Buying online vs local

[coylh]

I encountered an odd situation this week. I wanted to buy a pistol. Normally I just go to the gun store. But my usual stores didn't have this model. So, I looked online. There's quite a price difference working against the local shops.

For example let's say the gun was $1,000.

Order through local shop:
Gun: $1000
Margin: $100
Tax: $100
Total: $1200

Order Online:
Gun: $1000
Shipping: $15
FFL: $30
Total $1045

So, there's a built in disincentive of $155 for me to buy this gun from a local shop. ;-(

 

[rangerruck]

shipping is ususally 20 dollars or more, and the ffl trans is 345 or 50 here in houston.

 

[Chawbaccer]

You will have more of a chance getting a better deal with a local shop.
And the sales tax thing is kind of deceptive, even tho the seller doesn't charge you for it, you are still liable to pay it.

 

[Standing Wolf]

A lot depends on the local gun shop, plus there's the factor of not being able to handle the gun you find on the interet. When I bought my model 1911 several years ago, I had the salesman lay out four identical models on the display counter so I could choose the one with the best trigger.

That said™, when you're looking for unusual or uncommon guns, there's almost nowhere else to look but the internet.

 

[Waitone]

Local gun shops put up with a lot of BS to support RKBA. They deserve my business and thanks and a little money. Beside that, if something goes wrong I want a local rear end to kick.

 

[Soybomb]

I buy from both, I do nearly all my transfers through my favorite store. he doesn't give me any hassle what I order and what he could get it for, and in return I usually pick up some cleaning supplies, a couple mags, and buy one of his guns now and then. I'm not getting fleeced for any supposed higher purpose. The last gun I bought from him was priced quite a bit higher than I would have been able to get it online after shipping and ffl. He quoted me a cash price just a little higher than that when I asked if they were flexible and I took it. Its quite nice to be able to handle used guns, and sometimes new ones even. At the same time if I can get a better deal online, am looking for something weird or that I"m particular about I just tell them where to send the ffl and pay $20. Don't let any dealer guilt you into paying high markups.

 

[Majic]

When local shops don't offer what you want then the Internet comes to the rescue. Many people refuse to buy over the net for various reasons, but they are the ones who end up with holes in their collections. I don't buy new guns so the Internet offers a larger base for me to find exactly what I want. Pricing can still be haggled and inspection can still be arranged.
Some people are blessed to live in a gun rich enviroment with many gun stores offering a lot of models at competetive prices. Those of us who don't live in such areas have the Internet to fill our collections.

 

[palerider1]

see if your computer can fix your gun when it needs a repair..... not beating you up at all my friend, but i like to deal locally, that way if there is a problem the dealer can fix it right away. if you go to the local dealer and didnt buy the gun from them you go to the bottom of the pile when it comes to service. just my thoughts, i like to save money too, but i find its cheaper in the long run to negotiate a fair price (not chisle the poor guy down to bare bones) and get good service later.

 

[CrazyIrishman]

There was a local shop that I used to buy from and recommend all the time until one day.......the shop changed owners and customer service went the way of the dinosaurs. The help was best described as humanoid life forms and not much more. All of the knowledgeable help was GONE! Don't even try to ask a simple question!

Before the change in ownership it was a nice place to buy from. The help was on the ball and the prices were very reasonable, plus they would order just about anything you could want.


I've only bought online once. If at all possible though I'd rather buy local.

 

[jtward01]

. . . . i like to deal locally, that way if there is a problem the dealer can fix it right away. if you go to the local dealer and didnt buy the gun from them you go to the bottom of the pile when it comes to service. . . .

I've yet to find a local gun shop that will honor the manufacturers warranty on new guns and do the repair work in house. Invariably they've told me to contact the factory. Simple work like installing new sights, etc., takes two to three weeks because the shop gunsmith is always backed up with work. If I need service it's faster and usually cheaper to ship the gun back to the factory or to one of the large gun repair shops (Cogan, Robar, Cylinder&Slide, Clarks etc.) than to deal with a local shop.

Most of the time the shipping and transfer fees are offset by not having to pay sales tax and I've saved as much as 25% on the cost of the gun itself by purchasing online.

 

[poppy]

Order through local shop:
Gun: $1000
Margin: $100
Tax: $100
Total: $1200

You lost me somewhere here. Are you saying that the gun shop marks up the gun 10% and the online seller has no margin? Are you also saying that sales tax is 10% where you live? In most states the online price has to be significantly below the local shop price to make buying sight unseen advisable. poppy

 

[Majic]

see if your computer can fix your gun when it needs a repair..... not beating you up at all my friend, but i like to deal locally, that way if there is a problem the dealer can fix it right away.

Dealers generally are not repair shops. They contract a gunsmith who may have a small shop to do minor work at the dealer's store, but the vast majority of the work is picked up and carried back to his shop. The gunsmith is just as happy to get the work from you the owner as he is from getting it from the dealer. Time is generally saved by going directly to the gunsmith because his name is on the line for prompt service and he will tell you the best time to bring your gun as he will have time to work on it. Going thru the dealer you have to wait until his scheduled dates for pick-up and deliveries and just live with how long the smith takes to get around to it.
Ask your dealer to speak to the gunsmith. I'll bet most of the time you will hear what specific day and time he will be at the gunstore.

 

[coylh]

poppy, I think the tax is actually 9%, but I'm using rough numbers. I can post the actual numbers once I finish buying the gun.

The margin is roughly what the shop would charge me for aquiring the gun. In other words, they're going to go buy it online too, and need to increase the price for that service.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

see if your computer can fix your gun when it needs a repair..... not beating you up at all my friend, but i like to deal locally, that way if there is a problem the dealer can fix it right away.

There are no gun stores near me with any significant knowledge of gun repair. I am able to fix more problems in my garage than they can fix.

 

[Mizzle187]

I but msotly online but do buy some local. The ones I buy online will be reasonablly cheaper or not available local. Now if its a $50 difference Ill buy local.

 

[bpisler]

I try to support my favorite local dealer but
sometimes i find something used online that
they can't get.They still make a little on the
transfer plus i always use them when i'am
shipping a gun..

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I'm not a collector. I only have firearms for defensive purposes, so I buy from my local dealer. His dealer/warehouse is very comprehensive and can get anything I want. He has what I feel are VERY reasonable prices and usually has a good stock of guns to choose from both new and used. In short, I have no reason to shop elsewhere since he keeps me happy. I do look at sites like gunbroker a lot just for kicks, but keep my business local. I like having a local store I can do business with and understand that if I don't support it, I'll lose it.
Besides, I like handling wheelguns before I buy. Especially the used ones. I guess I'm old skool.

 

[AirForceShooter]

where is the on-line guys margin.
He selling at a loss?

AFS

 

[trickyasafox]

i just found a new local shop guy. his powder prices and components are high, but he makes up for it. he sells me powder for 24 bucks a lb, which at bass pro or gander by me its 20 after taxes. however, if he gets half boxes of any components, he gives them to me for free, he doesnt get hardly any reloaders. yesterday i picked up a couple lbs of powder and he gave me some 9mm 115gr half jacketed hollow points to reload. better part of a 100 in there.

also the pistol cal's i shoot, if he gets a partial factory box in trade, he gives them to me for free too. can't really argue with service like that. i'll order all my guns through him from now on if i can't get it done after i get my c&r.

 

[redneck2]

I don't understand how you can buy for the same price as an FFL. Either he's a poor business man or you've found someone selling wholesale to the public.

 

[45Broomhandle]

I BUY BOTH WAYS..... BUT....

ACCIDENTALLY POSTED TWICE.

 

[45Broomhandle]

I BUY BOTH WAYS..... BUT....

I've collected or at least owned guns all my adult life - over 50 years at this point. I lost interest during the '90s and kept only a couple of handguns for home defense and carry. At the turn of the century I started buying again, thrashing about looking for something new to interest me. I bought various guns through local dealers. My main interest was in collectable, rather than shooters.

I've now settled into collecting .22rf of THREE types: PISTOL - Mossberg "Brownie," RIFLE - Gevarms of ANY model, and COMBO - Fiala Arms & Equipment cased 3-bbl sets. NONE OF THESE ARE EASILY FOUND LOCALLY!

Ergo, I constantly scan the net, using all the automated scanning search devices I've been able to locate, and this method has notified me of as mundane things as a country auction in Idaho to a LARGE gun dealer auction Down East. And, I immediately obtained a C&R license to lessen the transfer costs. Local FFLs charged from $25 to $50 per...

However, all local dealers have my wants on their "Look For" lists, and if and when they come up with these items I'll certainly buy from them. I continue to buy all my cleaning supplies, slings, and other gun accessories locally.

 

[albanian]

I will buy from any and all sources that give me what I want. I try and factor in every cost and benefit before buying a gun from anywhere. Most of the time, you can get the lowest price from some place online but that doesn't mean that it is still the best deal. I think a small premium in order to handle it in person and have someone to take it back to if something is wrong should be considered also.

Like most people, I don't like to feel that I am getting ripped off so I try and keep my eyes open. One thing about the auction sites is, it is rare that you get a really good deal. You often get a good price but only by going to local gunshops and gunshows can you expect to find real bargins.

You have to know the net prices when you go local so you can figuire in your head if it is worth it to buy local. Often it is. When I first started buying online, I got a few good deals and I felt like I was never going to buy local again. I was wrong. I buy local more and more now. There is a role for the net but it can never replace the store or the gunshow. The net will take a chunk of business from some shops but it probably will never close them down compleatly.

 

[TechBrute]

Things to consider:

1) In the areas I've looked into it, paying more than $25 or $30 to transfer a gun is not necessary. I hear local guys complaining about a $65 transfer and I don't even bother to tell them that they are getting screwed. There are at least 5 shops locally that do it for $25 (or less with a CHL,) and if they didn't have their heads up their butts, they'd know it.
2) Just because you bought a gun at a shop, don't expect them to stand behind it. Most small shops, in my experience, end all support once you ploink down the moolah. After that, warranty work is through the manufacturer.
3) Buying online can save you a lot of money. It can also be risky.
4) Buying locally gets you local wisdom. This can be good or bad.
5) Buying online will often result in you getting a gun quicker. If the local shop doesn't have it, you typically wind up making a trip to the shop, paying, waiting a while, then finding out they got the gun a week ago but haven't called you. If you buy online, you can find out from the seller when the gun was shipped and when it will get to the dealer. Then there's only one trip to the shop.

 

[coylh]

This may have been an unusual situation because the gun is discontinued, but here are the numbers:

Online 1300 + 13 (shipping) + 36 (ffl) = $1350

Local = 1450 + 130 (tax) = $1580

I usually like to shop local (and stopped at three places looking for this gun), but it was worth buying online for me this time, and I am satisfied with the experience in addition to the cost savings.