What am I looking at selling to a gun store

bootsector

bootsector

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Not sure where to post this…

I have several firearms that I am considering selling to a local gun store and curious what to expect with price ? They really haven’t been used much and are close to new.
 
rdinatal said:
Best to post pictures here with as much of a description as you can. A gun store will give you 50% of the worth (or less).
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I used to work at a retail gunshop and the 50% or less of what you think it's worth is pretty accurate. Unless you have something collectable that a dealer really wants, you will always do better selling private party.
 
rdinatal said:
Give it a try posting in the appraisal section to get a ballpark price.
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appraisal section is in the supporting member section

do some searches for what the gun costs new (probably not at a big box store…use sites like gun.deals) and knock something off that price.

people rarely take tax and transfer fees into account as what they will save buying in a private sale so even though the list price might be a decent deal most people want more savings
 
vp9c said:
appraisal section is in the supporting member section

do some searches for what the gun costs new (probably not at a big box store…use sites like gun.deals) and knock something off that price.

people rarely take tax and transfer fees into account as what they will save buying in a private sale so even though the list price might be a decent deal most people want more savings
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Thanks for the great info.
 
We also have at least 1 member/vendor sponsor that will buy collections. Buy for resale of course, so don’t expect retail, but they’d make it easy.
 
50% is about what we used to give too. Assuming we even wanted it, while things are much scarcer now than when I worked a gun store some stuff just isn't worth the hassle of carrying in inventory until the right buyer comes along.
 
I sold a $1500 (NIB price) Dan Wesson Valor used to my LGS for $1200 several years ago .

They only offered $2000 on a $3000 Wilson 1911 and told me in advance the offer would be low, because I don’t think they had a market for it at the time. I ultimately sold it myself here for more.

I’d post in the appraisal section here as suggested. If what you have is deseriable you’ll get more from a LGS, at least the ones I do business with.
 
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fieldgrade said:
I sold a $1500 (NIB price) Dan Wesson Valor used to my LGS for $1200 several years ago .

They only offered $2000 on a $3000 Wilson 1911 and told me in advance the offer would be low, because I don’t think they had a market for it at the time. I ultimately sold it myself here for more.

I’d post in the appraisal section here as suggested. If what you have is deseriable you’ll get more from a LGS, at least the ones I do business with.
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Thanks, appreciate it - I am going to post in the appraisal section.
 
Gun stores are a business designed to run on a profit - they like to buy low and sell high. The only thing good about selling a collection all at once is it is one transaction (easy) -The person making the offer will tell you all kinds of things like - I may have to sit on the inventory a long time before I sell , some guns may have been modified and aren’t worth as much, some of the models may not be popular- you get the idea…some of this may be true. But what they wont tell you is that they are trying to buy them for the least amount of money possible. The only way to maximize your return is to learn the current market value and sell each one. It is more work but you will net a better overall return
 
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bootsector said:
LOL - posting tomorrow, have too many pics to take. For now, I have a Noveske Factory Rifle (Part # 02000404), Glock 30S, Walter Arms P22, Ruger Precision Rimfire, Ruger EC9. Details to follow...
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Meet with us in Wagram tomorrow. The owner of Midsouth will make the fairest offer you will get from a LGS. I'm Sure @BatteryOaksBilly will back me up on this. With the volume he sells, he can operate on a lower margin and he has buyers from all over 2 states coming in daily and generally knows who to call and move Odd guns.
 
Etruett said:
Meet with us in Wagram tomorrow. The owner of Midsouth will make the fairest offer you will get from a LGS. I'm Sure @BatteryOaksBilly will back me up on this. With the volume he sells, he can operate on a lower margin and he has buyers from all over 2 states coming in daily and generally knows who to call and move Odd guns.
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hold up now.
don't go cutting the rest of us out of the deal. sure, midsouth might give him the best price (for a gun shop)... but would it be better than what we'd give him?
besides, i don't need anybody taking any more walthers to midsouth... i'm 2 for 2 on my visits there.
 
DrScaryGuy said:
hold up now.
don't go cutting the rest of us out of the deal. sure, midsouth might give him the best price (for a gun shop)... but would it be better than what we'd give him?
besides, i don't need anybody taking any more walthers to midsouth... i'm 2 for 2 on my visits there.
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I’m not trying to cut anyone out, myself included. The OP might have something I want. I probably buy as many guns in a year as anyone on the forum, but even if I want one or two, I’m sure I wouldn’t want them all. I understood the question to be where Was the best place to sell a group of guns. Sure it would be better for buyer and seller to do a direct deal on a gun or two but if the seller has a large number of guns, the odds of selling all on the forum are slim. Most people that have a collection wind up with guns they can’t sell direct and when you take the less desirables to a shop you get hosed. With a large collection generally you are better finding a fair dealer that will buy all for a fair price. Now to solve this little problem is for the seller to bring them tomorrow and offer to us before he goes in the shop.
 
Etruett said:
I’m not trying to cut anyone out, myself included. The OP might have something I want. I probably buy as many guns in a year as anyone on the forum, but even if I want one or two, I’m sure I wouldn’t want them all. I understood the question to be where Was the best place to sell a group of guns. Sure it would be better for buyer and seller to do a direct deal on a gun or two but if the seller has a large number of guns, the odds of selling all on the forum are slim. Most people that have a collection wind up with guns they can’t sell direct and when you take the less desirables to a shop you get hosed. With a large collection generally you are better finding a fair dealer that will buy all for a fair price. Now to solve this little problem is for the seller to bring them tomorrow and offer to us before he goes in the shop.
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My preference is to sell them in one batch however I understand the trade-off of convenience and cost. Hopefully can get an acceptable balance between the two. I can meet you Etruett but not sure about tomorrow. Have an errand to run at the usps when they open at 10am, will let you know. I can also do Tuesday.
 
There normally is little margin on new guns. G19 that sales for $550 new cost the store around $475 -$485. The shop will never be able to sale their LNIB gun for more than $500. They are going to offer you not less than the same margin. So, you are at most getting $400 for the gun you bought the day before. This is a 27% loss. This is the best you will ever do.
 
So, where are you located?
 
phideux said:
Another option is to see if your local shop will take them on consignment. They will charge between 10-20%. Better for you than selling to a shop outright.
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This ^^^^^, if you don't have the time or the interest to sell them yourself.
 
fieldgrade said:
I sold a $1500 (NIB price) Dan Wesson Valor used to my LGS for $1200 several years ago .

They only offered $2000 on a $3000 Wilson 1911 and told me in advance the offer would be low, because I don’t think they had a market for it at the time. I ultimately sold it myself here for more.

I’d post in the appraisal section here as suggested. If what you have is deseriable you’ll get more from a LGS, at least the ones I do business with.
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Terry told me to offer you $2k and make you bring it to Hickory! 🤣😂
 
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