Gun store craziness.

[Dibbs]

Not a unique experience, when I walked into my LGS midday a few years back to buy a 600$ item The six old dudes stared at me like I just interrupted their poker game and I had no clothes on.

This isn't unusual at all, but the reason a lot of gun stores don't last around here, is they fail to see the simple truth that there is very little markup or profit margin, in guns. You gotta, gotta, gotta sell accessories. Solvents, cleaning gear, holsters, accessories, all have great markup, and profit potential. Sure, you want to sell guns. But if guns is all you have, I hope you didn't quit your day job.

 

[Poper]

This isn't unusual at all, but the reason a lot of gun stores don't last around here, is they fail to see the simple truth that there is very little markup or profit margin, in guns. You gotta, gotta, gotta sell accessories. Solvents, cleaning gear, holsters, accessories, all have great markup, and profit potential. Sure, you want to sell guns. But if guns is all you have, I hope you didn't quit your day job.

Yup.
"Ya' want fries with that?"

 

[George P]

My little (we're talking REAL small town) store, who is only open in the weekends half days, did $18K in business the other month. CCW classes, transfers (a lot) consignments (even some of mine) and accessories all make up more than 80% of his sales and profits. Any store not doing transfers and consignments are fools - free inventory or sales with no investment in inventory and the loss of the time value of the cash.

 

[entropy]

Right now, even good LGS owners are having trouble if that's all they sell is guns and related items. My LGS is an Ace Hardware, so even though things are a little slim for the gun shop, he's doing OK. Like every other shop owner, he's wishing he'd have had more .223 and 9mm, and he had more than most around here. He is limiting sales on stock he does have.

 

[George P]

Which he should; better to have a bunch of customers get a little than most not getting any............

 

[Speedo66]

Which he should; better to have a bunch of customers get a little than most not getting any............

The more customers, the more chances for another sale in addition to ammo.

 

[CapnMac]

My main LGS

As that does not sound like Champion, I'll guess you buy from Dave & Cathy.

 

[Ignition Override]

The reality goes levels of insanity beyond what it was last fall. Really surprised me.

At JGSales, a 1,000-rd. case of basic fmj Tula 7.62x39 ---was -- $380, before extra charges.
$620 is/WAS the current price....Woops-Scratch This Out.

>>>> Update: now $680 , in less than one month it jumped from the Advanced Insanity priced of $620 for a case.

The number of users has increased That much since last fall?
My other comment is edited, to avoid worrying those who can only "read between the lines for something which isn't there".

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

The reality goes levels of insanity beyond what it was last fall. Really surprised me.

At JGSales, a 1,000-rd. case of basic fmj Tula 7.62x39 ---was -- $380, before extra charges.
$620 !! is the current price. Do they expect to have street battles (in suburbs?? small towns??) as seen in Berlin/Vienna in the 1920s? Or the number of users has increased That much since last fall?

Just don't look at their 9mm prices...cringe at the hike.

 

[Alte Schule]

As that does not sound like Champion, I'll guess you buy from Dave & Cathy.

I'm going to PM you.

 

[George P]

The reality goes levels of insanity beyond what it was last fall. Really surprised me.

At JGSales, a 1,000-rd. case of basic fmj Tula 7.62x39 ---was -- $380, before extra charges.
$620 !! is the current price.

The number of users has increased That much since last fall?
Or they anticipate a post-apocalyptic scenario soon ?

I think some folks envision stuff we can't talk about in this forum after recent events

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Someone around here was offering a Mosin Nagant revolver for something like $800 at a show.

it sold.

 

[Ignition Override]

Speedo66:
If I had clearly witnessed the "judge every book by its cover", non-helpful attitude at Black Rifle gun stores,
I would have looked them in the eye, and asked them about their AKs,
just to provoke them.

 

[Speedo66]

Speedo66:
If I had clearly witnessed the "judge every book by its cover", non-helpful attitude at Black Rifle gun stores,
I would have looked them in the eye, and asked them about their AKs,
just to provoke them.

After a visit or two, I realized they had nothing I was interested in and never went back. I pass by it on the way to the supermarket and saw they were gone.

Got into the habit of ignoring slights and insults, came from working in LE. I don't let idiots tweak me.

There's a line from an old Elvis Costello song I find expresses my sentiments sometimes, "Oh I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused".

 

[KevininPa]

After a visit or two, I realized they had nothing I was interested in and never went back. I pass by it on the way to the supermarket and saw they were gone.

Got into the habit of ignoring slights and insults, came from working in LE. I don't let idiots tweak me.

There's a line from an old Elvis Costello song I find expresses my sentiments sometimes, "Oh I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused".

I could be wrong, but I think that phrase is even older than that. Heh, I also agree with it.

 

[hanno]

Someone around here was offering a Mosin Nagant revolver for something like $800 at a show.

it sold.

Wow!
I bought my Nagant revolver for $50 back in the day. Where is my time machine....................................................

 

[mcnabb100]

My LGS, the one I most frequent and like the most and has the best prices typically, has always charged $100 for transfers. I thought it was weird that he could be competitive with Wal mart with ammo pricing, but charge an arm and a leg for a transfer. I figure he just didn't like to bother with it.

My other LGS/outfitter, that I don't like, that has the same 12 overpriced handguns in the case for a year at a time, charged $30 for a transfer. Now they don't charge anything because the owner gave the business to his son who apparently didn't want to stop his herbal grow op so now the gun part of the business is finished.

I've never understood that attitude about transfers. You make 2 phone calls, 1 to let the customer know the gun is ready for pickup and 1 for the background check. Seems like easy money. 30 bucks in 10 minutes = $180/hr, that's my kind of job!

 

[Riomouse911]

I’m buying a Glock 43x from a large police-oriented gun retailer that doesn’t pandemic-rape their customers.

I called and spoke to a clerk on the phone when I paid for the gun via the web, and he said the next appointment to pick up my gun will be available in MARCH!

I asked about drop ins. He described the situation as the Wild West, with people showing up and sitting in their parking lot as early as 2 am to get on the list.

I took a vacation day to go in on a Wednesday, getting here at 5:30 to see 9 cars already in the lot. I signed in at 7, and at 12:15 I am finally inside waiting to start the paperwork.

Times are insane right now!

Stay safe.

 

[Babarsac]

I have a Henry rifle that finally came in to the shop. Going in tomorrow to do paperwork. Shop says that background checks are taking 2-3 days

 

[George P]

I've never understood that attitude about transfers. You make 2 phone calls, 1 to let the customer know the gun is ready for pickup and 1 for the background check. Seems like easy money. 30 bucks in 10 minutes = $180/hr, that's my kind of job!

So how many of those do you do every day?

 

[theotherwaldo]

I was checking on Ebay.
Even the solid plastic prop guns have jumped in price.
Even stuff from Star Wars and The Mandalorian!

 

[Ignition Override]

Babarsac: my friend really likes his Henry (45-..70?). Even a .22LR Henry would be very cool. If it weren't for the need for rounded bullets, such a rifle in 7.62x39 would be perfect. You can imagine why.

Recently watching unique westerns such as "the Stalking Moon" (Peck/E.M. Saint: not at all your normal western story ...) and "Two Mules for Sister Sarah" (Eastwood/McLaine) gives me an appetite for one of those--
--or any 'first' lever action: Marlin 30-30 etc.

 

[kimberkid]

I just watched a brick of Thunderbolt 22's on Gunbroker sell, 30 bids Final Price $220 + another 20 shipping

Meanwhile, another guy had 5 boxes/100rnds ea of CCI Mini-Mags for $170 buy-it-now

Last year I was buying mini-mags for $12 per box of 100 (IIRC)

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

I just watched a brick of Thunderbolt 22's on Gunbroker sell, 30 bids Final Price $220 + another 20 shipping

Meanwhile, another guy had 5 boxes/100rnds ea of CCI Mini-Mags for $170 buy-it-now

Last year I was buying mini-mags for $12 per box of 100 (IIRC)

I bought some CCI Mini-mags from my local Bi-Mart this morning for $8.00, so I got two of them, the limit there.

 

[Poper]

I just watched a brick of Thunderbolt 22's on Gunbroker sell, 30 bids Final Price $220 + another 20 shipping

Good grief! I wonder what a brick of Aguila would sell for???