fjestad's blue book of gun values

[SKSer]

So I am looking at purchasing a used Ruger Vaquero at my local gun store, and I was talking with a buddy of mine about it and he tells me to look up the value in the "fjestad's blue book of gun values", and essentially offer them what the blue book says.

My first concern with this is that I was always under the impression that it is bad etiquette to try and lowball at a gunstore. I figured if the price was to high for you then you just looked elsewhere.

They are asking $450 for the gun which is reasonable, that is about the going rate, even private party. As far as the condition of the gun it is in great shape. It looks to be fired very little, I went through this inspection procedure: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57816
and everything checked out good. The only blemishes is on the finish. It is stainless steel and is a little scuffed on the muzzle and barrel like the previous owner holstered it alot, but from the cylinder back it looks flawless.

In fjestad's blue book it would come in between 95-98% leaning closer to 98%. With that it is basically saying that the gun is only worth $300-330. This just seems un-reasonable to me seeing how the MSRP of a new vaquero is $529 and I definately dont want to walk into the store and whip out the book and then make a lowball offer.

what do you guys think?

[jdberger]

The Blue Book is just a guideline (says so right there in the Forward). Some prices may vary based on regional differences.

IMO - $450 for a used Vacquero is too high. I'd offer $400 no tax. But then again I already have a Vacquero.

[foxtrotuniformlima]

I'd low ball the hell out of them on a used gun.

I will guarantee you that when they bought it, they offered no more than half of what they are asking. Maybe less.

If they are asking $ 450 I'd offer $ 400 inc tax & DROS.

[SKSer]

thanks guys for your opinion, I didnt realize it was common practice to negotiate used gun prices at a gunstore, I wish I would have known this a few years ago.

[bsg]

"blue book" prices don't mean much to me; supply and demand....

[BillCA]

Fjestad says they aggregate their prices based on the information they collect on gun sales. You can think of it as the "average" or "mean" selling price acrosss the country. In certain areas, like the Southeast, prices are generally lower. In states like NJ, MA, CA and NY, prices are generally higher. l

What I've done, and it seems to "fit" the pattern here in CA, is for an average gun, take the BB value ($300-$330) and add $100 for the "California Premium"then add about 10% to make up for inflation and/or the time delay in publishing the book. Thus, your $300 gun quickly jumps to $440 which is pretty close to what the FFL is asking. Quite often, you have at least $70-$100 or more to negotiate the price. On a popular gun, the dealer has the upper hand. On less popular ones, he's more likely to negotiate to move it. The "California Premium" is an artifical artifact created by CA gun laws. Because some guns are not available in CA, when desirable guns show up, dealers will add an extra $100 knowing that you can't easily find another one. They'll push it with the statement "How long will it take you to find another one? And how much more will it cost you?"

[SKSer]

I guess that is why I was thinking it was a fair price, because we only have 3 gunstores in my area, and I want an old vaquero so I can load the hotter loads. So how long will it take for another one to come into one of these shops. My other option is to wait for one to come up used in the classifieds but then 95% of the time, I'll have to drive 60-100 miles twice, so that's time and gas money, and the asking price is still $400-450. So when you add it all up I might save 20-30 bucks if I wait. I guess my main concern is not getting ripped off, I dont mind paying a little more, I mean they are my local gunstore and they help me out with a lot of other stuff, and give me deals on stuff here and there.

[BillCA]

There are negotiating techniques that might help. Remember you do have quite a bit of wiggle room on the price due to that "CA Premium".

For instance, my 28th edition of the Blue Book (the only one I have handy) lists a New Vaquero at $300 for 95% condition and $375 in 98% condition. A dealer buying the gun from a walk-in customer might pay $195 or $225 respectively. In an average shop, he'll mark the gun close to the BB value. That $75-$100 "CA Premium" is simply profit... and negotiating room.

The best negotiating method is cold, hard cash. Offering $400 in cash for a $450 gun often works, even on a relatively popular gun. Of course, it won't work on guns that sell rapidly, since he knows someone will come along within two weeks and buy the asking price. Also, check out his shop's wares. A shop that stocks 80% autos and 20% wheelguns probably doesn't sell SA's all that fast.


If you want other items while you're in the shop, don't be afraid to bundle those into the deal. Buying four boxes of ammo, cleaning supplies or new reloading dies (for example) allows the dealer more wiggle room and he'll still make a profit. Accessories, clothing, etc are all high profit items for the dealer and he can easily discount those to make a bundled sale.

Likewise, any guns that have been sitting in the dealer's display for over a month are good candidates to renegotiate the price. The longer they sit, the more his profit margin is eaten up by inflation and interest rates on any borrowed money he uses.
To be clear, buying two cleaning brushes, a bottle of CLP and a box of .22 ammo won't excite him much. But adding another $50 to $100 of accessories can help him make a better deal on the gun.

[SKSer]

Thanks for all the advice BillCa, it was very informative.