Need to write a thread on gun values, buying, selling and collecting.
#1 Retail is not Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) or Blue Book. MSRP/Blue Book is typically 5-10% higher than dealer retail on new guns at a gun shop or on-line.
#2 Trade-in/Black Book/Pawn/Wholesale is typically 30% of retail. MSRP is $1100.00, Retail is $1000.00, Black Book is $350.00.
#3 Fair Market Value (FMV). Is dependent upon the economy and buyer pool interested in that particular firearm. Demand can push FMV up or down by as much as 40-50% either way. FMV on the $1000.00 retail gun above could be as low as $400.00 or as high as $700.00 depending upon condition, demand, orginality and collectablity (buyer pool interested). On a very rare occasion you will see a firearm sell for Retail/Blue Book but it is normally something that is not easily found, not available, not made any longer in a very high grade or the demand is very very high. This is an extremely rare case and the EXCEPTION not the rule when buying!
Sellers can ask whatever they wish for a used firearm when selling. They may never sell that firearm either if they don't adjust there price to the FMV and understand the market and demand.
Do not buy at retail and trade your stuff at Trade-in/Black Book/Pawn/Wholesale price. Do not fall in love with something because you will end up SCREWED!
Used guns are like used cars.
I am so tired of seeing guns listed for $600 when I can buy them brand new for that. FMV on a gun like that is around $350-400 not $600, and you'd get about $200-250 for it on trade with a dealer.
Don't get screwed, do your home work and ignore overpriced firearms. Enough of my rant, it just pisses me off!
Good info there. I'm the guy that screws that up quite a bit. Instead of searching for the right deal I normally just see something and buy it if it tickles my fancy. Applies to guns as well as many other toys. I keep saying I'm gonna clean out the toys and buy a new truck with the money but never do. I'm starting to realize that I'm not a collector of anything in particular, just a collector of whatever. :pinch
If I have a particular firearm I am looking at, I look it up on Budsgunshop.com to see what they are selling for brand new. Then I search it on gunbroker.com to see what they sold for. That gives me a very reliable range to work with
The thing that irritates me more than anything with private sales is gun condition. First of all I can't understand why people allow their guns to be covered in rust and other things. It makes my ass hurt when someone says the gun is in great condition on the internet, and when you see it in person it looks like it was used for a kayak paddle
If I have a particular firearm I am looking at, I look it up on Budsgunshop.com to see what they are selling for brand new. Then I search it on gunbroker.com to see what they sold for. That gives me a very reliable range to work with.
Exactly right Allen, the key is being able to log on to GunBroker and look at the guns that actaully SOLD in the last 30-90 days and averaging them. Alot of folks just look up the guns and look at guns listing prices since they don't have a log on.....
FL Gun Trader has gotten out of F%^$ing hand. I haven't bought anything off of there in so long, that I'm to the point of not even looking anymore.... 6 out of 10 people I contact to buy, the sale falls apart due to lack of communication, gun being a POS, failure to meet at agreed upon time and location... It's a F*&@ing joke... In three years I have only made 6-8 deals or trades on there and have bought and sold 30 plus firearms on Gunbroker.com in the same amount of time.
And some of the wild Sh$t these guys come up with.... Ever see a "Factory Compass" in the Stock of a 1950's era Winchester 1894 .30-30? You've got to be sh$tting me. This .30-30 isn't worth $300 with a F*@ked up stock that some A$#hole put a compass in... Factory Dealer.... Yeah, I have some beach front property in Arizona For Sale too... and he wants $1350.00....
Check out this link/add: http://floridaguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=153380
I saw a 30-30 a few years back some dingdong was selling that the iron sights were JB welded on the barrel. I s*** you not
