Can someone explain used handgun prices to me, please?

B

Big Top Gt

New member
I'm getting a little frustrated by my search for a USP compact .45. I can buy one new locally for around 800 dollars, so why do I keep seeing them used for more than that? :mad:

Do these things appreciate as they become "seasoned."

Frustrated,
Alan
 
A lot of the time pawn shops sell them used at the same or close to the same price as the gun stores that sell them new. Many take advantage of the first time buyers, and people coming in thinking they are getting a good deal because they are buying used, and not knowing any better.
 
I get the idea of getting taken at a Pawn Shop, but I'm talking about the forums.

There are quite a few people who don't seem to really want to sell their items. If they did, they'd put a price on it that would actually sell it.

I'm just griping because I want a deal on a USP .45 C. :D
 
Post a WTB ad with your price range, but be fair about it. Hopefully someone will bite. Of you can call CDNN. Their prices are better than most when it comes to HKs.

ETA: Posting an ad may not be feasible for you until you have a good post count (new forum rule). Give CDNN or Wildalaska a call.
 
Other than the old clique " supply and demand " I could no more explain the rational of used gun prices than I could the meaning of life. And I've brought and sold a bunch in my life. The most important thing as in all transactions is that both parties are satisfied.
 
People are responding to current market conditions. Gun prices have generally gone up, so they're figuring that their used gun will still be a bargain.
 
Opportunistic thieves.........pretty simple.
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What do you call the folks that buy from the opportunistic thieves? Hard to call them victims if they are willing participants. If they are victims, it's of their own lack of due diligence. You have to work pretty hard to stay ignorant in today's world.

How about the P.T. Barnum effect?
 
It's human nature. People gage what something is worth by how much they paid for it or worse yet, what they owe on it. I spent quit a few years in the car business (sales). Customers would ALWAYS think that their trade is was worth X amount of dollars because that is how much they owed on it. Of course when you asked them if they only owed a dollar would that accept a dollar for trade in you would get an entirely different responce.... :eek::eek:
 
Few Reasons

First, most folks over paid for their gun new. It's tough to think I paid $800 for a gun six months ago and now it's only worth $650. They may have paid $800 at a local 'gouge' shop when the gunbroker.com price is $700. So they aren't trying to rip you off, they are just basing their price off of their experience.

I have purchased about 8 or so used guns in the past year. What I find is that most folks are sick of low ball offers so they over price their gun so they can accept a 'low ball' when it comes. I've straight up inquired about some pricing when I've found a gun that I'm looking for used and gotten that response multiple times.

If you find what you want and it sits on the forums for a week or so, just send the seller a fair offer. Just make sure you do it through PM, especially if you are going to rationalize it through quoting new pricing.
 
Another factor that can be added it the list is some people will happily pay a bit more than normal used gun prices because they don't have to fill out paper work. It's not that they can't pass the NICS it's they prefer not to have anyone know what they own.

I'm one of those guys. Depending on what I'm looking for I might go as high as $100 over what a shop might price a gun at based on how badly I want it and how badly the .GOV doesn't want me to have it.

Can't see how a HK 45c would fit in my case/example.

Mall ninja/Halo syndrome maybe?
 
Most of us want to sell high and buy low and that can create problems. I've found that I consider many 'things' I own to be worth more than they actually are, and that includes guns. The asking price is generally a starting point for negotiations - an offering price is too. The true price is where the buyer and seller end up.

Everything is negotiable. Find something you want, make a reasonable offer (staying on the low side of what you're willing to pay) and go from there. If a seller truly wants to sell they should negotiate.
 
salvadore said:
Sure, let the government set the price.
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I'm not even sure what that means.

You know, while we're on the subject, I think this "they're going to take my gun" sentiment is nothing short of absurd. Aside from how the system works makes it impossible for any one politician to change a single word of legislature, D.C. just passed a landmark case in 08 that finally defined the meaning of "right to bear arms."

They're not taking our guns, but there sure are a lot of people profiting from the unfounded fear that they can and are.

Why aren't people outraged by that?
 
Hi, Big Top Gt,

It would be difficult today in this country to pass a flat ban on privately owned guns, but there are groups working toward that goal. The Supreme Court ruled that DC could not totally ban handguns, but the issue is still undecided as to whether a state could ban some or all guns, or make ownership so burdensome as to be an effective ban (say a $100,000 a year tax on every gun and $10,000 on each round of ammunition - not a ban, but...).

England has totally banned private possession of handguns. Period. Shotguns and rifles are still legal to own, but perhaps not for long. Of course crime has gone up, but as Senator Lautenberg once said, "I don't give a damn about crime, we have to disarm the American people."

Another approach is simply to prohibit manufacture or import of some types of guns, as was done under the expired Assault Weapon Ban, and is now the object of some proposed legislation. No confiscation, no raids on homes, just an effective ban as prices go up, as they have done with machineguns since 1986.

Some people have denied that the president or his supporters want to ban guns, but the president himself has said that he "doesn't want to take away hunting guns." Since the government will define what is a hunting gun, and the clear meaning is that he wants to "take away" everything else, I think it is a bad idea to let down our guard.

Jim
 
I think right about now everyone is confused about prices at least I am:eek: About a month or so ago I wanted a Beretta 92FS went to my faverite pawn shop they had one for $629. If that gun was 60% I'll eat it:confused: Went to the gun store and bought new $579:D
 
As with a lot of used items, epically guns and cars, what something is worth to the seller might not be the same it is to the buyer.
 
I think prices vary widely bwtween different regions. Many board members mention seeing guns in pawn shops, here in New Jersey pawn shops are few and far between and I have never seen firearms in any of them.
 
You have to learn to pass on those ridiculous priced 'deals'.

That is the only way the prices will ever come down.

I just ran through a period about six months ago where every gun I ever wanted came across my plate at a local gun store and I only bought one of them.

The internet is a great place to shop for handguns but a much better place to shop for them is out in the real world at your local gun store,pawn shop or even a gun show (take cash to bargain down the price).

You will pay more for H&K's and Sig's usually.

Those two brands seem to be premiere brands and therefore hold their resale value well.

Always remember you can simply walk away from a price that you feel is just plain ignorant.

I prefer laughing and shaking my head as I walk away.
 
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