Classified Sales Very Slow - Why Do You Think

[3Ackleys]

For some time now sales have been very slow. I am sure it is the same on all forums, Gunbroker, EBay, etc. I assume that inflation has put the average person where it takes all their income for essentials and very little left over for pleasure and hobby spending. Reportedly consumer confidence is up now but confidence does not put money in your bank account. Just curious what others take is. I have noticed that there are some killer deals on stuff that folks obviously really want to sell and the items remain unsold.

Serious question. How did you determine "sales have been very slow"?
Sales on items you are selling? Do you have knowledge of how many items sold during the same period last year vs. this year?

Just for point of reference, a friend owns a small gun store here. He has many items listed on Gun Broker all the time. He told me sales are up a bit over last year, and the day after the election he had a record day on G.B.

 

[redrockranger]

I might be wrong but it seems that overall the younger crowd is not into materialism as much as my older age group. They don't seem to collect anything. Be it guns, knives, coins, trinkets, whatever. Growing up it seems like everyone was collecting something but now no one seems to have the interest or desire. One of my good friends who just turned 30 and has a high income has a very simplistic lifestyle. He and his wife live in a very nice but very spartan house. They have very few furnishings and very few trinkets or "dust collectors" to speak of. Not even many paintings on the walls. But everything he does own is of high quality. He owns a few shotguns for bird hunting and one rifle for deer hunting. That's it. Basically he only owns and keeps what he needs. And he could afford to buy whatever he wants.

But I read that over the holidays sales will break all time records again. So people are still buying like crazy, the big question being what are they buying? Personally, I haven't bought a firearm in quite some time. A small group of us go out every month to visit a new gunshop and then find a place to eat. Going to the gunshop is basically an excuse to go eat. I've probably looked at thousands of firearms, both new and used, and I have found nothing that peaked my interest enough to contemplate a purchase. I have all that I need and I'm actually thinking of getting rid of some that I no longer shoot. I have enough powder, bullets, and primers to last me at the going rate at least another decade or so. So that's not a problem either.

So basically, the reason I don't buy anything is because I don't need it and if I do buy it I have to keep up with it. Sounds like a total PITA!

YES. Sales will set all time record in Inflated fiat dollars . Fiat $$$$$ are going to their intrinsic value . Zero$$$$$$$$$. The digital printing press is resting now. Getting ready to go in hyper drive. Deficits doesn't effect the book keeper.Just the plantation workers.

 

[TTE]

But I read that over the holidays sales will break all time records again. So people are still buying like crazy, the big question being what are they buying?

I think the larger question is what are they buying with ?
Probably aint' cash, cuz many of them don't have any (which leads to other problems)

In truth, I don't carry much, if any cash anymore. However, my CC bill never has a balance at the end of the month.

 

[Bill Norris]

I don't have the money available. I retired, and retiring will show you what inflation really means.

Being on a fixed income will limit you for purchases and things you would like to do.

 

[Dimner]

I stay away from the people who sell a million things but have only a dozen or so posts.

 

[joshb]

I stay away from the people who sell a million things but have only a dozen or so posts.

…and don’t contribute to the site.

 

[jackieschmidt]

This is a very interesting point.

My wife and I often talk about the rise of the "mini storage". They are everywhere. People have their stuff. Then they get more stuff. Then they rent a place to store more stuff. We watch "barn find" shows on Youtube. There are literally people who have 50 muscle cars rotting in barns and they won't sell any of them. Just sitting there rotting. But NONE are for sale.

You have to wonder.

I ran into one of those “collectors” several years ago Just west of Austin Texas. He was into Pontiacs, had about 15 different models, including several mid ‘60’s GTO’s.

I offered him darn good money for a 66 GTO that while needing a complete restoration, was complete.
He was not interested.

It’s probably still rotting away in his old building.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I looked at a couple of guns on GB over the weekend. The buttstocks were missing, needed rust removed and probably a reblue, the forends were in bad shape and would probably need replacing to match the new buttstocks, who knows what else is missing or broken. They were priced like complete working firearms. No thanks! If you are selling something at least price it to sell it, not win the lottery with it.

 

[okie]

I ran into one of those “collectors” several years ago Just west of Austin Texas. He was into Pontiacs, had about 15 different models, including several mid ‘60’s GTO’s.

I offered him darn good money for a 66 GTO that while needing a complete restoration, was complete.
He was not interested.

It’s probably still rotting away in his old building.

yep. my dad had that disease. by the time he passed the barns rotted down an everthing rotted. leaving guess who?? to clean it up...

 

[CJ6]

I ran into one of those “collectors” several years ago Just west of Austin Texas. He was into Pontiacs, had about 15 different models, including several mid ‘60’s GTO’s.

I offered him darn good money for a 66 GTO that while needing a complete restoration, was complete.
He was not interested.

It’s probably still rotting away in his old building.

You can thank Barrett Jackson for the (expected) sales prices.
They're making bank on the 60s muscle cars.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

Christmas time. No one has cash. And I'm not posting anything for sale when I have to give it away to get any interest.

Actions have been on awesome sales for the past few months...

Barrel sales recently...

If you haven't gotten any components in the last few years you aren't trying very hard.



I also think shooters are starting to plan out rifles for the long haul.
1. The rifle
2. Quality optics
3. Accessories
4. Components to last the lifetime of the rifle.

 

[CJ6]

My "Sporting " buying power now comes from a partime parts delivery job.
Having retired a couple years ago I find this is an acceptable way to finance my shooting habits without cutting into any other finances. At 65 I'm the young pup out of the 6 drivers.

 

[Kittitas George]

Younger people don't have the connection to the pre 64 Mod 70's or the 57 Chevys. A new deer gun will shoot as good or better than the old Winchester at a lower price. That 57 Chev is $50k, you can get a lot of F-150 for that, it's more practical and rides better. Markets have changed, buyers have changed. A recent ad I placed didn't get much response, I'll give the treasure away, it is too much trouble to sell, package and ship for the few bucks I'll receive. My nephew, is the only young person I know that reloads, he doesn't shoot very much or hunt. What will I do with a life times collection of tools and treasure and lots of great outdoor gear (relatives at Eddie Bauer, I worked in a sporting goods shop). Take that old Mod 70, install a plastic stock, a 223 barrel and a long magazine, it'll sell.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Younger people don't have the connection to the pre 64 Mod 70's or the 57 Chevys. A new deer gun will shoot as good or better than the old Winchester at a lower price. That 57 Chev is $50k, you can get a lot of F-150 for that, it's more practical and rides better. Markets have changed, buyers have changed. A recent ad I placed didn't get much response, I'll give the treasure away, it is too much trouble to sell, package and ship for the few bucks I'll receive. My nephew, is the only young person I know that reloads, he doesn't shoot very much or hunt. What will I do with a life times collection of tools and treasure and lots of great outdoor gear (relatives at Eddie Bauer, I worked in a sporting goods shop). Take that old Mod 70, install a plastic stock, a 223 barrel and a long magazine, it'll sell.

I went to Thanksgiving this year And I watched all the children sit in a circle on their phones. For hours. All sitting in a big circle mindlessly staring at their phones. Everyone who wasn't a child noticed it and commented on it later. I'm not sure this can be undone.

 

[Knotwild]

Being on a fixed income will limit you for purchases and things you would like to do.

I do have some hoarded away, but one unexpected negative event can clear that out.

 

[dryhumor]

People are buying more of what they need. Keeping in mind that fine line between needs and wants. I have just about broken the habit of stopping in and looking around sporting goods stores- they never have what I need, and I’m patient enough to wait on a lower fair price. Either here, or another market place.

I don’t see much movement in new sales, but used sales, to me, seem pretty steady.

All the chatter about inflation and getting it under control…. Yeah, I think this is more the new normal. The dollar’s value has dropped 91 or 92 percent from what it was when I was born. There is $36 trillion dollars of national debt. There probably isn’t $36 trillion dollars worth of money on the planet.

 

[gmr4]

On Gun Broker if you do not take credit cards sales are slim. It is that way everywhere.. sales are bd for cash good for Credit Card sales. Credit card debt and credit card debt defaults are at an all time high.. probably a bubble.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Perhaps we all have enough guns and gadgets.......nah!

 

[hogpatrol]

So the reason the classified have come to a screeching halt is inflation and the cost of borrowing. Wages have stagnated and the cost of living has tripled.

As far as reloading stuff goes, The Ukraine war and AI and electric vehicles have caused metals to skyrocket.

As above in bold. There are multiple machinist jobs in my tri-state area going begging that pay what I made in the same trade twenty years ago. For me, they could double it and it still would be crap wages, unable to buy a home or new vehicle. Six months from now, they'll still be looking and the guys that are working there will still be working seventy hours a week, just to make ends meet.

 

[hogpatrol]

I ran into one of those “collectors” several years ago Just west of Austin Texas. He was into Pontiacs, had about 15 different models, including several mid ‘60’s GTO’s.

I offered him darn good money for a 66 GTO that while needing a complete restoration, was complete.
He was not interested.

It’s probably still rotting away in his old building.

Once the boomers are gone, the classic car market will implode. Watching the last few auctions, it's sliding downhill already. A friend recently sold a '65 Mustang, almost a completely restoration, and lost 15k.