Are Online Retailers Killing Local Gun Stores? Should We Care?

[GOPerfect]

I agree that except for the rimfire panic days, no one was paying those prices for 22 LR
$40 for an Anderson lower is for a stripped lower. He said it was a "complete lower:, which I took to mean it had the parts kit installed and possibly more. The Anderson website lists a "complete lower" at $211, for instance....
I don't know what sort of overhead the dealers you mention have, so I wont comment on their pricing decisions.

Sorry, I meant a non-80%. Not complete. My bad.

 

[Saltwater60]

I agree that except for the rimfire panic days, no one was paying those prices for 22 LR
$40 for an Anderson lower is for a stripped lower. He said it was a "complete lower:, which I took to mean it had the parts kit installed and possibly more. The Anderson website lists a "complete lower" at $211, for instance....
I don't know what sort of overhead the dealers you mention have, so I wont comment on their pricing decisions.

I agree. It was the same price as the .22lr panic days but this was 8 months ago and the ammo was plentiful. It was like they bought it then and didn’t ever remove the price tag or print a new one. I get not wanting to lose money but you lose face with me if you are doing that. I almost hate going to the gun shows. There’s nothing good anymore and no deals at all to be found. I find I buy myself next to nothing and the kids hit me up for a ton of shitty Chinese made knives.
I agree we need LGS for sure. We need to look at and feel the product we want to buy. In my case I’d buy one of the two guns I’m looking at I just don't know what one I want. The stores around me have zero inventory at this point. I so I have no idea what I will do. Cabelas by me has the best inventory at this point by leaps and bounds. I hate cabelas gun counter and essentially refuse to buy guns from them. Yet they don’t even have the guns I want so I wouldn’t even consider it at this point. Maybe I’ll just save myself some money and buy a sig365 instead of the STI stucatto or Dan Wesson DWX since my landscaping season is essentially half what it normally will be this year. Thanks Cuomo for that. Why can’t i mulch a lady’s yard alone and have her drop a check in the mailbox for me?

 

[Justincase]

I’ll weight in. The last time I went to the Hamburg gun show they wanted $32.00 for a box of .22lr. That same box I could get at cables for $18.00 I get it people need to make money. I’m like GoPerfect and I’d prefer support the local guy but sometimes it’s just not feasible. I bought a ruger LCPII online for $200 new and Buffalo Hun Center was the cheapest at $340 in the area. Why should I give Buffalo Gun Center an extra $140.00? Ok $240-$250 I get it. I’d do it.
Even the lower he’s referencing Gander Outdoors has them for $40 out the door no transfer fee nothing. $70 is crazy for an Anderson lower.
Again I do get it. Everyone has to make money but the online guys have store fronts and employees to yet they sell cheap. How come? Honestly what is the mark up on a gun. These guys aren’t making $5-$10 on a gun.

I was going to mention the same thing about the 22 ammo. After the panic, they were still selling the CCI 300round boxes with the msr and the alligator on it for $45 to $60. The same one for $29 at Cabela's. I've also seen many guns priced very competitively at the shows. The stores not so much. I'd routinely spend $50 to $75 more at the store than online for a gun, but that's all I was willing to do. I can't be expected to subsidize the local guys by paying more for every gun I purchase. I'd do it now and then, but I have to be budget conscious too. I think we do have to worry about the local guy. If gun stores were much more ubiquitous, the average Joe would be less likely to think guns were this fringe obsession that others partial in. With them going out of business, it just substantiates their notions that very few people dabble with them. I know many don't give a crap what they think, but perception plays a huge role in what plays out in society. We see it every day, no?

 

[Saltwater60]

I was going to mention the same thing about the 22 ammo. After the panic, they were still selling the CCI 300round boxes with the msr and the alligator on it for $45 to $60. The same one for $29 at Cabela's. I've also seen many guns priced very competitively at the shows. The stores not so much. I'd routinely spend $50 to $75 more at the store than online for a gun, but that's all I was willing to do. I can't be expected to subsidize the local guys by paying more for every gun I purchase. I'd do it now and then, but I have to be budget conscious too. I think we do have to worry about the local guy. If gun stores were much more ubiquitous, the average Joe would be less likely to think guns were this fringe obsession that others partial in. With them going out of business, it just substantiates their notions that very few people dabble with them. I know many don't give a crap what they think, but perception plays a huge role in what plays out in society. We see it every day, no?

A lot on. Perception matters. Plus the kid and dad don’t go to an online shop. Walking in a gun shop and seeing guns matters to peak human interest. We need that. I asked local gun shops to get me a pistol I was looking for MSRP was mid $500 and most wanted touching $700 for it or just below. I went a different route. They were insane on prices.

 

[CaliberPlus]

A complete lower or stripped will have to be sent to an FFL and a transfer fee. 80% are all over the place price wise.That is another drawback to inventory, prices can change. Sometimes they go down, mostly up. I guess one of the things that gets me if you look around online, prices are all over. Even at Buds or GAG.

I feel bad for any legitimate small business. Small contractors, electricians, lawn, etc all have to compete against the guys that are running it under the table with no insurance. Quite often as aside to a good job. We live in interesting times.

 

[Saltwater60]

A complete lower or stripped will have to be sent to an FFL and a transfer fee. 80% are all over the place price wise.That is another drawback to inventory, prices can change. Sometimes they go down, mostly up. I guess one of the things that gets me if you look around online, prices are all over. Even at Buds or GAG.

I feel bad for any legitimate small business. Small contractors, electricians, lawn, etc all have to compete against the guys that are running it under the table with no insurance. Quite often as aside to a good job. We live in interesting times.

That’s what I do with my landscaping gigs. I make great money as a side gig. It’s me and a friend of mine. The big guys charge crazy prices though. It’s absolutely astonishes me what they get. I just talked to a lady today they wanted $6,000 to do 35’ of a stone wall, topsoil, mulch, and a few plants in a 12x15 garden. I’ll do it for about $3,000-$3,500. I’ve done jobs where people charge 3-4 times what I charge and I likely do a better job. I have no overhead since I just do smaller jobs and do it out of my home. I don't have a business location or a bobcat sitting around that gets used 10 times per season.
I pocket on average $60-$80/hours. My partner who just shows up and works he averages $35/ hour for manual labor. He loves it. I give him about 30-40% of my take home. He’s broke so I take care of him.
One job I charged the guy $800 for it took me and my guy about 3 hours and another place quoted the guy $2,400. I couldn’t believe it. It was 5-6 plants and 3 yards of stone. I felt bad charging him that since he ordered less stone that I told him too. He was thrilled though. I’ve even had customers give me $120 tips of $350 jobs because they realize how cheap I am.