Selling to A Gun Store

[Luckyforward]

Greetings, All -

I have some safe queens that I do not want to sell to unknown folks in a parking lot somewhere.  I KNOW I will lose $$$ selling to a gun store, but does anyone have suggestions about getting top dollar?  Suggestions about Nashville area gun dealers who give a fair return?

Thanks!

 

[monkeylizard]

Why not post in the TGO Classifieds? You can list any stipulations you want. You can require a buyer to have been a TGO member for a minimum amount of time, must be a Benefactor, have X number of positive iTrader reviews from long time members, meet at your local police station for the deal, require an HCP and a bill of sale, must communicate via phone call instead of texts/messages, etc. Whatever you want to require. It might limit your buyer pool a bit, but my experience is that folks with a positive history on TGO are on the up and up.

Edited yesterday at 02:46 AM by monkeylizard

[Pain103]

2 minutes ago, monkeylizard said:

Why not post in the TGO Classifieds? You can list any stipulations you want. You can require a buyer to have been a TGO member for a minimum amount of time, must be a Benefactor, have X number of positive iTrader reviews from long time members, meet at your local police station for the deal, require an HCP and a bill of sale, must communicate via phone call instead of texts/messages, etc. Whatever you want to require. It might limit your buyer pool a bit, but my experience is that folks with a positive history on TGO are on the up and up.

I second this. I don't think any store is going to give you close to what you will get private party. They are in the business of making money. If you are just trying to recoup as much as you can versus just liquidating for quick cash private sale is the way to go. 

[bubbadavis]

I've had similar experiences to monkeylizard. He has great advice - I've dealt with most of his sample stipulations when buying.

When selling, I like to glance at a buyer's HCP. It covers the legal aspects pretty well of private selling.

I also always check out someone's TGO history. I've been around here long enough to at least see if they have history with someone I know and trust. I've been known to reach out to others about potential buyers before making a deal.

[monkeylizard]

2 minutes ago, bubbadavis said:

I also always check out someone's TGO history. I've been around here long enough to at least see if they have history with someone I know and trust.

Same. I don't sell much, but when considering a purchase I always check iTrader if I don't know the seller. If I see positive feedback from the other regulars I recognize or have done deals with personally, it helps me know the seller is good to go. If I see very little or no iTrader feedback, or it's a bunch of feedback from names I don't know, it feels off and I just move on.

[chances R]

Sounds good to me.....go ahead and sell to a gun store for a loss, at least I won't be tempted

[Grayfox54]

Gun stores usually only give you half or less of what the gun is actually worth. Frankly, they screw you big time. 

However, they may sell it on consignment for you. You set the price and pay them a percentage for making the deal. But be aware that some will even screw you on that by asking way to much of a cut. 

I agree that your best bet is to sell here. Unfortunately for me, you're too far away for me to be a buyer. 

[gregintenn]

We aren't strangers. List em here. You'd be lucky to get 50% market value selling to a dealer.

[RED333]

12 hours ago, Luckyforward said:

I have some safe queens that I do not want to sell to unknown folks in a parking lot somewhere. 

Pardon my assumption, but he does not trust anyone. Thus the line about not selling in a parking lot to someone he does not know.

That said I would like to see what he has.

[runco]

I could write a book on meeting someone to buy/sell something, i.e.  guns or non-guns in my 50+ years of buying/selling things with individuals.  Anyway my 2 cents:  If you want top dollar without the parking lot risk, Gunbroker, but that comes with its own challenges.  Next is finding a reputable local collector and this site has likely many, next is consignment at a gun shop but make sure you understand the loss risk (fire/theft), next is probably a reputable FFL licensed auction house (farm equipment/antiques/weekly miscellaneous), and at the bottom is gun stores and pawn houses, why is because those businesses are in the business to make a profit off of markup, and like others have said will pay you 50% or less on the dollar because of their time, investment, and knowing the market, etc.  However, those are the easiest and you can get paid today.  

If your parking lot concern is just the general public or being robbed, you can always sell your item(s) at a police station parking lot, I think some jurisdictions have marked safe areas for that purpose.  Or if your risk concern is just the legalize of selling a gun, this site offers good sound advice on how to sell, Just go to classifieds and read the stickies.  Finally, my last two pieces of advice, never ever sell something from your home address even non-gun related, just the risk you invite is not necessary vs. convenience, and never sell to anyone without a witness (a friend with you), both for added security and needed witness incase of discrepancies.           

[gregintenn]

6 hours ago, RED333 said:

Pardon my assumption, but he does not trust anyone. Thus the line about not selling in a parking lot to someone he does not know.

That said I would like to see what he has.

I trust the members here far beyond the average gun dealer.

 

I'd sort of like to take a peek too.

Edited 17 hours ago by gregintenn

[Luckyforward]

I appreciate all the feedback . . .

[monkeylizard]

runco mentioned an auctioneer. That's a good bit of advice. If you're interested in that route, Gary Realty & Auction down in Columbia does several gun auctions each year. I've been a winning bidder at several of them and the whole staff is a class act or as we say 'round here: "them's good people". Mostly each auction is from one large collection, but he'll usually do one or two each year from several collections combined. The final bids are usually real solid, but I don't know what the auctioneer's cut is.

Edited 12 hours ago by monkeylizard

[KahrMan]

15 minutes ago, monkeylizard said:

runco mentioned an auctioneer. That's a good bit of advice. If you're interested in that route, Gary Realty & Auction down in Columbia does several gun auctions each year. I've been a winning bidder at several of them and the whole staff is a class act or as we say 'round here: "them's good people". Mostly each auction is from one large collection, but he'll usually do one or two each year from several collections combined. The final bids are usually real solid, but I don't know what the auctioneer's cut is.

Monkey is spot on. Ben Gary runs a great auction. Nice firearms always bring good money at least the last couple of years they have. I used to get some real good deals from his auctions. The whole family are good people. 
if you want to talk to them message me and I will give you Joe Gary, the auctioneers son, number. You can tell him I referred you. 

[jhc77]

I’m in Spring Hill. Stop by before you get to Gary’s place! I’ve been here since 2005 and Gary Auction has been around longer. It’s a trustworthy spot for just about anything in value. It’s almost cult like for turn outs too.