Value of a gun

M

markofkane

New member
I do realize there are different values on guns besides make, model, condition.
There is blue book, (retail?) and what pawn shops, etc. will pay.
However, let's say someone COMES TO ME, wanting to buy my gun(s). I don't want to let them go below a certain price, because the gun is worth more to me than "blue book" value. Say I sell it for what I ask for (based on prices I've seen other places online that have the gun on sale for) and then the person starts questioning the actual value of the gun, like "I ripped him off" .
He came to me, I did not go to him and say, "Hey, want to buy this gun for XX dollars? It's a real good deal!!" Sometimes I think it just better to hang on to the gun. Sure, I can use the extra cash, but I am not that desperate. If I was, I would have sold it to a pawn shop.:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
Unless the goof ball has marked the gun up or done something else stupid with it, can you just give him his money back and tell him to go away?
 
Depends on how well you like the guy. If he's your friend you might want to consider giving him his money back and never sell him anything ever again. If it's some stranger, tell him to kick rocks
 
Yeah. I did buy one gun back because it was jamming. (it was NIB, but it was stored 20 years) I paid $40 to get it fixed, and I'm going to keep it this time.

;)

But the others.......:confused:
 
A gun or anything else is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it. If I happen to think it's worth more than that, I get to keep it or lower my expectations.

If someone says I "ripped them off", oh well. That's sad, but nobody made you buy it.
 
While buyers are always looking for the market bottom the seller is always looking for the market ceiling. If your "friend" paid too much guess whose fault that is?

:rolleyes:

Let me guess; under 33, he got a lot of awards for "participation" when he was growing up didn't he?
 
Yeah, just what I was thinking. I've said that on certain guns that I want X amount, and if I don't get it, I'd rather keep the gun.
 
Its your gun ....you can do / or charge whatever you want...

If the buyer doesn't want it or thinks its too much ...he can go buy one somewhere else...

But selling guns to a friend - that you know will make your life miserable - every time you see him ....is a really bad idea. I'd just tell him its not for sale.

I have an acquaintance that keeps bugging me about buying an ususual shotgun, one of only 200 specially engraved, etc ....and while I don't shoot it much / and wouldn't mind selling it to someone that really wanted it. He just keeps buggin me, I paid about $ 2K for it ...told him he could have it for $ 3K which is what its worth ....and everytime he whines about the price it goes up $ 250. Last time he asked, I told him it was $ 6K ....and he's finally getting the message - that he isn't going to get it ( and it's cash / no checks / and no he can't shoot it before he buys it )... If he wants one that bad ...he can go out and find one of the other 199 that are out there somewhere. It isn't worth the money to put up with his BS...I'd rather just keep it / and give it to one of the kids down the road...
 
Blue books are nice things, but they aren't laws of nature or mathmatics. Like the pirate says, "its more loike guidelines, really..."

Besides their value to you, personally there is market value in the area you are in. That's demand....scarce models in demand can bring higher prices than book value. And, its fair. Its called the free market.

Back in 76, when demand for S&W M29s was running way ahead of production, a friend of mine paid $450 for one (6" nickel finish), when the MSRP was $283.50! And he was happy to do it, because to get one at MSRP, he would have had to wait nearly two years!

Buy when demand is high, pay going market rate. When low, offer less. Nobody is forcing someone to buy your gun. If they think you are ripping them off, tell them to get it somewhere else.
 
Most all of my guns would be overpriced. For starters I want the gun,I have the gun, I know it's likes and dislikes, it's POA/POI. They're like a part of my family as I know everything about them.

So if someone comes to me looking to buy. They better throw that blue book in the trash. My friends know I won't sell but they may hint, If you ever get rid of that I want first chance at it.

Now I'm not talking about guns that are laying around shelves everywhere. Some guns out there are just common guns and plentiful. I'm talking about guns that people want and aren't just laying around everywhere. In fact I'm still looking to find a few.

You can never over pay if you want the gun bad enough and you can never over sell if they want the gun bad enough. ;)
 
A deal is a deal. If the buyer didn't research, why would you be responsible for any price difference later?
"This is my price. Buy it or don't."
Try pulling that crap at a car lot and see how far you get.
 
The way I look at it... you make your deal and you live with it whether you are the buyer or seller. If a buyer feels they were "ripped off", that is their problem. They agreed to the price.
 
22-rimfire is right. Unless you misled him about the condition/functionality of the gun, then he has no right to complain about a price he agreed to.

Some bits of wisdom I've picked up from classic car shows/auctions...

"It's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it."

And...

"I'll take offers, not opinions."
 
"This is my price. Buy it or don't."
Try pulling that crap at a car lot and see how far you get.
Click to expand...

Different situation, I think. Car lots need to make sales to stay in business. And they aren't buying your used car because they want it....

If you are looking to sell a gun, you need to price it at fair value (or a bit less) to be attractive to someone who doesn't already have an interest in it.

If comeone comes to you looking to buy one of yours (that you aren't already trying to sell) then price it at what you are willing to part with it for, and hang market value or fairness!:D
 
If I don't have a up-dated Value Book...And I need to research a gun value. I go on gunbroker.com and see what others are selling that particular make and model.
 
The surest way to avoid having a buyer come back to you to complain about the price is..... never sell any of your guns!! The only one I ever sold was to a friend who wanted a clone of his service sidearm. He got my Taurus PT-92 that was made on the Baretta tooling. I think he retired as a Major, he moved and we lost touch...
 
44, I don't think they're any different. Realize I'm talking "lemon lots" and not new car dealers here. I think anyone selling used stuff prices merchandise where they want. If a person accepts the price and completes the deal, so be it.
I don't see any difference between a commercial or personal sale where used stuff is concerned.
 
Seriously....anyone can find msrp, auction, or discount internet rates. Dumb buyers should not say a word if they don't do even basic research. I understand buyers remorse, but people need to put on their big boy pants and move on. Live and learn.
 
So he buys it from you for $300 and then finds one two months later for $250? Tell him to buy the other one and then he's running $275 apiece, if he had any brains he'd think that way. Value is relative to the transaction at hand, not to every gun that will be offered for sale. It ain't a department store.
 
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