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Ya with the price of things going up even an old piece of machinery , no matter what it is , has value ...... " Tide lifts all boats " 
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I have done this here and will continue to do so. I've gotten a lot of great deals over the years and don't mind returning that back.I priced some stuff < $200 of what I have seen in some shops and have the original S&W box still no interest ! I am not giving stuff away period but will give a long-standing member a sweet deal because we are in da club .
True, I've seen some good deals on vintage bolt-action hunting rifles. It wasn't on here, but I passed up an older Remington 700 .25-06 recently for $400. I love those classic rifles, but already have several that I haven't used in decades.On the flip side, there are some older guns that can be had at pleasantly surprising rates these days.
Cars overpriced on Craigslist are the same way .......Prices in the classifieds here are comical. Vast majority are overpriced and just sit there. I check couple times a week at least and it's just the same stuff sitting there.
This is much the same situation here in Wash. only worse. This is why lately, when I bother to put something up in the NWFA ads, I limit availability to the FFL dealer I use for transfers. Otherwise there are just too many variables and imponderables to consider a lot of run-around. Even some western Wash. people don't get this; they balk at driving from Tacoma to Everett. To some extent, I get that, what with traffic and all. But I used to drive that far once a month just to go to the WAC gun shows. If they want it, they will drive for it.However now with FFL fees, the possibility of a BGC delay and other issues traveling to buy a gun (of any major distance) is simply not 'in the cards'.
This is real. The legal obstacles that have been thrown up here have stifled what I'd call casual buying. Meaning, because you might have the money and doing it wasn't a big deal. No longer.SB 941 destroyed a big part of the gun 'hobby' for me, in that prior to it I probably bought, sold or traded 5-7 guns a year but that came to an end.
Here I have to disagree, a bit. Yes, deals were easier to make. But in my experiences lately, prices often have to be cut simply to move the merchandise BECAUSE the legal obstacles make it more difficult and therefore less appealing to buyers. With the now usual legal barriers in place, the only thing a private seller can do to offset them is offer price incentive. Unless I've missed something.Also because buying was much easier pre SB 941 sellers knew this and prices of used guns were much more competitive and deals easier to make.
On the flip side, there are primarily two types of people buying guns. The first type just circles around like a vulture, trying to find a sucker desperate to sell a gun at terribly low prices, lowballing in the hopes that someone will be desperate enough to volunteer to get ripped off, and then patting themselves on the back for the great "deal" they got.It seems that there are primarily two types of people selling their guns. The first type just want them gone quick and easy, and usually sell them for 50 cents on the dollar (or less) at gun or pawn shops. Then there are those who feel the need to get back what they've got into it. They post it here and it sits forever, or until they find a sucker. Occasionally the former type will post their wares here for cheap, and it goes fast. I don't constantly peruse the classifieds here, so I usually miss them too, but I've heard stories.![]()
This makes sense and I agree however in the days of no FFL FTF deals there were a LOT more avenues to sell guns and LOT more advertised - and NOT just on forums. Also there were a LOT more older, traditional and collectible guns being advertised as well.Here I have to disagree, a bit. Yes, deals were easier to make. But in my experiences lately, prices often have to be cut simply to move the merchandise BECAUSE the legal obstacles make it more difficult and therefore less appealing to buyers.
That's for sure, been there and done that. One of my earliest gun-trading experiences was something I'll never forget. A local guy had sold me an early Colt pistol for cheap, a 1903 .38 acp as I recall. The mainspring broke on the first magazine through it, and the LGS told me I wouldn't be able to find a replacement. I barely made it home before a "buddy" of the shop owner called me wanting to buy it. Long story short, he practically stole it. I was young and dumb, and he used all the tricks to beat me down and discourage me so I gave it to him cheap. I saw it again a couple months later, on his table at the gun show, for more than triple.On the flip side, there are primarily two types of people buying guns. The first type just circles around like a vulture, trying to find a sucker desperate to sell a gun at terribly low prices, lowballing in the hopes that someone will be desperate enough to volunteer to get ripped off, and then patting themselves on the back for the great "deal" they got.
Not just nowadays but Many of us have been this way forever, heck I have, to a degree however pre SB 941 it was MUCH easier to use guns in deals/trades of other things.but nowadays it doesn't have to be a good deal if it's something I want.
Outdoorstrader, really miss that one. Armslist used to be much better before 941 also.This makes sense and I agree however in the days of no FFL FTF deals there were a LOT more avenues to sell guns and LOT more advertised - and NOT just on forums. Also there were a LOT more older, traditional and collectible guns being advertised as well.
Heck pre SB 941 our local La Pine nickle ad fishwrapper had a specific section for 'sporting goods' - and a lot of the ads were guns. I remember even the Bend Bulletin newspaper having the same. Also I remember there being a REALLY popular NW based advertising website that was well known and always had a lot of guns advertised on it. I can't remember the name but I recall 'back in the day' it being mentioned on this forum - and I bought at least two guns off of it if I remember.
If I recall it 'disappeared' shortly after SB 941 but my point being with no 'freedom' to sell guns it dramatically reduced the number and places to advertise them.
That was it ! Ditto on AL as well pre 941.Outdoorstrader, really miss that one.
Nickel Ads was another source ........Outdoorstrader, really miss that one. Armslist used to be much better before 941 also.
I'ts something I grew up doing and will till the day I am gone.I understand that "horse trading" for all kind of things is a big part of the culture in many places, but I've never done it myself.