It is not just the SKS, I notice the pricing on the EE is nuts lately.
Pistols particularly are selling for damn near MSRP, sometimes more!
According to some sellers, you apparently save tax by purchasing a gun that has a few thousand rounds through it. That totally makes sense.
If something is used, its value should be reduced accordingly. You can't buy a SKS for $180 and sell it for $200 simply because it came to $250 after taxes and shipping... that just doesn't make sense. The value of the gun originally was $180, taxes and shipping are not "value" added so the value to me is $150 shipped tops. Thats what I can go to the local gun store and buy one NEW for.
This sort of mindset is in most sections of the EE. Why would I buy a used scope for $50 less than a new one from a stranger on CGN? The safer bet is to purchase new from a vendor where I will have warranty, less risk of being scammed and the product is NEW, I don't have to worry about someone else's poor gun smithing/jerry rigging or butter fingers.
Even the accessories section is getting stupid. People are selling used mags and parts that are priced at MSRP... as a small business owner this boggles my mind.
I find this annoying because when I see a title of something that interests me, I waste a click to find out that someone has priced their used pistol/rifle/shotgun/parts at or above MSRP. Lately I rarely find a good deal while trolling the EE, once in a while I find something reasonable and I buy right away (like yesterday) but again thats one in every 40 EE postings.