Is buying online proving a better path than buying locally?
- Thread starter Blindjim
- Start date
paperpounder
New member
Example
I bought a P238 for my wife for Christmas. I did do some local shopping and was met with the typical inattentive sales staff providing no added value.
A new basic P238, all black was $575 locally plus 6% tax, so about $605 total at my LGS.
I did a bit a shopping on Gun Broker, and found an auction ending during Monday Night Football and picked up a stainless P238 including a laser(it's junk) for $435 plus $35 bucks shipping. I get FFL transfers for $15, with no tax paid, for a total price of $490.
I bought a CM9 locally from a small dealer with only an online web store for $392 including tax, and no FFL. The local shop had it for $450.
I bought a Springfield Loaded stainless off of G.b. for $698 plus $15.
I bought a Sig sp2022 online for $375. Locally it was a firm $505 plus tax.
I bought a P238 for my wife for Christmas. I did do some local shopping and was met with the typical inattentive sales staff providing no added value.
A new basic P238, all black was $575 locally plus 6% tax, so about $605 total at my LGS.
I did a bit a shopping on Gun Broker, and found an auction ending during Monday Night Football and picked up a stainless P238 including a laser(it's junk) for $435 plus $35 bucks shipping. I get FFL transfers for $15, with no tax paid, for a total price of $490.
I bought a CM9 locally from a small dealer with only an online web store for $392 including tax, and no FFL. The local shop had it for $450.
I bought a Springfield Loaded stainless off of G.b. for $698 plus $15.
I bought a Sig sp2022 online for $375. Locally it was a firm $505 plus tax.
RobertSB701
New member
Online for me!
I recently helped a friend purchase his first pistol, a new Glock 17 Gen4. We checked our local gun shop and they had the pistol he wanted for $649/$10 background check/.825% sales tax = $713.00 out the door.
We then went on line and checked Bud's which I have used for my last three purchases and have family members who have used them another three times. Glock 17 Gen 4 out the door $ 549.00/$20 FFL transfer fee = $569.00
$144.00 / 20% SAVINGS!
I recently helped a friend purchase his first pistol, a new Glock 17 Gen4. We checked our local gun shop and they had the pistol he wanted for $649/$10 background check/.825% sales tax = $713.00 out the door.
We then went on line and checked Bud's which I have used for my last three purchases and have family members who have used them another three times. Glock 17 Gen 4 out the door $ 549.00/$20 FFL transfer fee = $569.00
$144.00 / 20% SAVINGS!
LockedBreech
New member
I recently helped a friend purchase his first pistol, a new Glock 17 Gen4. We checked our local gun shop and they had the pistol he wanted for $649/$10 background check/.825% sales tax = $713.00 out the door.
We then went on line and checked Bud's which I have used for my last three purchases and have family members who have used them another three times. Glock 17 Gen 4 out the door $ 549.00/$20 FFL transfer fee = $569.00
$144.00 / 20% SAVINGS!
That is absolutely robbery for a Glock at your LGS, good lord. Mine has Gen4s for $530-540!
I *TRY* to support the local shops, but in a rural city, I have limited options (1 Pawn/Gun shop, 2 regular shops, and 1 indoor range that also sells guns/supplies). Due to availability and not wanting to do business with one of the LGS, I end up shopping online quite a bit.
Smilin Jack
New member
Gunbroker all the way. Never had a problem, just use good judgement. If you figure I'll pay MUCH less for the gun with no tax and only a $15 transfer fee and usually $25 shipping it's a deal. And especially considering that the large local gun shop here in Baton Rouge has such horrible customer service after the sale......what have I got to lose?
"After re-reading johnbt's post, I realize he may have been talking about trying out several different brands/models in order to compare their fit/finish/action/etcetera. That's the only way his post would make sense to me. If I tried out several different examples of the same make and model and found significant differences, I'd have serious second thoughts about buying one (even a "hand-picked" one). "
Nope, I'm talking about looking at one model because they all vary a little here and a little there. For instance, the Ruger Police Service Six I picked out in 1985 has such a sweet trigger that years later when I bought a Wolff reduced-pull spring kit for it, well, it made the trigger pull heavier. People with tuned S&W competition guns can't believe it's a factory Ruger trigger. Tolerances stack, stuff happens and things work out for the best.
Trying out 5.5" Single-Six Convertibles in 1972 I ran across a wonderful gun. Years later when I bought a Lyman digital trigger pull gauge I discovered that the light factory trigger on my gun measured a consistent 2 pounds and 1/10th of an ounce.
Two seemingly identical guns with consecutive serial numbers will be different. Tooling wears, assemblers have a momentary lapse of attention, etc.
John
Nope, I'm talking about looking at one model because they all vary a little here and a little there. For instance, the Ruger Police Service Six I picked out in 1985 has such a sweet trigger that years later when I bought a Wolff reduced-pull spring kit for it, well, it made the trigger pull heavier. People with tuned S&W competition guns can't believe it's a factory Ruger trigger. Tolerances stack, stuff happens and things work out for the best.
Trying out 5.5" Single-Six Convertibles in 1972 I ran across a wonderful gun. Years later when I bought a Lyman digital trigger pull gauge I discovered that the light factory trigger on my gun measured a consistent 2 pounds and 1/10th of an ounce.
Two seemingly identical guns with consecutive serial numbers will be different. Tooling wears, assemblers have a momentary lapse of attention, etc.
John
75% of my collection has been bought online most of the sight unseen. I have bought used and new. When buying used I buy from know sources. Places like CDNN, J&G, Dans Ammo etc... People I have worked with in the past or people on Gunbroker, Guns America or Auction Arms who have lots of positive feedback.
The key to growning a collection and getting the most for your money is a good transfer dealer who will not only transfer gun to you but will transfer/ship guns for you. My guy does both for $10 and charges me what USPS charges him for priority mail, insurance & delivery confirmation.
Pics are always important. A phone conversation always happens before the $$$ is sent. Any negative vibes and I walk away from the deal. Better to have to battle negative feedback then loose money.
I also buy off the classifieds on fourms like this one, THR, Sig Forum, Colt forum etc.... There the rep of the seller is obvious. Some of these end up being face to face deals but many of them have ended up being FFL transfers.
I have been burned only once and I did not loose money I simply got a gun which was not as advertised and had to be repaired. In the end I sold it to another individual with full disclosure because the deal left a bad taste in my mouth.
Being smart and buying from multiple sources including online can save you thousands over buying local only. There are some guns I would only purchase in person. Lower end 1911 are one of them. The fit and finish of the guns vary from one to another often based on who put them together. For example if I was looking at a RIA tactical I would go to a store. Ask to see 5 of them. I would open the boxes and inspect each one and pick the best of the group assuming one meets my criteria. As others have pointed out they can and often will be differences in one gun to the next.
The other option is to develop a relationship with the seller so that he or she will pick the best one for you. I buy a lot of stuff from Dan and Dan's ammo and he will hand pick a gun for me as a personal favor. He picked out my Izzy BHP and I could not be happier with his choice....
Even when buying oline relationships matter. My good friend Wild Alaska who used to post here is my Colt guy. He is also my BHP smith. I have bought tons of stuff from him over the years I have yet to meet him face to face but if I need a NIB Colt he is the one I call. He picks a nice one out of the stock charges my card with no fee and sends it to my FFL !!!! In returen he gets a lot of my custom work for BHPs and 1911s.
All that said if I am looking at something NIB I will often ask my local guy what he can get it at. If he is within $15 to $20 I will simply order it from him. Often on more common NIB stuff he will be close enough that he gets the deal. If not he is happy to do the transfer which does not add to his overhead and is a pure profit deal for him... In this relationship everyone is a winner!
This is the modern world of buying guns now. More and more dealers understand that the gun market like all markets is online and national no longer local monopolies. I personally think it is only smart to take advantage of this larger market. I would not have been able to buy my small collection if I was restricted to my local market. YMMV
The key to growning a collection and getting the most for your money is a good transfer dealer who will not only transfer gun to you but will transfer/ship guns for you. My guy does both for $10 and charges me what USPS charges him for priority mail, insurance & delivery confirmation.
Pics are always important. A phone conversation always happens before the $$$ is sent. Any negative vibes and I walk away from the deal. Better to have to battle negative feedback then loose money.
I also buy off the classifieds on fourms like this one, THR, Sig Forum, Colt forum etc.... There the rep of the seller is obvious. Some of these end up being face to face deals but many of them have ended up being FFL transfers.
I have been burned only once and I did not loose money I simply got a gun which was not as advertised and had to be repaired. In the end I sold it to another individual with full disclosure because the deal left a bad taste in my mouth.
Being smart and buying from multiple sources including online can save you thousands over buying local only. There are some guns I would only purchase in person. Lower end 1911 are one of them. The fit and finish of the guns vary from one to another often based on who put them together. For example if I was looking at a RIA tactical I would go to a store. Ask to see 5 of them. I would open the boxes and inspect each one and pick the best of the group assuming one meets my criteria. As others have pointed out they can and often will be differences in one gun to the next.
The other option is to develop a relationship with the seller so that he or she will pick the best one for you. I buy a lot of stuff from Dan and Dan's ammo and he will hand pick a gun for me as a personal favor. He picked out my Izzy BHP and I could not be happier with his choice....
Even when buying oline relationships matter. My good friend Wild Alaska who used to post here is my Colt guy. He is also my BHP smith. I have bought tons of stuff from him over the years I have yet to meet him face to face but if I need a NIB Colt he is the one I call. He picks a nice one out of the stock charges my card with no fee and sends it to my FFL !!!! In returen he gets a lot of my custom work for BHPs and 1911s.
All that said if I am looking at something NIB I will often ask my local guy what he can get it at. If he is within $15 to $20 I will simply order it from him. Often on more common NIB stuff he will be close enough that he gets the deal. If not he is happy to do the transfer which does not add to his overhead and is a pure profit deal for him...
In this relationship everyone is a winner!This is the modern world of buying guns now. More and more dealers understand that the gun market like all markets is online and national no longer local monopolies. I personally think it is only smart to take advantage of this larger market. I would not have been able to buy my small collection if I was restricted to my local market. YMMV
I try to be loyal and check my local gun stores first--if they have the gun I'm looking for and come within just 5% more compared to the online dealers price, I will give them my business first and foremost. I might add that a couple of them are now using galleryofguns.com to obtain business.
That being said, my dollar has become more and more precious in this declining economy in which we live so I do buy quite a few online and avoid taxes, traffic/gas, crowds etc.
-Cheers
That being said, my dollar has become more and more precious in this declining economy in which we live so I do buy quite a few online and avoid taxes, traffic/gas, crowds etc.
-Cheers
online
online for me, but that's because I tend to look for the weirder stuff, which I am almost certain the LGS will not have or if they have it they will treat it like the holy grail and jack up the prices. same goes for gun shows.
however if you buy mainstream guns like a glock 19 for example, I can usually get better prices locally
online for me, but that's because I tend to look for the weirder stuff, which I am almost certain the LGS will not have or if they have it they will treat it like the holy grail and jack up the prices. same goes for gun shows.
however if you buy mainstream guns like a glock 19 for example, I can usually get better prices locally
ammo.crafter
New member
out of state
Cabela's advises they will not allow me to buy a handgun in their PA store and have it sent to my FFL in NJ. They offer no explanation even though I have all NJ required paperwork and authorizations.
Cabela's advises they will not allow me to buy a handgun in their PA store and have it sent to my FFL in NJ. They offer no explanation even though I have all NJ required paperwork and authorizations.
Dragline45
New member
I like to buy locally, gun shops are a dying breed in Massachusetts and the store I go to which is Four Seasons Firearms www.fsguns.com has the cheapest prices in all of New England. I would like them to keep their prices low which is why I would rather give them my business then save $30 online. I am picking up a stainless SR9C friday for $399.99, just for comparison two other shops in Massachusetts quoted me around $460. Guns tend to be more pricy here but they do enough business where their prices are competitive.
Master Blaster 2
Moderator
See this pretty pistol at four seasons firearms website. I want it.
Here is image...to big pic to post.
http://www.fsguns.com/images/index.8.jpg
Here is image...to big pic to post.
http://www.fsguns.com/images/index.8.jpg
Very good looking gun. I've bought a few on line.
I bought this Sig P210 from Top Gun Supply last fall and never even saw a picture of it. He acquired a small pallet of 30 and posted one pic of gun he picked at random. He said they were nice for a gun the Swiss Army stopped issuing in 1975. And only $2499. The grips are '80s vintage from the commercial model.
I'd still rather buy them in person.
I bought this Sig P210 from Top Gun Supply last fall and never even saw a picture of it. He acquired a small pallet of 30 and posted one pic of gun he picked at random. He said they were nice for a gun the Swiss Army stopped issuing in 1975. And only $2499. The grips are '80s vintage from the commercial model.
I'd still rather buy them in person.
I have bought in store so far. Every gun I buy I check Buds and other online retailers and by the time I figure in the FFL transfer fee it is pretty close if not the same price. (I do have to admit that I have not figured in sales tax though.) Plus if I go to Sportsmans I get it that day instead of waiting for it.
As far as the smaller LGS, I have only bought two guns at LGS. My first one when I was a noob at the range/LGS. Knowing what I know now there is no way I would buy there again. Poor prices only to be outdone by their poor attitudes. The other was because he gave me the best deal I could find on trade in value. I had tried to sell a gun for a couple months and was getting no bites so I took it in there and he gave me a screamin deal.
I am not opposed to buying online, but honestly I am a little nervous about it. Especially off of Gunbroker or one of the other auction sites.
As far as the smaller LGS, I have only bought two guns at LGS. My first one when I was a noob at the range/LGS. Knowing what I know now there is no way I would buy there again. Poor prices only to be outdone by their poor attitudes. The other was because he gave me the best deal I could find on trade in value. I had tried to sell a gun for a couple months and was getting no bites so I took it in there and he gave me a screamin deal.
I am not opposed to buying online, but honestly I am a little nervous about it. Especially off of Gunbroker or one of the other auction sites.
Master Blaster 2
Moderator
Nice Sig210. i too would rather buy at a LGD however in my area there isnt any that doesnt just carry run of the mill guns. Nothing antique or unusual.
aarondhgraham
New member
I always try local first,,,
Meaning that I will give the Evil Pawn Shop Guy first chance,,,
If he can order it in and match Buds price,,,
And he always matches the price,,,
I buy the gun from him.
If he can't find one to order,,,
He's happy to make the transfer fee.
It's almost always cheaper if I order it from Buds,,,
The sales tax is usually more money than the transfer fee.
The Evil Pawn Shop Guy takes care of me,,,
I will always give him first option.
Aarond
.
Meaning that I will give the Evil Pawn Shop Guy first chance,,,
If he can order it in and match Buds price,,,
And he always matches the price,,,
I buy the gun from him.
If he can't find one to order,,,
He's happy to make the transfer fee.
It's almost always cheaper if I order it from Buds,,,
The sales tax is usually more money than the transfer fee.
The Evil Pawn Shop Guy takes care of me,,,
I will always give him first option.
Aarond
.
oneounceload
Moderator
And when the states ALL pass laws to collect sales tax on internet sales, what will be the draw then? You'll have tax, plus shipping, plus transfer - that is going to cut into Bud's and other places
And that IS coming
And that IS coming