Ephraim Kibbey
Member
Hi ACES&8S,
I am 70, my wife knows nothing about guns and my kids do not want them so I have been selling more than I have been buying for the last several years.
I started with GunBroker and had much better luck than with the local gun stores.
I sold several Lugers and P38s on GB and pretty much broke even when the best the locals could do was give me half price.
The local gun stores have to make a profit and unless they are online, they have a very limited audience compared with GB's.
The problem with GB is that YOU have to have time to write the auction copy, take the pictures, upload the pictures, answer the enquiries, mail the item out (or take it to an FFL holder and pay them to do it) and then deal with the deadbeats.
I have now sold upwards of 30 guns through Cowans auction house here in Cincinnati.
I have not made money on them but neither have I lost much either.
While they charge me a percentage of the hammer bid, they also do all of the work listing, advertising and delivering my items and send me a nice big check.
Their auctions are online as well as in house and they have a very good reputation.
I know that they travel for big collections because I have taken guns in and been told that Jack Lewis and his staff are out of state evaluating a new collection.
RIA is also very well known but I have not bought from them because they seem to eliminate the small collector by putting guns into $1000 lots.
I can spend $250 on a new gun but not $1000 on four of them at one time when I do not want the other three.
In my opinion this limits their audience and may cut the gun owner's dollar return.
I would rather see my items stand or fall on their own.
I would suggest that while you are still able that you and your wife get estimates from several reputable auction houses that reach large online audiences and chose the one you like the best.
Include your wife in your dealing with them so that she is able to take over if you are unable to continue at some point.
I hope your health improves and you are around for a lot longer but make sure that your wife has a plan for your collection as soon as possible.
EK/David
I am 70, my wife knows nothing about guns and my kids do not want them so I have been selling more than I have been buying for the last several years.
I started with GunBroker and had much better luck than with the local gun stores.
I sold several Lugers and P38s on GB and pretty much broke even when the best the locals could do was give me half price.
The local gun stores have to make a profit and unless they are online, they have a very limited audience compared with GB's.
The problem with GB is that YOU have to have time to write the auction copy, take the pictures, upload the pictures, answer the enquiries, mail the item out (or take it to an FFL holder and pay them to do it) and then deal with the deadbeats.
I have now sold upwards of 30 guns through Cowans auction house here in Cincinnati.
I have not made money on them but neither have I lost much either.
While they charge me a percentage of the hammer bid, they also do all of the work listing, advertising and delivering my items and send me a nice big check.
Their auctions are online as well as in house and they have a very good reputation.
I know that they travel for big collections because I have taken guns in and been told that Jack Lewis and his staff are out of state evaluating a new collection.
RIA is also very well known but I have not bought from them because they seem to eliminate the small collector by putting guns into $1000 lots.
I can spend $250 on a new gun but not $1000 on four of them at one time when I do not want the other three.
In my opinion this limits their audience and may cut the gun owner's dollar return.
I would rather see my items stand or fall on their own.
I would suggest that while you are still able that you and your wife get estimates from several reputable auction houses that reach large online audiences and chose the one you like the best.
Include your wife in your dealing with them so that she is able to take over if you are unable to continue at some point.
I hope your health improves and you are around for a lot longer but make sure that your wife has a plan for your collection as soon as possible.
EK/David