Negotiating a price?

[megamanfan]

I know this is probably a noobish question but would it be considered proper etiquette to negotiate a price on a gun at a shop?

[Barth]

I know this is probably a noobish question but would it be considered proper etiquette to negotiate a price on a gun at a shop?

I negotiated lower prices than listed on my last two NIB Heckler and Koch handguns at a large LGS recently.
(HK P30 40 LEM and HK45C)

[itsthelaw]

Negotiate...lower price, range passes, accessories, taxes (same as lower price). Whatever you do, negotiate! IMHO, buying from a shop where you like the people can result in good support for newbies like us.

[JERRY]

start with sticker price as an out the door price, meaning all taxes included......fees or whatever add ones they charge for instant check or whatever.....gun has price of $550.00, tell them you can give them that as an out the door price....if they say no, then you go out the door.

in Alabama there is a 9.5% tax on goods except groceries.....so $550.00 is about $600.00 to get it in my hands.....that extra price is the cost of at least 100 rounds of 9mm ammo.

[CJB]

Its nice to "know the market" for the item before you go in.

Be prepared to let them know - nicely - that you'd like to buy from them, but have a strong incentive to go for a lower price. Have pricing ready to reference. Then ASK if they can do something to help you to buy now, from them. Let them make the offer. You can always counter offer. They may offer something more than cash - such as - membership renewal, or ammo or range time, or accessory. Sometimes, LGS's don't have as much wiggle room. If they cant match any price or do better, thank them, tell them you'll have to consider the transaction, and try to be upbeat. Do let them know - you're ready to spend cash money - as cash always talks loudly.

[JFootin]

A large pawn shop/gun store in my area says their gun prices on all but a few used guns is non negotiable. I don't buy guns there. The gun store here in my town adds 10% to his cost, adds sales tax and doesn't charge any other fees. I'll do business with him!

[Chogers]

This is actually a great question. With budsgunshop.com being at everyone's fingertips its really hard to pay any gun shop the price they are asking. I like to support my LGS and I will pay them an extra $25 to avoid the transfer fee and get the gun at buds price plus tax. Always a killer deal. I have never found anywhere cheaper then budsgunshop.com.

[Scoundrel]

If I find a gun I want for sale locally, I'll pay more than internet market value for the convenience of handling and inspecting it before making the purchase, and for the added value of talking to the person behind the counter about it, if they are knowledgeable.

That being said, I do make it a point to know EXACTLY (and bring proof) of how much I would pay for online purchase + shipping + FFL fee + sales tax.

If the LGS's price is reasonably close to that and they have a good attitude, I'll just pay it and not even tell them that I shopped it. If I feel that their price is high, I'll talk a bit to build rapport, then show them my price research, tell them that I do NOT expect them to be able to meet/beat an internet price, but ask what they are willing to do to close the deal.

If their attitude takes a turn for the worse at that point, I politely excuse myself, walk away, and buy it online.
If they are reasonable, and offer a price within a margin that is acceptable to me, I buy it on the spot, and usually pick up a small accessory or two at the marked price as well.

[Scoundrel]

I bought three guns from a brand new struggling LGS in my home town at their offered price.

For the fourth one (an AR-15), they could not get what I wanted, and tried to talk me into one that was $500 above what I wanted. I walked and bought it at a chain store 75 miles away that had it in stock. Turns out the one I bought had a broken hammer right out of the box. I went to the LGS, showed them the damaged hammer, and asked to buy one. They had one in stock but refused to sell it to me. I drove 75 miles back to the chain store, and they swapped it out for another one, and allowed me to strip down and inspect the new one before we did the transfer.

A month or two later, I went into my home town LGS again, asked them for a specific gun. They could not get it. I asked if they'd do the FFL. The atmosphere was STILL awkward from the last situation. They agreed to do the FFL, but grudgingly. They did not call me when it arrived. I gave them two full business days after I got the e-mail from the shipping carrier, then called them. They said they'd JUST gotten around to it. I went in to get it. The atmosphere was again awkward.

I never went back again. A few months later they went out of business. Guess I wasn't the only one who was not happy with them.

"Brick and mortar" businesses have it hard these days, and they need to bring extra value and have good attitudes. They should not try to squeeze their profits from every sale if they expect to build and maintain good relationships customer loyalty, which will result in the customers being more relaxed about pricing.

If they don't do these things, they're doomed.

/soapbox

[Longitude Zero]

It never hurts to ask/try but be realistic. Wanting a large discount is really stupid as previously posted LGS's many times have very little price wiggle room. More than likely ask for ammo or accessories. However if they are the only game in town for 50 miles or so you really are at there mercy.

Locally I have 5 shops to pick from. Since they all buy from the same distributor(s) prices are already pretty tight to begin with. No shop should ever sell at or below cost as they cannot stay in business doing that no matter how much "goodwill" it might engender.

[JFootin]

This is actually a great question. With budsgunshop.com being at everyone's fingertips its really hard to pay any gun shop the price they are asking. I like to support my LGS and I will pay them an extra $25 to avoid the transfer fee and get the gun at buds price plus tax. Always a killer deal. I have never found anywhere cheaper then budsgunshop.com.

I am liking Grabagun.com better than Bud's, mainly because they beat them on price AND don't charge a credit card fee. Shipping is a flat $5.99 or is free on many popular, fast moving guns. They also have two time payment methods:


Send them 4 made out and signed checks, they cash the first one and send you the gun, cashing the other 3 over the next 3 months ($20 fee added to total), or
A 90 day layaway plan ($5 fee added to total).

At Bud's, I have seen a growing coldness and cynicism toward the customers. Their new gun auction where you buy bids like at Quibids shows a desire to take advantage of stupid people. If you try and avoid the credit card fee and do an eCheck for payment, they will delay your order longer than they should - almost 2 weeks. And don't ever dare put a gun on layaway at Bud's! Just sayin... IMO, Grabagun.com is a much friendlier place to do business.

[megamanfan]

thanks for all the info guys :) I was hoping it was a common thing since 3 of the local gun shops have the CW9 and CM9 for over $440 (before tax and fees)

[les strat]

If you are buying from a chain, forget it. But at a LGS, I say always negotiate. I just bought my SR1911 by just flat out saying "give me your bottom dollar price", and if I like it, I will buy it. And I did. :)


start with sticker price as an out the door price, meaning all taxes included......fees or whatever add ones they charge for instant check or whatever.....gun has price of $550.00, tell them you can give them that as an out the door price....if they say no, then you go out the door.

in Alabama there is a 9.5% tax on goods except groceries.....so $550.00 is about $600.00 to get it in my hands.....that extra price is the cost of at least 100 rounds of 9mm ammo.

It depends on which city you are in Alabama. Some cities are 10% sales tax, while I have been in a couple places that were 7%.

[Bawanna]

I'm a big fan of haggling or dickering. Heck the most they can say is what the wife usually says. NO.

Actually I haggle more gun deals with her than the dealers.

[Planedude]

...Actually I haggle more gun deals with her than the dealers.


Wow... so I'm not alone in this...;) I'd say we should start a club, but isn't that why we are here?

:D

[sharpetop]

Years ago when I was in sales, I would always to the husband to bring his wife in so we could dicker.

Always negotiate prices at a gun store! Their products should have enough "cushion" to over allow on trade-ins.

[painter]

My LGS already offered a price that was just a few dollars over what it would have cost to buy online when you consider transfer fees and shipping. I asked if they could do better for green money. They said no, but didn't blame me for asking. I bought anyway.

The extra few bucks to be able to handle the pistol before purchase, and helping to ensure their survival was worth it to me.

[Bawanna]

My LGS already offered a price that was just a few dollars over what it would have cost to buy online when you consider transfer fees and shipping. I asked if they could do better for green money. They said no, but didn't blame me for asking. I bought anyway.

The extra few bucks to be able to handle the pistol before purchase, and helping to ensure their survival was worth it to me.

This is a bingo right here. The local shops gotta eat too and if they support you after the sale, don't gouge to bad on the initial price and are fair, a few extra dollars doesn't bother me in the least.

It's really nice to build a comraderie so to speak with a good local shop if you can find one, sometimes not as easy as it sounds.

[southsound]

A large pawn shop/gun store in my area says their gun prices on all but a few used guns is non negotiable. I don't buy guns there. The gun store here in my town adds 10% to his cost, adds sales tax and doesn't charge any other fees. I'll do business with him!

We have a small LGS that does the same. I'll often go to Cabela's or another large store to hold and choose what I might want. After getting their price, I go to this LGS and ask what they can sell it for. Many times they won't have it in stock but can get it in a week or less. I don't know how they do it but they often beat Bud's and Impact Guns prices, there is no added FFL charge and I'm keeping the business local! They blew timing on my Kahr CM9 (took 12 days instead of 5) so to make up for the delay they gave me a box of Gold Dot SB +P to make up for it.

[ltxi]

I know this is probably a noobish question but would it be considered proper etiquette to negotiate a price on a gun at a shop?

yes.