Gun prices

[DaveTN]

Since Katrina when the oil companies doubled gas prices for a shortage that did not exist; creating some kind of “emergency†to jump prices has become the norm.

Now it’s the firearms industry’s turn.

How about it local dealers… are you raising prices?

I got this email from Buds.

Dear Dave,

It took a couple of days, but we have managed to stabilize our replacement cost on our best selling ARs and AKs. As reported on ABCs Nightline tonight, distributors nationwide raised prices as much as 200 percent on Wednesday. Our website prices are updated hourly 24/7 to reflect our current replacement cost on each make/model. We have since contacted each of our distributors and secured our reorder costs through the end of this year.

For example, the very popular Doublestar Mil-Spec M4 A3 .223 has returned to the original price of $699 Delivered.

Also back to $699 Delivered, the Century International Arms Model RI965X Black Synthetic 223.

Earlier this week we ordered just about every AR we could get our hands on. As a result, we have hundreds of ARs enroute to us now via UPS. We are offering reserve orders, first come -first serve, on some of these incoming firearms, like the Smith & Wesson M&P 15R 5.45X39, Model 811011 for $879 Delivered.

With all these .223 AR rifles flying off the shelves, you can bet ammo prices are the next thing to skyrocket. We have you covered there also. Our PMC .223 ammo currently remains at our pre-election price of $6.99 per box.

We appreciate your patience during this very difficult time. We will continue to work extremely hard to bring you the best prices we possibly can.

From another story....

Barack Obama said he would improve the economy. Turns out he already has, at least in one retail niche: gun sales.

Starting in the days before the election, gun shops have been mobbed by buyers who fear that Obama and a larger Democratic majority in Congress will restrict firearm sales.

Many were stocking up on things such as assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and handguns that they think would be the most likely targets of new laws, though practically everything related to shooting has been selling more quickly.

"It's been an absolute madhouse," said Trey Pugh, a manager at Jim's Pawn Shop in Fayetteville, which is selling 15 to 20 AR-15 assault rifles a day. "I'm getting guys come in and say I always wanted that gun, and give me that one too and that one and, oh, I need a gun safe, too."

Distributors are running out of assault rifles, he said, and prices are rising.

On the stump, Obama didn't discuss sweeping changes to gun laws. But his stance that local authorities should be able to make "sensible" laws has worried some, as has the fact that many Democrats in Congress favor additional restrictions. The National Rifle Association, among others, stoked these fears during the election.

Many purchases appear to be panic buying, Pugh said, because the government could not pass new gun laws before next year. Between the election, fears that the sour economy will spur more crime, hunting season and Christmas sales, the next couple of months will likely be wild for firearms dealers, he said.

"Everybody, and I mean everybody, is buying guns right now," Pugh said.

Stores in North Carolina, such as Young Guns in Apex and Perry's in Wendell, reported hectic sales and lines at cash registers.

"It's been tremendous," said Barry Perry of Perry's Guns in Wendell. "We have so many customers that parking has been a problem."

Online gun and shooting supply shops say sales in recent weeks climbed along with Obama's poll numbers.

At Villagetactical.com in Oklahoma City, which concentrates mainly on gun parts, sales have doubled since summer, said owner Andy Glunt.

"Some of them have said that they think if they don't buy it now, they won't be able to later," he said.

Fears of more regulation were fueled by an NRA campaign that said Obama would crack down on guns. That notion was amplified in gun forums such as glocktalk.com and AR15.com, where swarms of posters talked of having bought "Obama guns" or detailed election-related gun and ammo purchases. Some even speculated on things such as how a firearms confiscation plan would work. ()

It's hard to gauge the likelihood of new laws. Obama has said that local jurisdictions should be able to impose regulations on guns to reduce crime on city streets. At the same time, he said owning guns, including handguns, is an American tradition and should remain legal.

Obama, who taught constitutional law, has said that he believes gun ownership is an individual right.

It's also unclear whether a serious push for regulation is likely from Congress. The number of Democrats there who support gun rights has been increasing. Also, the party fell short Tuesday of winning a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, leaving Republicans leverage against laws they don't like.

Still, many gun owners fear that Obama will cave in to demands from members of his party who harbor extreme anti-gun views, said Wayne LaPierre, vice-president of the NRA.

Obama campaigned as a supporter of gun rights, but the media never pinned him down completely on contradictions in his record, LaPierre said.

"The reason gun sales are rising is that gun owners and second amendment enthusiasts are justifiably suspicious," he said.

A Clinton-era ban on some semi-automatic assault weapons and parts such as high-capacity, military-style magazines was a political disaster for the Democrats, said LaPierre. The party would pay an even higher political toll if Obama broke the implicit promises he made to gun owners during the campaign.

Alan Chapman, an IT professional who lives in Durham, bought a rifle similar to the AK-47 and a semi-automatic handgun in recent weeks because he expects tighter laws and higher prices. A neighbour bought a handgun for the same reason, he said.

"I just wish I could afford more," Chapman said. "Prices are going to go up after the election just based on fear."

He thinks the Democrats could attack concealed carry permits, but that the most likely change is a new assault weapons ban.

Longtime handgun owner Bob Nitchke of Mooreseville, who posts on glocktalk.com, isn't thrilled with the possibility of more regulation. But he thinks the panic over Obama is out of proportion to any threat.

"I don't think anything is going to happen, particularly in the first couple of years," he said. "I just don't think it's a priority right now, because they've got bigger things to deal with, like the economy."

Anything that's more extreme than the assault weapons ban, such as a bill to stop handgun sales, would be a political disaster, and just seems unlikely.

"What I do know is that gun stores are making a lot of money," he said.

Glunt, the owner of the online shop, said he wasn't completely happy about that windfall.

"I'd rather have business a little slower and not have a threat to our second amendment," he said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/07/uselections2008-barackobama

[Guest jwp]

We've been staying the course with our prices. Still selling at the same margin and formula since day one.

[Guest Glknknox]

We've been staying the course with our prices. Still selling at the same margin and formula since day one.

How about your lowers?

Was thinking about stopping by today and getting one or two.

[TripleDigitRide]

We've been staying the course with our prices. Still selling at the same margin and formula since day one.

Nice! That's good to hear.

[Guest slothful1]

Prices should be allowed to increase naturally in the face of increased demand; this is an effective means of conserving a limited resource. To insist otherwise is, frankly, no different from embracing Obama's economic ideas of "fairness."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/sep/15/20050915-090251-9667r/

[DaveTN]

Prices should be allowed to increase naturally in the face of increased demand; this is an effective means of conserving a limited resource. To insist otherwise is, frankly, no different from embracing Obama's economic ideas of "fairness."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/sep/15/20050915-090251-9667r/

The story is written by a fruitcake that apprently needs to put a “feel good†spin on price gouging for those committing what should be criminal acts.

The only time he seems to be having a lucid moment is his last statement.

The fallout from Hurricane Katrina has featured a lot of ignorance and demagoguery about prices.

Politicians of both parties have rushed in to exploit public ignorance and emotion.

Educating people about pricing is not ignorance or explotation. But those words have the shock value he wanted.

It reminds me of when Nashville made national news because someone posted on the internet that Nashville was going to run out of gas. While prices were going down everywhere else, they shot up in Nashville. There was no shortage in Nashville; people reacting to bad information caused the prices to climb.

This time of the year always has high gun sales (Hunting season, Christmas). Are they flying off the selves because of Obama being elected? I don’t know; I haven’t went out to look. But is does not appear that is the case locally.

I don’t think “fear buying†will help anyone including the gun dealers. Prices may spurt for awhile but I don’t think most of us are going to pay a hundred or two more for a gun today than we would have paid on Monday. Most will just wait.

Gun are not like gas; those that know they need them didn’t wait until Wendsay to buy them.

I realize that he is a Profferor of Economics and I am not. But here are a group of people he names in his colum that have acess to the best econimists in the county.

The Bush administration, Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission, Congress, The Illinois Govenor, Texas Attorney General and Alabama Attorney General

[Guest bkelm18]

Prices should be allowed to increase naturally in the face of increased demand; this is an effective means of conserving a limited resource. To insist otherwise is, frankly, no different from embracing Obama's economic ideas of "fairness."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/sep/15/20050915-090251-9667r/

So for many retailers of firearms and firearms accessories (Like CheaperThanDirt) who jack their prices up by in some cases more than 100% the day after O gets elected, thats natural? Not gouging? I'm sorry, but when you charge $10 for a box of Wolf and $1000 for a case of .223, thats not supply and demand, thats poor business ethics.

[R1100R]

Junglist and I stopped by Bellshire hardware to look at some pistols, Great prices!

Asked about the Wolf 7.62 X 39, Phil stated we didn't want to know. $399.00 a case.

Edited November 9, 2008 by R1100R

[jughead]

i do not condone price gouging. i will say this though having been in business for almost 40 years. if one does not sell what he has on the shelf for enough to make a profit and restock those shelves one will not be there long. so if ones next order is known to be going up then one is justified in raising prices on what is on the shelf to compensate.

[Luckyforward]

Just read two articles online about the "hysteria" about Obama's election driving up the prices of ammo and firearms. THE MAN HAS NOT BEEN INAUGURATED YET! GIVE ME A BREAK!

Like the "fear" of not enough gas led us to be dry in Nashville a few weeks ago, it seems that the "fear" of what has not yet happened has driven some in the firearms industry to make money based on "what might happen."

If Obama WAS president and HAD said something about going after guns, I could see it.

But now??????????????????????????

[DaveTN]

If Obama WAS president and HAD said something about going after guns, I could see it.

But now??????????????????????????

And have manufactures raised prices? Has Smith & Wesson, Bushmaster or DPMS raised their prices? Have they indicated they are raising prices?

If they haven’t take the blame off Obama and the gun grabbers and put it right where it belongs….. On the gun distributors.

[Luckyforward]

And have manufactures raised prices? Has Smith & Wesson, Bushmaster or DPMS raised their prices? Have they indicated they are raising prices?

If they haven’t take the blame off Obama and the gun grabbers and put it right where it belongs….. On the gun distributors.

Well said, sir . . .

[Guest krater]

watch out or our beloved gov will demand a windfall profits tax.