Are they gouging?

[Guest jps37033]

I have been on a few sales sites (golsn, gunbroker) and see people selling guns for more than they paid new. Some instances I have seen them asking $400 for a handgun you can readily buy for $275 new.

Are they gouging, oblivious, or are they actually trying to buy and resell to people that cannot qualify for profit?

[TNRobocop]

I have been on a few sales sites (golsn, gunbroker) and see people selling guns for more than they paid new. Some instances I have seen them asking $400 for a handgun you can readily buy for $275 new.

Are they gouging, oblivious, or are they actually trying to buy and resell to people that cannot qualify for profit?

None of the above.

Just taking advantage of the fact the market is supporting it.

Like stocks. Buy low sell high.

The market might stabilize. Might not. If you want it for that price, buy it, if not don't.

Free market economy.

[Sheepdog]

Sigh...

There is no such thing as "price gouging."

It's just a pseudo-highbrow way of saying, "You're a bastard for not giving it to me at a price I'd like better."

[Guest jps37033]

I have to disagree on "there is no price gouging". What about the people in Katrina that were asked to pay $400 a night for a dump motel when trying to leave? Thats price gouging. There is a difference between "Buy low, sell high", free market economy, and just plain bad business.

Otherwise, thanks for the feedback.

[mac12]

I was looking at Buds Gun Shop and they were auctioning off several items. One of the items was a Luger LCP. It was bid up to $395 with an hour or two left. Are some people that desperate?

[Guest jps37033]

I know what you mean. Probably people that are just now deciding they need to arm themselves. Like the grocery store line when they call for 2 inches of snow in West TN.

[Guest v3bahumut]

Guns are being priced high because some people are willing to pay.

There are still deals out there, just have to look harder.

[Smith]

free markets have a way of weeding out the dummy's among us by breaking their bank and putting it into the banks of smarter people. Seriously prices will come down when people quite acting like idiots. But then again, maybe we aren't as poor and broke as the government tells we are.

[TNRobocop]

I have to disagree on "there is no price gouging". What about the people in Katrina that were asked to pay $400 a night for a dump motel when trying to leave? Thats price gouging. There is a difference between "Buy low, sell high", free market economy, and just plain bad business.

Otherwise, thanks for the feedback.

Well now you are talking apples and oranges.

What you are referring to i.e. Katrina was price gouging. Significantly overcharging for food, gas, shelter, etc. is price gouging because people have no other option.

Technically speaking and in reference to firearms, it is not. A firearm is not a necessity of life, but rather a luxury. It is not essential to life in the sense that if you don't have one, than it's not like you are going to starve or be without gasoline to escape a hurricane, or such.

In my unofficial opinion, a gun is a necessity, but I am not going to overpay over what I know is a fair price.

[Sheepdog]

I have to disagree on "there is no price gouging". What about the people in Katrina that were asked to pay $400 a night for a dump motel when trying to leave? Thats price gouging. There is a difference between "Buy low, sell high", free market economy, and just plain bad business.

Otherwise, thanks for the feedback.

You know what happens what that dump motel, previously renting rooms at $40/night, doesn't charge 10x the usual rate in a crisis?

Yep. I rent two of 'em. That way my kids don't have to sleep on the floor, and we don't fight over the bathroom in the morning. Which means that you're SOL, and I've saved $320.

The same damn thing is happening with the guns/accessories market right now. Retailers aren't "gouging", which means--oh noes!--their shelves are bare.

Woohoo! S&W M&P-15s are $749 at Bud's! Too bad they don't have any. Why not? Because at that price, I bought three of 'em. Had they been priced at $1200, I wouldn't have thought them such a bargain. Maybe I wouldn't have bought any, since I've already got a few. And then you could have bitched about having the option to buy at a premium...but you'd still have had the option.

P-Mags? $13.95 at Midway. They ain't got none...partly because of me.

Glock mags? $22.95. Same story.

Springfield XD45 mags? $19.95. Ditto.

You know, I honestly wish that there were more "price gouging." Because a lot of the stuff that I want is damn near impossible to find.

And in a true crisis situation, you can bet your ass that I'd rather pay $100 for a box of .45ACP cartridges, than see empty shelves of $20.00 ammo.

God bless the "price gougers." They prevent hoarding and preserve availability of critical supplies when the SHTF.

[Guest jps37033]

So pretty much you are saying piss on the less fortunate, my pockets are deeper, let them suffer. The Family that didnt have $400 for a hotel room sleeps outside tonight.

It is people with that mindset that create a "each man for himself" state. Good thing there werent that many poeple with that mindset during and after 9-11 or katrina.

Apples to Oranges = Say this "price gouging" continues to inflate, that family that needs shells, but is less fortunate than you or me only has $20 for a box and not a $100? You feed them to the wolves? I share some of mine with them.

Just my morals and values though.

[Smith]

So pretty much you are saying piss on the less fortunate, my pockets are deeper, let them suffer. The Family that didnt have $400 for a hotel room sleeps outside tonight.

It is people with that mindset that create a "each man for himself" state. Good thing there werent that many poeple with that mindset during and after 9-11 or katrina.

Apples to Oranges = Say this "price gouging" continues to inflate, that family that needs shells, but is less fortunate than you or me only has $20 for a box and not a $100? You feed them to the wolves? I share some of mine with them.

Just my morals and values though.

Those aren't morals or values, they are feelings and will cause inconsistency at best down the road. A free market has to exist without feelings or else it will be tremendously unfair and biased towards who ever controls it - ex. our current mortgage "bailout" scheme. It needs to apply the same rules in hard times as it does in the good times.

Not trying to pick on you personally.

[TNRobocop]

So pretty much you are saying piss on the less fortunate, my pockets are deeper, let them suffer. The Family that didnt have $400 for a hotel room sleeps outside tonight.

It is people with that mindset that create a "each man for himself" state. Good thing there werent that many poeple with that mindset during and after 9-11 or katrina.

Apples to Oranges = Say this "price gouging" continues to inflate, that family that needs shells, but is less fortunate than you or me only has $20 for a box and not a $100? You feed them to the wolves? I share some of mine with them.

Just my morals and values though.

Well considering that the "family" that can't afford the shells is SOL isn't a fair statement.

What do they have to barter with for ammo? Like the old 70's saying ass, grass, or gas nobody rides for free. Food, water, fuel, etc. can be traded if they really need it.

I have a group of good friends, both police/military and civilian that can rely on each other. If you aren't in the group, so to speak, yeah you might be SOL if it ever comes to a SHTF scenario. But it isn't to that point yet and if it does, loyalty to family and friends come first. Everyone else is if we get around to it and it doesn't create problems with the first part.

[Guest jps37033]

Oh, I am totally with you on the mortgage bailout. They should have never been given the loans in the first damn place, they could have rented and fixed their credit/financial situation. And it is not personal feelings, it is morals. I was raised to help a brother in need in hard times or normal times. Not to take advantage of him during a difference in market conditions. I completely understand inflation, the need for profit, and an economy or need that supports prices going up, but not to take it to extremes.

I appreciate the replies, but I really did not intend for this to turn out this way.

[Smith]

Oh, I am totally with you on the mortgage bailout. They should have never been given the loans in the first damn place, they could have rented and fixed their credit/financial situation. And it is not personal feelings, it is morals. I was raised to help a brother in need in hard times or normal times. Not to take advantage of him during a difference in market conditions. I completely understand inflation, the need for profit, and an economy or need that supports prices going up, but not to take it to extremes.

I appreciate the replies, but I really did not intend for this to turn out this way.

These threads always end up this way! The morals of community and personal responsibility are not the same as an economic system. Though it should have those as a base, it is essentially a machine. Much like a computer is just a machine. It is the operator who has moral dilemma's. When we start tinkering and adjusting the computer to do commands based on situational scenarios, the odds of becoming immoral go from 0 to infinite. If it is consistent, irregardless of the current scenario, it cannot be unfair.

This is the problem with socialism. It seeks to adjust the computations depending on the environment and so is inherently flawed, unfair, and will fail in the outcome. The problem with free markets is that occasionally the people it serves elect morons who adjust the computations!

[frankmako]

Guns are being priced high because some people are willing to pay.

There are still deals out there, just have to look harder.

the election has drove up the prices of all gun related items. used guns from individuals are still the best deal. gun stores have gone out of sight. in the long run people will remember the high price gun stores/sites.

[Guest m&pc9]

Its called supply and demand. When demand goes up (so does price) Supply goes down. When everyone decides the price is to high they will stop demanding, Supply will go up and the prices will come down. If people are willing to pay $1500 for an ak why not sell it to them.

[flyfishooltewah]

You know what happens what that dump motel, previously renting rooms at $40/night, doesn't charge 10x the usual rate in a crisis?

Yep. I rent two of 'em. That way my kids don't have to sleep on the floor, and we don't fight over the bathroom in the morning. Which means that you're SOL, and I've saved $320.

The same damn thing is happening with the guns/accessories market right now. Retailers aren't "gouging", which means--oh noes!--their shelves are bare.

Woohoo! S&W M&P-15s are $749 at Bud's! Too bad they don't have any. Why not? Because at that price, I bought three of 'em. Had they been priced at $1200, I wouldn't have thought them such a bargain. Maybe I wouldn't have bought any, since I've already got a few. And then you could have bitched about having the option to buy at a premium...but you'd still have had the option.

P-Mags? $13.95 at Midway. They ain't got none...partly because of me.

Glock mags? $22.95. Same story.

Springfield XD45 mags? $19.95. Ditto.

You know, I honestly wish that there were more "price gouging." Because a lot of the stuff that I want is damn near impossible to find.

And in a true crisis situation, you can bet your ass that I'd rather pay $100 for a box of .45ACP cartridges, than see empty shelves of $20.00 ammo.

God bless the "price gougers." They prevent hoarding and preserve availability of critical supplies when the SHTF.

Good to know that you are for price gouging and better yet, you want God to bless price gougers....too much coffee this morning?

[strickj]

Just a note,I would like to mention there is such a thing as price gouging.

Here is the definition:

Price gouging is a pejorative term for a seller pricing much higher than is considered reasonable or fair.[...]

So basically,it just depends on whether you consider the gun prices reasonable.If you ask me,no,they're not reasonable,nor is ammo,or mags

Fair market? There is no fair market when buying and selling guns....unless you have an FFL.If you think you're smart to buy a gun to resale for profit,well that is illegal

[Mark@Sea]

In this market, when hundreds of thousands of people have suddenly decided it is time to get a gun, or buy ammo, you're going to see a certain percentage of people pushing for "all the market will bear".

The alternative is what, rationing? Price fixing? Yeah, that would be a fair market. In a fair market, you'll get that pistol you want, at a reasonable price - in, say, 9 or 10 months. In a fair market, you'll get a ration book, allowing you to buy maybe 3 boxes of ammo this year.

Nate nailed it - the alternative smacks of socialism. I'll take a free market, thanks.

[Guest 70below]

I can understand some of both sides of this argument, but the other day I was looking for ammo for a pistol I have that I don't even have one round of ammo for. It occurred to me, that had that been my only means of self defense, and my family had become endangered, any option I had to get a $15 box of ammo is long since sold out. I know I can go to a certain local shop that has raised their prices to $35 a box, but it remains in stock on the shelves. If my family is in danger, you better believe that I'll pay that $35 because that box of ammo is needed. In this situation, if the store had not raised their prices, they would not have been able to ensure that someone who truly needed the ammo could have it available to them. They would also have been sold out, and I would be defending my family with an empty chunk of metal. I certainly don't like the fact that I would have to pay the $35 instead of the $15, but I would surely be glad to have a box at $35. Had I PLANNED better, I would have had that box of ammo before prices went up, and would have saved it for such an occasion.

[musicman]

All I know is... I'm never running out of .22s!

[Magiccarpetrides]

All I know is... I'm never running out of .22s!

It might take longer to make the target go down, but its better then a pointy stick

Im all about free market...I do hate fear mongering though which is what Cheaper than Dirt has resorted too...wonder if they will rename themselves Expensive as Sh*t.

The only thing that sucks about the current prices is because I wanted to save money im gonna have to wait probably 3 more months for my AR upper.

[TripleDigitRide]

I've seen plenty of crazy of prices, but I've still been able to find the items I want for very fair prices.

Be patient, they are out there.

[Mark@Sea]

The only thing that sucks about the current prices is because I wanted to save money im gonna have to wait probably 3 more months for my AR upper.

Hey, with the money you are saving on that FAL you're worried about an upper? I saw one go on GB and dayum...