Haggling at Gun Shows .... .... .... .... .... ....

[Kruzr]

I thought you had to haggle.

[Spiggy]

That one is the worst, and as a bystander, I hear that one all the time.

when I hear it, I just want to reach out and give them a pat on the head with the back of my hand

I would say that is the worse haggling phrase you can use... if not the most insulting.

[CavTrooper]

99% of my gun show experience is seeing used rifles, handguns, scopes, etc. priced at or above retail, WTF guy? I like to walk around and check stuff out, occasionally you find a good guy with good stuff at a good price, but my estimation is that at least 50% of the sellers there are smoking crack when they price thier items.
Ill tell ya something else, when I ask you how much something is (because its unmarked!) I really dont want the backstory on the item! I really dont care if Audie Murphys grandmothers neighbor gave thier gardener two dollars to walk to the store for milk and on the way he ran into Bob Johnson and had a conversation where they discussed the price of tea in china as a man with a giant hat in a lincon continental drove past.....
You get my drift. Tell me what you want and shut up.
I think MOST, NOT ALL, gun show folk are pretty much just carnies with a hobby, and should be treated as such, fun to look at, but keep your hand on your wallet, or they will rob you blind.
PS: if you insist on buying firearms at gunshows, you need to either a) Know somebody b) be willing to walk away or c) bring lube. (youll need it)

[locktime]

Everything is negotiable.

Negotiation is not confrontation.

Silence is your friend.

Take your time.

"What's the best you can do on this?"

[P08]

Fun Shows

The worst of selling at a show is dealing with those who came to insult(aside from the sweathogs and CHUDS). This may result in not selling your items to them, since they never really got the idea that you were going to run into them sooner or later at another show or the range. Its a small community. As to the other poster, if you feel like you need lube to go to the shows maybe you should bring it. If I see an item that too highly priced, I'll pucker up and move on -Iam over it.

[Citadelgrad87]

Haggling is an art form. Not everyone can do it, and those that do, few do it effectively.

Please. It's a matter of persistence, attention to cues, and realistic expectations.

I do it for a living, don't make it into some voodoo magic.

[yzErnie]

Most of the time I'll go to a show with specific items in mind. I'll do my homework before I go and I know what a good price would be for what I am looking for. Occasionally I'll find something not on my list that catches my eye...such as the LNIB Sig P239 for $350 that recently ended up in my safe.

[DIG]

[QUOTE]How successful have you been at haggling at the gun shows? [QUOTE]

Very successful. I haggle for just about every thing I buy. I haggle on friends behalf too. I even haggle at Best Buy for items over $100 and it almost always works. You just have to realize that the other guy is there to make a little money too so ya can't beat 'em up too badly. Some items you just have to pass on though. Not too long ago I saw a new 308 selling for over $1400 at a local show. I could get it online + FFL transfer for just under $1000. I didn't even bother trying to haggle for that item. Some people are willing to pay. That's ok, it's not coming out of my wallet

[Roo]

Just walk away. If they don't stop you then they are not interested in haggling. But if they say anything then you know you have them. I always lowball hardcore.

[1911jerry]

Chuck Norris doesn't haggle.......

I try to knock off a few dollars on something I want. I don't go for the balls, I try to leave them with their respect. It helps if I ever go back to the same guy.

JS

[Bishop]

Please. It's a matter of persistence, attention to cues, and realistic expectations.

I do it for a living, don't make it into some voodoo magic.

Well? Share!

(or should I wait for a cue?)

[Citadelgrad87]

Well? Share!

(or should I wait for a cue?)

First and foremost, be willing to walk away, don't make a huge deal, you're not Deniro, but make it known that you can literally take or leave the item. When they know you have this power, they know they have to convince you it's their best deal.

Don't WAY underbid, because they know that even if they meet you halfway, there's no money in it for them.

Re you guys saying not to say I can get it cheaper, I frequently tell them where I can get it cheaper, ONLINE, and they know it. I tell them in the same breath that I prefer to spend my money locally, I know they can't directly match prices, so how about if we toss "shiping" that I'm saving on top of the price I can get it for online. Lots of guys are happy I am honest this way, even if they won't meet my price. I even tell them I'll toss in a few bucks just to have it now.

The easiest way I have found to save some money is asking for their best price, put the onus on them, even at retail places where it's clearly marked. You'd be surprised how many place cut the price without any hesitation. There, you just saved some money, just know when to stop askign for less and take the deal. Of course, when THEY suggest a price, it's never really cut to the bone, but it's closer than you were before you asked.

[Satex]

I pay about $260 for these things and sell them for $350.

Wes, what happened to TEN PERCENT firearms?

($350 - $260) / $260 = $90 / $ 260 = 34%

[metalhead357]

My friends and wife think I'm nutttttts half the time. i DONT pay retail on anything but groceries, fast food, licences/permits (Set by statute) and gas. I negotiate at places from Mervyns to Walmart...................and it works................if you're willing to walk if you dont get the good price. Gun shows are no different- save trying to negotiate with the dudes at the Milwall tables. Heck, just negotiated a New Jeep Rubicon for $500 over FACTORY WHOLESALE price I still think my 'personal best' though was a time with an Ex GF and friend in tow at the mall and negotiated a leather jacket marked retail at $499.99 and being sold for 1/2 price..........I wriggled the manager down to $44.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My GF was pissed but my buddy was drooling~ So we each took one at that price had a similar one with another jacket at Mervyns.

EVERYTHING is negotiable....if its not then either they're into the product toooooooo deep, are dweebs/tools, dont have the 'authority' to negotiate, or simply dont like negotiators..............................

SMALL places & mom/pop shops with a lot of overhead tend NOT to haggle in my experience...but the larger the place the more they do.

Go the Gun Show...give 'er a whirl....all you can get is a yes or a no..... YMMV but I'm not exactly sure how/what that would be

[GUN FREAK]

Just walk away. If they don't stop you then they are not interested in haggling. But if they say anything then you know you have them. I always lowball hardcore.

+1



How needs respect, they laugh when you walk away saying sucker.
It always the same people at the shows.