Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums  

Go Back   Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums Parker Forums General Parker Discussions

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Unread 09-14-2020, 11:53 AM   #1
Member
Kevin McCormack
PGCA Lifetime
Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,264
Thanks: 1,761
Thanked 4,342 Times in 1,208 Posts

Default

I visited the Cabela's Gainesville VA store last Thursday and the Fine Gun Library room was still open but only had 6 or 7 guns, mostly new sporting rifles. I didn't see any used guns on their rollaway floor racks that they used to put outside the entrance to the Library, either.
Kevin McCormack is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-14-2020, 01:31 PM   #2
Member
Bill Bates
Forum Associate

Member Info
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Thanks: 67
Thanked 128 Times in 51 Posts

Default

I work in the Lehi Gun Library, these are just my thoughts and I'm not speaking for my employer. I can't say what is going on in other Libraries but we're buying what we can in Lehi. We're trying to hire more Library help.

We are in a very strange market. I can say we are in the strangest gun market I've seen in 40 plus years of buying and selling firearms.

Sales are through the roof on most of the bread and butter everyday using guns with black guns, semi automatic pistols and short barreled shotguns leading the way. If a Glock or an AR hit the shelves they are snapped up in minutes. Our inventory is a lower than we would like both new and used. If you follow the news you know that NICS has been setting records for background checks since March. Late Winter, Spring and Summer are traditionally slow periods for gun stores. Normally stores let their inventories drop for that time period by not buying. Ouch, did that bit everyone in business. Of course who could have predicted COVID or continuing riots on the level we are seeing. I don't care where you shop firearms, ammo and reloading supplies inventories are pretty thin. It feels that people are preparing for war or at the very least completely worried about civil unrest.

Next, not many people are selling their guns these days unless they really need to generate cash. A lot of people laid off very literally got a raise with the $600 a week COVID help. Now that has run out we are seeing more used guns but still not at the levels of the past.

As we shotgun collectors know price are a tad depressed so many of are holding onto what we have. I think the same can be said for other types of gun collectors. I know as I look in the safe I don't have anything I dare sell. On some level I worry I might not be able to ever find another gun like what I have.

These market conditions make it tough on a used gun dealer.

The next problem is staffing. To a person in our Library we're not there trying to make a living on our wages. It is more of a wage to earn a bit of extra income and to play at what we love. Our Library is down staff wise. You really can't just hire a warm body to work in a Library. Most people with real gun collecting expertise aren't all that interested in a job making about as much as they would flipping burgers.

Then again maybe you do settle and hope to just hire a warm body. You would think that with today's unemployment that might be easy, nope. Hiring isn't just a problem for us. It cuts across the board for employers that are trying to find good people at the $10 to $15 an hour wage level.

Yes, we are living in strange time. Of course this is just my opinion.

Last edited by Bill Bates; 09-14-2020 at 05:17 PM..
Bill Bates is offline   Reply With Quote
Visit Bill Bates's homepage!
Unread 09-14-2020, 02:30 PM   #3
Member
Dean Romig
PGCA Invincible
Life Member
 
Dean Romig's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 32,979
Thanks: 38,718
Thanked 35,953 Times in 13,175 Posts

Default

I was at the Scarborough Cabela’s/BPS just two weeks ago. The fine gun library was open but like Joe says, the guns in there were like something in a flea market or yard sale... mostly just plain old worn out shooters.

The used gun rack in front of the fine gun library was just as shocking... what used to be about six upper and lower gun racks was just one 10’ floor rack. I’ll probably never go back...

NOW is when KTP (just 40 miles south of Cabela’s) should step up their fine gun counter and take down those ridiculous curtains that hide their nicer guns.





.
__________________
"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."

George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
Dean Romig is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Dean Romig For Your Post:
Unread 09-14-2020, 08:28 PM   #4
Member
J.B. Books
PGCA Member
 
Pete Lester's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,067
Thanks: 1,872
Thanked 5,456 Times in 1,521 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Romig View Post
I was at the Scarborough Cabela’s/BPS just two weeks ago. The fine gun library was open but like Joe says, the guns in there were like something in a flea market or yard sale... mostly just plain old worn out shooters.

The used gun rack in front of the fine gun library was just as shocking... what used to be about six upper and lower gun racks was just one 10’ floor rack. I’ll probably never go back...

NOW is when KTP (just 40 miles south of Cabela’s) should step up their fine gun counter and take down those ridiculous curtains that hide their nicer guns. .
I was at KTP last week. I am estimating the number of used guns for sale is 25 to 30% of what was there pre pandemic. Centerfire rifle and pistol ammo was essentially cleaned out. There were no rifle or pistol primers and only a few hundred WW209 primers priced at 6.99 per hundred. The guns behind the curtains are either new trades that have not been priced or guns that have been put on hold. The nicest doubles are visible but they are behind a pistol counter too far away for much of any visual ID nor can you read the price tags. You are not allowed behind the counter, unless you are special and you have to ask to see each individual gun.
__________________
Progress is the mortal enemy of the Outdoorsman.
Pete Lester is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Pete Lester For Your Post:
Unread 09-14-2020, 03:18 PM   #5
Member
Joe from MO
Forum Associate
 
Joseph Sheerin's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 764
Thanks: 713
Thanked 1,125 Times in 422 Posts

Default

They shut down the one in STL too, and when I asked why, they said they couldn't get enough people to staff it. That said, most of the doubles there were normally frankenshotguns..... and way over priced. But, was still fun to go look.
__________________
The only reason I ever played golf in the first place was so I could afford to hunt and fish. - Sam Snead
Joseph Sheerin is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-14-2020, 06:44 PM   #6
Member
Phil Yearout
PGCA Member
 
Phil Yearout's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,639
Thanks: 5,888
Thanked 5,309 Times in 1,329 Posts

Default

Was in the Wichita store today; Gun Library is open but seemed like mostly new stuff. Lots of new rifles, a few used rifles, a few used handguns, a few new or newer o/u's. One pretty tired VH 12ga and one Sauer (or similar) were the extent of the sxs's. The used gun racks out front are gone; wonder what they did with all those horrendous eastern European 16ga doubles they had a while back?. Ammo stock was pretty meager too; ended up ordering a flat of Herter's target loads on line for free in-store pickup as there were none on the shelves; luckily I go right by there twice a day. Lots of 3" 12ga shells at $119 a flat though!
__________________
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. - Mark Twain.
Phil Yearout is online now   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Phil Yearout For Your Post:
Unread 09-14-2020, 07:27 PM   #7
Member
C.O.B.
Forum Associate
 
Rich Anderson's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,093
Thanks: 2,226
Thanked 6,389 Times in 2,094 Posts

Default

When the Rogers MN store opened in I think 2005 I bought 1000 guns from the estate of a dealer. Those were the days
__________________
There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter...Earnest Hemingway
Rich Anderson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-14-2020, 08:17 PM   #8
Member
Researcher
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Dave Noreen's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,891
Thanks: 1,855
Thanked 8,849 Times in 2,597 Posts

Default

I have suspected that there was some collusion between the Cabelas Gun Libraries and some of the big dealers. On my way to The Vintage Cup, about fifteen years ago, I stopped by the Cabelas in Owatonna, MN, and several of the high end guns in the Library there I had just been looking at on Puglisi's web site.
Dave Noreen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-14-2020, 07:39 PM   #9
Member
Matt Buckley
PGCA Member
 
Matt Buckley's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 729
Thanks: 586
Thanked 1,467 Times in 315 Posts

Default

This is no surprise. Ever since Cabelas was bought out it has been on a down ward spiral in my mind. It will be a sad day when the Gun Libraries don't exist and I feel it is coming sooner than later in Cabelas stores.
Matt Buckley is online now   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Matt Buckley For Your Post:
Unread 09-14-2020, 08:53 PM   #10
Member
Jim Beilke
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 389
Thanks: 643
Thanked 529 Times in 190 Posts

Default

Our local Scheels All Sports closed their small Gun Library a few years ago. Now filled with gun safes. It was not an improvement. There are no classic guns in store. Somebody must trade some in. Not sure what happens to them.
Jim Beilke is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:55 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 - 2025, Parkerguns.org
Copyright © 2004 Design par Megatekno
- 2008 style update 3.7 avec l'autorisation de son auteur par Stradfred.