gun show or internet auction

[lance]

I need to sell some of my gun collection, would I be better off to buy a table at a gun show or put the items on the internet? For those of you who have done it, how much trouble is it to list and sell items on an internet gun auction? I need to sell the guns fairly soon, but I also want to get decent prices for the items. What other options should I look into?

[J Miller]

Lance,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear you need to sell your guns. I've had to do that and I've never recouped my losses.

As for your questions I can't give you a decent answer as I've never sold guns either way.

You will get answers though as there are many here who have and do sell that way.

Joe

[okdee]

Hey Lance,

I have done it both ways. Personally, I like to have a table at a gun show better. I liked to talk and see who was interested in my selection of guns for sale. Some of them, I noted were just fishin for a cheap, fire-sale. Others were truly interested and hence, we made a deal. Plus, I got to visit with others and really learned quite a bit about certain guns, where as, if I was selling on the internet, I would have missed out on that conversation. Yes, I understand there are forum's out there that you can get information from, but to have someone in front of you and reading their eyes and getting to know them, well, to me,
it makes is funnier and more enjoyable.

Great luck!

Oklahoma Dee

[cowboykell]

I have pretty much quit setting up at gunshows. You spend two days chasing kids with sticky fingers and spilling pop on your table away, old guys saying " I had a gun like that years ago." and then probably selling the gun too cheap. Maybe one or two guys actually interested in your guns. On the internet auctions your customer base can be hundreds of bidders and they may bid more than you think your guns are worth ( set a reserve). Ask for certified funds and enough extra for shipping and insurance. Can't see how you can go wrong. I use Gunbroker a lot, less than 2% commission off sets your table rent and 2 days lost at the gun show. Good Luck...any Hepburns in your collection?

[JB]

The internet auction will give you a much wider audience. Another problem with gunshows is dealing with all the horse traders. More people will be looking to trade you junk than pay cash.

[2ndovc]

I've been doing both for many years.

Online is a great way to go to reach as many people as you can with
money to spend.
But you have to be very careful. It's best to have a FFL dealer
do the transfers for you that way everything is perfectly legal.

Make sure you take LOTS of photos and describe each piece in as much detail as possible.
There's a lot of goofballs out there so be careful. I only accept money orders as payment
and even then hang on to them for at least a week.

Gun shows are fun but again you can run into goofballs there too. On the other hand
you can cash and carry and no worries about pinheads bidding on stuff they don't know anything about.

I've been selling on Auction Arms for alomst ten years and have only had one problem with a guy that just wanted to be a jerk. I've found that I can get considerably more for a gun especially an older, rare or unusual piece.

Any questions shoot me a PM. I'd be happy to help. There's been a couple times in
my life I've had to sell off stuff. Never easy but there will be more when things improve.


jb

[colo native]

Auction arms.com or gunbroker.com stay outa the gun shows, usually a wast of time unless its a realy large show, the small ones just have tyre kickers, most of the time...
I have bought quite a few on line even though I work in a gunshop... If you have a fair sized local dealer that does internet sales I would talk to him, that way you can set a price and he can mark it up a few points a nd may sell ..
If its cowboy stuff go to sass.net. I think they let nonmembers sell , but I have been wrong on this before..

[morgan in nm]

I have to agree with the others about staying out of the gun shows. Years ago, when I used to go to over 100 shows a year, Lions club or some other organization would always sell salted popcorn and you wouldn't believe how slobbish people are. Another reason is that if your luck is like mine, you set up at a show to make some money and somebody brings in something youv'e always wanted at a deal that you can't refuse then you end up leaving with 1 gun and less money than when you started.

[Sixgun]

Easiest way in my experience. (listed from easiest
to hardest)

1.) Internet
2.) Walk 'em around gun shows--you have to
price 'em "normal" unless you have
Buffalo Bill's 1873
3.) consign them to your local gunshop which
usually takes 15-20%
4.) consign them to a local auctioneer--you
better be there to "help" bid on 'em
5.) sell 'em wholesale to a gun dealer--They
usually give you about .50-.60 cents on the
dollar.

Its tough getting rid of a lot of them fast. You usually will take a good 'hit" unless you have very collectable guns. Old Winchesters and Colts are the easiest to get rid of--Gunshop guns is what I call common guns that are available anywhere are the type you take the "hit" on.-----------------------Sixgun

[marlinman93]

I've sold both ways, and if you want to sell quickly go the gun show route. It's also easier, but as you mentioned the amount you'll get will be less than what you'll get on the internet.
The internet will usually take you a couple weeks to sell, even if you do a 7 day auction, and if you want maximum return, plan on a 2 week auction, which usually brings the top bids. Don't start your gun too high, as guns started near what they are worth (or even slightly below) often close with no bids. Once that happens they get tainted and it's tough to sell them at all.
Take at least 5-6 very good pictures, and describe any and all problems, no matter how small, as if you don't and they get crazy bidding, they'll try to find a way out and use some tiny thing as a reason to return it.
Once you get your funds don't run off and spend it all! Wait for the purchaser to have a 3 day look, or contact you to say all is great, then you can feel assured the deal is done.

[RIHMFIRE]

whatcha got
if they are leverguns....
we would not mind getting the first chance

[O.S.O.K.]

I recommend gunbroker. Just pay attention to listing your guns properly and to avoid pitfalls - such as listing that the gun is coming from a private individual not an ffl that if the buyer's ffl needs it to come from another ffl it'll be another $25 - state that you won't sell to california if you won't, that kind of thing. Take good pictures from lots of angles, make the description thorough and honest.

You will get the most money on gunbroker in my experience.

That, or sell them here in the classifieds - you might try this first and then list them on gunbroker...

[TedH]

I don't see how you could go wrong with Gunbroker. You might ask your local dealer about consignment. My local guy only charges me 10%, and I price them at whatever I want.

[rjohns94]

post them here on the classified section, we would love to see what you have

[Gun Smith]

I've bought and sold on Gunbroker. Some selling tips for you. Some good ones above too. I take ONLY U.S.P.S. Money Orders. I only buy with U.S.P.S. Money Orders.
See if you can determine what your guns are worth before listing them. Look at what's on Gunbroker and see if it gets rolled over several times. I don't like reserve auctions at all. I price my guns with a starting bid that is the lowest I'll take. Stay away from "Buy it Now" unless you know exactly what it's worth, or need to dump it. 7 day auctions are enough time to list. If you get no bid you are probably too high. You can always lower your starting price the second time around.
Describe EVERY nick, bump, blemish and condition problem. You'll get it back if you don't. Everyone want's the bore condition, so don't skip that. Any extra holes, state that. Estimate the bluing percentage. If it's been refinished or had cold blue added, say so. If the stocks have been refinished, or oil has been added, say so.
Give a standard 3 day return, no disassembly, no shooting.
Take many GOOD pictures!

[Old Time Hunter]

I've utilized both venues and have both successes and failures at both. But for overall coverage, the internet auctions can not be beat. Still try the forums classified first.

[okdee]

WOW! I am out-voted! I will agree, that the internet gives a wider audience and you can possibly sell it easier and you do not have to deal with a face or voice. Plus if going to a gunshow and getting a table is a bit far and not cost effective, it is a great alternate.

I do research on the internet and books to get a good estimate as to the range of prices that a particular gun is selling for and for the completed sales on that type of gun. This helps me to set a range of value on my guns, and price them according to that and my gut feelings.


And at a table at a gun show, you got some riff-raff, you gotta keep an eye out all the time, and at the end of the day, your back hurts and your feet hurt and most times, you got little to show for it, but I still enjoy the slow and personal factors, at this time in my life. Those few folks that know what they're talking about, are like finding a pearl handled derringer in a box buried on some land somewhere! If you did not go out and dig, you would not have found it! Heck and sometimes you find out if the guns you have are worth a hoot to anyone. There are some pretty good folks that go to a gun show and then theres the others......

Cheers
Oklahoma Dee

[lance]

No leverguns for sale yet. I am going to hold on to them a while longer. Off the top of my head I will have the following for sale:

Tikka .223
S&W 460
Kimber custom II 45acp
savage 30-06
winchester m.70 300wsm
ruger vaquero .357mag

[marlinman93]

okdee,
I am with you on the gun show preference myself. I don't think any local gun show will get me maximum dollars, but I still enjoy setting up and selling, or visiting during the show. From the buying side of the table I enjoy a gun show too, but nothing I hate worse than to see a gun priced too high, and have the seller say, "I can get that easily on the internet auctions!"
My answer is usually, "Why don't you sell it there then?"

[okdee]

okdee,
I am with you on the gun show preference myself. I don't think any local gun show will get me maximum dollars, but I still enjoy setting up and selling, or visiting during the show. From the buying side of the table I enjoy a gun show too, but nothing I hate worse than to see a gun priced too high, and have the seller say, "I can get that easily on the internet auctions!"
My answer is usually, "Why don't you sell it there then?"

Dare I ask you this? I will take a rifle or pistol, to kinda fill out my table, a gun that I purposely price out there aways, Knowing full well that I do not want to sell it, but if someone wants it bad enough, they will pay through the nose TWICE to get it?

Cheers,
Oklahoma Dee

[marlinman93]

I don't put anything on the table for sale without a price tag, and generally I price them to sell. I do take others that are display only to let people see what I'm interested in buying, but I mark them display only.