Buddy wants to buy my guns- how to be fair about prices...?

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dfarr67

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I have a couple of rifles I haven't used for years and I expressed the thought of selling, a friend has mentioned interest in these twice to me. I would like to give him him a break as he is a friend but these are quality rifles with decent optics, he has the benefit of shooting them already and knows how anal I am with hardware. How to put a value on these so we are both happy?

Tikka 300 win short mag with one clip, wood stock that the action has been bedded. Scope is a 3-9 japanese Pentax Lightseeker. Bluing slightly worn at muzzle.

Zastava 243, wood stock with modern m98 bedded action, blind mag. Scope is 3-9 german Doctor Optics. Like new, shot 10 rounds.
 
Is really up to you to define what is "give him a break" - you should know how much you paid for rifle, mounts and scopes - maybe a percentage of that? Or look up to find "new" prices - what it would cost him today to get those - and go to percent of that? If the guns were given to you / inherited by you - then, that is your starting price point for being "fair" and "to give him a break" ...
 
Do your research, try to come up with an average price that similar packages are being advertised for. This will take some time and effort on your part. This will give you the current ASKING prices of guns like yours, you will need this information to offer them for sale no matter who actually buys. Remember, your guns are no more special than mine or anyone else’s and you are unlikely to actually get this price if offered for sale but it will be close and it will be a starting point. Now for your buddy…..I can understand wanting to give him a ‘deal’ but that isn’t the same as a ‘gift’ or even a ‘bargain’. How much you want to discount them for your friend might depend on the strength and importance of this relationship to you. Explain your valuations and how you arrived at these prices to him, then offer one or both to him at your discounted price, making sure that this is decently below the minimum price you would otherwise take from a stranger. Make sure that he understands that this is a once only time limited offer and doesn’t apply if he’s only buying to resell at a profit. Then be satisfied if he buys, you were a good friend, you know your valued guns have gone to a valued friend who will treat them with respect as a symbol of your mutual friendship. Best deals ever, money is important but nothing trumps friendship.
 
Look for comparable firearms on completed sales at Canadian online auction houses. These will show actual prices paid with a buyer's premium. IMO, fair would be to charge the bid price less the buyer's premium and sales tax.
 
Show of hands - how many CGN'ers have regretted selling a gun? Is this friend going to be in your life for years? It sounds selfish, but if you are so attached to these guns, don't sell them.

I know a fellow who sold a rifle "when he was getting out of shooting", it changed hands two-three times, then he saw a listing for the model he'd sold years ago, and was amazed when he bought back his old rifle.
 
#4 spells it out nicely.

And don't furgit the ammo heez gonnah want if these are the only two of the sort in yer pile.
Ammo prices are stunningly abserd.

Another train oh thought, what would you be willing to pay for these iff'in yew were awn the hunt for said ker-pows?
 
I sold a few to a friend at good buddy prices.
He turned around and dealt them for a real profit. Then told me how well he had done.
Good way to sour a friendship.
 
If your buddy is interested perhaps he has a number in mind and should make an offer.... if it's acceptable to you then that would be the easiest route.
 
tiriaq said:
I sold a few to a friend at good buddy prices.
He turned around and dealt them for a real profit. Then told me how well he had done.
Good way to sour a friendship.
Click to expand...

For me that would do more than just sour a friendship - It would totally torpedo it. Can't believe some people are that clueless.
 
Business with a friend! Had a guy tell me he would never charge a friend for stuff(I had a small operation of selling hobby stuff). I charged him anyway. He was a strong reason our club replaced our tractor/mower, then offered to buy the old and proceeded to sell it at a profit and brag about it. !! ?????
Had another guy brag about how he bought an antique Model A car from a widow who asked him for help on an appraisal and how he made a huge profit on it.

It is widely known when an antique car owner, that everyone is interested in owning your car, until price is mentioned. :)
 
Selling guns to friends or acquaintances can be bad news. There's a guy a the club who has mentioned a few times wanting to buy one of my guns. I'm not averse to selling it but won't sell it to him because I don't like the guy that much and seeing him with a gun that I once owned doesn't sit right. Better it go to a stranger.
 
tiriaq said:
I sold a few to a friend at good buddy prices.
He turned around and dealt them for a real profit. Then told me how well he had done.
Good way to sour a friendship.
Click to expand...

He should have split the profits with you evenly if he was truly a buddy.
 
If he's a friend give it to him. Otherwise forget it. Just asking for him to sell at a profit or complain about some fault, real or imagined.
 
tiriaq said:
I sold a few to a friend at good buddy prices.
He turned around and dealt them for a real profit. Then told me how well he had done.
Good way to sour a friendship.
Click to expand...

This. Don't give him such a break that you'll regret it, because you will. Give him the break of getting first shot at your well looked after kit.
 
Never sell something to a friend, especially not a car.

The most I’ve ever sold to a friend was a 20 guage youth shotgun that his girlfriend could take hunting. Had absolutely no use for it anymore. Apart from very specific situations such as that I will not sell anything to a friend.
 
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