Gouging FFL's

[glockfu]

I'm so sick and tired of hearing people b***ch and moan about FFL's "gouging". Can anyone answer me this?

If an FFL used to be able to sell 50 guns a month to pay their bills, but can only sell 5 guns a month (because that's all they can get) even though they have the same bills, what do you think is going to happen to the price of those 5 guns???

Seems like common sense to me

[Tyke8319]

Surely you have to remember that most (if not all) storefront FFL's also sell a variety of other sports and non-sports related items. I doubt there are any (except home FFL's) that try and make a living from the sales of just firearms.

[GoingQuiet]

I'm so sick and tired of hearing people b***ch and moan about FFL's "gouging". Can anyone answer me this?

If an FFL used to be able to sell 50 guns a month to pay their bills, but can only sell 5 guns a month (because that's all they can get) even though they have the same bills, what do you think is going to happen to the price of those 5 guns???

Seems like common sense to me

Common sense aint that common.

If you sell your gun on the boards privately because you want the most money for your product, you are a smart consumer.

If I sell my product for top dollar because I want the most money for my product, I am a business that hates 2A and should be reported for price gouging.

Welcome to the world we live in.

[GoingQuiet]

Surely you have to remember that most (if not all) storefront FFL's also sell a variety of other sports and non-sports related items. I doubt there are any (except home FFL's) that try and make a living from the sales of just firearms.

I sell guns and ammo. Period. Right now, we can't get either wholesale. I'm buying at retail just to restock.

[PartyBarge]

I've heard the margin on actual firearm sales is a single digit percent.

Essentially you sell guns to get customers in the door and make your money on accessories. Also - free market. Don't like their price, go elsewhere. Let the market demand push back and prices will drop - like you said, they'll have to respond, bills have to be paid.

[GoingQuiet]

I've heard the margin on actual firearm sales is a single digit percent.

Essentially you sell guns to get customers in the door and make your money on accessories. Also - free market. Don't like their price, go elsewhere. Let the market demand push back and prices will drop - like you said, they'll have to respond, bills have to be paid.

Depends on the product. It used to be 25% now it's at 2-3 on some and 9-12 on others.

[Tyke8319]

I sell guns and ammo. Period. Right now, we can't get either wholesale. I'm buying at retail just to restock.

I suspect you are in the minority. No fault in that. I think it's
just rare.

[glockfu]

Surely you have to remember that most (if not all) storefront FFL's also sell a variety of other sports and non-sports related items. I doubt there are any (except home FFL's) that try and make a living from the sales of just firearms.

You are right in that they do sell other stuff. The major categories are....
1) Guns - Which are not available
2) Ammo - Which is not available
3) Parts & Accessories - Which have surprisingly been harder to get as well.

So now FFL's are going to survive off selling Parts & Accessories? And to add onto that, at a reduced level since those are getting harder to find? If that was possible, don't you think there would be a lot more firearm parts and accessory only stores around (I'm pretty sure no one actually likes the paperwork and dealing with the DOJ and ATF on a regular basis). So now we have knocked out 2 out of the 3 categories and part of the 3rd to pay the same bills they had before. You take out 66% of their business (which is a low number since guns are high dollar items - remember 10% of a $20 item is a lot less than 5% of a $200 item) and you expect prices on what they do find to stay the same in the other categories?

I ask again, what do you think should happen with the 5 guns they get in?

[Tyke8319]

To answer your last question first, that's strictly up to the retailer and how he/she evaluates the needs of their respective business and how a sudden elevation is prices my be perceived my a customer.

In my case, I do repairs and servicing of firearms as well as retail sales of shooting sports items. I look at the totality of my business and what it's able to produce. And, BTW, I've found no difficulty in locating parts or accessories at all. Granted, there are shortages of some firearms but what I tell my customers if they have a particular item in made be prepared to make a second or third choice or...wait till the market returns.
I don't find it necessary to hike my prices. That only PO's a prospective customer and drives them elsewhere. And that does me no good in thr long run.

[hermosabeach]

Gun owners will destroy a local gun shop faster than the Brady Bunch


Same folks ***** at places like turners for requiring appoints as required by their city

[glockfu]

To answer your last question first, that's strictly up to the retailer and how he/she evaluates the needs of their respective business and how a sudden elevation is prices my be perceived my a customer.

In my case, I do repairs and servicing of firearms as well as retail sales of shooting sports items. I look at the totality of my business and what it's able to produce. And, BTW, I've found no difficulty in locating parts or accessories at all. Granted, there are shortages of some firearms but what I tell my customers if they have a particular item in made be prepared to make a second or third choice or...wait till the market returns.
I don't find it necessary to hike my prices. That only PO's a prospective customer and drives them elsewhere. And that does me no good in thr long run.

Well, if most of your sales are derived from labor then you might not feel the pinch as much as others who don't focus on that as much which works out for you but may not work out the same for others who focus on retail. Not all FFLs are set up in this way which is why the post. If you can keep your prices pre-covid then that's great for you since it sounds like you don't rely on retail sales. Try buying Magpul, Spikes and many other parts and accessories from other companies, you'll find they too are having a hard time keeping up stock at wholesalers.

Just out of curiosity, how many employees do you have to feed? If it's just you and a couple other people then that may also lend well to a shortage but may not be the same boat as others in the business.

[Hateca]

You ain’t seen nothing yet. If Trump looses hold onto your wallet, if you can even find anything before they are banned. During the Clinton AW ban I made small fortune. During that time I saw stripped lowers sell for $500.00 ea and they were lined up to pay for them.

[GoingQuiet]

Same thing happened in 2013. I was selling stripped lowers as fast as I could get them in for $400 each