jimmyraythomason
Member
I cruise the trade forums on Facebook. I get a lot of my guns that way.
how you buy used firearms
- Thread starter hokiemojo
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medalguy
Member
Forums have been pretty good for me for many years. However, lately prices seem to be a little bit higher than I'm willing to pay for many guns. One thing to remember is to never be in a hurry to buy a gun. Shop around and wait for a good deal to come along. If you just gotta have that gun right now, you will pay more than you probably should.
Ignition Override
Member
Only Armslist (TN), in west TN. Bought or traded for about six in the last two years. Sold about five.
Our gun shows are really small, in the gun Shops the used selections are pretty limited, therefore nothing can compare to Armslist.
Our gun shows are really small, in the gun Shops the used selections are pretty limited, therefore nothing can compare to Armslist.
grampajack
AR Junkie
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I just don't know what happened to gun shows. It's like everyone in a hundred yard radius of one temporarily loses their mind.
I don't buy and sell a lot, so take my words for worth what you've paid for them. Patience is key. If you just absolutely have to have that gun, and no other, right stinking now, you've lost all of your bargaining power. You have to be prepared to walk away and wait for the next one. And as others noted, cash talks and others walk.
PegLegPeat
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I have had pretty good luck with Arms list. I absolutely hate haggling over price on anything. The last two cars we bought I sent my FIL to do it. He seems to take quite the pleasure in it, but I digress. Haggling is the way of Arms list and craigs list. It seems to me that most price their items 25-30% higher than the price they will acutally accept. This would account for some of the very lightly used guns being priced slightly higher than than new. I have to admit, I have only sold one item on Armslist, and I did the same thing: Posted a Ruger 22/45 lite for 500$ when I really only expected to get 400$ out of it....and I did...in just a couple of hours.
I have bought quite a few used guns of many types. My idea of a "good deal" is not necessarily a cheap price -- it's getting something I want that may not be made anymore, at a price that is OK with me. Condition is important. Recently I wanted a Colt Detective Special (I did not have one, OK?). Went to several gun shows, found them from $200 beaters to $700 or more mint. I finally found a very good one for $500. Not scratched up, locked up tight, grips in very good shape. I like gun shows, not stores, for used guns. Look around, it's not uncommon to find more than one of the same gun at a show for very different prices. But, I also take note when I go to several shows and see maybe only one of a model I want. I have several handguns where the one I have is the only one I've ever seen for sale. Those will bring a higher price, you just have to decide whether the price is right for you. I'm not buying to re-sell, either, so that affects what I am willing to pay.
stchman
Member
I do Armslist. I meet people in well lit public places. Never had a problem.
Ignition Override
Member
stchman:
As with your deals, there were no issues with any of my Armslist communications or meetings.
Very simple and straightforward.
As with your deals, there were no issues with any of my Armslist communications or meetings.
Very simple and straightforward.
As several have said already, no, it's basically nuts to assume that. You won't find any used gun for half what it was new unless it's complete garbage.
I use Armslist as well. Gun shows aren't worth bothering with anymore it seems like, at least not for gun sales.
JTHunter
Member
Hokiemojo - there is only one gun that I bought used and that was on Gunbroker 3 years ago. The seller was in Colorado and was gracious enough to let me mail him a check instead of using plastic. The sale and transfer to a local FFL went without a hitch and I got a 20 y.o. Marlin 1894 levergun in .357 Magnum to go with my GP-100.
Maybe I was lucky in this sale - I can only speculate.
Just remember - "Let the buyer beware!"
Maybe I was lucky in this sale - I can only speculate.
Just remember - "Let the buyer beware!"
hemiram
Member
I haven't had a dud used gun from an online auction site yet. I've bought and sold about 50 guns over the last 10 years or so and all of them were at least as good as pictured. Most were better. A couple were amazingly better after a simple clean up. Right now, I have a bid on a gun that I've wanted for a long time. If I don't get it, I'll walk away, and another one will come along. The one I'm bidding on is exactly what I want, so that makes me want it even more. It looks like it might be the dirtiest gun I've ever bought. Why some places/people won't even wipe down the thing before they take pics is a mystery to me. A minute with an oily rag would improve it's looks 100%! It has what looks like lint all over he cylinder. I bought one gun years ago with at least a saltshaker's worth of unburned powder inside it. This one looks like it's even dirtier than that one was. That's probably why no one else is bidding on it.
CoalTrain49
Member
If the seller of a used gun is motivated you might find a good deal. Most of them aren't. Most used sellers are flippers trying to make too much profit, that includes pawn shops and gun shops. Some gun shop owners know what sells and what they can reasonably expect to sell a particular firearm for. Some have no clue. There used to be a local shop here that traded used for new and did a pretty brisk business selling both new and used stuff. The owner basically worked the deal from both ends by making a small profit on new and a small profit on used. People liked that and they had a full parking lot most of the time. They got a little sideways with the ATF and lost their license. I hated to see that because I was one of their best customers. They definitely knew how to move a lot of firearms. Maybe too many. They might have been using the ATF business model.
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hokiemojo
Member
Thanks guys!! A lot of this was helpful. I guess the only part that makes me a little sad is that I don't feel I could get full price for my gun if I wanted to sell it, but it seems like most other could! (-: Maybe that isn't the case though. TY AGAIN!
tubeshooter
Contributing Member
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- Aug 15, 2006
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- 2,149
I thought about this awhile, and I realized that I mostly buy my used guns from a local dealer that I trust and have been dealing with for years. He provides a guarantee and will do his best to make things right if there are any issues.
If you know what you are looking for, you can find some deals. Or at least you could in earlier days. Not too many deals out there right now. It is not really a seller's market as of today, so a lot of people are holding on to what they have. You have to know the signs of wear/abuse though - as well as what is a fair price for a given item. Some people enjoy seeking these deals and are good at it. Although I have bought some cool used stuff over time, I don't really consider myself one of these people.
When buying used, do not expect to pay merely 50% of the new retail price unless you are extremely fortunate. A deal that good would probably scare a lot of buyers, myself included. Guns don't generally tend to lose value to that degree if they are in good working order. If anything, they tend to appreciate in price given enough time.
If you know what you are looking for, you can find some deals. Or at least you could in earlier days. Not too many deals out there right now. It is not really a seller's market as of today, so a lot of people are holding on to what they have. You have to know the signs of wear/abuse though - as well as what is a fair price for a given item. Some people enjoy seeking these deals and are good at it. Although I have bought some cool used stuff over time, I don't really consider myself one of these people.
When buying used, do not expect to pay merely 50% of the new retail price unless you are extremely fortunate. A deal that good would probably scare a lot of buyers, myself included. Guns don't generally tend to lose value to that degree if they are in good working order. If anything, they tend to appreciate in price given enough time.
CapnMac
Member
Listen to the Gunny, he is wise. (Dang, I'm certain I have said that several times before, just in a different context).
Patience is an excellent thing to cultivate. So is research.
The .243 I recently picked up was not, in fact, what I had been shopping for. But, being in the Used rack helped make it a decent deal. I've done enough business with my LGS that they "let" me talk them into sweetening the deal enough to take it home. Was a it a huge discount? No. But, it was a sufficient one, particularly compared to the prices posted elsewhere (and the MSRP).
Bad research is why there are people on eBay payin more than retail for auction items that are currently available in stores.
Patience is an excellent thing to cultivate. So is research.
The .243 I recently picked up was not, in fact, what I had been shopping for. But, being in the Used rack helped make it a decent deal. I've done enough business with my LGS that they "let" me talk them into sweetening the deal enough to take it home. Was a it a huge discount? No. But, it was a sufficient one, particularly compared to the prices posted elsewhere (and the MSRP).
Bad research is why there are people on eBay payin more than retail for auction items that are currently available in stores.
22-rimfire
Member
Figure you can probably get 80% of retail if a relatively new gun. You might do a little better. Only the collector stuff is likely to sell for what you paid or it if you bought at market price or down the road, more, sometimes quite a bit more. And sometimes you can't hardly get rid of them.... there is always risk.
As far as used guns go, I would start with the local gun shops and then as your knowledge and comfort increases, venture from there. Gun shows used to be the place to do these things, but not so much any more.
Try finding any Glock pistol under 5-10 years old for 80% of new price. Not gonna happen.
22-rimfire
Member
I'm afraid I don't understand what you said bearcreek.... are you saying that they sell for much less or much more?
More. You can buy a new Gen 3 or 4 Glock 19, for example, for $500. It's quite common for them to sell used for the same amount. Finding a "relatively new" one for 80% of brand new, which in that case is $400, is not gonna happen. You can find police trade ins or older ones for that price, but not nearly new. The same is true of most other modern pistols from the better known manufacturers.
coyotehitman
member
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- Dec 29, 2007
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- 558
The new rules, inflated prices, and overzealous mods, have all but ruined the classifieds here.
I've always had good luck finding the best deals locally, helping recent divorcees and those who inherit guns they don't want liquidate them.
This has been close to my experience as well. I have purchased about 150 firearms via on-line auctions (Proxybid). I would say 100 of them have been better than advertised. About 40 have been as-advertised, and 5-10 have been worse. I have bought numerous firearms that are just dirty - they are listed as in poor to fair condition and you clean them up and they are high condition. You have to be wiling to take the risk though - depending on pictures, and the reputation of the auction house. You get to know which ones you can trust and which ones you can't.
I bought a 1910 Mauser pistol for $120 that was horrible - a mixmaster that I ended up parting out - and another one for $130 that was gorgeous and WA marked. I would say that MOST auctions have items that sell between 60 - 110% of the going prices. Like all auctions, sometimes people get their blood up and bid things way over the going prices. You can usually tell within the first few firearms sales whether the prices are going to be "good" or not.
I start watching around Christmas and tax time. It also helps if you work around a lot of casual gun owners.
JeffG
Member
I got one of my old style Vaqueros from a classified section on another forum; came with a professional trigger job too. I found my last used rifle at the range I work at; a Tikka 7mm mag with "gaaagaaa" wood.
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