Bud's Gun Shop online pricing question

[Grayrock]

Does anyone know how Bud's arrives at the prices they post? I am looking for a pistol and have been shopping for a couple of weeks. Seems like every time I pull it up on Bud's the price is different. It goes up a few dollars, then it goes down a few. Does anyone know what the rise and fall is based on or how to catch the trough. Is it better to shop on Mondays, or 1st of the month? Or what? Trying to figure out a pattern for their pricing... As far as opinion on Bud's, I already found this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=764222&highlight=bud's

I am just looking for information to help me maximize my spending power.

 

[sequins]

I believe they operate like amazon and have a computer algorithm that automatically varies the price by 1-3% specifically to obfuscate the true price.

 

[Aragon]

Does anyone know how Bud's arrives at the prices they post? I am looking for a pistol and have been shopping for a couple of weeks. Seems like every time I pull it up on Bud's the price is different. It goes up a few dollars, then it goes down a few. Does anyone know what the rise and fall is based on or how to catch the trough. Is it better to shop on Mondays, or 1st of the month? Or what? Trying to figure out a pattern for their pricing... As far as opinion on Bud's, I already found this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=764222&highlight=bud's

I am just looking for information to help me maximize my spending power.

The pricing fluctuation might well be automatically tied to how much of the product they are selling (bump it up a few if it's moving/if it sells out quickly), bump it down a bit if there's actual stock aging in a warehouse, price it up if the replacement cost of the next purchase is higher, etc.

 

[callenlee]

I've noticed some fluctuation, but fir the guns I've kept an eye on it isn't much. The other day I checked my history to see what I had a couple of years ago for two guns and the current prices were only a few dollars higher.

One thing that may help is that they have a guarantee that if their price drops within thirty days or so of your purchase they will send you a check for the difference. The price dropped a bit on one gun I bought and it was pretty easy to get the check sent. It looked like it was through a third party and I can't remember what it is called.

 

[jlr1962]

There is a company string that gets passed around. I am sure that H.R. uses it, along with every other part of Buds Inc. All companies have one of these strings. What they do with this string has been been debated for years. What they do is they take this string, they stick it ...................

 

[oneounceload]

No different than your local grocery store. Things vary on price and availability/demand etc. When dealing with inventory, turning it as fast as you can maximizes cash flow and cuts carrying costs.

 

[Grayrock]

Thanks, Sequin. Any idea if the algorithm is random or is there a periodicity to it? I guess I should just keep a log and check in daily with them. I wonder if it fluctuates by the hour as well? The pistol I am interested in is at $518 right now. I have seen it for as low as $488. That is a 6% swing. $30 would buy some ammo or subsidize a holster.

 

[dogtown tom]

Grayrock Thanks, Sequin. Any idea if the algorithm is random or is there a periodicity to it? I guess I should just keep a log and check in daily with them. I wonder if it fluctuates by the hour as well? The pistol I am interested in is at $518 right now. I have seen it for as low as $488. That is a 6% swing. $30 would buy some ammo or subsidize a holster.

The way Buds explained it to me sounds just like airline pricing software.

The price flunctuates depending on:
-the number of page views
-page views resulting in a purchase
-page views not resulting in a purchase
-how many are in inventory
-frequency of sales
-and other factors

 

[Bezoar]

well heres how it can be best summed up.

the fluctuation of the price is based upon the following factors

1. the price buds pays for the gun
2. desired markup
3. shipping fee.
shipping fee in no way is "free". no respectable company is going to sell a gun for 150 dollars less then everyone else, and then take an extra hit of 30 dollars for shipping. to figure out the shipping i usually see it as the difference between the "pay in person with cash" and order online options.

if one goes up, the total price goes up. if one goes down, itll go down a bit.

 

[Jackal]

It is kind of funny when I purchase a PTR-91 GI for $676 delivered from Bud's and their price goes up to $829 two days later....

 

[TennJed]

well heres how it can be best summed up.

the fluctuation of the price is based upon the following factors

1. the price buds pays for the gun
2. desired markup
3. shipping fee.
shipping fee in no way is "free". no respectable company is going to sell a gun for 150 dollars less then everyone else, and then take an extra hit of 30 dollars for shipping. to figure out the shipping i usually see it as the difference between the "pay in person with cash" and order online options.

if one goes up, the total price goes up. if one goes down, itll go down a bit.

You don't have to pay in person to get the cash discount. Just use your bank account and routing # when you check out online. No extra fees. I have used it often

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

How and why any given retailer changes their pricing for particular items is up to the retailer.

In general, pricing is determined based on a desired profit margin on merchandise which is purchased from one or more suppliers. If the cost from the suppliers varies some, then the retail price will also vary.

This does not take into account special sales deals.

Buds is a high-volume retailer, so I suspect that nominal changes in their pricing reflects the nominal variations from the various suppliers they get their guns from. Since they're a high volume retailer, their prices might fluctuate slightly in a more frequent basis than lower volume dealers.

 

[Elkins45]

How and why any given retailer changes their pricing for particular items is up to the retailer.

In general, pricing is determined based on a desired profit margin on merchandise which is purchased from one or more suppliers. If the cost from the suppliers varies some, then the retail price will also vary.

This does not take into account special sales deals.

Buds is a high-volume retailer, so I suspect that nominal changes in their pricing reflects the nominal variations from the various suppliers they get their guns from. Since they're a high volume retailer, their prices might fluctuate slightly in a more frequent basis than lower volume dealers.

It's more complex than that. There's a good example on their website now in the used handguns. They have some newer S&W model 64 revolvers that have been listed for a while. When they first appeared they were $369. A few days later the 'Buy It Now' button appeared with them and stayed for a feel or two. Now they are $418 with no buy it now. These are the same batch of guns and the price seems to have fluctuated based on how well they are selling.

 

[wojownik]

Buds is a high-volume retailer, so I suspect that nominal changes in their pricing reflects the nominal variations from the various suppliers they get their guns from. Since they're a high volume retailer, their prices might fluctuate slightly in a more frequent basis than lower volume dealers.

No, I think there are numerous other factors here, including pricing that "adjusts" by algorithm, and pricing that adjust by manual intervention.

Automatic adjustments could be a function of any number of things - as noted by others, the number of views, click throughs, orders placed, inventory remaining, etc...

Manual adjustments ... who knows?

Besides, as a high volume dealer, I would think they move sufficient inventory to be able to weather through many price fluctuations. I suspect their suppliers are not changing pricing on a weekly basis, too.

I've seen some Bud's pricing fluctuate more than the price of unleaded at my corner gas station. That's not a criticism, it's just interesting to observe - and a reminder to keep price shopping as Buds is not always the cheapest.

Right now I'm looking at a pistol where Bud's moved the pricing up substantially (almost $50) and the make-an-offer option was removed, while another online retailer moved the pricing way down at the same time.

Then again, on-line pricing is the least of my personal concerns ... all my FFLs around here are pushing their transfer fees past the $50 mark per transaction, even for items not normally stocked.

 

[Aragon]

well heres how it can be best summed up.

the fluctuation of the price is based upon the following factors

1. the price buds pays for the gun
2. desired markup
3. shipping fee.
shipping fee in no way is "free". no respectable company is going to sell a gun for 150 dollars less then everyone else, and then take an extra hit of 30 dollars for shipping. to figure out the shipping i usually see it as the difference between the "pay in person with cash" and order online options.

if one goes up, the total price goes up. if one goes down, itll go down a bit.

FWIW, Bud's cost to ship guns is no where near $30.00/unit given their volume. It's not even half that.

 

[dogtown tom]

Bezoar well heres how it can be best summed up.

the fluctuation of the price is based upon the following factors

1. the price buds pays for the gun
2. desired markup
3. shipping fee.
shipping fee in no way is "free". no respectable company is going to sell a gun for 150 dollars less then everyone else, and then take an extra hit of 30 dollars for shipping. to figure out the shipping i usually see it as the difference between the "pay in person with cash" and order online options.

if one goes up, the total price goes up. if one goes down, itll go down a bit.

Sorry, but nope.
The price fluctuations being discussed often occur multiple times during the day. While your theory might be valid for 99% of gun stores, its not at all the reason for the frequent price fluctuations at Buds.
Buds cost, markup, shipping fees...........don't change hourly.

 

[carbine85]

I can't answer the question but I just went to Buds this past week end. I found the prices slightly inflated all across the board. The counter sales where lined up nuts to butts and the shooting range line was 30 deep waiting.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

OK...people are making a mountain out of a molehill here.

Bud's is in business to make a profit. To that end, they are apparently very successful since they're not only still around after many years, but have grown considerably.

Raise, lower, or stable prices, no matter on what time scale, the bottom line is this: Are they selling any particular gun at a price you are willing to part funds for?

If the answer is "yes", then buy the dang thing and get it over with.

If the answer is "no", then either wait until they come along with a better deal for you or go somewhere else.


If people think that their practices are, somehow, "unfair", "unethical", or "suspicious" simply based on fluctuations in pricing, then so be it. But I would question why these concepts don't also come into play should they simply hold their prices at some arbitrary constant value as well. Why should either stable or fluctuating prices necessarily be indicators of "unfair", "unethical", or "suspicious" activities?

There have been several opinions put forth on why, or why not, these price fluctuations occur as people have indicated that they do. Perhaps some are valid, perhaps some are not.

Regardless, this isn't rocket science here, and it's pointless to debate all the wherefores on Bud's business paradigm from anything other than a position of curiosity. Their business paradigm is the same as for any other business: profit. Where their desire for a profit matches up with your idea of a fair price, then we have the makings of what is known as a "deal". Where they do not match up, there is "no deal".

 

[ColtPythonElite]

It's pretty simple....I buy at Bud's, when Bud's has the best price. I buy somewhere else when Bud's doesn't. Bud's usually has the best price, though. Their buying process is about as painless as it gets: Stick item in cart, pay with echeck to avoid 3% surcharge, pick a transfer dealer off their list that already has FFL on file, and watch tracking until gun gets to my gun store....They really make spending money too easy.

 

[Elkins45]

OK...people are making a mountain out of a molehill here.

Bud's is in business to make a profit. To that end, they are apparently very successful since they're not only still around after many years, but have grown considerably.

Raise, lower, or stable prices, no matter on what time scale, the bottom line is this: Are they selling any particular gun at a price you are willing to part funds for?

If the answer is "yes", then buy the dang thing and get it over with.

If the answer is "no", then either wait until they come along with a better deal for you or go somewhere else.


If people think that their practices are, somehow, "unfair", "unethical", or "suspicious" simply based on fluctuations in pricing, then so be it. But I would question why these concepts don't also come into play should they simply hold their prices at some arbitrary constant value as well. Why should either stable or fluctuating prices necessarily be indicators of "unfair", "unethical", or "suspicious" activities?

There have been several opinions put forth on why, or why not, these price fluctuations occur as people have indicated that they do. Perhaps some are valid, perhaps some are not.

Regardless, this isn't rocket science here, and it's pointless to debate all the wherefores on Bud's business paradigm from anything other than a position of curiosity. They're business paradigm is the same as for any other business: profit. Where their desire for a profit matches up with your idea of a fair price, then we have the makings of what is known as a "deal". Where they do not match up, there is "no deal".

I don't see the mountain you seem to. Most people aren't trashing Buds for making a profit. They are just trying to see if they can discern a pattern to get the best possible deal.

 

[dogtown tom]

RetiredUSNChief OK...people are making a mountain out of a molehill here.
No, they aren't. The discussion is HOW & WHY do the prices at Buds fluctuate. Not a single post above complains about Buds pricing system.


If people think that their practices are, somehow, "unfair", "unethical", or "suspicious" simply based on fluctuations in pricing, then so be it.
Who are you quoting? No one has posted anything of the sort.



But I would question why these concepts don't also come into play should they simply hold their prices at some arbitrary constant value as well. Why should either stable or fluctuating prices necessarily be indicators of "unfair", "unethical", or "suspicious" activities?
Again, you are the only one to bring up those terms in this thread.


Regardless, this isn't rocket science here, and it's pointless to debate all the wherefores on Bud's business paradigm from anything other than a position of curiosity. They're business paradigm is the same as for any other business: profit. Where their desire for a profit matches up with your idea of a fair price, then we have the makings of what is known as a "deal". Where they do not match up, there is "no deal".
Good argument but that isn't the point of this thread.

...

 

[Elkins45]

^^^ I should add that I'm somewhat biased toward Buds just by virtue of the fact they are close to me and I can just pick up the gun locally without paying an FFL transfer fee.

 

[Rule3]

Due prices remain the same at your local grocery store or Wal Mart?

There are many many factors that go into product pricing that we will never know. Maybe it's time for Upper Mgt to get their bonus.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

@ dogtown tom:

I wasn't quoting people in this instance, I was emphasizing some of the implied feelings. Perhaps I should have used 'single quote marks' or something like that. At any rate, they were interpretive in nature and not meant to be actual quotes from postings. Please excuse my inaccuracy here.

And though most people ARE discussing this for the sake of "curiosity", as I put it in my posting, some think it's "kind of funny" to see a $153 jump in price two days after having purchased a particular pistol (accompanied by several scrutiny emoticons), or shipping costs not being anywhere near $30/unit, or fluctuations which occur several times daily aren't explained by some of the various means discussed. Those comments indicate a dissatisfaction or suspicion of motives/methodology.

 

[dogtown tom]

RetiredUSNChief@ dogtown tom:

I wasn't quoting people in this instance, I was emphasizing some of the implied feelings....

Again, the only posts that implied any dissatisfaction......are yours.

And though most people ARE discussing this for the sake of "curiosity", as I put it in my posting, some think it's "kind of funny" to see a $153 jump in price two days after having purchased a particular pistol (accompanied by several scrutiny emoticons), or shipping costs not being anywhere near $30/unit, or fluctuations which occur several times daily aren't explained by some of the various means discussed. Those comments indicate a dissatisfaction or suspicion of motives/methodology.

If you read the post with the scruitny emoticons you'll note that the price increased AFTER he purchased his firearm.......I dont think thats dissatisfaction.

Sorry, but it seems you have no grasp of whats being discussed.