Pre Estate sale suggestions

[m_ev]

I have been out of the loop for the past couple of years due to my health. I am trying to sell off most of my collection locally if possible since my family does not know anything about or want my guns.
I also would like to maybe trade some of them towards a new gun or two to have fun with now while I can.
Any suggestions on gunshops around Harford/ Baltimore county that would be best for trading in towards or selling outright to.
I am trying to get reasonably close to current market value. (Would travel if needed)
Also not sure if Gunbroker or Guns America are still any good.
Alot of my collection is older and I could not sell in state to individuals.

Thanks for the help

 

[Coehorn]

You won't get anywhere near Reasonably Close by taking them to a brick and mortar gun shop.

You'll be offered 40% or less of their actual value.

Sell them on Gunbroker. A penny start with no reserve and you'll get the actual value of your pieces. Don't be afraid of a penny start. Once the Friday and Saturday drunken bidding begins, you'll be happy with the sale. Let the auction run for 14 days. Allow the entire country time to see your guns.

Or you could use a reputable auction house. Gunbroker will yield more money though. Auction houses will nickel and dime you seven ways from Sunday.

Good luck.

 

[Squaregrouper]

You won't get anywhere near Reasonably Close by taking them to a brick and mortar gun shop.
You'll be offered 40% or less of their actual value.
Sell them on Gunbroker. A penny start with no reserve and you'll get the actual value of your pieces. Don't be afraid of a penny start. Once the Friday and Saturday drunken bidding begins, you'll be happy with the sale. Let the auction run for 14 days. Allow the entire country time to see your guns.

Or you could use a reputable auction house. Gunbroker will yield more money though. Auction houses will nickel and dime you seven ways from Sunday.

Good luck.

I totally disagree with this. GB is great for an established seller who has a good reputation on GB. I used to work at a B&M store (that could easily be confirmed) and we tried selling on GB and people were really apprehensive of buying from a new GB seller.

 

[Bertfish]

Saint Firearms in Essex does a ton of estate and bulk buys. Matt is working his way through a 200+ antique handgun lot right now. I think his pricing is pretty damn fair, he's a one man band with low overhead unlike many shops

 

[rseymorejr]

I totally disagree with this. GB is great for an established seller who has a good reputation on GB. I used to work at a B&M store (that could easily be confirmed) and we tried selling on GB and people were really apprehensive of buying from a new GB seller.

I've bought a few guns off Gunbroker and I wouldn't consider bidding unless I saw a decent sales history with good reviews. I know somebody always has to be the first but it aint gonna be me

 

[rseymorejr]

Saint Firearms in Essex does a ton of estate and bulk buys. Matt is working his way through a 200+ antique handgun lot right now. I think his pricing is pretty damn fair, he's a one man band with low overhead unlike many shops

I stopped in last Saturday and he had a bunch of interesting things come in (one of them I need to go and pick up this Saturday) another big group is on it's way. I told him he was going to need a bigger shop. He is very fair and honest and has an unbelievable amount of knowledge about older guns

 

[Coehorn]

You guys have valid points about new folks selling on GB.

I've always been willing to buy from fairly new folk if the descriptions were long and detailed and the pictures were clear and plentiful.

 

[Coehorn]

Saint Firearms in Essex does a ton of estate and bulk buys. Matt is working his way through a 200+ antique handgun lot right now. I think his pricing is pretty damn fair, he's a one man band with low overhead unlike many shops

I can second this.

Very fair prices.

 

[bean93x]

Best to post up a list here of what you have to get rid of and line up transfers to avoid consignment costs or listing fees. GB fees are outrageous for sellers.

If you have any HK’s I’d be interested…

 

[Bertfish]

Best to post up a list here of what you have to get rid of and line up transfers to avoid consignment costs or listing fees. GB fees are outrageous for sellers.

If you have any HK’s I’d be interested…

He's under 50 posts and would be banned

 

[Bertfish]

I stopped in last Saturday and he had a bunch of interesting things come in (one of them I need to go and pick up this Saturday) another big group is on it's way. I told him he was going to need a bigger shop. He is very fair and honest and has an unbelievable amount of knowledge about older guns

I am continually lobbying him to hire me one day a week. He is continually too cheap to do so.

 

[Squaregrouper]

He's under 50 posts and would be banned

AND he is a 13'er.

 

[rseymorejr]

I am continually lobbying him to hire me one day a week. He is continually too cheap to do so.

You need a sign: "Will Work for Guns"
I couldn't work there. No matter what Matt paid me I'd end up owing him every week. LOL

 

[Biggfoot44]

You need to be cognizant of " market value " connotation.

For disposing in bulk , it will be at Wholesale level . ( Even at that , there are a few dealers with good reputations for handling Estates , and Estate - ish , and are fluent in older guns and current values . )

For top $ in retail price context , you have to sell mostly as individual pieces .

 

[Biggfoot44]

You need a sign: "Will Work for Guns"
I couldn't work there. No matter what Matt paid me I'd end up owing him every week. LOL

Will work for Employee Discount Only.

 

[Bertfish]

You need a sign: "Will Work for Guns"
I couldn't work there. No matter what Matt paid me I'd end up owing him every week. LOL

I'd work for store credit. That'd be great

 

[pre64hunter]

Do the math. Say fair market value is $500. If you go to a gun shop and try to get $450, no way. For one thing the shop can buy it brand new wholesale for less than that. So try GB? The buyer should know that he's going to have to pay tax, shipping, 1% GB fee plus transfer, and that's if he trusts you. So he'll bid accordingly. There's a few guys doing auction service, deduct their fees and shipping and you're way far from market value.
If you ask a fair price, meaning somewhere between what market value is and what you can get from a dealer or auction, you can sell them yourself at a small local gunshow. You won't get the $500 right away but you'll get more than a dealer will offer or more than likely sell it to another dealer at the show. Not all dealers buy to resell either, the nicer ones they keep.
You have to be honest with yourself and do the math. In a world of AR's and high capacity sub-compact pistols, is that old S&W 357 or Winchester 30-30 or 870 Wingmaster or 1100 going to get you $1000? Not likely, but probably $800, dealer or auction $600?

 

[LCPIWB]

It seems like OP is not really in a rush to get rid of his collection unless I read it wrong.
Consider putting on consignment. I know The Gun Shop in Essex does consignment. That way you will likely get closer to market value. I was thinking of putting up for consignment some items I am no longer interested in.

 

[Squaregrouper]

You need a sign: "Will Work for Guns"
I couldn't work there. No matter what Matt paid me I'd end up owing him every week. LOL

Oh trust me, I learned that working at Masada. >90% of trade in guns never hit the for sale cabinet.

 

[jmiller320]

It seems like OP is not really in a rush to get rid of his collection unless I read it wrong.
Consider putting on consignment. I know The Gun Shop in Essex does consignment. That way you will likely get closer to market value. I was thinking of putting up for consignment some items I am no longer interested in.

What is their percentage? I contacted one and they wanted 20% of the sale price.