Some helpful rule to take in mind while buying.
Rule # 1 Dickering means no dickering.
Dealers that dicker simple set their prices so that they have room to “give you a break “ Discounts are also never any lower than the lowest price a dealer can afford to sell a gun and are generally offered to groups that have large memberships - IE more referrals. A common excuse not to lower a price while dickering (even though the price is already raised to cover the negotiation) is that the gun is consigned. Be wary of dealers that do not clearly mark their consigned guns. The best deal you can get on a gun is to look for a gun that the dealer has priced too low (no dealer can know everything about all guns, that is why many dealers will shop at other dealers... a Mossberg 45b is worth more than a 45 a etc.) look for more than one or two of any particular model (dealer may be overstocked) or shop the last week of the month at small shops... prices are sometimes lowered to make the rent payment.
Rule # 2 The gun business is one of the most competitive businesses in the USA. A dealer that takes advantage of customers by buying their guns at less than wholesale is a dealer that at the very least will see his sales decline and his customers leave. Many of Lowe's best customers are former customers of the small number of dealers that do business by taking advantage of their customers. Most dealers are honest and the market penalizes those who are not!
Rule # 3 A dealer values (appraises) a gun based on CONDITION , supply and demand , estimated time to sell (a gun on the shelf could be cash in the bank earning interest). A dealer does not take into account what you paid for the gun, what your friend says it is worth or what price you saw one sell for at auction. If you can find someone that will pay you more for your gun (remember shipping, transfer, liability, advertising costs etc) then please do. Dealers cannot make living buying guns any other way.
Rule # 4 A small number of less than honest dealers make their living primarily by buying guns from customers at less than wholesale and additionally, selling guns on consignment for more than the asking price and pocketing the difference. You should always have a way of verifying the price that your consigned gun sold actually sold. If you drop in on the store and there is no readily visible price tag on your gun then get your gun out of that store!
Rule # 5 Although large dealers can buy new guns at a lower price than small dealers the difference is generally not enough to make a difference on the retail selling price. The primary factor in low new gun retail prices is low overhead! Large dealers offer the advantage of a wide variety of new guns that you can handle, touch and feel and competitive pricing. Small dealers offer the advantage of more personal service, a higher percentage of used inventory and competitive pricing. Small dealers can get any gun you want, usually in 24 hours, at a very low price.
Rule # 6 In general there are few deals (although the savvy buyer can find some great deals in their area of expertise) on used guns at gun shows. Many dealers use gun shows to get rid of their less desirable stock. Often, however, there are tremendous deals on import marked surplus guns and eastern European made new guns. Always buy your bulk ammo at a gun show; no dealer can price their stock so low.
Rule # 7 The price you saw on line or in the Shotgun News does not include shipping and transfer fees. It costs you money to return a gun and you take a risk that the seller is not reputable. This is not to say that you should not buy on line or in the shotgun news; there are some tremendous deals. However nothing in life is free and that lower price you spent hours finding does come with some cost and risk.
Rule # 8 It is inappropriate to enter into a dealer s discussion with another customer unless the dealer has asked you to join the conversation. The dealer is trying to feed his family; unless you want that responsibility then your comments ( for example "do not buy that Glock, Springfield XD's are better guns") are not welcome !
Rule # 9 ALL Gun Dealers need to pay their bills! All gun dealers do this by buying (or trading in) guns at wholesale and selling the guns at retail. Any dealer that tells you otherwise is a dealer you do not want to do business.
Rule # 10 If you are told anything else about gun shopping re read rules 1-9!
Hope this will help...
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