Tax time affecting gun broker prices?

Brien · 03-01-2017, 09:57 PM

Hi folks,

Is it just me or are the opening bid, reserve and buy it now prices on Gunbroker a little on the semi ridiculous side. Is it because of tax time perchance? They weren't that high just a month ago. Has the supply if lugers suddenly dried up?

P-38s are also creeping into the higher than general price ranges. Is it a cycle or have I missed the boat on affordable pieces and am watching it sail away.

From my semi-untrained eye most (if not all) don't seem to be outstanding collector pieces
They aren't krieghoffs, k dates or other much scarcer versions.

Also, am I wrong in being a little disgusted at the "Black Widow" marketing moniker and the (to me) grossly inflated prices for them? Fred Datig days in hisLugers at Random there were many thousands produced. (Or am I mistaken?)

I know, I'm probably just whining....

What say ye?

Edward Tinker · 03-01-2017, 10:24 PM

no such model as a 'widow''

It seems that prices go up and down - I do find that some times of the year that ebay or gunbroker are better than others...

4 Scale · 03-02-2017, 01:14 AM

I spend way too much time looking for deals on Gunbroker compared to what I actually bid on. Lugers come and go in waves. It is thin right now. Patience is the single biggest asset a Luger collector can have IMO; "be patient". When a wave hits, bargains can be had.

Brien · 03-02-2017, 01:33 AM

Ed,

Quite right about the "widow" I've read about this marketing ploy. I just get disgusted by people wanting over $3,000 for them and they are not that special. They probably won't get it, but it artificially inflates an already expensive hobby.

I just wanted to know if you luger veterans see this as a normal market ebb and flow. I am just amazed at the quick fluctuation that is even affecting p-38s, many if which are late war with nowhere near the manufacturing precision of even the last lugers produced. I am thankful for you and all the other members that impart information critical in safeguarding against expensive mistakes. I just hope that the market returns to a level that is financially manageable fairly quickly.

alvin · 03-02-2017, 08:11 AM

"Black Widow" in very nice shape can sell higher than $3k. When talking cheap or expensive, that's an item's coming cost, but depends on how much it can sell. If an item can sell $3k, and you get one at $1.5k, that's cheap.

But this type of thing's value heavily depends on condition. Especially on relatively common variation. Beware of this scenario: say, you got a Black Widow at $1.5k, but it's not that nice so it's a $1k item,,, then $1.5k is not cheap anymore.

Be able to find cheap guns cheap is not an achievement, be able to find expensive guns cheap is. Does not happen very often. Need time and lots of long time searching effort and luck. Nothing really comes free. Your effort also worth money.

mrerick · 03-02-2017, 09:18 AM

"Irrational exuberance"?

Every auction is it's own individual market. Completely depends on who is in the audience and what they really want. The audience depends upon the marketing of the auctioneer.

Just recently at smaller regional auctions a friend was able to buy genuinely rare and high condition Lugers for about 1/3 what they sell for between collectors. He invests quite a bit of time on this and knows the marketplace well, so he has a good idea when something needs to be bid on.

alvin · 03-03-2017, 08:22 AM

Another wave of C&R is listed in Amoskeag. Their items are usually not cheap, not for resale profit purpose, but they offer good assessment and description service. At the beginning, you don't want to jump into a wild environment because there are many traps. Amoskeag helps. They carry many Lugers. If one item meet your need, bid on it. If it goes out of reach, let it go and wait next session. After viewing a few thousand of them, still cannot find an appropriate one? then,,, not sure what to do. No, that's impossible. This is just one supplier, there are many many suppliers.

http://www.amoskeagauction.com/113/auction113.php

DonVoigt · 03-03-2017, 09:15 AM

Yes, the market(for lugers and guns in general) ebbs and flows.
Within a venue, monthly, yearly, and in longer boom/bust cycles too.

Generally tax time is good to sell, folks have tax refunds(or not).
Christmas/New Year and mid-summer vacation time are generally good times to buy; when folks spend their money and "time" on other things.

Basically- don't worry about it! As 4 Scale said, just be "patient".

03-01-2017, 09:57 PM	#1
Brien User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Choctaw ok Posts: 53 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Tax time affecting gun broker prices? Hi folks, Is it just me or are the opening bid, reserve and buy it now prices on Gunbroker a little on the semi ridiculous side. Is it because of tax time perchance? They weren't that high just a month ago. Has the supply if lugers suddenly dried up? P-38s are also creeping into the higher than general price ranges. Is it a cycle or have I missed the boat on affordable pieces and am watching it sail away. From my semi-untrained eye most (if not all) don't seem to be outstanding collector pieces They aren't krieghoffs, k dates or other much scarcer versions. Also, am I wrong in being a little disgusted at the "Black Widow" marketing moniker and the (to me) grossly inflated prices for them? Fred Datig days in hisLugers at Random there were many thousands produced. (Or am I mistaken?) I know, I'm probably just whining.... What say ye?

03-02-2017, 09:18 AM	#6
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	"Irrational exuberance"? Every auction is it's own individual market. Completely depends on who is in the audience and what they really want. The audience depends upon the marketing of the auctioneer. Just recently at smaller regional auctions a friend was able to buy genuinely rare and high condition Lugers for about 1/3 what they sell for between collectors. He invests quite a bit of time on this and knows the marketplace well, so he has a good idea when something needs to be bid on. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

03-03-2017, 09:15 AM	#8
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,442 Thanked 4,352 Times in 2,040 Posts	Yes, the market(for lugers and guns in general) ebbs and flows. Within a venue, monthly, yearly, and in longer boom/bust cycles too. Generally tax time is good to sell, folks have tax refunds(or not). Christmas/New Year and mid-summer vacation time are generally good times to buy; when folks spend their money and "time" on other things. Basically- don't worry about it! As 4 Scale said, just be "patient". __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-01-2017, 10:24 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,941 Thanks: 2,039 Thanked 4,547 Times in 2,100 Posts	no such model as a 'widow'' It seems that prices go up and down - I do find that some times of the year that ebay or gunbroker are better than others...

03-02-2017, 01:14 AM	#3
4 Scale User Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 544 Thanks: 194 Thanked 490 Times in 251 Posts	I spend way too much time looking for deals on Gunbroker compared to what I actually bid on. Lugers come and go in waves. It is thin right now. Patience is the single biggest asset a Luger collector can have IMO; "be patient". When a wave hits, bargains can be had.

03-02-2017, 01:33 AM	#4
Brien User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Choctaw ok Posts: 53 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Ed, Quite right about the "widow" I've read about this marketing ploy. I just get disgusted by people wanting over $3,000 for them and they are not that special. They probably won't get it, but it artificially inflates an already expensive hobby. I just wanted to know if you luger veterans see this as a normal market ebb and flow. I am just amazed at the quick fluctuation that is even affecting p-38s, many if which are late war with nowhere near the manufacturing precision of even the last lugers produced. I am thankful for you and all the other members that impart information critical in safeguarding against expensive mistakes. I just hope that the market returns to a level that is financially manageable fairly quickly.

03-02-2017, 08:11 AM	#5
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	"Black Widow" in very nice shape can sell higher than $3k. When talking cheap or expensive, that's an item's coming cost, but depends on how much it can sell. If an item can sell $3k, and you get one at $1.5k, that's cheap. But this type of thing's value heavily depends on condition. Especially on relatively common variation. Beware of this scenario: say, you got a Black Widow at $1.5k, but it's not that nice so it's a $1k item,,, then $1.5k is not cheap anymore. Be able to find cheap guns cheap is not an achievement, be able to find expensive guns cheap is. Does not happen very often. Need time and lots of long time searching effort and luck. Nothing really comes free. Your effort also worth money.

03-03-2017, 08:22 AM	#7
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Another wave of C&R is listed in Amoskeag. Their items are usually not cheap, not for resale profit purpose, but they offer good assessment and description service. At the beginning, you don't want to jump into a wild environment because there are many traps. Amoskeag helps. They carry many Lugers. If one item meet your need, bid on it. If it goes out of reach, let it go and wait next session. After viewing a few thousand of them, still cannot find an appropriate one? then,,, not sure what to do. No, that's impossible. This is just one supplier, there are many many suppliers. http://www.amoskeagauction.com/113/auction113.php