Online vs Gunstore buying question?

E

Eric Larsen

New member
I just want some general feedback. I shop/browse at local gunshops in SLC. They have some very solid deals and some
even better people working there. They are very helpful whether
you buy/browse anything..holsters, ammo..etc.

I also buy guns online. Some of the deals are too good to pass up. I have an advantage here, my dad is a dealer living close to
me..so fees? What fees? Anyway..I dont save much..a 20$ transfer or so.

I feel I should keep as much $ locally and support my local dealers. They remember you and treat you as you would like to be treated. When I buy online...I feel a little guilty taking money away from the local business and sometimes its a real hassle...ffl's signed and traded, shipping...and you havent even
seen the gun. But sometimes I have gotten KILLER deals!

I just wanted to know how others buy guns and why?

Shoot well
 
I buy most of my accessories and defense ammo from a local shop and have bought one or two guns from them when they hold specials at a decent price. Most of my gun purchases lately have been through gun shows or good used pistols from individuals I've contacted online. I try to buy from the local shop first to help keep them in business and will always buy ammo and accessories from them, but I will not hesitate to pass up the best deal I can find at the time I'm ready to buy. If we're talking only a $20-$40 difference after all fees and shipping are included the local shop will get the nod.

Rick
 
The only way I would buy online is if I were a dealer myself, and I was buying wholesale. Otherwise, the rapport you build with a local dealer is useful to both you and the dealer. If you keep buying your guns and shooting supplies from him, and tell others about his store, he might give you better deals from time to time--especially on trade-ins. At least that is my experience.

I would like to become a dealer myself...just as a hobby. ;)
 
I buy from my local dealer because I don't have to jag with three day inspection periods or guns not being as advertised. If I were to buy from some one on-line I wouldn't feel guilty about it.
 
I bought one gun on-line, and it wasn't a totally positive experience (until Ruger stepped up to the plate, anyway).

I think I found the local dealer I want to do business with, so that's what I'll be doing. But I will say this: a couple of the stores out here are out-freakin-rageous with their prices. I'm not buying much of anything (except possibly ammo, which they have decent pricing for) from them.
 
If we all bought all of our guns and ammo on-line, we wouldn't have any local dealers to worry about.

I want to see what I'm getting before I write the check!

-Mk.IV
 
Ammo: Everything except .22lr has come from online. I like to buy in bulk, and the local stores aren't really set up for that.

Magazines: Online. Better deals, wider variety. Local prices range from funny to insulting.

Guns: Most are local, but have gone mail order (aim surplus) because I couldn't find the gun locally. If I could, I would have had to pay about $150 more, which I couldn't justify.
 
So far, I have only bought new hand guns and all from local dealers. Prices are generally less than on the web (once you add in shipping and transfer fees). Also, if I have a problem with a purchase, my locals have always worked out the problems for me. After purchase service has always been excellent. I also spend a lot of time at three of the locals and no charge for the entertainment - I can't get that on the web.

All my ammo comes locally also. Prices, as with the guns, also beat web prices once you figure in the shipping (I buy case lots from the locals). The dealers I frequent also beat Wally's prices.

Even if the local dealer prices were a little higher than web purchases I would feel obligated to deal with them. I have a vested interested in keeping them in business. Again, the three I deal with provide excellent service after the sale.

Accessories I try to buy from the dealers. On occaision, I have resorted to direct purchase from Uncle Mikes, or others such as CTD, when I couldn't get what I thought I wanted locally. The price has been higher dealing direct, but I did not want to stick the local with non-moving merchandise if it wasn't what I wanted if he ordered it. I can usually return merchandise to Uncle Mikes if not satisfied and save my dealers the aggravation for low profit items.
 
The only thing I buy online are bullets, cause my local dealer doesn't carry them(National bullet co)and reloading brass, cause he doesn't carry any once fired stuff. I did ask him about ordering bullets, he doesn't do much business in cast bullets(the locally manufactured ones he carries are garbage)and he suggested NBC.
I've had good luck with local pricing vs online purchaces. Press, dies, primer scales, etc. Some of it was within $1-2 already. When I asked about ordered .380 dies for me I told him what my online cost would be incl shipping and he said OK.

I don't feel guilty, but I usually ask locally first. I bought my Ruger P-97 and it cost me about 15 bucks more than a transfer sale and I didn't have to wait for it. I never feel guilty about asking questions or looking for free advise from them.

I like to keep my money local. Even if I buy from a chain, I do it locally, not on the net. Never from Walmart though.
 
I'm kind of new to the "gun scene", but have found that I can usually get my ammo cheaper from someone locally than either online or at the gunshow; and that is after figuring out shipping and handling. Of course, for folks that live in smaller towns or fortunate to live out in the country, online ordering could be cheaper.
 
I'm in a small town and would love to keep the local dealers in business, but I'm not a communist either:p

40S/W practice loads $11.25 a box after tax at cheapest dealer in town. Less than $8 a box from Natchez to my door. I go through a lot of this stuff, I'd rather my family have the money than them, sorry.

Some prices of guns at my local shops now,
NIB Glock 27 $585.00,
Used second generation G-21 (no hi cap) $600.00
Used 1991A1 Colt (lots of wear) $485
Used S/W model 640 $425
NIB Charles Daly .45 $499
NIB Taurus 92 $525

I promise I'm not up this late because I feel guilty about quiting these guys. I use a local pawn shop for tranfers or just advertise "WTB in Missouri" for what I'm looking for and drive wherever it is and pay cash. Worked out well for me so far:)
 
Some prices of guns at my local shops now,
NIB Glock 27 $585.00
Used second generation G-21 (no hi cap) $600.00
Used 1991A1 Colt (lots of wear) $485
Used S/W model 640 $425
NIB Charles Daly .45 $499
NIB Taurus 92 $525
Click to expand...

Add Kel Tec P32 for $290. and you will live in my town.

I don't mind supporting the local dealer so long as the price is a fair price. I would consider the price of the weapon online, plus 25 for transfer fee and another 15 for shipping a fair price. I could possibly go 30 dollars more for the convenience of having the weapon right there, but that's about it.

At my local gunstore they wanted $650 for a new G30. I got it dropped to $600 before I purchased it figuring on $530 for an online price, 25 for transfer fee and 15 for shipping.

One bonus from buying from the dealer is that they are a bit more helpful when it comes to warranty service and trade in on a different weapon if you routinely did business with them. The downside is that you get gouged for taxes on the entire purchase price of the weapon. That can bring your totals up on the average of 8% to 10%. Something that should be considered when making a large purchase.

I will say that I refuse to pay an outrageous price just for the sake of keeping a local business in business. If Walmart can sell a brand new Remington Mod 870 for $230.00 my local dealer should not ask $330 for the same weapon.

Good Shooting
RED
 
Blades, no-but that gives them more time to complain about business being so bad;)

Truth is before I got the computer and started getting shotgun news etc..(i.e. when I was dumb) They did sell two guns to me, Standard parked 1991A1 for $529+tax and a G-22 for well over $500+tax, and remember this was several years ago!:mad:

I figured out later that when our local wal-mart quit selling handguns many years ago all three gunshops in town and most in the surrounding towns basically thought their FFL's came with a big jar of vaseline and told the customers to bend over.

Without the Web and publications like SOG,Shotguns news etc. I assumed that suggested retail price in the Gun Annuals was just what people normally paid and $10 under that was a deal. Their are still a few people in that boat and thats who they prey on. Whats just as bad is that we have a gunshow every year here and guess what? same deal :(

P.S.
Add Kel Tec P32 for $290.
Click to expand...

No redlg, Guess were not neighbors Over $300 for the Kel-tec here


:eek:
 
My Charles Daly was marked 399$, so I saved 100$ (+tax) not living in misery...er...Misura.;) :D (I know it's spelled Missouri, so where do you guys get the "a" from?;))
 
(I know it's spelled Missouri, so where do you guys get the "a" from?)
Click to expand...

Same place we get the "r" from when we warsh our cars;) I was actually a junior in college and thought my new spell check typewriter was malfunctioning when I found out it was "Government" not "Goverment"
 
I use to buy all my guns from local shops and or have them order it for me. Accessories and stuff, I always buy online due to way cheaper prices and availability. Living in California just makes you go online! For instance, it is hard to find certain guns here, and if you do, the prices are usually outrageous. My last gun purchase was an online purchase. I was looking for a SigP220ST since it became CA, DOJ friendly. But all the shops could not get me one within a reasonable time. And they were asking fro an arm and a leg for it. So I went online and got it from good ol' Texas! It was $200 bucks cheaper than the price they quoted me and no tax!
 
on-line vs local

:eek: I just bought a Beretta 92FS on-line from Gallery of Guns. It's a wholeseller who gets bids for guns from dealers in your area. I got a great price and a life time warrenty at no extra cost. If the gun breaks, have it sent back to Gallery of Guns and they will replace it with a new gun, not repair it. I do a lot of shopping on-line. Hard to beat the prices. :rolleyes:
 
I to am a strong believer in keeping my money local ,only on a rare occasion I`ll order something online,only after i searched local,(sidearmer holster for example).
 
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