really, all Model 10's in the modern era are fine with +P's. My agency had us carrying and qualifying with J frame Chief Specials using +P's and we never had a problem.

I'm a big fan of AIM, think they are one of the best outfits in terms of price and service, so I was a little shocked to see the big price jump in just one week. They've never come across as greedy, like say, Treats You Like Dirt.

I don't know what the factors were, i.e., they had to pay more for them, the way the first batch sold so quickly, etc. They've had items sell out quickly before, so I'm not sure that's the reason. Anybody else see this and have any thoughts on it, or better yet, actually know why?

 

[mjsdwash]

maybe they mispriced the first lot, or found that dealers were buying them out. Maybe the first round was a promotion. Charging market value one week while charging below market value the week before is not the same as charging 11 times market value, and circulating spam promoting a fake ban to get you to buy that 11x markup product using unethically purchased bulk email addresses.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

If demand stays the same but supply goes down, the price goes up. The same reason that average Mosin Nagants that were $90 7 years ago are now selling for $170+.

 

[BSA1]

Condition?

I brought a heavy barrel Model 10 Police trade-in once for $200.00...

then I spent another $100.00 having the S&W factory correct "ammo binding." Cylinder was locking up and not turning after firing three rounds...

so I have $300.00 tied up in it...

and it is not for sale.

fyi; This is before the Great Banic of 2013 and the gun laws in California and other States have driven the demand for revolvers sky high. Sadly for our bank accounts AIM prices are a result of these and other events.

 

[1KPerDay]

The second batch were round butt 10-14s so perhaps they thought they were in better overall shape. Regardless of the fact that most people would rather have a pre-lock M10 HB

 

[ilbob]

I think some are marked for +P and some are not. perhaps the ones they are selling now are marked for +P.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Lots of solid guesses....we could call and ask AIM. I've dealt with them for 10+ years and have never been disappointed by their products or customer service----even the famous customer data theft was handled by them with swift action. Their pricing is usually low-for-market on any given item. Anyway...HB mod 10s seem to fly out the door....

 

[drk1]

"... Mosin Nagants that were $90 7 years ago are now selling for $170+" Quick, tell me where; I'll take a dozen!

 

[swoter]

They have shooter grade model 10s in stock right now for 279.

 

[lemaymiami]

They also have the European model of the standard Beretta 92 for so little money that I'm tempted every time I see the ad... Standard police issue Beretta - but with a bottom drop mag release. I carried one on the street some years ago (confiscated weapon converted for City use in the mid eighties) and I was quite attached to it since I scored higher with it in annual qualifications than any other sidearm I ever carried (including my first issue weapon - that iconic model 10 heavy barrel from Smith - which I was allowed to buy from my Department when I retired out 22 years ago...). I still have that one along with the box and original grips as they were issued to me that last week of 1973...

 

[swoter]

I had one of those Berettas several years ago, sold it to pay a Dr bill, then later found an M9 version in a pawnshop. I still have that one.

 

[Jim Watson]

I would be interested in one of those Berettas if bottom notch magazines were readily available.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I would be interested in one of those Berettas if bottom notch magazines were readily available.

They are readily available. Most mec gar mags have both notches

 

[LubeckTech]

Round butt S&W K frame revolvers command a much higher price than square butt K frames.
This is the reason for the price difference.

 

[Speedo66]

Round butt S&W K frame revolvers command a much higher price than square butt K frames.
This is the reason for the price difference.

The original $299 ad said most, not all, would have square grips.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Probably a lot of people snatched them and they figured they could make more money on them.

Still provided the revolver and accouterments are solid and serviceble, that's still really a good price, epsecially if they're pre-lock M10s.

Lots of .38 K-frame trade ins out there if you know where to look. They're the cheapest of pretty much any pre-lock S&W revolver and I've bought a couple M64s to make as bedside and house guns.

Totally underated, folks whining about expensive used Smiths need to take a second look at these. They're basic, effectvive, excellent revolvers with lots of service still left to give.

 

[Speedo66]

They have shooter grade model 10s in stock right now for 279.

They're gone.

 

[Waveski]

"...folks whining about expensive used Smiths..."

Nobody likes price inflation of used Smith & Wesson revolvers. Count me in that group. The fact that AIM has (had) a quantity of m. 10 LEO trade-ins at $279 does not change the fact that the inflation factor is very real in today's market. (Qualifier : "Nobody" , except perhaps some sellers...)

No need to be condescending about it.

 

[luger fan]

Remember the Chinese $99 SKS's and the 1200 round cases of 7.62X39 also for $99. If we only knew.