Resale Values

[Zzyzx]

Got an email from Airguns of Arizona; didn't even realize I was on their list lol. Sounds like they're doing some sort of phase-out of current Diana options on some models (not the models themselves), and they've listed some decent prices:
Diana 350 Feuerkraft $269.00
Diana 34 Meistershütze Pro (scope package) $215
Diana 34 Panther Pro (scope package) $199
Diana model 52 $279

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The above is from the Bargain Gate section. Looks like some really nice pricing for those in the market for these rifles or on the fence about getting something new.

With these RWS and the FX T12 Whisper for $599 at Airguns of Arizona what happens to the resale value of the rifles we already have? I know some have used rifles for sale at prices higher than you can buy brand new. It would be frustrating if I were selling one. Can't blame AofA and others(like FedTactical) who have the rifles and pistols for sale at very low prices. Watching a recent pistol for sale was interesting. He was asking $40 more than it was for sale brand new at Fed Tactical. I sent a PM message to that effect so he would know of it and maybe somehow help him. I did not and would not post it on his sale. That is pretty low. But, the information might help a seller who isn't really sure of the market these days.

Will sales like these hurt the resale pricing long term or will they only help since they are not permanent price reductions?

[HNT5]

It may hurt some in the short term, but overall I think pricing will balance out to what the market will allow. I think some of those RWS rifles are being closed out because they are not being imported to the US by Umarex. They are still made by Diana, just not readily available here. That may help the resale of those models in the future because they are no longer available. But RWS rifles are not really considered high end or collectors items, so I wouldn’t expect too much increase in value. I think (this is my opinion only) A of A lowered the price on the FX Whisper because the sales of the Whisper and other FX rifles were taking a beating from the Marauder.  Just think how the person who paid full price for a Whisper ($900+) feels knowing now they can be had for $599! If they tried to sell it now, they’d lose their pants on the deal. I don’t how long that “special” price will be available on the Whisper.  I would guess as long as Marauders are selling as fast as they can make them.

Nathan

[RedFeather]

Not going to hurt a bit. The 52's are going for less than a used one or a brand new 48 at PA.  Just a lucky break. The only one that might take a hit is the 240 but only because they were over priced and haven't sold very well. (Direct sear trigger does not help.)

[onemountain]

Once the retailers are out of the listed Diana models, buying used will be the way of getting them, so I can only see the used prices going up after the new inventory runs out. But until then it's definitely a buyer's market.

As for the FX, if that price sticks around (and I think it just might, based on Marauder sales), then yeah, trying to sell one used will be a very financially painful experience for the foreseeable future.

hmm that quoted section looks familiar

[Big_Bill]

I would think that they are dropping their prices because of poor sales due to the economy !

Air guns are not the first item on the minds of the unemployed or the general public as a whole.

And top end air guns have always had a smaller market.

When and if the economy returns to normal, the used prices will again return to normal !

There are many good buys out there if you have the money, everywhere !

If investment in housing was you forte, lots of great deals !

Long term food, water and ammomay beon many minds. :0

[daveshoot]

What is a "resale value"?

Oh, you mean some of you actually SELL your guns... to be honest, I never even think about that when buying. I buy some because I am interested in shooting them, and a very few because they have some historical value, and I just like them.

Reselling them will be my little daughter's problem, I imagine. The ones that don't shoot that well (I have been lucky in this regard) I regard as sick, and I mark them as future projects, which I may or may not get to. If one is just plumb disagreeable, and I might have one or two in that category, I feel guilty about selling it to someone anyway.

It really is silly because I rarely shoot some of them. But when I try to make a list in my head of which ones could go, I always find a reason to hang on to them a little longer.

In the current economic climate I think there are some great deals if you can swing it. New American guns, and used Euro guns, are nicely priced, IMO. The exchange rate seems to have jacked the fine new German guns up for the most part, but a dealer sale is just another welcome opportunity in a recession. When things pick up and inflation hits air guns, we may remember this as the golden age.

[onemountain]

I've sold 2 airguns, but both out of necessity. Otherwise I tend to buy conservatively and hold onto what I get.

As for what the subject matter of this thread means to me personally:

buyer's market

[RedFeather]

Regarding the Diana models, the retailers are just clearing out their inventory. I would imagine that, aside from the out of production 52, the other clearance models will not be restocked. Probably low sales volume and it seems a lot of people shop PA or discounters for those, as well. Can't keep carrying inventory - it costs. Like I said, a wonderful opportunity to buy a 52 if you were thinking about a 48, and cheaper than used.

[thebookdoc]

Like Daveshoot said, I buy them because I plan on using them...I don't take the decision all that lightly and depend on resale value for anything. If I want a rifle and think the CURRENT value is a good deal, and it is something I want, then that's what I get. The only exception to that rule was when I bought a RWS 350. I already had a couple 'cheap chinese' rifles, and decided I wanted to first-hand test what people in a few forums considered not just competition, but something the rifles I had clearly lost to. I bought a 350 used for $325, and figured I wouldn't have a problem selling it for about the same. I got it, did my testing, wasn't all too impressed, and tried to sell it. Got nowhere at $325, Got nowhere at $300, got nowhere at $280...tried to sell at $260 and then I saw refurbs going for $229 at airgundepot, and realized I wasn't going to sell it. I ended up making a trade for an RWS 48, adding a sidelever to my collection. Beside that the most I paid for a rifle was $270...for a Cometa Fusion Star  from Gene's own collection that was tuned and currently going for $350 new...THAT was a great purchase, and I could care less what resale is because that is a keeper. And it doesn't matter a whit what Gene might have gotten it for -- if you've owned one of his tuned rifles, you pay at least $150 for the privilege of the tune... I'd have had to get a Cometa Fusion Star even used for $120 to match that deal, and good luck finding that! But I don't look at any of my rifles as resale value. In fact, all the guns I have now seem to have their particular purpose -- or I'd be getting rid of them like I did my RWS 350 (didn't need another magnum springer).

I think you'll see a lot o the high end continuing to come down as the 'cheap' rifles continue to improve.

[patton123]

All of my airgun buying is based on cost. I won't buy unless i feel I could turn them around and sell for a profit. There are way to many airguns out there at resonable prices....just need to look.  

 Example....  NIB RWS 350M w/ pellets/ cleaning kit,  I found for $240. I bought one and  convinced my brother to buy one. He shot it, then sold it and made a profit. I then located a NIB RWS 460 he bought for $250.