Gun current market pricing - feedback

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  • T-Rigger

    T-Rigger
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Apr 25, 2019
    321
    43
    Metairie, LA
    Finding FAIR CURRENT market pricing has been a chore for me - and probably many others relatively new to the forum. The OLD print version (tri-monthly delivered), pre-internet, "Shotgun News" was a great resource. Sadly missed. I'd appreciate some experience-based input on the following observations and opinions. Based on feedback, they could prove to be useful resources for many.

    I have subscribed to the online Blue Book of Gun Values for several years, after umpteen years of buying the printed books. I only use it as a base line/starting point - the data is several months old when initially published. They say it is periodically updated - I've NEVER seen an update. The "Historical Pricing" pages and the narratives backgrounds on mfrs and models are a good one place source of info. Based on current gun show multi-vendor table pricing, I find BBGV perenially way LOW on certain mfrs and models.

    The ubiquitous online bid/for sale sites, like; gunbroker.com, guns.com. gunsamerica.com, guninternational, armslist.com, etc., seem to be of little help unless one daily tracks bid activity and catches the sale price. Most, not unlike B. S. member posts, retain the initial posting, but EDIT/DELETE THE SOLD PRICE! WTF good is that?

    Any experience with the following online sites?

    https:// gundigest.com/gunvalues paid subscription
    https://truegunvalues.com new & used guns for sale, current & past gun sales, when & where, recent market trends
    https://gunwatcher.com new & used guns for sale, current & past gun sales, optics, ammo, mags
    www.riverofguns.com new & used guns for sale, current & past gun sales, optics, ammo, mags, kits reloading
    www.georgestragand.com/gunstockmarket/ milsurp; 15 day avg ask & sell price, 15 day number sold, for sale today, open auctions
    www.firearmspricingguide.com ??? relatively new site, reportedly building a data base with community contributed info; current site lists date of mfr +"fair" & "very good" pricing.

    THANKS
     

    twinin

    Well-Known Member
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    23   0   0
    May 5, 2017
    952
    43
    Houma
    Another strategy I use (for new guns) is to go to gun.deals and search for it. Works even better if you have the item number for the gun. It will then show you what all of the online retailers are that have it IN STOCK are charging for it plus shipping. You add FFL fee or tax yourself and go from there, but it gives you a very good starting point.
     

    Magdump

    Don’t troll me bro!
    Rating - 100%
    163   0   0
    Dec 31, 2013
    9,396
    113
    Hammond, Louisiana
    Figuring prices on used guns is easy if you know the formula, which is the mean of the new prices from Academy and Gun Broker, plus 20% of the tax and FFL fee.

    For example, Mossberg Maverick 88 security:
    Academy is $199
    Gunbroker says $399
    Mean is $299
    Then just add that 20%…
    So, Bayou shooter fair price is $325 and you save the tax and FFL fee.
    See how easy that is?
     
    Last edited:

    southerncanuck

    www.RangeSport.com (Use code "BayouShooter")
    Premium Member
    Industry Partner
    Rating - 100%
    62   0   0
    Dec 3, 2019
    839
    63
    New Orleans
    Another strategy I use (for new guns) is to go to gun.deals and search for it. Works even better if you have the item number for the gun.

    Since the panic buying is over now for guns and we're back to normal-ish pricing, this is my starting point as well. I search gun.deals to see what a standard going "decent deal" price is for a brand new gun, then I'd subtract 10-20% for the value of a nice condition used on online here.

    I haven't been paying much attention to gunbroker lately, as that still seems a bit manic and inflated. I search the forums on here too, and take a marker of anything sold within the last few years. It sucks when people delete their prices on sold items, because that's a handy reference.

    At the end of the day, market values aren't static and they change for every one of us every day. A buyer will never pay more than whatever the thing is worth to them, and a seller will never agree to a sale for less than it's worth to them. If we post an item for too much it'll get bumped forever; if we post an item for a great price it'll be gone in 5 minutes -- there's equilibrium in there somewhere, it's just a dance to find it.

    One thing I've learned about the used gun marketplace is that modifications (sights, trigger upgrades, etc) and extras (mags, holsters, etc) don't really count for very much unless the buyer has exactly the same tastes as the seller, so upgrades in particular should be considered mostly sunk costs. These are just spitballs, but when packaged with a gun for sale mags are maybe worth half of what was paid and everything else seems to be about 15% tops.
     
    Last edited:

    T-Rigger

    T-Rigger
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Apr 25, 2019
    321
    43
    Metairie, LA
    Another strategy I use (for new guns) is to go to gun.deals and search for it. Works even better if you have the item number for the gun. It will then show you what all of the online retailers are that have it IN STOCK are charging for it plus shipping. You add FFL fee or tax yourself and go from there, but it gives you a very good starting point.

    Haven't seen gun.deals before. Thanks
     

    T-Rigger

    T-Rigger
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Apr 25, 2019
    321
    43
    Metairie, LA
    Figuring prices on used guns is easy if you know the formula, which is the mean of the new prices from Academy and Gun Broker, plus 20% of the tax and FFL fee.

    For example, Mossberg Maverick 88 security:
    Academy is $199
    Gunbroker says $399
    Mean is $299
    Then just add that 20%…
    So, Bayou shooter fair price is $325 and you save the tax and FFL fee.
    See how easy that is?

    Simple enough strategy - I'll give it a try. Thanks
     

    T-Rigger

    T-Rigger
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Apr 25, 2019
    321
    43
    Metairie, LA
    Since the panic buying is over now for guns and we're back to normal-ish pricing, this is my starting point as well. I search gun.deals to see what a standard going "decent deal" price is for a brand new gun, then I'd subtract 10-20% for the value of a nice condition used on online here.

    I haven't been paying much attention to gunbroker lately, as that still seems a bit manic and inflated. I search the forums on here too, and take a marker of anything sold within the last few years. It sucks when people delete their prices on sold items, because that's a handy reference.

    Yeah, I agree it would be be helpful if BS "SOLD" posts left the selling price for a real-time gauge of the local market. And also whole-heartedly agree about add-ons and modifications effect on resale value. With few exceptions, most are a waste and could reduce value if not easily restored to original condition. Always keep the removed OEM - unless you plan on NEVER selling. Someday, someone will need/want to sell it.
    Thanks.

    At the end of the day, market values aren't static and they change for every one of us every day. A buyer will never pay more than whatever the thing is worth to them, and a seller will never agree to a sale for less than it's worth to them. If we post an item for too much it'll get bumped forever; if we post an item for a great price it'll be gone in 5 minutes -- there's equilibrium in there somewhere, it's just a dance to find it.

    One thing I've learned about the used gun marketplace is that modifications (sights, trigger upgrades, etc) and extras (mags, holsters, etc) don't really count for very much unless the buyer has exactly the same tastes as the seller, so upgrades in particular should be considered mostly sunk costs. These are just spitballs, but when packaged with a gun for sale mags are maybe worth half of what was paid and everything else seems to be about 15% tops.

    Very sound advice on all points. BS "SOLD" updates would be helpful if the last asked price was left intact - real-time local market. Thanks.
     

    shrxfn

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Oct 25, 2015
    855
    28
    SWLA
    Figuring prices on used guns is easy if you know the formula, which is the mean of the new prices from Academy and Gun Broker, plus 20% of the tax and FFL fee.

    For example, Mossberg Maverick 88 security:
    Academy is $199
    Gunbroker says $399
    Mean is $299
    Then just add that 20%…
    So, Bayou shooter fair price is $325 and you save the tax and FFL fee.
    See how easy that is?

    Really think that post requires a /s for sarcasm at the end..... at least I hope that was the intent.
     

    T-Rigger

    T-Rigger
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Apr 25, 2019
    321
    43
    Metairie, LA
    Very sound advice on all points. BS "SOLD" updates would be helpful if the last asked price was left intact - real-time local market. Thanks.

    Don't know how my first attempted reply got embedded as the third paragraph of your post - it just all at once disappeared - nothing I tried retrieved it. I then typed a shorter reply.
     

    Fordfella

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Jul 8, 2018
    416
    63
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    Figuring prices on used guns is easy if you know the formula, which is the mean of the new prices from Academy and Gun Broker, plus 20% of the tax and FFL fee.

    For example, Mossberg Maverick 88 security:
    Academy is $199
    Gunbroker says $399
    Mean is $299
    Then just add that 20%…
    So, Bayou shooter fair price is $325 and you save the tax and FFL fee.
    See how easy that is?

    Sometimes I'm kind of dense, and I may be misreading/missing your point. But $300 plus 20% would be $360.
     

    T-Rigger

    T-Rigger
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Apr 25, 2019
    321
    43
    Metairie, LA
    LMAO! I thought it was was self explanatory!

    - - - Updated - - -



    …..it was a joke…

    You got me - dumbass neophyte that I am, seeking counsel - shame on me. Not being in the know, and unaware of personalities, I'll checkout any methodology offered - as inane as it may be revealed to be. Thanks for the education tendered in your post ... and the clarifications from other responders. No big deal on my end. HA-HA!
     

    Magdump

    Don’t troll me bro!
    Rating - 100%
    163   0   0
    Dec 31, 2013
    9,396
    113
    Hammond, Louisiana
    You got me - dumbass neophyte that I am, seeking counsel - shame on me. Not being in the know, and unaware of personalities, I'll checkout any methodology offered - as inane as it may be revealed to be. Thanks for the education tendered in your post ... and the clarifications from other responders. No big deal on my end. HA-HA!
    Hey I get it. Buying anything firearms related right now can be a crazy experience. Appreciating the irony in people’s logic when setting prices can actually keep you sane. It’s some crazy ass times right now.
    All BS aside, If you don’t mind the extra email, sign up for alerts from wiki arms gundeals, Kentucky Guns, sportsman’s outdoor superstore, PSA, CDNN, Buds, etc and you’ll quickly get a feel for what’s out there and what’s going for what. Also helps to post what you’re looking for here. I’ve made purchases from many good members here and got what I was looking for without smashing my piggy bank. Good luck to you sir!
     

    T-Rigger

    T-Rigger
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Apr 25, 2019
    321
    43
    Metairie, LA
    Hey I get it. Buying anything firearms related right now can be a crazy experience. Appreciating the irony in people’s logic when setting prices can actually keep you sane. It’s some crazy ass times right now.
    All BS aside, If you don’t mind the extra email, sign up for alerts from wiki arms gundeals, Kentucky Guns, sportsman’s outdoor superstore, PSA, CDNN, Buds, etc and you’ll quickly get a feel for what’s out there and what’s going for what. Also helps to post what you’re looking for here. I’ve made purchases from many good members here and got what I was looking for without smashing my piggy bank. Good luck to you sir!

    Many thanks for the leads on these new sources of current pricing.
     
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