What's the deal with the used gun market? Unlike just about any other consumer product I can think of, a well maintained 40-60 yo gun is every bit as good as a new one. I have 100-120 yo guns as good as anything made today, in their niche.
What is the deal with the used gun market?
- Thread starter birdybird
- Start date
Both sites are becoming like Facebook marketplace with ridiculous offers and demands.
Rifle listed at 1000 and a reply comes in, " It's a $500 gun and your lucky I'm going that high, meet me at ABCD at 7 tonight, later Bud"
I fukking had a good chuckle as I replied "That's a generous offer but I sold it for $275 earlier today as the gentleman said I was way overpriced and he said he was an expert"
Due to an upcoming mover over seas. I have sold 20 firearms. All but a few sold within a week or two.
Modern clean and tidy I price at 75-80% current new. Most sell well.
Where II struggle to set prices is older 50 plus year old. Sporting arms.
Ie a 1906 mannlicher 6.5x54,
, 20 ga Dickerson SxS.
Very larger price variance.
Winchester, Sako, hunting rifles have always sold well for me.
Mostly I consign.
Modern clean and tidy I price at 75-80% current new. Most sell well.
Where II struggle to set prices is older 50 plus year old. Sporting arms.
Ie a 1906 mannlicher 6.5x54,
, 20 ga Dickerson SxS.
Very larger price variance.
Winchester, Sako, hunting rifles have always sold well for me.
Mostly I consign.
Someone here said it already, the issue is supply and demand.
I’ve been waiting for over a year to buy a Marlin SBL 45-70 from a retailer. I’m on every single waitlist for it around the country. None have turned up. I see them consistently listed for $1000 over retail online. I refuse to pay that price so I'm stuck waiting.
The Type 81M fixed stock was available for about 24 hours from TI earlier this year. I missed getting one by minutes before they sold out. Looking online on GP they were instantly listed for $500 or more above retail, probably even before the person took possession.
It's a situation for sure but there are deals to be had as well. A friend of mine introduced me to online auctions, KOS has a decent one. I haven't had insane success but I've found rifles for reasonable prices that way.
My conclusion: if time is a factor then I pay the markup, if not then I wait.
I’ve been waiting for over a year to buy a Marlin SBL 45-70 from a retailer. I’m on every single waitlist for it around the country. None have turned up. I see them consistently listed for $1000 over retail online. I refuse to pay that price so I'm stuck waiting.
The Type 81M fixed stock was available for about 24 hours from TI earlier this year. I missed getting one by minutes before they sold out. Looking online on GP they were instantly listed for $500 or more above retail, probably even before the person took possession.
It's a situation for sure but there are deals to be had as well. A friend of mine introduced me to online auctions, KOS has a decent one. I haven't had insane success but I've found rifles for reasonable prices that way.
My conclusion: if time is a factor then I pay the markup, if not then I wait.
charliediep0
Member
- Location
- The universe
Tell me about it. It always grinds my gears to see some people list a used gun for more than MSRP. Even if you add the tax and shipping prices, I doubt the final price ends up the same anyways. The way I see it, even if someone sells at a ludicrous price, it doesn't mean you have to buy. Just keep looking on Arsenalforce or sort by price, you'll find what you seek eventually
It's really not that hard...
I have done 2 WTB threads on CGN, and in case you didn't notice, I don't have the 10 minimum feedback you mentioned.
I mean, if you just wanted to be contrary, there is better ways! I have sold things on here and on GP, and you are right, I get more responses on GP, but I like CGN way more.
Have you made a WTB post with the proper prefix since the update here? I've tried in a few categories and it just won't let you.
I have never really understood the including taxes and shipping in used prices. That is such utter BS to me.
I personally don't care if you bought it new and had to pay taxes. That is charged by the government, and shipping, well, again, that is on the seller. If a seller is trying to justify adding in those fees to their price, They are not worth the headache for me. To me, that is a sign of someone that is going to nickle and dime and pick apart EVERYTHING that it is just a bunch of drama I am not going to put up with.
But like anything, any object is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. You may have paid $2000 for that widget, but you also might be the only one who would.
Yes, it's how i got my Daughter's 10/22
This must have changed recently. It appears I can now post a WTB ad now. I last tried within the last 60 days and it bounced back saying I needed a minimum of 10 positive feedback scores.
On the flipside, as a seller the market is insane. I sell my guns for less than retail, even if its new and I just don't need it. You won't believe how many lowballers and weird stories you'll hear about why a seller should let it go for free (dog/cat died, fathers childhood gun, vet bills, on welfare, ammo is expensive so gun should be cheaper etc.). I get a laugh here and there
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For the majority of Canadians, $1500/week gross would be a gross overstatement.
Remember, when Stats Can shows "average" incomes across Canada, often companies with hundreds of employees, will pay a couple of their top executives more, each, than all of the other employees combined.
A couple of blatant examples are Ford, Chrysler, CNQ, etc.
It takes a lot of "worker bees" to equalize what one executive makes.
Not all businesses run this way of course, but when a company employs an individual, they have to be able to make a decent profit on everything they pay the individual to do what they do.
A lot of people just aren't interested in anything firearms related which involves politics, etc.
Gun Post, where prices are usually extremely high IMHO, get much more attention than CGN, because more people know about it, through word of mouth, etc.
I tell people about this site every chance I get. Most can't be bothered to sign up and scroll through the pages, which can be almost impossible on a cell phone.
Gun Post, just go to the home page, type what you're looking for in the very good "search" box and up comes all of the available answers.
Gun post is sketchy. I've bought 2 guns from GP and got a bad deal (not as described) for both. I've bought lots on CGN and it's always been a good honest deal. GP has a lot of listing's but I wouldn't say it's better then Gun nuts. I for one wouldn't buy another firearm from there.....fool me twice is good enough
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Sometimes used guns are better than what you can buy new. The OPs example of the SBE2 being more expensive than the SBE3 is a good one. If you didn't know better, you'd think it was insane. But if you knew how good the SBE2 is compared to most everything out there, it makes sense.
Similar are Pre64 Model 70s. So.e people think they are way overpriced, but enough people don't agree and that's why they are worth so much on the used market, despite the newest Pre64 being over 60 years old. Same with the Model 94...seemingly in both Pre and Post 64 versions. I think people are insane to pay the going rate for a Post 64, but they sell every day.
Hell, I sold a Stevens 200 (with Talley ultralight rings) for $550. That was a $230 rifle when I bought it but it was a superb shooter and people knew it and the buyer was happy to pay my price without haggling. Hence why you almost never see them for sale anymore.
You just can't figure the used gun market. It's it's own special breed of cat.
Similar are Pre64 Model 70s. So.e people think they are way overpriced, but enough people don't agree and that's why they are worth so much on the used market, despite the newest Pre64 being over 60 years old. Same with the Model 94...seemingly in both Pre and Post 64 versions. I think people are insane to pay the going rate for a Post 64, but they sell every day.
Hell, I sold a Stevens 200 (with Talley ultralight rings) for $550. That was a $230 rifle when I bought it but it was a superb shooter and people knew it and the buyer was happy to pay my price without haggling. Hence why you almost never see them for sale anymore.
You just can't figure the used gun market. It's it's own special breed of cat.
