I do know that in almost every case, the used guns are tagged at basically higher prices than a new one would cost.
Typically, that's because the used guns may have enhancements like night sights or an improved trigger.
Do you haggle with gun stores?
- Thread starter The Exile
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Typically, that's because the used guns may have enhancements like night sights or an improved trigger.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
I just generally ask "is that your best and final price" and see what happens. I also make it clear I will be paying cash if I buy it. I actually have found this also worked out well in the Cabela's Gun Library. Guy said give me a moment, looked at the computer and told me he would come down $100 and that was a $1,500 gun. So like many have said, nothing to lose by asking.
Ron
beamon
Member
Sure do! I calculate the average price of the gun online and all costs to get it to me. Then add the $20 FFL fee, here in the neighborhood. I compare that to the LGS 's price OTD which will include the sales tax and FFL fee. On handguns in the $400 to $800 range, if the LGS can get within $50.00 of the average online package price, he gets the business.
That's the differential I'm willing to pay to keep the LGS in business, higher priced guns and special circumstances, notwithstanding.
That's the differential I'm willing to pay to keep the LGS in business, higher priced guns and special circumstances, notwithstanding.
herrwalther
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I have done far more selling than buying lately. Mostly for guns I took a hard look at and decided I didn't like. In some cases I have talked gun stores up $100 for what they first offer. Other times I am walking out of their with a firearm to keep around.
The people that think you can't haggle with box stores are completely wrong. I've talked them down to ridiculously low prices at times. I mean giveaway prices. I paid $35 for a brand new Marlin 795 for example. You never know what kind of situation is going on in a big store and they have the profit margin to be able to lose money at times. I've seen lots of people pull off near miraculous deals with box stores. My best friend bought a top of the line refrigerator from Lowe's for $400. Regular price was about 4 times that amount. For one thing if a gun or any item has been sitting on the shelf too long they want to get rid of it so they can put something else on the shelf. That's how my buddy got that refrigerator. They either toss what they have in the trash or get what they can for it and sometimes that means ridiculously low prices.
I don't understand people "hate" haggling. I can sweat people pretty well and there isn't one thing wrong with it. It's my money against theirs and often they just want to get out from under an investment they made and which isn't working out for them. But my son is all the time king of haggling. I've seen him go in to buy a new car and have the dealership practically begging him to buy a car. He gets so much off the price it's crazy. Unbelievable in fact. These people don't take it personally or at least they shouldn't. From what I've read here I wonder.
And this is something I have to say and I'm sorry if I rankle a feather or two. It's not meant to be for that reason. Buying stuff online where the price is set and just giving them what they ask is almost always giving them too much. Sometimes it's ridiculously too much especially on the gun auction sites. People list guns at super high prices just waiting for someone that has more money than time or whatever. They re-list the same items over and over again until someone gives them their price. They will drop the price then raise it again to an even higher number. You'd be surprised at how many people think if you pay more it's better. That is far, far from being true. I've seen people who operate that way. I know a guy with a roofing business who never does anything for cheap. He makes millions doing it too. He could do the work for 10% of what he's charging but because his prices are high people think he must have a better way of doing things. I used to work for him delivering bids among other things. I worked for him later as a computer consultant too. I know how he runs his business. A lot of people think he does better work because he charges way more than some people. It works. He has a yacht, a condo on a huge lake, a big house, 2 Vettes, the most expensive Mercedes they make, and a bunch of other cars. He only works about half the time. He goes on vacation around the world the rest of the time. And he's able to afford all this stuff because people think "more expensive, must be better". Way back when I built my house I asked him what he could put my roof on for. I got it done for 15% of what he asked to do it. My roof hasn't leaked a drop in all that time either.
I'm not trying to insult anyone. I'm trying to give you a heads up on how things work sometimes. If you'd rather give up your money than haggle that's fine. It's your money. But to hate it seems pretty extreme to me.
I don't understand people "hate" haggling. I can sweat people pretty well and there isn't one thing wrong with it. It's my money against theirs and often they just want to get out from under an investment they made and which isn't working out for them. But my son is all the time king of haggling. I've seen him go in to buy a new car and have the dealership practically begging him to buy a car. He gets so much off the price it's crazy. Unbelievable in fact. These people don't take it personally or at least they shouldn't. From what I've read here I wonder.
And this is something I have to say and I'm sorry if I rankle a feather or two. It's not meant to be for that reason. Buying stuff online where the price is set and just giving them what they ask is almost always giving them too much. Sometimes it's ridiculously too much especially on the gun auction sites. People list guns at super high prices just waiting for someone that has more money than time or whatever. They re-list the same items over and over again until someone gives them their price. They will drop the price then raise it again to an even higher number. You'd be surprised at how many people think if you pay more it's better. That is far, far from being true. I've seen people who operate that way. I know a guy with a roofing business who never does anything for cheap. He makes millions doing it too. He could do the work for 10% of what he's charging but because his prices are high people think he must have a better way of doing things. I used to work for him delivering bids among other things. I worked for him later as a computer consultant too. I know how he runs his business. A lot of people think he does better work because he charges way more than some people. It works. He has a yacht, a condo on a huge lake, a big house, 2 Vettes, the most expensive Mercedes they make, and a bunch of other cars. He only works about half the time. He goes on vacation around the world the rest of the time. And he's able to afford all this stuff because people think "more expensive, must be better". Way back when I built my house I asked him what he could put my roof on for. I got it done for 15% of what he asked to do it. My roof hasn't leaked a drop in all that time either.
I'm not trying to insult anyone. I'm trying to give you a heads up on how things work sometimes. If you'd rather give up your money than haggle that's fine. It's your money. But to hate it seems pretty extreme to me.
russianbear
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- 75
Cee Zee in my small crime infested cow town,all the roofing work "labor" is done by the same people, Hispanic Mexican or both and they do quality work,but the company's are owned by Americans.
Some are paid daily in cash with no questions being asked others as full time employees.
A lot of the price depends on the type of material the customer picks.
So you compare prices and pick the best one with the material you want.
I understand people running roofing companies want to make a profit,same with firearm dealers they want to make a profit.
All I want is to be treated like a customer, not like someone just lucky to be able to buy from them.
I drove 36 miles round trip got $25 knocked off my Sig MK-25 Navy,not a real deal but I did not have to buy from Mr.take it of leave dealer even him being two miles from my home.
Some are paid daily in cash with no questions being asked others as full time employees.
A lot of the price depends on the type of material the customer picks.
So you compare prices and pick the best one with the material you want.
I understand people running roofing companies want to make a profit,same with firearm dealers they want to make a profit.
All I want is to be treated like a customer, not like someone just lucky to be able to buy from them.
I drove 36 miles round trip got $25 knocked off my Sig MK-25 Navy,not a real deal but I did not have to buy from Mr.take it of leave dealer even him being two miles from my home.
Deltaboy1984
Member
New guns I shop for the best price, I always dicker over used Guns.
My cow town has one of the highest crime rates in the country. There are some immigrant workers (don't get me started about stealing jobs from Americans) but the guy I'm talking about hires only locals because those are the only ones he can hire. The government checks up on him because he does a number of govt. contract jobs.
But he also does some residential roofing. That's something I know well where he jacks prices up out of sight. My dad was a contractor and we built a lot of houses. We built my house even though I tried to keep dad off the site because he was getting older. I let him help put the sheeting down on the roof but the angle of the roof made me say no way I'm letting dad near it so I hired it done. I built an A-frame house.
I bought the best shingles available so it had nothing to do with the quality of the materials when I got an estimate from this guy. He wanted $100 a square to shingle my house. I got it done for $15. That's just the labor cost BTW. The shingles weren't included in that. So it wasn't about picking the one with the material I wanted. I didn't have any roof jacks or I would have done it myself. But even back when we were building a bunch of houses we often hired the roofing work done. I hired that same bunch to do my house. They did a great job. Those guys are still in the construction business BTW. They build a house for my brother just a couple of years ago. My brother's health is worse than mine in some ways so he just couldn't do it himself like he did on the bigger house he had. He sold that one to his daughter because he didn't need the space anymore with his family moved out.
I know how the construction business goes. I worked in that line for close to 15 years. There are the people who give you an estimate based on what it actually takes them to do a job with a fair profit and there are those who charge you as much as they can possibly get. I've worked for both kinds of companies. I'm not saying that making money is always a great sin BTW. What a person does with the money they make matters. I've made really good money in my life at times including on some construction jobs. I used to be an equipment operator and they paid me very well. I'm not knocking people who make money. I'm just saying there are ways to buy things cheaper and not get burned for doing it.
Way, way back I worked for a retailer who would list an out-of-sight price with line drawn through it, and then under it the figure he intended to get - and we wouldn't go any lower. 
The store did very well - maybe because they had the only gunsmith that could fix whatever. A prospective buyer could go elsewhere, but if their new toy wouldn't function or broke he/she had a problem.
Good retailers understand the proper way to train customers.
The store did very well - maybe because they had the only gunsmith that could fix whatever. A prospective buyer could go elsewhere, but if their new toy wouldn't function or broke he/she had a problem.
Good retailers understand the proper way to train customers.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
Maybe I can help explain some of that, first off I'll say the only time I have ever been involved in business where sales was an issue Is when I worked at an auto parts store in high school. So my experience is limited to say the least.
Anyway, my line of thinking when I sell something is basically "what price is fair and competitive for both me and the buyer?" For instance if selling a rifle I'll generally price it slightly under what I would be willing to pay for it. This is essentially my best price, and if I can't get that I'll just keep it or give it to someone I know needs it.
If I were to put a price on it that was higher than my "best" price, the one I said was fair for everyone, then I would feel like I'm trying to take advantage of the buyer. So in return when I put my price on it and someone tries to talk me down I feel like they may be tring to take advantage of me, even though I know this may not be the case, but it also may be. And that frankly ticks me off.
I generally give a price and frequently someone will try to talk me down at which point I'll tell them "if I can't get that for it I'll just keep it." If they persist I'll throw a number out higher than the first one. I will say, I understand many people haggle and over price so when they ask the first time I realize its just part of the process, when they ask again, that's when I go to getting my panties in a wad, as they say. After all I've already told them "if I can't get that for it I'll just keep it" and I wasn't lying when I said it.
As a result of how I do business, I guess I falsely assume most people are doing the same...... You know, pricing their products fairly.... So I just shop around until I find the best deal. That's what I don't understand, people intentionally over pricing in a free market. When I shop around, I go look at the price on the tag, as that seems reasonable to me. If Bob (who doesn't haggle) puts a lower price on a gun and Jim up the street put a 15% higher price on the same gun, but he is willing to haggle, who do you think will sell more?
Basically, when you put a price on something I assume that's the price you want for said item, I know, crazy right! Therefore if I try to beat you down I feel like I'm trying to take advantage of you.
I just view haggling as two people trying to get over on each other, yes I know that isn't always the case. But that's my honest thinking.
Steel Horse Rider
Member
G. Whillickers: You need to come by my office some time if you think people don't try to haggle for service costs. I am in the commercial refrigeration service business and the problem here is that they always want to haggle AFTER the service or repair is complete. Those from the Mideast are the worst. I can understand why that region is always in turmoil as everyone is always trying to take advantage of everyone else! I do not price my material or services with "cushion" built in. I give what I judge to be a fair estimate that gives the customer good value and my company a fair profit. Sometimes the job runs into unforeseen problems that require extra time or material, and sometimes it is completed at less cost than expected, but I usually stick to the estimated price as the customer and I were both in agreement that it was fair before we started. Some people are just cheap and aren't concerned with anyone but their own perspective while others will simply agree to more than their resources can afford. Anyway, that is what has formed my philosophy on purchasing over the past thirty years. If the price is fair and I want it I will buy it.
I'd say yes you are. Not everyone prices stuff higher than what they expect to get but you should understand that many if not most gun shops expect haggling. Every shop I deal with immediately drops the price if I just ask. I don't beat them over the head demanding a better price or anything. But people are in business to make money and they figure if someone pays the higher price just because they didn't want to haggle then more money for them. I have never found a single person who was insulted when I tried to haggle. An auto parts store would certainly be different. That just isn't a place for haggling. It's like Walmart. What the price tag says is the price. But that's never the way it is with guns IMO. Not in my experience.
The trick is to read the other person. If they don't want to haggle it becomes obvious pretty quick. Some guys are just jerks though and try to charge way too much for something. I'll admit I sometimes try to tick those people off just because they wasted my time. Like the time a car dealer worked up a deal with great payments and didn't bother telling me it was for 60 months instead of 48 for an hour. People like that don't deserve respect and I'll sometimes make them pay for wasting my time. Not often but sometimes.
I know when someone is dealing fairly with me. Most people do I think. It's the American way to haggle. Heck there are 100 different tv shows built around haggling for stuff. It's not a terrible thing. It's just something people do. I know people who go to flea markets and sell stuff around in circles just so they can spend their time haggling because they enjoy it. What I mean is they sell stuff a guy and that guy sells it to another guy and he sells it back to the first guy. They're all playing a game trying to see who can come out ahead. They don't play for blood. Just sport. Well some play for blood but they are easy to spot and even easier to avoid.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
But don't they understand there's also a lot of people, like myself, that don't ask? I'll walk in, look at the price and walk out. So I never know the "real" price, I assure you they don't make more money off of me because I don't haggle, they'll lose sales.
If they ask "can I help you?" I'll generally politely tell them no thanks, I can see the price without them holding my hand.
BTW:
While we didn't really negotiate prices in the parts store, if you were a regular or even semi regular customer and a pleasnt person we'd throw a discount quick. If you acted like an @$$ we'd pull the price sticker off in a second. I once sold a thermostat for $45. Lol
It pays to be polite to your parts man, well, it did before everything went computerized.
EDIT:
I'll even say, when I notice higher prices I'll advise people to a different business with better prices. I fully believe most people do the same, so wouldn't it be smarter to advertise the best price? Even if it's only on the tag?
I just don't belive they make more money by pricing higher but being willing to negotiate. I know they don't off me, or the people I recommend a different store to.
People are always complaining about prices at their LGS, maybe we have a connection!
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Gun Master
Member
Haggle?
Sure, I haggle if the price is to high and I want the gun, mostly with pawn shops.
Sure, I haggle if the price is to high and I want the gun, mostly with pawn shops.
NoVA Shooter
Member
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2009
- Messages
- 178
I'd also like to point out (as some have also mentioned), haggling is not limited to the specific product you're looking to buy. Part of the 'negotiation' can be a reduced rate on an add-on. Many people have talked about how margins on new guns are razor thin and that there's not room to haggle. Well, in the cases where that's true, offer a discount on the high margin items instead. One thing I sometimes ask, is if I buy a particular gun, will they sell me the ammo (the caliber of that gun), or gun case, or cleaning supplies at 20% off.
Again, haggling is a negotiation. Just because I ask for X, doesn't mean they can't counter with Y.
Again, haggling is a negotiation. Just because I ask for X, doesn't mean they can't counter with Y.
jamesinalaska
Member
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- Feb 9, 2015
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- 256
Yes.
Yes, I'm sure that they understand that some people won't ask for a lower price and will just leave if the prices are too high. However, the stores that I know of that will usually come down actually have pretty good prices to begin with because they have chosen their niche well and can compete pretty well within their niche. So it's fairly likely that the only person you're hurting with your policy is yourself. You would probably be ok with their price and pay what it's marked when you could pay less if you could just bring yourself to ask a very simple question: "Is that really the best you can do on this gun?
It's also worth noting that the stores that usually will come down don't usually come down a lot. It's not like you're going to save $100 on a $500 purchase. More like something in the neighborhood of 5% to 10%.
Pawn shops are another story. It seems like they can have a lot more room to negotiate than a typical gun store. I've seen them come down quite a bit, especially on something that isn't mainstream and might sit on the shelf for awhile.
Sure they do. And they understand a lot of people will just pay the higher price they ask for without questioning them or leaving to go elsewhere. Chances are most other places are doing the same thing. It's a proven business model and like John said, the only person you're hurting with your policy is you. And it is also true that they don't generally come way off their original asking price. Generally they do something like pay the taxes for you or drop $25 off their price. But sometimes you can get a great deal. I bought a tv stand that retailed for around $500 after I looked at it and asked a salesman what kind of wood it was made from. When I said I wasn't interested because of the type of wood he immediately dropped the price to a quarter of what they were asking before. I ended up paying just over $100 for it because when I saw him come down that fast I asked for a little more and I got it. It does pay to ask the question. Lowe's for example always has a bunch of appliances they are trying to sell that are put in an aisle with reduced prices. Sometimes if you ask they will come way off the already discounted price because it's an old model and they want it gone for whatever money they can get. My buddy bought that refrigerator like that. My daughter's boy friend got me a washing machine for about $100 because he knew some people at a store and worked with them on prices. There's money to be saved and Lowe's can afford to lose it more than me. Same goes for places like Gander Mtn. where I got that Marlin for $35 brand new.
Inebriated
Member
I feel pretty much the same way. Clearly haggling is a hobby for some, that's fine, but I just am completely uninterested. Life's too short to get hung up over a few bucks.mgmorden said:
DeepSouth
Random Guy
It makes no sense to me how finding the best price and then buying the product for that price is a policy that only hurts me. That's laughable, and honestly illogical unless you believe everyone is overpricing and if you've read this thread you know that isn't the case.
Maybe this why it's been years since I bought a gun from a local gun store. Could this explain why so many people buy online now? Somehow I bet it's related.
And even if it's "only" 5-10% that's kind of a big difference. Guy A has a $700 rifle while guy B has the same rifle for say 7.5% less. Thats under $650, guess which one I'll go to. Yes I definitely see how this policy hurts only me, and not the guys that don't get my business or the business of the people I refered somewhere else.. Yep, definitely only hurts me. Because free market competition doesn't exist apparently.
That's laughable, and honestly illogical unless you believe everyone is overpricing and if you've read this thread you know that isn't the case. Maybe this why it's been years since I bought a gun from a local gun store. Could this explain why so many people buy online now? Somehow I bet it's related.
And even if it's "only" 5-10% that's kind of a big difference. Guy A has a $700 rifle while guy B has the same rifle for say 7.5% less. Thats under $650, guess which one I'll go to. Yes I definitely see how this policy hurts only me, and not the guys that don't get my business or the business of the people I refered somewhere else.. Yep, definitely only hurts me. Because free market competition doesn't exist apparently.
Officers'Wife
Member
Haggle is an ugly word. I will sometimes offer value added substitutions to the dollar price. In some cases out and out barter. Then there is always negotiation... But then I grew up with cattlemen and horse traders, dealing for a better price is part of my legacy.
That's not what anyone said. What hurts you is not asking the person in front of you if that's the best price they can give you. Instead of getting the price you want you end up going to look in who knows how many places burning up your gas and your time. You could have the same price by just asking. Trust me they are not offended when you ask.
BTW I love buying form a LGS. They give you this thing called "service". They give me far better deals as a general rule although not always. They do things for me no box store would ever do like give me from a week to a month to test a gun. And that's new guns and used guns. If I don't like it I can bring it back. That's something I've never done because I've never been burned by a LGS. They know I won't try to take advantage of them.
When I bought my Sig P220 I was having a little bit of a problem with it. Turned out it was just the bad ammo I was feeding it but to find that out the LGS owner invited me to go to the gun range with him. He happened to be going that way anyway. He told me to bring the Sig and we would see what the problem was by test firing it. When I got there I found out he had brought 3 full auto guns including an HK, an M-16 and some .308 I don't remember the brand. It wasn't anything I had heard of so I forgot the name. Anyway. He also had about $5000 worth of ammo. We shot it all that day. I can show you a letter to the local paper complaining about us. They said it sounded like a war going on up on the hill where the range was. I never had so much fun with guns in my life. He let me shoot those guns and his ammo just because I had bought a pistol from him. I took his advice on buying the gun and I think he liked that. Oh and he came down on the price of that Sig the day I bought it. He came down like $50. 2 days after meeting the guy he let me shoot up at least $1000 worth of his ammo. We were burning that stuff up like crazy. Yes they were all reloads but there were thousands and thousands of them. We had all 3 machine guns going full bore for an hour and a half at least.
LGS's will help you in many ways. They sold me ammo when the shortage was at it's worst because I was a good customer. They ship guns back to the factory for me and it doesn't cost me a dime. It only happened once but I've had other shops offer to do it. They give me discounts for being a loyal customer. I try to keep them in business because it's good to have places to get ammo in a hurry and they in turn appreciate that I give them my business. Buying online is risky business and you'll find people here who have been burned doing it. Buying from a LGS is far safer.
ranger56528
Member
Nope,I have been doing business with my LGS for 18 years and he knows I look at prices on line to see what the going prices are so if I find something a want I'll go in and ask if he can get it then he will ask what I have seen them going for and we work out a deal from there,depending on the weapon it's usually about 25-75 bucks over his cost. He treats me well.
When buying electronics consider the plight of Best Buy.
They offer what is generally an excellent selection combined with knowledgeable sales people. But they may become extinct because of window shoppers that look and learn, and then purchase whatever from someone else (such as WalMart other big-box store) who has lower prices and nothing else.
In most if not every retail business those that provide selection and service seldom can survive if the also have cut-to-the-bone prices. They simply become a showroom/information center for someone else.
One of my favorite memories concerns a gent that took up a salesperson's time to get fully briefed on what to buy in the way of a pump shotgun. He then left and went somewhere else to spend his money. When he got home with his brand new toy he discovered that it was not assembled. He had the gall to take it to the first store and request that they assemble it.
After explaining how difficult this would be, they put the barrel back on the receiver and charged him enough to insure that whatever saving he had gotten before was wiped out and more.
They offer what is generally an excellent selection combined with knowledgeable sales people. But they may become extinct because of window shoppers that look and learn, and then purchase whatever from someone else (such as WalMart other big-box store) who has lower prices and nothing else.
In most if not every retail business those that provide selection and service seldom can survive if the also have cut-to-the-bone prices. They simply become a showroom/information center for someone else.
One of my favorite memories concerns a gent that took up a salesperson's time to get fully briefed on what to buy in the way of a pump shotgun. He then left and went somewhere else to spend his money. When he got home with his brand new toy he discovered that it was not assembled. He had the gall to take it to the first store and request that they assemble it.
After explaining how difficult this would be,
they put the barrel back on the receiver and charged him enough to insure that whatever saving he had gotten before was wiped out and more.
Officers'Wife
Member
Another advantage to buying local is the human factor. A couple years ago the gunshop had this Remington 600 in .308 in near perfect condition. My hubby has always admired Dad's in 30-06 so I did a bit of talking but he wouldn't come down from $550. When I shook my head he teased me that I only knew how to shoot my Enfield anyway. I mentioned it would have been a coming home present for Dave getting out of the army.
I brought it home for $275 and an invitation to the homecoming.
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