How to determin value of a rifle

[duke1]

I would recommend the following:

1. Sell the gun without the scope....... they add little to the value of a gun unless it is a high end scope.

2. Sell the scope separately but be prepared to get very little as a Bushnell Legend is definitely no high end.

3. Look up the selling price of your model at stores selling them at a good price and then set your price at between 20 to 30% less. Don't forget to emphasize in your add what they will be saving including the sales tax, etc.

4. Be prepared to be patient.

5. Try to make your ad look professional as it does make a difference.

6. Provide quality pictures and list all the features that make this model a higher end gun then the basic model.

7. If everything else fails, try to trade it for a gun that would appeal to you and one which could be in higher demand.

Good luck!

Duke1

 

[MK2750]

The most important part of a sale is the feeling you create in your ad. You have unknowingly brought negativity to your ad by the words you have chosen.


“Wts Ruger Mini 14 target

I have on offer a ruger mini 14 target gray lam stock busnnell legend 4.5-14x40 sited in and never shot again i hane a 22-250 tikka t3 that i like better so this one just sits around collecting dust takeing up room in my safe i would like about 850 for it as i paid 1500 total i am in Edmonton area"

No shooter wants to have buyer’s remorse. You bring thoughts of this into the buyers mind by speaking of yours.

“I sited in and never shot again” ( I should have never bought it)

You then bring the quality of the rifle into question which is another fear of buyers.

“I have a Tikka t3 I like better." (I should have just bought this better rifle)

Then you go on to paint an ugly picture of wasted money and a bad decision.

“Collecting dust and taking up space. I would like 850 as I paid 1500” (I feel stupid about this purchase)

As a potential buyer you have noted every reason not to buy another rifle.

In your bump ad you mention no trades as you bought yet another rifle. (No shortage of cash here, I just want this gone as I don’t like it)

To sell you need to focus on the positive and speak to the products good points. Think of who would want this rifle and why he would buy it. I would also split the package up so you don’t have to find someone who likes both products. Although a very serviceable scope, some might consider a Bushnell a throw in at best.

WTS; I have an as new Mini 14 target up for grabs. I have only had it out to range and it has better accuracy than you would expect from an auto loader. This thing is a blast to shoot but unfortunately I need the funds for another project.

It features a 22” heavy hammer forged steel barrel with recessed target crown, adjustable harmonic dampener for minute of angle accuracy, laminate stock and is chambered in 223 Remington.

These rifles retail for $980+ .I will let this one go for $750 so you will save nearly $300 off retail after taxes. It has a mounted Bushnell Legend 4.5-15 x 40 that can be purchased for $150 more as a package. You save over $600 off the retail price.

"insert images here"

First “I’ll take it” wins.

 

[Can-down]

Does your Tikka do better then 3/4" at 200 yards?

Might want to just mention in your ad that it shot well for you in your limited use and just leave it at that.... some might question why you want to sell a rifle that shot it's initial sighters into 3/4" at 200yards.

 

[TheTooner]

I would try breaking up the package. The almost $1500 you spent getting it with the scope and other ancillaries was reasonable for you, but you are selling it to someone else and there are a lot more someone elses who want either just a Mini-14 or a Mini-14 with a different scope than there are potential buyers who want it just the way you did.

 

[canuck]

WTS; I have an as new Mini 14 target up for grabs. I have only had it out to range and it has better accuracy than you would expect from an auto loader. This thing is a blast to shoot but unfortunately I need the funds for another project.

It features a 22” heavy hammer forged steel barrel with recessed target crown, adjustable harmonic dampener for minute of angle accuracy, laminate stock and is chambered in 223 Remington.

These rifles retail for $980+ .I will let this one go for $750 so you will save nearly $300 off retail after taxes. It has a mounted Bushnell Legend 4.5-15 x 40 that can be purchased for $150 more as a package. You save over $600 off the retail price.

"insert images here"

First “I’ll take it” wins.

Copy and paste this to your ad - an example of a well written for sale ad
(and learn how to post a pic - its not hard)

 

[stinkynuts]

Does your Tikka do better then 3/4" at 200 yards?

Might want to just mention in your ad that it shot well for you in your limited use and just leave it at that.... some might question why you want to sell a rifle that shot it's initial sighters into 3/4" at 200yards.

it does about the same i would say 3/4" but i also run a limbsaver on the barrel as well

 

[Woodbeef]

I've found that more than one bump without a price change is a deathnell for a gun. Sometimes a drop in price of even $25 will make a sale. Also list how you want payment,and if the price includes shipping. Listing the price as shipped helps a sale too I find.

 

[cosmic]

Well - Some of us old farts that have lots of coin, and would be a potential buyer of a firearm like yours, are turned off by gomer-like spelling and grammar... We figure that if someone can't write, they are either immature, or not very bright. Either way, its a deal breaker - sorry, but that's life.

 

[stinkynuts]

Well - Some of us old farts that have lots of coin, and would be a potential buyer of a firearm like yours, are turned off by gomer-like spelling and grammar... We figure that if someone can't write, they are either immature, or not very bright. Either way, its a deal breaker - sorry, but that's life.

YOU should proably not judge a book by its cover. 1 I gradeuated School and i proably make more money than most on this forum. 2 maybe before one judges they should make contact get a phone number and acttually talk on the phone . 3 my spelling and grammer have FA to do with how smart i am so maybe before you all judge me you should judge your selfs NOBODY IS PERFECT Nobody and in the words of Forest Gump thats all i have to say about Good day Sir ...........

 

[Hybrid4163]

Just sticking my nose in to repeat some of what's already been said.
It's not the best time of year to sell, but if someone's interested they won't care about spelling/grammar.
Post pics! I REALLY have to be interested in a piece, before I'm willing to wait for pictures to be emailed.
Offer the rifle without the scope, and if it's a shooter include pics of targets.
Wait it out, or trade it in.
Cheers!

 

[StevieK]

Hey stinkynuts, relax a little. You don't need to justify your education and wages to us. You asked what buyers are looking for, and the buyers are telling you what they think. trying to convince them that they are wrong and shouldn't judge based on grammar won't get you very far. They are the ones buying, so thats all that matters.
You can make coherent sentences, you have proven that in this thread, so the poor grammar in your ad shows a lack of time and care put into it. The carelessness is a bigger turn off for me than a poor education level

 

[MK2750]

YOU should proably not judge a book by its cover. 1 I gradeuated School and i proably make more money than most on this forum. 2 maybe before one judges they should make contact get a phone number and acttually talk on the phone . 3 my spelling and grammer have FA to do with how smart i am so maybe before you all judge me you should judge your selfs NOBODY IS PERFECT Nobody and in the words of Forest Gump thats all i have to say about Good day Sir ...........

I believe people are trying to help you because you asked.

Grammar should not matter and we should not judge, but we do.

I have been in professional sales for over twenty years and you would be shocked to know what matters. Facial hair and dark clothing for example can ruin a sale due to stereo types in the movies.

Have you ever seen the bad guy in the movies dressed in bright colors and clean shaven? Not very often as we expect our bad guys scruffy.

My Dad was personnel manager for a major group of factories. He never hired a male with an ear ring. He was from the old school and just didn’t get it. Good, bad or indifferent at the end of the day it was you who missed out on a very good job.

Blue suits out sell brown suits. I don’t know why, they just do.

BTW; I too make an above average living and have to think about spelling the word cat. I believe it is mental laziness from always working on a computer that spell checks everything.

The answer is to simply write your ad in a word document, do a spell check and then copy it. It only takes a second and the result is a well written ad.

 

[Can-down]

Stinkynuts,
Spell check is built into your web browser.
That's why half of what you write is likely underlined or highlighted somehow.....took me a while to ask and then someone explained that a right click for PC or control click with a mac will bring up spelling options!
Pretty easy and faster then using google....

 

[Dogleg]

If I'm looking at used guns, my target price is 2/3s of the best new price I can find. Any more than that, and I'll just buy a new one. On average, the new rifles I've bought handily outshot the used ones. Who needs to sort through everyone else's culls?
Another method that I use on bolt rifles is paying at least $400 less than new price. That happens to be the price of a new Gaillard barrel if it doesn't shoot. I'll eat the gunsmithing costs.
Some rifles are known to be problems. There's mini-14s all over the place that don't shoot, changeing hands and spreading joy throughout the land. The idea of a reasonably priced .223 semi that is scope friendly is allureing enough, but the odds aren't great on the used ones. I'll never touch another unless I can shoot it first.
Spelling and grammar mean quite a bit when there's little else to go on. Little things start adding up, or fail to add up.
No pictures = little interest.

If your rifle met my criteria of 2/3s of new price, (tax was your problem), and I could shoot it first I'd think about buying it myself. I'll believe in a 1/4 MOA mini when I see one. I even make it through Edmonton once in awhile.

 

[bearkilr]

I believe people are trying to help you because you asked.

Grammar should not matter and we should not judge, but we do.

I have been in professional sales for over twenty years and you would be shocked to know what matters. Facial hair and dark clothing for example can ruin a sale due to stereo types in the movies.

Have you ever seen the bad guy in the movies dressed in bright colors and clean shaven? Not very often as we expect our bad guys scruffy.

My Dad was personnel manager for a major group of factories. He never hired a male with an ear ring. He was from the old school and just didn’t get it. Good, bad or indifferent at the end of the day it was you who missed out on a very good job.

Blue suits out sell brown suits. I don’t know why, they just do.

BTW; I too make an above average living and have to think about spelling the word cat. I believe it is mental laziness from always working on a computer that spell checks everything.

The answer is to simply write your ad in a word document, do a spell check and then copy it. It only takes a second and the result is a well written ad.

Many years ago there were companies that would only hire those who submittted hand written resumes, no typewritten ones allowed.
Sadly, there are probably few who have legible handwriting these days,I notice mine getting continually worse, with cell phone texting and computers, most rarely practice handwriting other than writing out cheques.
My belief, contrary to some folks, is that it's a sad situation. To me, grammar and spelling should matter. It also matters to me as a buyer how much care was taken in writing out an ad. It says a lot about personality and could also mean how the gun was treated. My $.02, not that anyone cares.

 

[hemingway]

You Guys all have valid points exept the one about my trader rateing

I agree. Trader rating shouldn't matter much. If a buyer is put off by the seller not having one, it's their loss. I've done a lot of barters, purchases, and sales on various trade forums for various things, and some of the best bargains I've had were from new traders...and I've never had a trade go bad.

Most of the time you can sniff out whether someone is a fraud with a brief bit of correspondence and some common sense.

As a seller, the best thing you can do when writing your ad is think about everything that you want to see when you look at an ad. Be as detailed as you think you need to be. Good photos of the items are a must, for your protection as well as the seller's. Describe items as they are, don't try to fluff it up. If there's a scuff, mention it. If you're firm on your price, say so.

Reply promptly to PMs, even just to say 'no thanks'. Be courteous. Make sure the seller/buyer has their real name in their email address. Very simple stuff. Good luck selling the rifle.

 

[heavyBullet]

It also matters to me as a buyer how much care was taken in writing out an ad. It says a lot about personality and could also mean how the gun was treated. My $.02, not that anyone cares.

I guess one could say that if a seller does not put any effort and care into his for sale ad, when it comes time to ship said item, will he put any time and care into shipping the item to me ?