WTS: Are things REALLY that bad out there??!!

[lavgrunt]

Okay.....I realize that the economy still reeeeaaaally sux!! Despite what Barry & Co are saying. I always thought that our community was more well off and affluent than the average citizen? Here's my point, over the last few months I've offered several items for sale; firearms, accessories and ammo.

I thought everything was reasonably priced, but the items that I thought would sell quickly aren't and the stuff that I thought would sit around for a while is being sold, but at a very slow pace!! It's really perplexing.........

Is it that everyine is just 'tapped out' right now? The holidays are coming up? Is the economy so bad that it has reached into 'our world' also?

Have others noticed the same thing?

[damndave]

I have been in retail sales for probably 12 years or so, and October through the middle of November is always slow. Most likely because people are saving up for Xmas? Or maybe broke from the summer?

The whole gun craze is slowing down, and I believe people are just out of money to spend on such items. Not to mention, more people are unemployed.

[audihenry]

I always thought that our community was more well off and affluent than the average citizen?

Gunowners, really? I get the exact opposite impression: that most spend damned near all of their money on guns and little else. In my estimation, perhaps 15% are well off and shoot for a hobby.

Besides, if things aren't selling then you're pricing them too high.

[bridgeport]

I am always amazed to see guys selling stuff on the boards with tag lines like
"this is what I paid for it", blah, blah, blah..."only put 3 rounds down the tube"
blah, blah, blah, when they are the second or third owner of said gun.
If it is not selling it is because nobody wants it at that price, regardless of what you think it is worth.
My rule of thumb is, if I can buy it new for close to the same price, why buy it used?

[Midian]

My rule of thumb is, if I can buy it new for close to the same price, why buy it used?

Well the PPT restrictions are far less constraining the purchase of new guns, handguns, that is. That's a big part of it.

[RobG]

I am waiting for my "Bailout."

Christmas is coming, tax time, and some seriously over priced guns right now

[Chris M]

Well the PPT restrictions are far less constraining the purchase of new guns, handguns, that is. That's a big part of it.

Sorry to derail the thread...but I've never purchased a handgun...what are the restriction differences between buying new and PPT?

[popeye4]

Credit card restrictions (lower limits, way higher interest rates, tougher to get) are also cramping people's style. People can't buy as much when they have to "pay as they go"..... The era of free money has passed.

When the market is slow, you either have to wait (perhaps a long time) to get your price or sell at the price the market sets. Lots of people selling real estate are learning that lesson.

[popeye4]

Gunowners, really? I get the exact opposite impression: that most spend damned near all of their money on guns and little else. In my estimation, perhaps 15% are well off and shoot for a hobby.

If you think this hobby is expensive, try playing golf for a while. Or get into vintage cars...

[Vin496]

I am always amazed to see guys selling stuff on the boards with tag lines like
"this is what I paid for it", blah, blah, blah..."only put 3 rounds down the tube"
blah, blah, blah, when they are the second or third owner of said gun.
If it is not selling it is because nobody wants it at that price, regardless of what you think it is worth.
My rule of thumb is, if I can buy it new for close to the same price, why buy it used?

Very true. A lots of guys don't realize a gun is like a car once you left the store with it, it's used. If I can buy gun x for $550 OTD new, why am I going to pay $535 for yours, when after PPT fees it's actually going to cost more.

Well the PPT restrictions are far less constraining the purchase of new guns, handguns, that is. That's a big part of it.

This comes into play I think more in the beginning when people are trying to get a collection going or are going crazy in a buying frenzy when they discover they can bypass the 1/30 rule.

Still I have to factor in cost. I see it over and over, guys not just wanting to sell things for around the same price as new, but quite often for more than new. Just because they went into certain stores that charge way more than others and paid for it.

[Draankol]

I think most of it is due to the previous year's buying frenzy. People went mad buying guns and now the market is saturated with guns in private hands. But, a lot of those people have lost jobs, had to take a pay cut, bought too much, used credit cards and now the bill is due, etc. Supply is now larger than demand, especially for mid to high priced items like ARs. ARs going for $699.00 new now! What were people paying a year ago? 6 months ago?

The economy is far from bottoming, but people are feeling the effects here, and everywhere, and most of us here bought a bunch of stuff when the Obamanation got elected.

Some of us paid cash and are okay keeping what we bought, or trading for other things of interest, whatever. But the credit card frenzy buyers and poeple who've lost a job or taken a pay cut are dumping things off cheap chicken!

Next year, I think we might see further decreases in gun prices, and I am positioning myself to buy a few select items if the price is right.

Otherwise, I am stocked up and really only need a few boxes of ammo to get me to where I want to be. I am waiting for the prices to drop further, which they will.

My .02

[RobG]

I am always amazed to see guys selling stuff on the boards with tag lines like
"this is what I paid for it", blah, blah, blah..."only put 3 rounds down the tube"
blah, blah, blah, when they are the second or third owner of said gun.
If it is not selling it is because nobody wants it at that price, regardless of what you think it is worth.
My rule of thumb is, if I can buy it new for close to the same price, why buy it used?

Soooo true! There guns on there now selling for 50% more than new. And not Pythons or other sought afters, plain ole common stuff

[Henry Hill]

i think its simply priced higher then people think its worth

[dirtnap]

ARs going for $699.00 new now! What were people paying a year ago? 6 months ago?

I paid about 50.00 more than that on my new ar build on the middle of the frenzy. Not jumping on the brand band wagon, and searching endlessly for the killer deals has allowed me to maintain a steady flow of new guns and ammo into my collection. I'm expanding my collection slowly so I never run out of funds. Next weekend I'm going out to buy a new safe because I ran out of room in my others.

[a1c]

Maybe your stuff wasn't in demand. I've seen several items I would have bought had I had the chance, but they were gone minutes or hours after they got posted.

And when I finally got a chance to get something I wanted, a check I had forgotten about cleared and I found myself SOL. Oh well...