What is your gun selling/trading philosophy?

[B27]

Dog eat dog?
It's how the world works.

Fair deal on all sides?
You may well be costing yourself money.

Other philosophies?

[targetacqmgt]

Lowest out go in cash or trade for common caliber weapons of quality and quantity. some you win some, lose some, breakeven on others.

[B27]

Also what about that gun you have always wanted?

In my case recently that was a Marlin 39 TDS.

Do ya just go nuts when it's something you have wanted for four decades?

[jack404]

Dont sell crap
fix what you sell within reason
dont over charge , state etc
if not sure , say so
keep your word
if you screw up fix it
if the customer screws up be understanding but dont send ya self broke

dont do business with family
give it to them , instead

[BillM]

Selling/trading? I don't mis-represent anything, and figure that if both
parties are satisfied then it's a good transaction.



Buying? I'm getting to be more of an impulse buyer. I try to not
visibly drool or shake as I'm dragging out my wallet.

[cpttango30]

I didn't know you could sell them.





I don't sell or trade.

[Troyha23]

S&W mod 39

[wv hillbilly]

when a customer sees my sign, they come in my shop , look at the price tag and either take it or leave it

[Appliancedude]

Guns what guns? If I had guns I'd never sell another one again. I really miss the SKS I sold years ago. You know, before I got rid of the ones I don't have now

[wv hillbilly]

Originally Posted by Appliancedude

Guns what guns? If I had guns I'd never sell another one again. I really miss the SKS I sold years ago. You know, before I got rid of the ones I don't have now

no need for me to deny having firearms, i just my new ffl license in the mail yesterday
they probably know more about me than my mother did

[jjmitchell60]

It is hard to say being each deal is different. Depends on what they bring in to trade and the desirability of the item they have. I do not go by blue book values, I go by current market values. Now if it is an item that is say 1 month old, I have to get it for under whole sale and then I need to be at least 10% below wholesale being it is a used item no matter if it was shot or not. As to new guns that I sell for cash and no trading, I charge a 10% mark up to a max of $50. Simple and to the piont. On a $2000 gun I make $50. On a $500 gun I make $50. On a $300 gun I make $30. Where I and most shops make the money is trades but we have to be well up on current market prices for older guns and we must be well versed on condition ratings.
Bottom line any shop will tell you they make the most money off repeat customers so IF in a gun deal you treat new customers right, they usually become repeat customers.
Also no trade/deal is the same. I have had people bring in guns that were worth well over what they expect out of them and on those deals I tell them they are worth more. I also reflect that in the trade if that is what theyb are doing. On the flip side I have had customers come in who have bought a $200 gun for $500 and expect me to give them mor ethan the gun is worth.
As I stated, NO DEAL IS THE SAME so you cannot place aset standard on gun trading/deals. IMHO the only thing you can do is be fair & honest in all your dealings.

[Zhurh]

I've traded for a few guns, haven't sold any for years. The local Indians are forever selling their guns for booze. I've bought a few from them, but always under the condition that they could buy them back down the road. Guns are given as gifts at potlatches so numbers of guns in the village are ever increasing. Also when an Indian say, sells a piece of land, they own most of it out this way; they'll take 6-7 thousand and buy all of their brothers & relatives cheap hunting rifles and give them as gifts; sharing concept that is part of their culture.

[aa1911]

I sold 2 guns when I was younger and dumber, one was a mossberg 500 that I didn't want and one was my first 1911, that one stings. 400 bucks for it didn't even put a dent in the TRP to replace it.

So many years ago, I came up with my rule; NEVER sell a gun. Period.

Same with my Toyotas. Not for sale! Had many people ask, one guy asked last night if my M1A was for sale. HA! not for all the tea in china.

[gdmoody]

In April of last year (2011) I discovered a Georgia based web site named The Outdoors Trader. Up until I found that site, I never sold or traded many guns, maybe one every couple of years. I have done quite a bit of gun trading since I found that site. I have a feedback score of 27, that means I have bought, sold, or traded twenty seven times in the past 18 months. That was unheard of for the first 60 years of my life.

I believe that trades should be fair, by that I mean if I am happy with a trade and the guy I am trading with is happy, then it is a fair trade. I have lost "money" on some trades and I have made some on trades, but both parties were happy so it is a fair trade. I will never intentionally try to cheat someone I am trading with and I would hope each person feels the same way.

[Rhuga]

Getting the most BANG for the buck

[Old Grump]

I trade money for gun, once gun is mine it stays mine.

[gvw3]

I just went over to my safe and looked at my guns. I don't own one I would sell. If I were ever to get a great deal on a gun I really didn't want I would buy and resell. I have yet to see a gun I really didn't want yet.

[firefighter1635]

I don't sell here, only buy.

[wolfdog]

I try to get the best deal I can without shafting anyone. If someone offers me a firearm for way less than it is worth, I will tell them that is the case. Most of the time I still get a good deal, if not what I could have got it for. Some times I get a pig in a poke for a good price, i.e. something that needs work and not really sure if it will come out okay I will not offer much, some work out well and if they don't I am not out much.(and if they turn out to be real junk I take them to one of the gun buybacks)

[sub-moa]

I feel like I am at least fair to most. By that I mean Better than many. I recently had a neighbor aproach me about buying three of his pistols. He had been to a local gun shop and a pawn shop and was insulted, but desperate. I wound up giving him exactly twice what the pawn shop offered him and he was thrilled. Since then I have sold/traded all three pistols and have 75.00 cash profit. plus a Glock 17 gen 3 . We are both happy.

[Fast Forward]

Strange this popped up,,,Just had a Win Win happen to me,,, A new gun dealer was opening up in my area and began posting info about his Shop on the local Gun forum,,,I asked about a certain Firearm thats been on my Bucket list ,,,on line shopping gave me an idea as to what the gun sells for,,the big box stores want full retail,,,The new Gun dealer gave me a price of 150.00 less than Big box and 150.00 more than the on line dealer,,,Not bad,,,,I had a couple of guns that I seldom shoot and asked if he would accept a trade in,,,,no Problem as they are both in excellent shape with all paperwork and some added acc,, Grips mags etc,,,,I had an idea as to what I thought they would be worth and with that in mind I waited for them to open up and brought my guns in to be appraised for the trade in value,,I was really surprised that they offered me more money than I thought they would and made the deal,,,,A word to the wise here,,,if you want top dollar for your gun,,Clean it,, if you have the warrenty papers and instruction manual bring it,,part of the reason I think I got that extra dollars is because I included the few extras that helped me get a better value and I also made the tradein easier for the dealer to sell ,,,

[soundguy]

buy guns?

if I buy, i keep in mind what I could sell for.. thus buy lower than regular sales avenue.

if I see a piece and someone wants to sell it to me, and i'm not hot onit.. I tell them. I also tell em truthfully that I got 12 at home just like it or better.. and I will buy it if the price is right.

I've picked up some decent deals just being bluntly honest with people like that.

I have a decent selection of jap rifles and mauser pistols. too many really. could never get another and I got too many. that said. i see one for sale at half 'retial'' I'm inclined to buy it.

I have had people try to get me to take one.. and again.. I tell em. I got xx at home.. but will take it if they want to sell it right.

sell guns? that's crazy talk..

[norahc]

I've learned my lesson.

I'll sell them when liberals openly admit that they've been wrong about gun control.

[lonewolf204]

Originally Posted by cpttango30

I didn't know you could sell them.





I don't sell or trade.

Me either!

[marlin795]

I just sold my 12 gauge pump today. Last gun that I didn't get grandfathered from my father or grandfather. Oh well.