People,many new to gun ownership, are buying every gun they can find right now. However, with the slowing economy, increased unemployment and probable upcoming recession due to the Coronavirus, will Pawn Shops have a flood of guns pawned/sold to them when bills come due and food runs low? Many people make impulse purchases and don't plan for the long run so I expect they may many will decide that they will need to get rid of their newly purchased weapons and those that already have several will liquidate some of theirs to pay for living expenses.
Pawn Shops in a few months
- Thread starter osbornk
- Start date
OneFreeTexan
New member
Keep in mind that the panic buyers are buying whatever they can at whatever price is asked...don’t expect them to be turning hi-end guns around for basement prices.
2wheelwander
New member
^^ Agreed.
LGS is rationing 9mm to 1 box, 2 if you are a new gun owner and are buying a gun. Ammo shelves are all but empty. You can still find .357 Sig a plenty though!
LGS is rationing 9mm to 1 box, 2 if you are a new gun owner and are buying a gun. Ammo shelves are all but empty. You can still find .357 Sig a plenty though!
Double Naught Spy
New member
We owned pawn shops for 25 years. You would be amazed at what people let go for basement prices. That will include higher end guns and lower end guns. People will pawn NIB Christmas presents because they want beer and smokes and are tight on money.
Of course they won't do that just like you would not be willing to sell me a $2000 gun for $30 that was gifted to you and cost you nothing.
Prices given by pawn shops will vary by a lot of factors. We tried to never loan more than 1/2 of what we thought we could sell a given gun for. That sounds like we were doubling our money, but in reality that wasn't the case because of the time involved, insurance on protecting the item while in our possession, other overhead expenses, wages, etc., risk of forfeiture if the gun turns out to be stolen, etc. etc. etc. Of course, if somebody brings us in a Glock 19 and we already have 10 of them out for sale (too many, in other words), we aren't apt to loan as much simply because we are covered up in them. One of our more rural stores did a heck of a business in deer rifles. Our inner city store did almost no business in deer rifles - very different markets.
2wheelwander
New member
Few years ago, local pawn show had a BEAT UP CZ 82 they sat on for several months. Electrical tape holding on the grips. They had $350 on it, which you could get a better surplus for that. I offered $200 honestly expecting them to take it. The guy acted like I just slept with his mother. The thing was beyond filthy buy I saw a rescue. Never did get it.
OneFreeTexan
New member
2wheel....Is that gun still there?
Double Naught Spy
New member
Of course you wouldn't sell it for $30??? Why not? It didn't cost you anything. That would be $30 in your pocket, easy money, and a win-win for everybody, right? Surely, you are not implying a double standard, are you?
Why do you think the pawn shop should do that if you won't do it? The answer in simple. You want to pay as little as possible and maximize your profit when you sell. That is sort of a base line of how business works.
As for asking prices, pawn shops and other businesses just like you can ask what they want. You don't have to pay it if you don't want to. Eventually, the products will sell. Somebody haggler will come in and work a deal.
I always find it amusing when people think pawn shops should sell items based on what they paid for them by people who would not engage in the same practice themselves and never take into consideration the who concept of what it takes to run a business.
If this economic situation is like those of the past, the pawn shops will be have some good deals on merchandise in the future. They are going to be inventory heavy and comparatively cash poor by the time this comes to an end. However, they won't be giving stuff away either. Various types of merchandise hold their values better than others.
TruthTellers
New member
It's going to happen, but I don't think in the amounts we're thinking. Most probably ran out and bought the cheapest guns or the most well known guns, so there's not going to be much that people like us will be interested in. I've already got my Glocks, ARs, AKs, Ruger revolvers, etc.
It'll really be a market for new gun buyers/collectors just starting out.
But then again by the time this pandemic panic is over it'll be election season and Bazooka Joe is gonna be looking to ban the AR-14s with 100 round clips, so the current gun situation may be with us a while or until Trump is re-elected.
It'll really be a market for new gun buyers/collectors just starting out.
But then again by the time this pandemic panic is over it'll be election season and Bazooka Joe is gonna be looking to ban the AR-14s with 100 round clips, so the current gun situation may be with us a while or until Trump is re-elected.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Double Naught Spy-
Thank you for concisely explaining how business works.
It's surprising how many don't/can't understand that.
Thank you for concisely explaining how business works.
It's surprising how many don't/can't understand that.
2wheelwander
New member
OneFreeTexan, no. It finally sold a few months ago, but I'd be curious to know what they got for it.
They hadn't cleaned it, not even spray cleaner down the bore. Tape holding the grips on, looked like it came out of grandpas WW2 trunk. Like finding a sad puppy at the pound I wanted it and make it over.
They hadn't cleaned it, not even spray cleaner down the bore. Tape holding the grips on, looked like it came out of grandpas WW2 trunk. Like finding a sad puppy at the pound I wanted it and make it over.
OneFreeTexan
New member
Thanks for the info..2wheel... curious about what they got for it too.
Ignition Override
New member
osbornk/OP:
Yes, although pawn shops will continue to sell gun at market prices (or above).
I can't imagine any future prices dropping much, unless their supply far exceeds future demand at that time.
If they have a huge amount of space, it costs nothing extra to wait for interested buyers.
2wheelwander: you mentioned that .357 Sig ammo is available.
It might be interesting to see whether a fair bit of .40 S&W ammo (the unwashed, unpopular ) and 9x18 Mak. is out there, simply to note any ironies.
TruthTellers: True, and when Biden asks some guy to "step outside", that old coward knows that these other guys have no Secret Service protection. What a "tough" guy, Perfumed Prince.
Yes, although pawn shops will continue to sell gun at market prices (or above).
I can't imagine any future prices dropping much, unless their supply far exceeds future demand at that time.
If they have a huge amount of space, it costs nothing extra to wait for interested buyers.
2wheelwander: you mentioned that .357 Sig ammo is available.
It might be interesting to see whether a fair bit of .40 S&W ammo (the unwashed, unpopular
) and 9x18 Mak. is out there, simply to note any ironies.TruthTellers: True, and when Biden asks some guy to "step outside", that old coward knows that these other guys have no Secret Service protection. What a "tough" guy, Perfumed Prince.
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Seems kinda sad to hope someone falls on bad times so you can reap the benefits
We have sold out (a few times) the last two weeks, and our prices didn't change. Some consignments were higher due to the seller's wishes, but all guns flew out the door.
When some of these guns start coming back we surely won't be paying much for them as the cases will most likely be filled with lots of new guns. I hope all these new shooters who decide to go back to their old ways will understand basic economics and not be too disappointed.
When some of these guns start coming back we surely won't be paying much for them as the cases will most likely be filled with lots of new guns. I hope all these new shooters who decide to go back to their old ways will understand basic economics and not be too disappointed.