It’s My Turn To Rant

[robstercraw]

I understand what's going on in the market doesn't fit into the definition of "gouging" per say, but it kinda feels like it. I've been trading and selling firearms for 30 years. I do it because I love the hobby. I like to shoot different guns and finger f them awhile. Ill keep the ones I really like and pass on the ones I don't. My motto was to never really sell something more than I paid for it. If I get a good deal on it initially I pass those savings on. Having said that...I have taken some real beatings on guns over the years. It's part of the hobby. I have a real job....I don't use this hobby to make 50, 100, 200 hundred bucks on some guy that could easily be me. If this is your primary business than fine...I understand you need to make a living. If you're just a regular dude like me who doesn't need it to make a profit then pump the brakes. Some of these ridiculous asking prices are really laughable. Sorry....let me get down off my box.

I have particular disdain for individuals who purchase blue label Glocks and then sell them for more then the blue label price. That program is not what it’s intended for.... you sir are a douchebag

Thoughts ?

[RHINOWSO]

You can certainly not like it, but that is a personal choice to buy / use / sell as you do.

I never buy anything firearm related to turn a profit, but I do buy in such a way that I can buy, use, and sell with minimal to no loss if I end up not liking a firearm / optic / accessory. So I look for the great deals, the lightly used, or the occasional fire sale.

I have no desire to sell anything during this craze, but if I did I would sell it for market value - meaning whatever the market will bear. No reason to sell for a 'fair' price only for the buyer to turn around and sell for a profit. Yes, you need an FFL to be in the business of buying and selling firearms, but a regular non-FFL person can sell a firearm for a profit. The guy who bought a Colt Python decades ago for $300 can sell it for $3000. The guy who bought a SCAR 16 for $1500 from a going of of business can sell it for $2500. The guy who bought a LNIB no lock S&W640 for $350 can sell it for $700. They guy who bought 5K of 22LR for $200 can sell all ten 500rd bricks for $100 each.

Doesn't mean you have to like it, but it's called free market.

[Five_Point_Five_Six]

I understand what's going on in the market doesn't fit into the definition of "gouging" per say, but it kinda feels like it. I've been trading and selling firearms for 30 years. I do it because I love the hobby. I like to shoot different guns and finger f them awhile. Ill keep the ones I really like and pass on the ones I don't. My motto was to never really sell something more than I paid for it. If I get a good deal on it initially I pass those savings on. Having said that...I have taken some real beatings on guns over the years. It's part of the hobby. I have a real job....I don't use this hobby to make 50, 100, 200 hundred bucks on some guy that could easily be me. If this is your primary business than fine...I understand you need to make a living. If you're just a regular dude like me who doesn't need it to make a profit then pump the brakes. Some of these ridiculous asking prices are really laughable. Sorry....let me get down off my box.

I have particular disdain for individuals who purchase blue label Glocks and then sell them for more then the blue label price. That program is not what it’s intended for.... you sir are a douchebag

Thoughts ?

People buy blue label Glocks to try to sell for profit???? The price difference isn't even that much, certainly not enough for me to make the effort to buy them then go through the process of selling it and shipping it.

[AKDoug]

I've been on this ride since turning 18 in 1987. If people don't understand that gun prices go up in uncertain political times, F' em. The only folks I have sympathy towards are 18-21 year olds that are just being legally allowed to buy their first firearm. If I can cut them a deal I will. Everyone else pays market price, even if that market price allows me to make a 100% profit. Chumps leave money on the table when operating by emotion.

As far as blue label Glocks.. I don't qualify, but I also will not violate an agreement to make a buck. I assume that you are asked not to re-sell blue label Glocks? If you're not an FFL and are flipping guns I'd just be quiet about it.

[SteyrAUG]

If you're not an FFL and are flipping guns I'd just be quiet about it.

No kidding. Wait until you have operating costs of a few grand a year and then get back to me about Glock markups. Because of zero overhead hobby dealers it's almost impossible to sell firearms anywhere near MSRP during normal times.

You want to complain about the free market, well plenty of commie countries that frown on profits, perhaps the OP should move to one of them.

[SeriousStudent]

My thought is I'd be pretty cautious these days with posts talking about buying and selling a lot of firearms without an FFL.

[FlyingHunter]

Basic Economics: John Adams, one of our founding fathers described the invisible hand:

Definition: The unobservable market force that helps the demand and supply of goods in a free market to reach equilibrium automatically is the invisible hand.

Description: The phrase invisible hand was introduced by Adam Smith in his book 'The Wealth of Nations'. He assumed that an economy can work well in a free market scenario where everyone will work for his/her own interest.

He explained that an economy will comparatively work and function well if the government will leave people alone to buy and sell freely among themselves. He suggested that if people were allowed to trade freely, self interested traders present in the market would compete with each other, leading markets towards the positive output with the help of an invisible hand.

Supply and Demand.

[Hank6046]

My thought is I'd be pretty cautious these days with posts talking about buying and selling a lot of firearms without an FFL.

Yeah, I've done a few purchases over armslist, both buying and selling. 90% is parts and I have taken a picture of everyone's ID I've ever sold to or bought from. Having said that, the gun range I belong to is a large one, and I know quite a few people who buy and sell quite and while its mostly lever action or nicer over-unders, I have seen them post a few Charter arms Bulldogs and a like for prices that draw a certain kind of crowd.

[titsonritz]

The FFL thing was the first thing that crossed my mind also.

[OH58D]

My thought is I'd be pretty cautious these days with posts talking about buying and selling a lot of firearms without an FFL.

I'm not concerned. I am in the market for limited edition Glock & Wesson 13. Anyone have one like the pic below, we can meet. I'll drive a few hundred miles to meet in person for a quality specimen and I'll pay cash: