The Walmart thread got me to thinking. TBH, in the last 30 years I have bought exactly one gun from Walmart. They had a sale on AR-15's a few years back and I got a good deal. They don't carry those anymore.
Today all my new firearms I buy either on-line, at a discount sporting goods store or in the case of used guns at the LGS/ Pawn shop. For a new gun on line purchase I do a transfer through the LGS and they pick up a few dollars there. I could send them through a friend with an FFL for free but $20-30 is not that much and I prefer to try to support them when I can. Also when doing Class III items they tend to have much more up to date knowledge and experience.
But the LGS simply can't afford to sell new guns to me at the prices I pay on line and at discount stores and often times they don't carry exactly what I want.
For used guns however the LGS has huge advantages of:
- Allowing me to examine the item hands on prior to purchase
- Guaranteed delivery of the item
- Less worries about it being stolen, as opposed to PP sales
- Easy payment methods
- Occasionally provides province of the weapon (FWIW)
- They take trade-ins if I want to go that way
- No dealing with strangers to meet up with in odd locations for PP Sales
So where do you buy your guns these days?
Today all my new firearms I buy either on-line, at a discount sporting goods store or in the case of used guns at the LGS/ Pawn shop. For a new gun on line purchase I do a transfer through the LGS and they pick up a few dollars there. I could send them through a friend with an FFL for free but $20-30 is not that much and I prefer to try to support them when I can. Also when doing Class III items they tend to have much more up to date knowledge and experience.
But the LGS simply can't afford to sell new guns to me at the prices I pay on line and at discount stores and often times they don't carry exactly what I want.
For used guns however the LGS has huge advantages of:
- Allowing me to examine the item hands on prior to purchase
- Guaranteed delivery of the item
- Less worries about it being stolen, as opposed to PP sales
- Easy payment methods
- Occasionally provides province of the weapon (FWIW)
- They take trade-ins if I want to go that way
- No dealing with strangers to meet up with in odd locations for PP Sales
So where do you buy your guns these days?