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Gun prices

4K views 23 replies 15 participants last post by  jeffadaklin 
#1 ·
The wife and I went to Cabela's tonight. They are always high on gun prices (everything actually) but I thought I would wander throught the gun section. About a year ago a standard Ruger single action revolver was $549.00. Today they are $629.00. This amazes me because they are selling like hot cakes. It's just not the Ruger's that are high, it's everything. The thing is this, Sportsman's isn't as high. Normally they are 20-40 dollars low on handguns, and long arms can vary. As for my LGS who I buy most of my guns through, they are still around $549.00. I see some great Cabala's ads offering a $20.00 savings on most handguns, but my LGS is still about $60.00 cheaper even with the Cabela's coupon. In Cabala's there were empty holes all over the gun shelves, mostly on the handguns and it wasn't that way last week. So this tells me that people are willing to pay these prices. However, my LGS is plenty stocked and ready for honest business with great prices. I just don't get it.

Two more points to ponder. In the used gun cabinet at Cabela's there were quite a few big bore revolvers. Like new, well polished. I mean almost more then they could get in their gun cases. Same with the gun library. Dang those big guns look nice. Wish I could cart them all to the range. I guess people buy them, pull the trigger and decide they kick like a mule. I just love those mules.

Then, I was looking at a beautiful Smith and Wesson model 57, 41 mag. Mint, mint, mint, with box, $799.00. Too much money but I looked anyway. The drag lines on the cylinder were almost nonexistent and the blueing was near perfect on the rest of the gun. I handed it back to the guy behind the counter, with the cylinder open and my thumb through the frame like it should be passed from one to another. Then the guy does what makes me cringe. He takes the revolver in his right hand and flips the gun sideways slamming the cylinder closed. He wouldn't last a day in a LGS.

That's my two cents.

I sure appreciate my LGS.
 
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#2 ·
I hear ya Highboy!
I usually deal with 3 gun shops here (was 4..they went under) and I dont stray to far.
Between the three, they either have, or can get anything I'm looking for at a resonable price.
(I believe I'd'a reached across the counter and smacked the dumb-ness right out of the feller that mistreated that S&W!!!)
 
#3 ·
Yes, there are gun shops and then there are GUN SHOPS. Unfortunately for me, in my semi-rural area, all gun shops are tiny. I have to drive 25 to 50 miles to one of consequence. One of these bigger shops is run with military precision and a bad outlook towards the customers. Their prices are good on sale items, guns I would never buy. I don't buy from them anymore. Then there is one close to my daughter's house, 75 miles away. They are an old fashion gun shop with tons of guns, tons of used guns, but with plus pricing. I buy from them anyway because they have the guns in stock that I want.

It appears that there is another election year gun/gun stuff hoarding thing going on. It happened before and shortly after Obama was elected and I think the fear of his re-election is causing the same to happen again but this time maybe not so brutally. With about 50% of the people in the USA paying no taxes, meaning a large part of that group gets government help of some kind, his re-election is looking more and more like a shoe-in as those people don't want a president that will upset their apple cart. With nothing to loose this time I think he will push for more gun control. I hope I'm wrong but fear I am right and others must think the same way as there is a gun rush.

LDBennett
 
#5 ·
Yes, there are gun shops and then there are GUN SHOPS. Unfortunately for me, in my semi-rural area, all gun shops are tiny. I have to drive 25 to 50 miles to one of consequence. One of these bigger shops is run with military precision and a bad outlook towards the customers. Their prices are good on sale items, guns I would never buy. I don't buy from them anymore. Then there is one close to my daughter's house, 75 miles away. They are an old fashion gun shop with tons of guns, tons of used guns, but with plus pricing. I buy from them anyway because they have the guns in stock that I want.

It appears that there is another election year gun/gun stuff hoarding thing going on. It happened before and shortly after Obama was elected and I think the fear of his re-election is causing the same to happen again but this time maybe not so brutally. With about 50% of the people in the USA paying no taxes, meaning a large part of that group gets government help of some kind, his re-election is looking more and more like a shoe-in as those people don't want a president that will upset their apple cart. With nothing to loose this time I think he will push for more gun control. I hope I'm wrong but fear I am right and others must think the same way as there is a gun rush.

LDBennett




I fully agree with you Bennett. The good thing about the presidential rush on guns is next year there will be a bunch of good "Used" gun deals on the magnums and snubbies. That in itself is a good thing.
 
#6 ·
I have a local Cabela's as well. They are always sold out of guns. They are unwilling (unable?) to order you specific guns. They will in most part not negotiate on the price of a used gun. The people behind the counter vary from very experienced, polite and helpful to the guy who flips the cylinder on that revolver. Yet, the gun counter is always busy. I think it's 2 things, people do like the security of shopping a national chain and they do have in house credit. Secondly, the internet. You can shop guns all day on the internet, but unless you want to go through the whole FFL transfer thing, you can't buy guns on the internet. You can tho, shop Cabela's on the internet, then actually go buy the gun. Also, look at a lot of the folks at that Cabela's counter. Soccer moms/dads that think they'd be intimidated at the LGS. They're used to buying Bermuda shorts and fur-lined tent stakes (for roughing it) on the other side of Cabela's so they'll feel ok strolling over to the gun counter where the guy behind it may or may not know more than they do.
 
#8 ·
They sell the guns at these prices, because goobers

constantly come in who are willing to pay those high prices,

effectively pricing you and me out of the market.

The down side of supply and demand, unfortunately.
Yep! They don't know where John's gun shop is, or that John will sell them the same gun for a lot less money. They do know where the BIG stores are, because they advertise. And most of these goobers don't have a clue as to how to handle a firearm, much less hit anyting with it!
 
#9 ·
I have a local Cabela's as well. They are always sold out of guns. They are unwilling (unable?) to order you specific guns. They will in most part not negotiate on the price of a used gun. The people behind the counter vary from very experienced, polite and helpful to the guy who flips the cylinder on that revolver. Yet, the gun counter is always busy. I think it's 2 things, people do like the security of shopping a national chain and they do have in house credit. Secondly, the internet. You can shop guns all day on the internet, but unless you want to go through the whole FFL transfer thing, you can't buy guns on the internet. You can tho, shop Cabela's on the internet, then actually go buy the gun. Also, look at a lot of the folks at that Cabela's counter. Soccer moms/dads that think they'd be intimidated at the LGS. They're used to buying Bermuda shorts and fur-lined tent stakes (for roughing it) on the other side of Cabela's so they'll feel ok strolling over to the gun counter where the guy behind it may or may not know more than they do.
I think you pretty much nailed it. It is kind of like a one stop shop. As for the used guns, I used to go into there every Friday and watch the guns. Then after the 30 day mark I would offer them a low figure (they negotiate the price after 30 days, and I always deal with someone that I know and have a good repor with). If they would not take my offer I would not buy it. Then I would come back the next week and give the same offer, until they said yes. Then I would flash the "Save XXX amount of money for XXX amount spent" coupon on the cash register and get an even better deal. Some times it would be save $75 on $500 spent. That was a good one. But now their coupons say "not for use on used guns." I guess they figured me out.
 
#10 ·
I only buy guns at Cabela's when they are on sale. You can get good deals when they are on sale. Standard retail is always to high at there stores. They also price match any competitors adds.

When the run a sale you have to be in the store the 1st day of the sale by noon they will be sold out. I bought a Beretta 92 on sale there last year. I got to the store at 9 am when they open. There was a line waiting to get in. By the time I made it to the gun counter they were 4 deep. When I finally got my gun it was 11 am. The sales guy at that time told me they only had the display gun left.

If it's not on sale I drive a few miles down the street to Gat Guns. I can save $50 to $75 on any gun there. They also offer a life time parts and labor warranty for $25 on a new gun and $50 on most used guns. I always get the warranty.
 
#11 ·
I only buy guns at Cabela's when they are on sale. You can get good deals when they are on sale. Standard retail is always to high at there stores. They also price match any competitors adds.

When the run a sale you have to be in the store the 1st day of the sale by noon they will be sold out. I bought a Beretta 92 on sale there last year. I got to the store at 9 am when they open. There was a line waiting to get in. By the time I made it to the gun counter they were 4 deep. When I finally got my gun it was 11 am. The sales guy at that time told me they only had the display gun left.

If it's not on sale I drive a few miles down the street to Gat Guns. I can save $50 to $75 on any gun there. They also offer a life time parts and labor warranty for $25 on a new gun and $50 on most used guns. I always get the warranty.
When our Cabala's has a sale, Sportsman's is still cheaper, and then the smaller LGS's are still even cheaper then that. But you are right, when they run an ad, those guns grow wings and fly off the shelves.
 
#12 ·
I worked at the Big "C" and can give some insite on why they do so well.

1. the Cabela's Card. It's less than 10% interest, you earn point on every purchase, $20 off on your first purchase.
2. Largest selection and variety period. As one of the largest gun sellers in the US you get lots of guns. $1.2 million per month sales at the store I worked at.
3. If you trade or sell a gun to them you only pay tax on the differance.

So if you shop a sale, like a door buster, sign up for the card, trade a gun toward a purchase, and get reward points you beat that $60 you LGS has on the gun you want (that he dosen't have in stock).
 
#13 ·
the only time I ever bought a gun at Cabela's was my latest 870 shotgun, it was on sale for $309 a couple years ago. I would have gladly paid the extra 50 bucks to not wait for TWO AND A HALF HOURS!!

I took a number and waited for over 45 minutes (on a random tuesday afternoon). and it wasn't like I was checking out various guns, deciding what I wanted. I walked up when it was my turn and said, "I want to buy that one, thank you". Took forever to get rung up and pay, can't imagine how long it would've taken if I had been 'purusing'.

Then they had to walk me to the door with the gun, store policy.

"you know I already have two loaded guns on me, there's really no need to escort me to the door with a dissassembled unloaded shotgun" (I was also in uniform at the time)

So I buy from a local shop that's 4 miles away, it's in an old church no less. They do military pricing so I get rockin' deals on most guns.
 
#14 ·
I don't know why more people don't purchase firearms over the internet! The best prices. No tax. Low to no shipping cost. Find a cheap/local FFL (mine is $20.00).
 
#16 ·
The last time I bought any guns at Cabela's or Gander MT
was in 2004......and they were very reasonable on pricing.
Things change, whatever the reason.
One point to consider.....impulse buying at a 'reputable' place
with a large inventory...to hold and touch....get it now !!!!!!
 
#18 ·
NO.......... Buy exactly what you want when you want it. Waiting for a deal leads to missing getting what you really want when you want it. Don't try waiting if the gun you want has Browning engraved on it. You'll never get it unless you buy it NOW, when you find one in stock. Most Browning models are limited production and can be as rare as hens teeth unless you just happen to luck into buying one close to the last production run time.

Using a home based or small dealer to order a new gun is ripe with pitfalls too. Today most distributors will not sell to small shops and these small shops can only get guns from a couple of distributors, who often don't have what you want even though other distributors have them in spades.

If you live in CA it is very hard to buy a pistol off the Internet, new or used. It has to be on the California approved list. If not on the list (even color variation have to be listed) it cannot be imported to CA. The shipping FFL also has to get an approval letter for shipment into the state from the CA DOJ. Many older used guns are no longer on the list because they are discontinued and the manufacturer no longer pays to have them on the list. Once they are 50 years old, things loosen up as they are Curio and Relics and don't have to be on the list but still have to be processed through a CA FFL dealer.

LDBennett
 
#19 ·
Two incidents from the same gun shop=
one, I wanted a IWB holster that stayed open, so when I practice drawing I wouldn't have to unbuckle my pants to re-holster. He laughed, and said 'all you want is to be able to draw it. Besides, we ain;t got none that stay open." I went across town and bought a Fobus paddle.
Not the same salesman- and this guy was a salesman, not a gun-guy- selling to a man about 65 years old, who had just gotten his CC permit and wanted a carry gun. his guy told him "go ahead and get the 1911, all ya gotta do is buy some big shirts."
The man seemed to think that was a dumb suggestion, and I waited til he left the store. DShowed him my SR9c, holster, told him about some different guns, different styles of holsters....he wrote down his name and number and asked me to call him later. I did, turns out he;s good with the internet, so I showed him some websites about CC guns and holsters.
I know a lot of gun shops have good folks in em, but man, this was two strikes on that store. Bad thing is, it's the only indoor range in 30 miles.
 
#21 ·
I don't think that we will see prices come down until the demand slows down. Working for a manufacturing company I know that metal prices have gone up quite a bit but not to the extent that we see the prices of guns these days. I just hope that the record pace of gun sales is truly going to the good guys and not arming the private citizen army that his majesty is wanting to build.
 
#22 ·
imho.. metal nd material prices effect final price a bit.. but not more than other things.. and much less really. as evidenced int hat a pistol can be more $$ than a rifle.

look at a judge and a circuit judge. more materials in the carbine than a pistol.. yet price? no difference..
 
#24 ·
I don't think that we will see prices come down until the demand slows down. Working for a manufacturing company I know that metal prices have gone up quite a bit but not to the extent that we see the prices of guns these days. I just hope that the record pace of gun sales is truly going to the good guys and not arming the private citizen army that his majesty is wanting to build.
Just putting this together- the private citizen army and how many million rounds did obama just buy?
 
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