Yep, if you want it, buy it.
Yes, but the first guy can confirm he wants it, then back out a week later after seeing pics or asking more questions. Under the "new" trader rating rules, you can't even give him a neutral or negative rating.
Is Price Haggling Gone from Gun Buying
- Thread starter 3macs1
- Start date
Yep, if you want it, buy it.
Yes, but the first guy can confirm he wants it, then back out a week later after seeing pics or asking more questions. Under the "new" trader rating rules, you can't even give him a neutral or negative rating.
- Location
- AB foothills
That would be the polite way to do it. Some folks don't follow that approach to selling items in the EE...
Agree my friend no offense taken here either, location, and a lot of other factors may contribute. Like I said growning up in my grandparents antique shop just about every single customer haggled.It was just the way business was done, same at the car dealer ship etc.Maybe being such a small town played a factor also. I admit I didnot do as much at first as I do now but when you are forced to retire at 46 years old with ()*^&*% cancer, can no longer work and watch your 100K salary that took you 30 years of working to get and two university degrees drop by 60% overnight every penny counts moving forward to attempt to maintain your familys standard of living. I hope no one will ever have to go through that.. So the gunshop owner has to eat and so do I. All that being said if comfortable there is definately money to be saved in haggling and sharing others sales prices to your favorite stores.
Also if you work around parts washers, oil trucks or gasoline wear protective gloves, all the time that crap will absorbe through your skin and give you cancer. Ok I am finished preaching that.
The funny part is not one person other than Avalonthas that has posted has hit on what is really taken place out there right under our noses. I think we all know it is a factor but how much is the question.The two largest volume sellers of guns in canada and not box stores like Cab or WS has both agreed their intenet sales of firearms in the past ten years has went from approx 5% to almost 60% in 2010 and still growing.Like one said to me it is great you don't even have to look at a face, you process a card, wrap and ship and you never get anything back.Between myself and the group I hunt with over 25 guns were bought this year mainly in Ontario and just lately some off EE since we are new members. The shops have never layed eyes on the 6 of us.That is nice business I think. I have to add the experiences in this form and EE have been great I only have a 22 rating but have no issue buying from members here at all.So now we sit with a list and pending if we can wait or not I will buy what I can off the EE and man I have learned if it is a good price and what you want buy it immediately..
I watched a 223 list this week, have one on the list for a guy so called him and told him what it was and the price. I will take it he said.All of 10 minutes may have passed from the listing being posted. I went back in to buy and it was already SFP just like that. Love that internet.
I blame the registry for closing the local 9 mom and pop gun stores we had in my area since most could not get through the phase when people stopped buying for a while and used guns cheep were everywhere at least down here.Walmart kicked in with a nice selection for another 5 years or so now you are lucky to get 12ga shells there and no guns. I am 6 hours away from any gun shop supplies or components as a result and I bought everything I could locally while they were in business. Thus we have learned to reload, and do any gun repairs we have to out of necessity.
If you think these larger gun shops are not making a dam good living best pull yourself out of the weeds because they are and if you think they need you coming through the door to maintain it, for a while longer yes but I would say in another 7-10 you will see 100% internet mail order shops only, no frills, no extras, min overhead just the gun you want at a basement price.The internet is clearly changing how business is being done including the selling of firearms. The day of the uneducated buyer is over. Just one man's opinion.
Take care and shoot every coyote you see
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Haggling is alive and well in the gun business
I am pretty sure that the folks that own a gun shop are haggling. I am certain that they are asking distributors for discounts on volume purchases and if they are not then they are out of business. As the retailer with the lowest cost on a commodity item has a significant advantage over thier competition.
Guns are commodities there is not a whole lot of difference between a savage edge in 223 sold by frontier taxidermy or one sold at the army navy store in halifax.
So certainly the gun businesses themselves are haggling. However not all of thier customers haggle.
I think that the reluctance to haggle has much to do with our consumer culture. Many folks feel that asking for a discount is like an admission that I can not afford the extra 40.00 on that item there. So many either pay or purchase elsewhere, but do not ask for a discount
While I love guns I can not think of a worse business to be in. If you compare it to a subway restaurant the margin on a 100% and about 500%on the pop. If you eat one for lunch you will be ready for another one by supper. Compare that to a firearms business. You can use grandpappys marlin 30-30 to hunt your deer with, guns last about forever and the margins are much lower then a sandwich. This is why there are dozens of places to eat and few places to buy guns.
I am pretty sure that the folks that own a gun shop are haggling. I am certain that they are asking distributors for discounts on volume purchases and if they are not then they are out of business. As the retailer with the lowest cost on a commodity item has a significant advantage over thier competition.
Guns are commodities there is not a whole lot of difference between a savage edge in 223 sold by frontier taxidermy or one sold at the army navy store in halifax.
So certainly the gun businesses themselves are haggling. However not all of thier customers haggle.
I think that the reluctance to haggle has much to do with our consumer culture. Many folks feel that asking for a discount is like an admission that I can not afford the extra 40.00 on that item there. So many either pay or purchase elsewhere, but do not ask for a discount
While I love guns I can not think of a worse business to be in. If you compare it to a subway restaurant the margin on a 100% and about 500%on the pop. If you eat one for lunch you will be ready for another one by supper. Compare that to a firearms business. You can use grandpappys marlin 30-30 to hunt your deer with, guns last about forever and the margins are much lower then a sandwich. This is why there are dozens of places to eat and few places to buy guns.
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It all hinges on "given a willing buyer and a willing seller".
If you have a price in mind . . . then know when to talk and when to walk.
The costs of carrying inventory too long is a plus for buyers and a bane to sellers.
Isn't that why we have CGN?
If you have a price in mind . . . then know when to talk and when to walk.
The costs of carrying inventory too long is a plus for buyers and a bane to sellers.
Isn't that why we have CGN?
I agree the tire kicking days are over, but it is hard to say "I'll take it" when there are no pictures, or the pictures were taken from 100 miles away.
Posting pics is not hard. I think pics should be mandatory same as a price is
Would eliminate a lot of the "Back and forth" emails
Of course if people following the EE Instructions that would help too - like listing some information....2nd owner, 500 down the pipe, etc
Also - if the ad says FIRM, ok, its firm, if it says OBO expect me to make you an offer and dont get offended. To me, $100 less than asking for a $1500 pkg is not a "lowball". $500 less is lowball, $100 less is 'a best offer'
Posting pics is not hard. I think pics should be mandatory same as a price is
Would eliminate a lot of the "Back and forth" emails
Of course if people following the EE Instructions that would help too - like listing some information....2nd owner, 500 down the pipe, etc
Also - if the ad says FIRM, ok, its firm, if it says OBO expect me to make you an offer and dont get offended. To me, $100 less than asking for a $1500 pkg is not a "lowball". $500 less is lowball, $100 less is 'a best offer'
I get the biggest laugh on the EE from the people that make an offer,then receive a counter offer,and ask for a few days to think about it.I sell to the first "I'll buy it".
If I check the site and there are a few responses,I go in chronological order until I see an offer for my asking price,and I sell to that person,I don't bother haggling with people that made lower offers,just because they made their offers sooner.
If I check the site and there are a few responses,I go in chronological order until I see an offer for my asking price,and I sell to that person,I don't bother haggling with people that made lower offers,just because they made their offers sooner.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
The first "I'll take it" always gets the deal, no matter what gets offered before and after.
Those are the rules I play by.
Those are the rules I play by.
I will always haggle. It is a world wide, age old custom that is timeless. If you don't haggle along with me I won't buy.
Another thing that I MUST do before I purchase any rifle online is fully inspect. This means hands on. Removal of stock, inspection of chamber/bore and close axamination of action/bolt. If it is not right I send it back.
I also expect full and honest disclosure. Lots of people are full of crap out there. Many have been fleeced and don't even know it.
I do not want ANY firearm that badly that I am willing to purchase it without haggling and especially without thorough inspection.
Another thing that I MUST do before I purchase any rifle online is fully inspect. This means hands on. Removal of stock, inspection of chamber/bore and close axamination of action/bolt. If it is not right I send it back.
I also expect full and honest disclosure. Lots of people are full of crap out there. Many have been fleeced and don't even know it.
I do not want ANY firearm that badly that I am willing to purchase it without haggling and especially without thorough inspection.
C Broad Arrow
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
When it comes to guns most of us are educated buyers and sellers. We know, or should know what the value of the firearm is at this point. If we don't then you either take the price offered or not. If you think the guy is high, then offer lower, with a reason or a few examples. Here the internet can be your friend.
But too many folks habitually lowball people. Its tedious. No one is going to part with a gun he knows the value of for half of what he is asking. But there are a number of clowns that offer $250 on Remington 700 BDL. Why they waste their time I don't know.
The other thing is low milage newbies...you know the ones...less than 10 posts and joined last month. Like who are they trying to fool?
My rule is the first guy that says "I'll take it" wins. Period. Sure I have had guys back out after the fact. We all have. Welcome to the real life rodeo. Repost and start again.
Thats business!
But too many folks habitually lowball people. Its tedious. No one is going to part with a gun he knows the value of for half of what he is asking. But there are a number of clowns that offer $250 on Remington 700 BDL. Why they waste their time I don't know.
The other thing is low milage newbies...you know the ones...less than 10 posts and joined last month. Like who are they trying to fool?
My rule is the first guy that says "I'll take it" wins. Period. Sure I have had guys back out after the fact. We all have. Welcome to the real life rodeo. Repost and start again.
Thats business!
I have never, ever, ever felt the urge to hastily purchase anything in my life. Especially something that I cannot physically inspect or touch with my own hands such as a rifle advertised on the world wide web.
A prudent person demands to inspect an automobile before making an offer. Same should be the case for a used firearm.
If someone else wants it really badly they can have it. I never lose sleep over such things.
A prudent person demands to inspect an automobile before making an offer. Same should be the case for a used firearm.
If someone else wants it really badly they can have it. I never lose sleep over such things.
The other thing is low milage newbies...you know the ones...less than 10 posts and joined last month. Like who are they trying to fool?
The number of posts on an internet website does not reflect a persons level of knowledge or understanding of a subject.
The number of posts on an internet website does not reflect a persons level of knowledge or understanding of a subject.
Interesting, so you want to take a screwdriver to "My property"? Nope, you pay for it first, then you can take it apart all you want! I never haggle, either buying or selling, I know what I'm willing to pay, if the price is too much I leave it alone, I also know what anything I have for sale is actually worth, I do not accept offers, you want it, pay the price, haggle with me, move along! I price what I have reasonably and have never had a problem selling anything I have offered.
It might be an age old way of doing things but, it's the 21st century now, talk is cheap time is not. LOL
Scott
I certainly am happy to take as many pics etc of a firearm I am selling as a prospective, serious, buyer wants but I am not for shipping a gun off to someone for disassembly etc. As for price, it depends on the firearm and how long it has been for sale etc - usually some number can be arrived at that is close to asking as long as neither seller or buyer are out to lunch.
If it makes you feel any better I would accept shipment in dis-assembled form. If I don't like what I see upon close and thorough inspection I ship it back (on my dime) and you return the money. If you live close enough I will make an effort to inspect in person.
C Broad Arrow
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Who said anything about knowledge?
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
Unfortunately, inspection before accepting has been abused too. I've had things returned to me where someone has exchanged a part or a part was missing/damaged when it came back. Yep, I loose. Not again!
I sell items in top shape and it would be smart to take pictures of it in disassembled form before shipping. That way you know what you see or come and take a look at it in person. If something or condition is questionable I provide pics of the area.
I sell items in top shape and it would be smart to take pictures of it in disassembled form before shipping. That way you know what you see or come and take a look at it in person. If something or condition is questionable I provide pics of the area.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Haggling is one thing but there are buyers who give a big sob story of how they really want the gun but can only afford to pay a certain amount, hoping that the seller will feel sorry for them.............then 2 weeks later it's on the EE for a few hundred more. Any future PM's from these types don't get answered by me.
Also, buyers must keep in mind that a used gun is just that.......used. If you want one like new, you pay new price. Pretty simple.
A very valid consideration. I did not think about this type of low-life activity.
