Would you overpay for a rare weapon?

[bushmaster1313]

I only buy used guns, and when I buy one I want to be able to think that if I do not like it I will be able to turn around and sell it for no more than a $200 loss.

This puts a lot of low to mid price guns within my reach and comfort zone. It's hard to lose $200 on a $350 to $900 gun. I will pay $100 or even $200 extra to get a low to medium priced gun that is "rare" or that has character.

However, my comfort (and the high prices) combine to keep me from purchasing the "really rare" guns that I would like to own. For example, I am not comfortable buying a Winchester Model 21 Trap, a Registered Magnum or a Dakota for $6,000, knowing that I might only get back only $4,000 if I were to sell right away.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Nope,

Since I will only pay what I am willing to pay, there is no way I can overpay.

 

[larryh1108]

Overpaying is a relative term. Paying $750 for a $500 gun is paying 50% more. Worth it? Hard to say. Paying $1250 for a $1000 gun is the same $250 more but now it's 25% more. Now, if you pay $2500 for a $2000 gun it is $500 more but still only 25% more, and so on.

If you have been looking for years, how did you determine it is overpriced? Is it just more than you want to pay instead of being overpriced? If you've been looking for years then I'd say you are having sticker shock and it is not overpriced. If you plan to buy it and sell it for a profit then you may not wish to "overpay". If you are buying it to shoot it and enjoy it then there is no overpaying because you got what you want and have been looking for for many years. Life is short. Get it and enjoy it. You'll forget how much you paid as time goes on and (if it is truly rare) you see the value jump up over the price you did pay. Owning it is better than wanting to own it. Overpaying is not an issue if you are happy with the purchase because on a used, rare handgun the real value is what you are willing to pay for it. Who says otherwise?

 

[Smokin Gator]

I haven't bought any weapons that are actually rare. I have some that aren't made any more or guns that aren't made in a specific caliber regularly (44-40 Marlin). If I really want something and find exactly what I want, I don't knock myself out trying to save a little money if it means having to wait months or years to find one a little cheaper. A lot of guys will search and search, driving all over, probably spending more on the "search" than the money they might save on only the purchase price. Mark

 

[deadin]

How do you know you are overpaying unless there are others like it for less?
Then just buy the cheapest one of them....