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Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
#7221834
07/11/18 07:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,951
ChadTRG42
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
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Posts: 18,951 |
I have spoken to several of my main suppliers, and they are having MULTIPLE gun stores and shops closing and filing bankruptcy on them. All were dealing in the firearms business. I was talking to them over some of my invoices that had gone just over 30 days, and they were making sure payment was coming!! That's when this topic came up. I find it interesting how cyclical and dramatic the firearms business can be. Feast or famine. But other areas of the business, like ammo, are still hot (and I hope it stays that way!). Have you seen anything on this?
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7221838
07/11/18 07:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26,195
KRoyal
Texoma Legend
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Texoma Legend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26,195 |
I have spoken to several of my main suppliers, and they are having MULTIPLE gun stores and shops closing and filing bankruptcy on them. All were dealing in the firearms business. I was talking to them over some of my invoices that had gone just over 30 days, and they were making sure payment was coming!! That's when this topic came up. I find it interesting how cyclical and dramatic the firearms business can be. Feast or famine. But other areas of the business, like ammo, are still hot (and I hope it stays that way!). Have you seen anything on this? I was talking with Morgan last week and he was telling me how the hearing protection act, even though its dead now, put a lot of new suppressor companies out of business when everyone thought it would pass. No one was buying suppressor everyone was waiting so most of the new companies went under. Now that the HPA is dead I think suppressor business is picking back up. What a difference a few months makes.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7221858
07/11/18 07:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 728
TxHunter80
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2015
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My local gun shop was just talking about how slow it had been. There's another close to me that went out of business not long ago. The market is really soft, internet sites are often allot less than the local shops, and it's summer. Casual shooters aren't in gun mode in July. There's also no panic buying going on. It all adds up to lost sales
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7221866
07/11/18 07:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,841
DocHorton
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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From what I've read the margin on firearms is pretty thin. Hard for a gun shop to compete with online sales, especially considering you can order any gun online and get it in 2 days versus a local gun store who may or may not have what you want in stock.
It's been a long time since I bought a gun in a store...probably 15 out of the last 17 were bought online or private sale.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: KRoyal]
#7221888
07/11/18 08:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,993
ImTheReasonDovesMourn
Snarky Mark
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Snarky Mark
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,993 |
I have spoken to several of my main suppliers, and they are having MULTIPLE gun stores and shops closing and filing bankruptcy on them. All were dealing in the firearms business. I was talking to them over some of my invoices that had gone just over 30 days, and they were making sure payment was coming!! That's when this topic came up. I find it interesting how cyclical and dramatic the firearms business can be. Feast or famine. But other areas of the business, like ammo, are still hot (and I hope it stays that way!). Have you seen anything on this? I was talking with Morgan last week and he was telling me how the hearing protection act, even though its dead now, put a lot of new suppressor companies out of business when everyone thought it would pass. No one was buying suppressor everyone was waiting so most of the new companies went under. Now that the HPA is dead I think suppressor business is picking back up. What a difference a few months makes. Since when is the HPA dead? This is the first I've heard of it.
Haha yea I polished that thing for hours.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: DocHorton]
#7221905
07/11/18 08:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,951
ChadTRG42
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
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From what I've read the margin on firearms is pretty thin. Hard for a gun shop to compete with online sales, especially considering you can order any gun online and get it in 2 days versus a local gun store who may or may not have what you want in stock.
It's been a long time since I bought a gun in a store...probably 15 out of the last 17 were bought online or private sale. Yes, Doc, there is almost no mark up on guns. Some Glocks only get about $35-$40 mark up on them. I've seen some rifles get about $50-$60 mark up on them to sell. The only way to make money selling firearms is high volume. I was surprised at how low of profit there are on firearms.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ImTheReasonDovesMourn]
#7221909
07/11/18 08:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26,195
KRoyal
Texoma Legend
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Texoma Legend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26,195 |
I have spoken to several of my main suppliers, and they are having MULTIPLE gun stores and shops closing and filing bankruptcy on them. All were dealing in the firearms business. I was talking to them over some of my invoices that had gone just over 30 days, and they were making sure payment was coming!! That's when this topic came up. I find it interesting how cyclical and dramatic the firearms business can be. Feast or famine. But other areas of the business, like ammo, are still hot (and I hope it stays that way!). Have you seen anything on this? I was talking with Morgan last week and he was telling me how the hearing protection act, even though its dead now, put a lot of new suppressor companies out of business when everyone thought it would pass. No one was buying suppressor everyone was waiting so most of the new companies went under. Now that the HPA is dead I think suppressor business is picking back up. What a difference a few months makes. Since when is the HPA dead? This is the first I've heard of it. Since the Las Vegas shooting and Hillary had to open her male chicken hole and say that if he had a suppressor it would have been much worse. They tabled it "indefinitely" which pretty much means its dead.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7221910
07/11/18 08:49 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,809
Cleric
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,809 |
Gun sales won’t keep you in business unless you move a lot of units. It’s accessories and services that is your profit generator. The problem is people are tired of ARs. During the Obama years the threat of ban moved ARs at a premium. Now the market has shifted. There Was a lot of capaicty for guns and accessories added and now demand has dropped which causes prices to drop. There are a lot of high fixed costs stores that are about to have some problems.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7221932
07/11/18 09:29 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,272
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,272 |
Probably unrelated, but maybe not - the BassPro flyer I got today, "2nd amendment sale" or something or other, was mostly guns on sale.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7221984
07/11/18 10:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548
JCB
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548 |
But other areas of the business, like ammo, are still hot (and I hope it stays that way!). Have you seen anything on this? Obviously you would know better than me, but this I haven't seen at all. Now days I go into Walmart, Academy, BPS, Cabelas, etc. and the shelves are stocked to the ceiling with ammo and usually some sort of sale or rebates being offered as well. Have also seen everyday prices coming down too. Heck Walmart in the last few weeks knocked 50% off selected ammo and it wouldn't sell so they knocked off another 50% for a grand total of 75% off before it was all gone. Have been seeing both brass and steel FMJ 9mm for under $10 per 50 rounds for the first time in years as well and those are every day prices not sale prices. No doubt gun sales have bottomed out though. I see things pop up in the classifieds here on THF at reasonable prices and wonder why they take so long to sell when just a couple of years ago they would fetch 20%-30% more.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222027
07/11/18 11:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
Too many good deals online and its easier and quicker.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222098
07/12/18 12:15 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,969
thorn4570
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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I think the dealers are gonna have to change their way of thinking. I have had to when it comes to swapping and selling on here. Especially ar’s. It’s kinda sad when you see these small businesses trying to sell regular ar’s for 900 and up. Them days are gone for now.
But try to find Speer 325 grain AE bullets for desert eagle and you can’t. Lol
I once drank muddy water out of a hoof print and was dang glad to get it.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222104
07/12/18 12:23 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,234
gusick
Veteran Tracker
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They have been selling the same guns for decades. AR-15s are so 1970, the first people who bought 1911s were riding horses.
They need to start selling something new, like guns that shoot caseless cartridges.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222145
07/12/18 01:10 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,030
spg
Veteran Tracker
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My dad and I have a gun shop he runs it when I'm working, the majority of profit comes from repairing guns, cleaning, or someone brings parts in a bag and can't reassemble what they disassembled. We don't sale many guns unless we have a democrat president. AR's are the most common still today being sold in our shop. 10% of customers want custom handloads which can be uneconomical if they have a odd cartridge I don't have dies for plus not having the right powder. I've took the liberty almost 2 years ago to attend a gunsmith lathe course since then I've trued a few actions and chambered/threaded barrels for close friends I shoot with but with my normal job and the time it takes me to complete a rifle is at least 3 months so I'm out of pocket $$$$'s for a minimum of 3 months. Its tedious work for not a lot of money.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222224
07/12/18 02:50 AM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,158
Scott W
Pro Tracker
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Next the gun lobby is going to be working to get democrats back in office so they can sell guns.
I've been watching too much House of Cards lately.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: Scott W]
#7222233
07/12/18 02:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,424
jeffbird
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
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Posts: 4,424 |
Next the gun lobby is going to be working to get democrats back in office so they can sell guns.
I know your joking, but just in case someone ever let that idea into their head even for a minute, don't go there. There are NO gun stores left in San Francisco, not one, not even for law enforcement officers to buy guns. That is the future if Democrats take control.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222240
07/12/18 03:01 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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Obama was the best gun salesman, ever.
That P.O.S. is out of office.
Citizens do not feel near as threatened toward their second amendment rights.
Supply is still up, as leftovers from Obama years. Demand is lower, under Trump. Prices fall, gun stores' overhead costs have not fallen.
Economics 101, I learned in 1997.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222244
07/12/18 03:06 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,755
ccoker
Extreme Tracker
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There are so many gun shops in Austin I don't see how they can stay in business. I know how much retail space rents for and how slim the margins are on guns, the math doesn't add up in my head. They have to either sell a LOT or make it in services or highly marked up accessories, and given that people can order damned near anything they want online for parts it makes it hard for local guys. No one wants to hear "we can order that for you". Hard to afford and sit on that much inventory.
There's no way I would invest in starting one up unless I had something truly unique to offer up.
Last edited by ccoker; 07/12/18 03:06 AM.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: jeffbird]
#7222265
07/12/18 03:46 AM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,158
Scott W
Pro Tracker
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Next the gun lobby is going to be working to get democrats back in office so they can sell guns.
I know your joking, but just in case someone ever let that idea into their head even for a minute, don't go there. . Yes, joking but not much surprises me these days.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222271
07/12/18 03:50 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,234
gusick
Veteran Tracker
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We only have one gun store in this town and they charge $100 to take shipment of a gun you bought from Gunbroker.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: gusick]
#7222292
07/12/18 04:32 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,424
jeffbird
Extreme Tracker
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They need to start selling something new, like guns that shoot caseless cartridges.
Isn’t that an inline muzzleloader?
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: jeffbird]
#7222306
07/12/18 05:08 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,234
gusick
Veteran Tracker
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They need to start selling something new, like guns that shoot caseless cartridges.
Isn’t that an inline muzzleloader? Not quiet. It uses a solid propellant plug that contains the bullet so it can be loaded into a magazine like a brass case. The difference between that and a muzzle loader is that this isn't a single shot, it can even work in a machine gun. It saves weight, speeds up lock time and cycling. Once the technology is perfected, ammo cost savings will be the biggest advantage. The problem so far has been that the chambers get hot.
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222335
07/12/18 09:52 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,062
Toxarch
Veteran Tracker
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You ever notice there's a big shooting right before the HPA vote? It was coming up for vote twice and both times, big shooting right before.
I think they were taking too big of a step in the Bill. If they would have kept it the same, but made CHL/LTC holders able to do a 4473 and walk out with it that day, and kept the background ATF check for other individuals and trusts/LLC, then I think they could have gotten more support for it. LTC already has an extensive background check. That would reduce ATF wait times for everyone else.
It is far more important to be able to hit the target than it is to haggle over who makes a weapon or who pulls a trigger.
� Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222552
07/12/18 02:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 33,963
Buzzsaw
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 33,963 |
Most "gun" stores carry crap, cheap guns, Ruger, Glock, Taurus , savage, ( I shouldn't say crap, these guns are fine) because the manufacturers will sell in small quantities to smaller stores. You can go to Academy and get what u need. More specialized, higher dollar guns, Bass Pro/Cabelas have taken over.
online and rule the good stuff and reloading except for the hunter
SPACE FOR RENT
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Re: Gun stores closing, and many filing bankruptcy
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7222710
07/12/18 04:56 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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To be honest I haven't walked into a gun store in years, what I don't order on line I'll get from one of 3 friends of mine who have FFL's and operate out of their houses.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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