Valmet Hunter prices keep going up

android-android

android-android

Member
Rating - 100%
53   0   0
Location
Ontario
I have an unfired .223 Hunter safe queen, and have been watching Gunbroker auctions in the US for a "deal" on a .308 shooter that I could hunt with, play around with at the range, etc...

6-12 months ago, you'd see .308 Hunters with minor cosmetic blemishes sell for $1200-$1400 USD, but recently you'd be lucky to see one under $2k. It's hit or miss, but maybe 1-2 are sold per month.

This spraypainted one I thought for sure would sell on the lower end of the range, but nope! $1875 USD, which would be close to $3300 CAD landed after US shipping, FFL fees, exchange rate, import fee, and Canadian shipping... on top of all that, there's the risk/opportunity cost of waiting months for the rifle to actually make it from the US seller to your doorstep...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/887539095

There's no free lunch, I guess. The market is so tight, that I think it's actually a small number of Canadians bidding against each other for these US Valmets. If I was in the US, with all the options available to them, I just couldn't see the value at these prices.
 
I was bidding on that one... I almost put 1 last bid but lost it by $25. Wouldve been a Galil conversion.

Yep the price is sure higher than last year. Maybe the USA price is reflected by Canadian demand now.

I got one BNIB for 2200 a few months ago from NC
 
android-android said:
I have an unfired .223 Hunter safe queen, and have been watching Gunbroker auctions in the US for a "deal" on a .308 shooter that I could hunt with, play around with at the range, etc...

6-12 months ago, you'd see .308 Hunters with minor cosmetic blemishes sell for $1200-$1400 USD, but recently you'd be lucky to see one under $2k. It's hit or miss, but maybe 1-2 are sold per month.

This spraypainted one I thought for sure would sell on the lower end of the range, but nope! $1875 USD, which would be close to $3300 CAD landed after US shipping, FFL fees, exchange rate, import fee, and Canadian shipping... on top of all that, there's the risk/opportunity cost of waiting months for the rifle to actually make it from the US seller to your doorstep...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/887539095

There's no free lunch, I guess. The market is so tight, that I think it's actually a small number of Canadians bidding against each other for these US Valmets. If I was in the US, with all the options available to them, I just couldn't see the value at these prices.
Click to expand...
final cost would be closer to $2900 cad
 
android-android said:
I have an unfired .223 Hunter safe queen, and have been watching Gunbroker auctions in the US for a "deal" on a .308 shooter that I could hunt with, play around with at the range, etc...

6-12 months ago, you'd see .308 Hunters with minor cosmetic blemishes sell for $1200-$1400 USD, but recently you'd be lucky to see one under $2k. It's hit or miss, but maybe 1-2 are sold per month.

This spraypainted one I thought for sure would sell on the lower end of the range, but nope! $1875 USD, which would be close to $3300 CAD landed after US shipping, FFL fees, exchange rate, import fee, and Canadian shipping... on top of all that, there's the risk/opportunity cost of waiting months for the rifle to actually make it from the US seller to your doorstep...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/887539095

There's no free lunch, I guess. The market is so tight, that I think it's actually a small number of Canadians bidding against each other for these US Valmets. If I was in the US, with all the options available to them, I just couldn't see the value at these prices.
Click to expand...

The Valmet's sell for a premium down south just the same as they do here.
 
testosteronecyp said:
final cost would be closer to $2900 cad
Click to expand...

I'll stand by my estimate. Once you factor in the 3.5% CC surcharge from the seller, plus the exchange rate slippage and forex charge from your own CC company, the initial purchase cost will be close to $2600 CAD. Plus US shipping ($50). Maybe a $25-$50 FFL fee. Plus $200-$250 for the import. Plus 5%-13% Canadian tax. Plus $50-$100 Canadian shipping...

It all adds up! This will be cheaper if you live in Alberta, with lower taxes and cheaper shipping from any of the importers. The point I'm trying to impress on folks is that the landed cost of US Gunbroker rifles is higher than you may anticipate.

Even at $2900 landed, that's a lot of money for a spraypainted rifle, in uncertain mechanical condition. All that to say, it's fair value if that's the price dictated by the auction/market.
 
Last edited:
android-android said:
I'll stand by my estimate. Once you factor in the 3.5% CC surcharge from the seller, plus the exchange rate slippage and forex charge from your own CC company, the initial purchase cost will be close to $2600 CAD. Plus US shipping ($50). Maybe a $25-$50 FFL fee. Plus $200-$250 for the import. Plus 5%-13% Canadian tax. Plus $50-$100 Canadian shipping...

It all adds up! This will be cheaper if you live in Alberta, with lower taxes and cheaper shipping from any of the importers. The point I'm trying to impress on folks is that the landed cost of US Gunbroker rifles is higher than you may anticipate.

Even at $2900 landed, that's a lot of money for a spraypainted rifle, in uncertain mechanical condition. All that to say, it's fair value if that's the price dictated by the auction/market.
Click to expand...

agreed rhats why im pretty happy I didnt win it. I bought mine from NC at 2200usd and the final cost was about 3500cad.

I was bidding on ok ne from rockisland early in the month and it went $500 over estimate
 
testosteronecyp said:
agreed rhats why im pretty happy I didnt win it. I bought mine from NC at 2200usd and the final cost was about 3500cad.

I was bidding on ok ne from rockisland early in the month and it went $500 over estimate
Click to expand...

$3500 CAD for a NIB Valmet is a great deal.

Watch out for those buyer's premiums at Rock Island, and other auction houses. 15% on top of the winning auction price - ouch!
 
found a great deal on a Valmet M78 on Gunbroker. Buddy had it listed as a Valmet Battle Rifle but it looked like an M78. No bids for 3 weeks and he sold it buy now to me for $2699 USD. The stock is a reproduction but for 4k CAD after shipping and taxes/duty I feel I got an amazing deal.
 
There is nothing to stop having them added to the "list"
Everyone thinks there is, but don't be so certain
It all happened before
 
testosteronecyp said:
found a great deal on a Valmet M78 on Gunbroker. Buddy had it listed as a Valmet Battle Rifle but it looked like an M78. No bids for 3 weeks and he sold it buy now to me for $2699 USD. The stock is a reproduction but for 4k CAD after shipping and taxes/duty I feel I got an amazing deal.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I noticed that one. I thought about it, but it was missing too many original parts (stock, trigger group, carry handle, no original Valmet mag), which explains the low price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom