A good laugh

[Mike B]

I have GOT to share this story with forum members. Today, I had to drive to New Orleans. That two hour trip from my home took my past a major sporting goods store. ( I guess I should not mention names.) But there are many such stores in many states; they boast of having a "Gun Library". That being the case and their asking to buy guns, I thought I would take a few guns to see what kind of offer I would get. Here is what I brought;

1) Remington 700 classic in 300 Weatherby mag with a 3X9 Leupold scope.

2) Winchester model 70 pre 64 in 257 Roberts, re-chambered to 257 Weatherby mag with 2.5X8 Weaver scope. Both 1947 vintage.

3) Safe & Loaded Luger in 92-95% condition

4) Swiss alphabet commercial Luger in 95% condition.

Here is their offer

$300 for the Remington
$350 for the Winchester
$500 for the Safe & Loaded
$600 for the Swiss.

If these folks buy guns for these prices, I am not surprised they are successful. Honestly it was so ridiculous, I had to laugh in his face. Although tempted to say something ugly, I just said thank you and left.

Mike

[MikeP]

Honestly, did you expect any different?

[alvin]

"a major sporting goods store", not very surprised. In that context, all vintage guns are still in their tools stage, not in collector stage. Rarity & condition are still counted, but counted from a different angle. Old guns have to compete with Glock in price. C&R has no advantage in function..... actually, lots of disadvantage.

Do they actually carry many C&R in store? What's the asking price of their C&R ?

[Patronen]

Take their offers and decrease it by:
33% for Females under the age of 50.
35% for Females between the ages of 50 to 70.
40% for Females age 70+.

[Arizona Slim]

That sounds like a possible profit of somewhere in the neighborhood of around 500%, not bad (for them) if they can get it.

Lon

[txnewb]

Those sound like pawn shop prices.

[Ron Smith]

I had a friend who worked for this "Major" Sporting Goods Store. He has been in the gun buying and trading business for many years.

He quit the "Major" Sporting Goods Store, because they have a "price menu" for their employees to follow when purchasing guns. And because they hired employees who know little or nothing about firearms and / or their value.

He tried to convince the managers that they were missing out on some very good deals by not budging on their "menu" prices. They weren't interested...

The last time I was in their Gun Library, they had a Walther P-1 that I converted to a P-38 Kurtz clone many years ago and sold to a guy I worked with for $300. I made 3 of them around 1985-86 when P-1's were selling for around $160.00, and stamped the frames with an "RS". They wanted $1800.00 for it. When I told the the salesman that I had done it, and that it wasn't legit, he shrugged and walked away.

[Ben M.]

good to know the next time you buy from cabellas and you want them to reduce their selling price

[lugersrkewl]

they would sell that swiss alphabet for no less then 1500.00. The cabelas round here want 1200 for a mismatched alphabet .

[BogeyB]

Hey Mike,

I'll give you $700 for the Safe & Loaded!

Mike

[mrerick]

Kind of makes me think that we should have very specific instructions to heirs for liquidating a collection.

Particularly on whom to trust.

Marc

[Mike B]

BOGEYB,
Is your offer for the top half or lower half.

Mike

[BogeyB]

Doesn't matter!!

Mike

P.S. Is yours a 20DWM or an Alphabet?

[Zorba]

Originally Posted by BOGEYB

Hey Mike,

I'll give you $700 for the Safe & Loaded!

Mike

Oh, darnit - I was gonna offer him $600! Ya priced me out!

[Mike B]

BOGEYB,
The Safe & Loaded is a 5 digit commercial

Mike