Shopping in La-La-Land

[steve white]

A new trend on Ebay and on certain online gun sale sites seems to be to vastly inflate prices on used equipment! I am seeing even old steel -tubed Habicht scopes advertised for 8-900 dollars, or more. These are scopes that 2 years ago were far less on Ebay. Compare the current prices to the private sales on various hunting/long range shooting sites where the purchase prices re-enter the stratosphere. Is it just me, or is the same thing happening with rifle prices across the board on places like Guns International, etc., etc.? It's almost enough to make me want to avoid Ebay altogether.
I have even seen used clothing advertised for almost new prices, too.
Where are you finding your favorite deals? Guide us collectively away from La-La-Land!

Would be remiss if I didn't state that I have made a few good purchases right here on AH, and MISSED MANY MORE I wish I had been to first to click on....

 

[Aaron N]

Well the price of new scopes have also skyrocketed, dragging the used market behind them.

Almost 5k Canadian for a new Z8

 

[Sabre]

Prices of everything are incredibly inflated right now. That is going to drive used item prices way up as well.

Prices on things are far too high, and people make far too little at this point. It creates a scenario where items are priced high, but they are more likely to sit on the market longer.

 

[IvW]

Prices of everything are incredibly inflated right now. That is going to drive used item prices way up as well.

Prices on things are far too high, and people make far too little at this point. It creates a scenario where items are priced high, but they are more likely to sit on the market longer.

 

[RSL]

It seems if you click on something you are interested in on Ebay but don't purchase the item you will automatically receive an offer at a discounted purchase price. Plus, you can make an offer on a lot of items. That does commit you to purchasing the item if the seller accepts your offer. If there is something I really want but the price is to high I will lowball an offer. Sometimes I can get a more reasonable counteroffer. Sometimes not.

 

[BeeMaa]

It seems if you click on something you are interested in on Ebay but don't purchase the item you will automatically receive an offer at a discounted purchase price. Plus, you can make an offer on a lot of items. That does commit you to purchasing the item if the seller accepts your offer. If there is something I really want but the price is to high I will lowball an offer. Sometimes I can get a more reasonable counteroffer. Sometimes not.

I've done this recently on a couple of sites, but specifically eBay and it's worked out for me. They are selling for $4200 and I offer $3900, we settle at $4K which is what they were planning on getting anyway. If I were to offer $3500, it would probably be rejected without a counter offer. I've had that happen as well. You have to be prepared to walk away sometimes. Can't win them all.

But yes, inflation of the new market has driven the used market up as well.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have done okay on US ebay. Bought another barrel for my Springfield during the pandemic for a hundred bucks which is about the right price. Bought two sets of Winchester Express iron sights for $100 average, both like new. No complaints on that price. New Timney triggers for Springfield and Mauser were $85 each which is about right (not deluxe model). Picked up a new Parkwest Model 70 safety for my Mauser build @ $200 which is what it's worth. New in the box Bushnell Elite 1-4x30mm also off ebay for $150 US  shipped. Same scope here was $400 Canadian. Warne QD rings for it ordered from a Canadian muzzle loading retailer @ $65 shipped. A steal! New Titan sling swivels off ebay.com for what they retail ordinarily (when they can be found). And a very nice leather sling with brass buckles for just over $20 US on ebay from a Polish craftsman. Overseas shipping was almost as much but no complaints. Excellent quality. Almost forgot about 5-cartridge ammo slide made of Cape buffalo leather off ebay.com @ $35 if I remember correctly. Worth every penny. I'm fortunate to live reasonably close to the border so I can personally pick up US shipments without hassles of international shipping or brokers. Just pay the duty at Customs when I come back.

I don't mess with bidding any more. If it's not buy-it-now, I'm not interested. Need to keep an eye on shipping charges. Often the vendor is selling well below retail but then compensating with "shipping & handling" charges. An old trick learned from late night TV Veg-o‐matic advertising.

Canadian eBay is a waste of time. I don't bother looking there anymore.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

It seems if you click on something you are interested in on Ebay but don't purchase the item you will automatically receive an offer at a discounted purchase price. Plus, you can make an offer on a lot of items. That does commit you to purchasing the item if the seller accepts your offer. If there is something I really want but the price is to high I will lowball an offer. Sometimes I can get a more reasonable counteroffer. Sometimes not.

Been doing the same on EBay.
But! Better watch what they want for shipping!! Was looking a a nice safari shirt, priced $22, but wanted $26.95 shipping !!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I stopped at a Love's truck stop / C-store last week to get gas and use the restroom. As I was walking out, I saw the ice cream freezer with all the goodies in it and I grabbed an ice cream sandwich. This was a plain, no frills, nothing extravagant, ice cream sandwich. While waiting in line to pay for it, I pulled $3 out of my wallet, thinking the thing cost a little over $2. When I got up to the cashier, she scanned it and said, "$5.51." My hearing isn't too good, so I asked her to repeat it and she said "$5.51" I told her I would put it back where I got it.

A few days later, I checked the online price. A box of 6 from a grocery store is $5.99. It pays to shop around.

 

[TnKen]

I very seldom even look at ebay anymore. The days of finding good deals there seem to be few and far between.

 

[uplander01]

Inflation is real, and it isn't going away.

 

[deewayne2003]

If you want to see delusional prices simply go to a gun show!

I agree that prices are high across the board; however I’ve just adopted the “buy once cry once” moto……

If I’m going to buy something I’ll be damned if I buy the cheap China quality crap that’s flooded Cabela’s these days.

 

[ThreeJacks]

The last couple of gun shows I have been to the exhibitors have taken the name to heart, they brought guns to show not sell.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Been doing the same on EBay.
But! Better watch what they want for shipping!! Was looking a a nice safari shirt, priced $22, but wanted $26.95 shipping !!

Yep, shipping will kill any discount on items you’re looking to buy. I always go to checkout to see what the shipping will be.

 

[CoElkHunter]

The last couple of gun shows I have been to the exhibitors have taken the name to heart, they brought guns to show not sell.

Yeah, I quit going to gun shows four years ago. They get $15 for admission here and I can buy guns and ammo less expensive online shopping or at some LGSs. I think some of those sellers at gun shows just enjoy showing off what they have and every once in a while somebody with more money than common sense will buy something way overpriced just because they can.

 

[Rifleman97]

Well the price of new scopes have also skyrocketed, dragging the used market behind them.

Almost 5k Canadian for a new Z8

I remember when the Vortex Razor (Gen 1) was $1699 (2014)

Now it’s this: (this is in USD btw)

I don’t know who tf would be willing to buy one of these at the non sale price. Even at the sale price it’s pretty insane to me given what they used to cost.

I know Gen 1 and 3 are very different, but to my credit, both were very high quality and near the top of the line for what you could buy when the released. If you count the non sale price as the final price, they’ve gone up significantly faster than inflation, which inflation has been nothing to scoff at these days.

 

[Sabre]

I stopped at a Love's truck stop / C-store last week to get gas and use the restroom. As I was walking out, I saw the ice cream freezer with all the goodies in it and I grabbed an ice cream sandwich. This was a plain, no frills, nothing extravagant, ice cream sandwich. While waiting in line to pay for it, I pulled $3 out of my wallet, thinking the thing cost a little over $2. When I got up to the cashier, she scanned it and said, "$5.51." My hearing isn't too good, so I asked her to repeat it and she said "$5.51" I told her I would put it back where I got it.

A few days later, I checked the online price. A box of 6 from a grocery store is $5.99. It pays to shop around.

View attachment 706578

I was driving through Iowa the other day and stopped at a gas station to fill up. I went inside to use the restroom and get a soda and it cost $3.75

Things like that are the most insane to me, because the value of the contents are essentially nil. That's why, historically it has always been cheap except at venues where you were locked in and couldn't buy an alternative.

Now the market has decided that something worth almost 0.01 is worth $3.75. Wild times.

 

[steve white]

Trying to find out if Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace are any better alternatives....
They can be limited in what they allow to be offered

 

[steve white]

Whare are all the "angry, divorced wife" sales....lol (not serious, otherwise I'd chase divorce lawyers like other lawyers chase ambulances)

 

[BonUm16]

Reading your post immediately brought to mind a seller whose optimistically priced wares are all over GB and EBay, Steve. Link to a perfect example.