Selling guns on consignment

[F4E Phantom]

I'm thinking of selling a few guns in a local store on consignment. I have sold before but it seems that when I sell directly to the dealer,I don't get very much. How is consignment different. Will I get a better value. Thanks

[alfred1222]

Not always. For consignment, you give the owner a list price and a lowest price accepted. So let's say you have a gun to sell, you tell the owner to list it for $650, but that you will go as low as $600. He will then write it up, give you a receipt that will discuss the percentage, and then take it in. The normal fee is between 15%-20%. I think you will get a better value listing it on CGN and taking that route. selling to a dealer is always a loss

[Bullitt01]

I would suggest just selling it in the Market place right here on Calguns!

[Gryff]

The normal fee is between 15%-20%.

Hmm...I seem to think that consignment fees are more like 30% at many places.

You are ALWAYS better selling yourself, unless you don't have access to a method of advertising the guns for sale. That's the only thing that consignment gets you...visibility to store traffic.

If you have a digital camera, and know what the value is of what you are selling (I usually used finished auction prices on Gunbroker.com), the Calguns marketplace sub-forum will probably make you more money.

By the way...whatchya selling? And where are you located?

[SonofWWIIDI]

And the thing about consignment is that it is not guaranteed to sell, unless you put an unbelievably low price on it. But that just defeats your goal.


Put an ad in the market place here and in other forums. If its good stuff, at a fair price, it will sell.

And yes, what are you trying to sell?

[PokerGun]

I was on a LGS Saturday and I saw a nice rifle on consignment. The price is not bad at all, little higher than you would find here in CGN. What I don't understand is, the FFL charging sales tax.

[glockman19]

I would suggest just selling it in the Market place right here on Calguns!

^^^THIS^^^

Post adds here in the marketplace and get top dollar from people who may be looking for the firearms you have.

Consignment sales are for little old ladies that come upon their husbands firearms after their passing and have no idea as to their worth.

I can't tell you how many times I've been in a retail store when I've seen this exact scenario.

IF priced fairly you will sell them quickly, especially if you are willing to ship to the buyers FFL.

[titan2]

I was on a LGS Saturday and I saw a nice rifle on consignment. The price is not bad at all, little higher than you would find here in CGN. What I don't understand is, the FFL charging sales tax.

Yep....he sells it, he must collect the sell 'Tax'....nothing out of the ordinary there!!!

[I Swan]

I have consigned guns here and there. They sell when they sell, I don't have to deal with flakes here or a FFL scowling at me for doing a PPT. Just put the gun in a good stable place with the proper customers and that has a fair consignment rate.

I know a place that charges 40% fee! I love when some clueless old lady puts like an artillery Luger or a high end Weatherby at a mall ninja type shop. It sits there until the end of time unless gets listed at an online auction. When I tend to consign something is usually a specialty collectible firearms that generally would not sell as well on CGN.

Such guns benefit from going to a reputable auction house.

[edgerly779]

they will take 30-40% from you. never sell on consignment in simi valley.

[I Swan]

If you decide to consign PM me I'll recommend some places depending what you have. I think Turners is 30%. I've done as low as 10% but that is like impossible now. 15% is hard too but possible.

[dk94044]

Also it works like a pawn shop, they have to take possession of it for 30 days before someone can actually start the PPT. Sell on the marketplace, less headache

[AK all day]

Basically..... Everyone BUT the store loses on a consignment gun....

When it's accepted, it has to stay in the store (the one I work at anyway) for 30 days total before it can be released to another owner. Second, the seller takes a 20% loss on his asking price, once it's in the store, it's a pain to get your gun back to you if it doesn't sell or change your mind, AND the buyer if your gun is going to have to pay sales tax on the gun, which can be $80-$100 extra on a $1000 gun.

It's a bad situation for both buyer and seller if you ask me, if you have the means of listing it on a forum, gun broker or hell, even armslist, I recommend that you go that route.

[bsg]

try the MARKETPLACE here on Calguns.

[stix213]

I bought a G29 once on consignment, but I've never gone to a gun store looking for consignment sales. It was just a good deal and looked like new, and I happened to be in the market for a backpacking pistol and it fit the bill. Since it was a good deal, I'm guessing the seller got far below market value.

All other used guns I've bought were on the marketplace ads here. That would be the first place I'd try, and only try consignment if no one bites here.