How do you go about buying a new firearm?

[Mage218]

I am looking to get a new firearm for summer carry particularly a small frame 357 revolvers taurus ruger or s&w depending on what I can get the best deal on and was wondering how other users go about purchasing a new firearm.

When you find one you want do you pay what the shop is asking or do you try to negotiate a lower price, free ammo, holster etc..?

If you're the type of person who does try and negotiate, how do you go about doing this? Ive never purchased a firearm from an actually gunshop so it was basically pay what is listed. Shotguns and rifles come from walmart since its the closes place, and I got my XD from Bass Pro Shop, closest place for handguns

[The Annoyed Man]

I generally pay whatever they're asking. If I don't like it, I shop around. OTH, there's a small gun store not far from me called Euless Guns & Ammo. Their prices are reasonable on some things, a little over-priced on other things, and a little under-priced on still other things. They have done me a few solids now and then in the way of gunsmithing services and then didn't charge me for it, or charged me so little that the price paid was a mere formality. So I don't try to negotiate their prices down. They are generally fair, and I have too much respect for them to engage in that.

[couzin]

A few gun shops will listen to offers, but most stick to their sticker price - especially on NIB guns. Pawn shops will also listen to offers but they tend to be a little high on prices and you need to careful with your checkout of used guns. Gun shows are good for negotiations on both new and used (most dealers anyway) but you still need to carefully check your prospective purchase (I got had on a 'brand new' gun once). Buying from an individual seller is usually best - especially if it is someone from a forum that has dealt with folks in the past and is honest about the condition of their wares. Now - as for a personal plug, since you mention a small frame revolver, I have this S&W 637 for sale viewtopic.php?f=20&t=34507 if interested - and I am just south of you.

[driver8]

I would check Academy first. Seems like they are cheaper than the gun shops ,in the Houston area anyway. I think gun shows are gonna be the cheapest. That's where they are competing directly with other dealers yet they still sell a lot of guns there. About 5 yrs ago I bought a S&W 4006 for $459 and the cheapest I could find it at any of the gun stores was $579. Also gun stores that sell a lot of guns at gun shows sell them quite a bit cheaper at the gun shows. I know AJC and Bachman do that.

[Skydivesnake]

Try texasguntrader.com - an excellent resource.

If you try and knock a NIB price down at a regular store/show, print off a couple of 'buy now' adverts which show the price you are trying to get down to from gunbroker as some weight to add to your negotiation. I got a great deal on a used shotgun at Cabela's because I found a similar one they had sold at another Cabela's store using their online 'gun library' database and showed them that. Immediate knowdown of about 15% IIRC. Actually the guys in the gun library (they deal with the used guns) there seem more ready to negotiate than most.

Cheers, SDS

[Teamless]

I think gun shows are gonna be the cheapest.

to a point.

Depends on which gun shows.
In Pasadena, a once a month there is a gun show.
1 month it is this High Caliber Gun Show (next weekend actually)
the next month, some other promoter gun show.
and they go back and forth normally.

I find that the High Caliber has more weapons in general, and many more pistols and their prices are usually good.
the other promoter seems less with weapons and more with other items. So the few weapons they have (compared to the High Caliber Gun Show) are over priced.
An example - last time I was a the other promoters (March i believe), they had my S&W Sigma 9mm priced at $369.
Academy has them NIB for $329 (and now $299).
While at the HCGS, they were priced the same as Academy - at least they werent trying to rip you off.

[joe817]

Since you have narrowed down the almost infinite choices of a carry gun to a smaller "J" frame Taurus, S&W or Ruger in .357/.380Special, you're more than half way there. I'd just like to interject....don't discount Charter Arms. They make a good small frame .357/.38 spcl.

If I were in the market for one of those out of the list, I would check the online dealers first. Check many. Like 8 or 10, for EACH make & model. Keep notes on their selling prices. That will give you a pretty good feel for what you should expect to pay in a face to face transaction.

I'd then head to the next large gun show. Most big gun shows have many dealers that are discounting from the MSRP you see on a manufacturer's website. When you find THE particular gun(or choice of guns) you are looking for, if the price is not within the parameters of the computer search you did.....start negotiating! Tell them you are a buyer....that you have the money in hand, and what is the lowest price they'd take for THAT gun you've taken an interest in. When they tell you, and it's STILL to high a price(based on your computer search), tell them that XYZ.com(or whatever) is listing them for (insert amount here), and tell them outright, if they are willing to sell it to you for $20, $30, $40 or even $50 LESS than what you found on the internet, you'll buy it right now...at this very minute.....

If you're paying cash, go ahead & pull out the cash to prove you're a serious buyer.

If they want to jump on the deal, they'll take it......if they say "no, I need more than what you've offered", then here comes the tough part......

Walk away from the deal. Tell them thanks but I need to spend my money wisely. Thanks but no thanks....then just walk away. Then go to the next seller of the gun you are eyeing, and do the routine all over again.

Chances are you'll get the deal you are wanting, at the price you are willing to pay.

It's negotiating, and horse trading to be sure. But that's the way I've done it since the 1970's. it's worked for me. And I've most always gotten the deal I was after. But I've also walked away from many guns I wanted because the price was wrong for me.

Doing your homework is half the task of finding the gun that's right for you. Good luck!

[Sidro]

I usually check prices at Academy and then go to my local dealer to see if he has what I want. If he does I tell him to price it out the door(gun, box of shells and tax). Most always it is within a few dollars of Academy without tax. If the price is right it is mine, so far it has been every time.

[driver8]

I agree Pasadena ain't the cheapest gun show usually. Seems like they price according to what competition is there at that show. I've had the best luck at George R. Brown but I just hate the parking and the drive up there.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

I check out sites like Bud's, Sports South, and Center Fire Systems online, usually the shipping and dealer fees are less than tax. I like Carter's Country here in Houston for in-store purchases. I really like their bi-annual, 0% interest for a year sale, makes those high dollar purchases a little easier on the ole wallet. I like the gun shows, but you have to go in knowing that NIB at a gun show may not be NIB in real life.

[LarryH]

I agree Pasadena ain't the cheapest gun show usually. Seems like they price according to what competition is there at that show. I've had the best luck at George R. Brown but I just hate the parking and the drive up there.

Somebody once told me that AJC and Bachman prices are pretty close together, and when Schramm (SAW) is there, they both price lower to try to get under his prices. SAW usually doesn't have a presence at Pasadena, but does at the GRB and the Reliant.

[VanPelt408]

If it's a fair price (gun store), then I typically offer the selling price out the door (meaning discount for tax) and pay cash.

[Rex B]

I check these online stores
Gunbroker recent sales on the same item - sale price including shipping, and sales tax if any
Current non-auction offerings ("auctions" started at a retail price )
Budsgunshop.com - prices include shipping
CDNN (Abilene) - may have to call. Understand they charge Texas sales tax, and shipping.
Add your FFL transfer fee. My FFL charges $10 for CHLs.

I also do a 7-day search on riverofguns.com and elitedealseeker.com to see if a NIB example pops up at a better deal.

So now you have a pretty good idea what you CAN buy the gun for.
If you can match it at the gun show coming up the next weekend, then go for it.
Remember that all the vendors at the gun show are going to be charging sales tax, but no shipping is involved.
And most want to add 3% if you pay with plastic. They should not do that if it's a debit card.

If you come home empty-handed, place your online order and wait for the FFL to call.

[ahogo]

I am looking to get a new firearm for summer carry particularly a small frame 357 revolvers taurus ruger or s&w depending on what I can get the best deal on and was wondering how other users go about purchasing a new firearm.

When you find one you want do you pay what the shop is asking or do you try to negotiate a lower price, free ammo, holster etc..?

Everything is negotiable.

[Stupid]

Haven't bought a gun locally - store or gun show for a long time. Always buy online and have it shipped to my local FFL for a $20 transfer fee. Bud's Gun Shop is a good place to start.

I do frequent gun shows and Collector's Firearm to see and feel the weapon.

Ever since I bought my first gun - what a failure, a good way, as I have found, is to frequent the particular gun's online forum. For example, I hung out at Glock Talk for a long time before I got my Glock. The reason is a) I can ask many questions and hear many feedback, b) I want to understand both pros and cons, and c) deals do come up. Some of my guns I purchased came with fantastic deals - would be a "crime" to tell you how much I paid for.

I am not an impulsive buyer, I don't mind waiting for deals, and I like to understand the gun before I put my money down.