Purchase and Price for Beretta 92FS

[salsa56]

My past experience has been with revolvers that I purchased quite a few years ago. About a month ago I decided I wanted a full size semi-automatic 9mm. After trying out many pistols at the gun range I go to, I keep coming back to the Beretta 92FS, despite having smaller hands. I just really like the way it feels and shoots. I've been to several gun shops and the prices for the Bruniton version of this handgun seems to be in the low to mid $700s. However, the MSRP is $675 for an Italian made one and $650 for a US made one and the on-line prices I've seen start in the low $500s, going up to the low $600s. The gun range I go to sells the Italian made version of this handgun for $740 in the shop and until recently sold the U.S. version through their on-line shop for $576, but as of right now only has the INOX U.S. made version for $663. They will not charge me an FFL fee if I buy through them, but will charge a $50 fee if I buy through any other source. I am quoting prices only for a 10rd magazine.

My questions are:
1. Is such a big price difference between on-line and in store usual for most handguns or is this something particular to the BerettaFS.

2. Is it usual to price a handgun that much higher than the MSRP, particularly given that there seems to be a sufficient number of them available?

3. Will gun shops usually negotiate the price for new handguns? I'd rather buy from a know entity, particularly one that I'm shooting at, but at some point (even after adding in the FFL fee and shipping) the price differential becomes a factor.

I'm new at this, so I apologize in advance if some of these questions seem naive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Standard]

Great choice with the Beretta. Gun shops will often charge a lot more than an online dealer will. Consider it a convenience fee I guess.

I recently bought a new M9A1 railed Beretta from Budsgunshop online for $599. My FFL only charges $50, so it was a lot cheaper than buying it for $750 locally.

[hambam105]

OP, don't futz around, just buy a new FS from a reputable source.

[Wallabing]

My past experience has been with revolvers that I purchased quite a few years ago. About a month ago I decided I wanted a full size semi-automatic 9mm. After trying out many pistols at the gun range I go to, I keep coming back to the Beretta 92FS, despite having smaller hands. I just really like the way it feels and shoots. I've been to several gun shops and the prices for the Bruniton version of this handgun seems to be in the low to mid $700s. However, the MSRP is $675 for an Italian made one and $650 for a US made one and the on-line prices I've seen start in the low $500s, going up to the low $600s. The gun range I go to sells the Italian made version of this handgun for $740 in the shop and until recently sold the U.S. version through their on-line shop for $576, but as of right now only has the INOX U.S. made version for $663. They will not charge me an FFL fee if I buy through them, but will charge a $50 fee if I buy through any other source. I am quoting prices only for a 10rd magazine.

My questions are:
1. Is such a big price difference between on-line and in store usual for most handguns or is this something particular to the BerettaFS.

2. Is it usual to price a handgun that much higher than the MSRP, particularly given that there seems to be a sufficient number of them available?

3. Will gun shops usually negotiate the price for new handguns? I'd rather buy from a know entity, particularly one that I'm shooting at, but at some point (even after adding in the FFL fee and shipping) the price differential becomes a factor.

I'm new at this, so I apologize in advance if some of these questions seem naive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

1. You end up paying sales tax online + shipping, so it will only be $10 cheaper to buy online.

2. Gun stores price higher than MSRP because they have to pay rent and bills.

3. Good luck trying to haggle

[HPGunner]

Check out Davidson's Gallery of Guns. It will give you the price all the various participating dealers are selling the gun for. For example the cheapest OTD price in my area is $664.75 for an Italian 92Fs. That includes Tax, shipping and DROS. Buying through Davidson's also gives you lifetime warranty.

[salsa56]

1. You end up paying sales tax online + shipping, so it will only be $10 cheaper to buy online.

2. Gun stores price higher than MSRP because they have to pay rent and bills.

3. Good luck trying to haggle

I may be naive about guns, but not economics. I'll end up paying tax and the CA fee either way, and many of the on-line shops don't charge for shipping or they charge nominal amounts. The big difference is the $50 FFL, so at the very least there is about a $100 difference and and the very most (at least from what I've found) about a $150 difference. Also, why are gun sales that much different from other commodities as far as making sense goes. In general, a seller's rent and bills doesn't justify a higher price. The only thing that generally lets a seller charge more than MSRP is a shortage of the product or something unique about the seller. In this case, there are plenty of Beretta 92fs models available. As with many things, there are some benefits from purchasing from a local brick and mortar store rather than on-line, but as the price differential expands, that benefit lessens.

[scotchblade]

Check out Davidson's Gallery of Guns. It will give you the price all the various participating dealers are selling the gun for.

This is a great way to go. It covers ALL fees. The FFL transfer is built in. You see your bottom line price at the time of online purchase. You make your deposit and pay it off at the local store YOU choose to pick it up from.

You supply your zip code and can specify a radius of 25 or 50 miles. There is often a considerable difference stores charge in the same area. And if a firearm is off list, it won't even give you a quote.

Davidson's - Beretta Italian

[Hopalong]

OP, don't futz around, just buy a new FS from a reputable source.

Agreed. Don't sweat the small stuff.

A few bucks over the course of a lifetime, for a great piece of Americana.

[DT556]

I always buy from the same gun shop. Now after years of going to them and buying tens of thousands of dollars worth of guns I get atleast 15-20% off all guns.

[rogervzv]

In Soviet California the in-store price for a 92fs seems to be about $600. For what you get in my opinion this is a very good gun deal.

I have two of these guns, one US-made and one Italian-made. The US one is actually slightly better insofar as I had to adjust the rear sights of the Italian one (added the Beretta adjustable sights, actually) whereas my US-made M9a1 (92fs with a rail) was and is dead on as far as the sights go.

Both of these guns are terrific shooters and 100% reliable.

[salsa56]

In Soviet California the in-store price for a 92fs seems to be about $600. For what you get in my opinion this is a very good gun deal.

I have two of these guns, one US-made and one Italian-made. The US one is actually slightly better insofar as I had to adjust the rear sights of the Italian one (added the Beretta adjustable sights, actually) whereas my US-made M9a1 (92fs with a rail) was and is dead on as far as the sights go.

Both of these guns are terrific shooters and 100% reliable.

I'm down in Orange County, and the in-store prices I've seen for the Bruniton are btwn $720 and $740. If you are in So-Cal, can you refer me to any particular gun shops selling the $600 range? Thx

[saudadeii]

I'm down in Orange County, and the in-store prices I've seen for the Bruniton are btwn $720 and $740. If you are in So-Cal, can you refer me to any particular gun shops selling the $600 range? Thx

$629 in stock!

http://www.riflegear.com/p-1698-beretta-92fs-9mm.aspx

[Lead Waster]

I found online + ffl fee to be generally cheaper before ffls were required to collect sales tax in out of state purchases. Then I fou d davidsons gallery of guns to be a Better choice since it listed local gun shops so you would t pay a transfer fee but that site was pretty empty of guns in the pass few yeas due to gun panic.

Local shops have their good points too. For one thing if you want to help them stay open, you gotta give them business! If the shop has a range attached to it, you can generally haggle to get some range time if you buy a gun and sometimes get a discount on ammo.

I've done all three. Lgs, davidsons, online.. Just shop around. In general I liked davidsons as its a combo of all three and the site lists the prices that several of their distributors would sell it to you for.

[salsa56]

So it turns out that Davidson's sells through gun shop/target range that has the Beretta I've been looking at, but at a price of $571.99. With fees and taxes that comes out to $669.70 plus the Davidson "GaranteeD Lifetime Replacement Coverage," which I'm assuming is worth something. If I buy directly through the gun shop/target range at their asking price it will come out to about $849, plus I'm assuming that they make something on the deal since Davidson's is a wholesaler and they are the actual retailer/seller. That's a $180 difference and seems like a no brainer. I'm thinking about going to go down to the gun shop/target range and see if they can move on their price. I do want to support the shop, but has anyone had any experience with the Davidson Warranty - would seem like it adds a fair amount of value?

[scotchblade]

Davidson's genie is rarely accurate.. especially with computer challenged small shops..

better call lest you be disappointed.. good data base for model spec and list price reference though

How so? I've used them four times and the price is what it is. There are no surprises or disappointments to be had because Davidson's is handling the sale and shipping the firearm to the store of your choice. All four of my transactions using them have gone without a hitch. Highly recommended!