How would I negotiate a lower price for a semi-auto ak47 at a pawn shop?

Question

The prices are at this place are nuts. Staring at $700 for a new WASR I could get 30% or so cheaper. I bet I could get it for much less if I negotiate. Just say I have "X" in cash and want one. Show the cash to them and when they say no walk out slowly with the waving the cash over my head as I leave. I really only have about $300 to work with. When I heard about obama bringing up the ak47 well, now I want to get another one.

I know how cheap they buy them. A freind tried pawning his and they offered him just $25 and this was for a pre-ban chinese ak.

Answer 1

Honestly , dont bother

If a pawn shop will negotiate they will only go down 10%

When the prices start that far out of line with reality there is no point in wasting time with them

There are too many other sources to get it at a reasonable price

But, $300 is not a reasonable price unless it is in fair to poor condition

An AK retail i going to cost a minimum of $350 for a cheap Romanian up to around $700 or so for Vespr with Russians (Saiga) Chinese and Yugos in the middle around $550

Pawn shops typically use the Blue Book of Gun Values to price their firearm inventory

The Blue Book list guns as 50% %60  etc up to %100 condition

They will buy at 25% of the 50% listing in the book and sell at the 90% 100% listing

To buy a gun online you have to have an FFL

Most sites will not allow you to even order one without it

You will have to find a FFL to order it for you and pay him for the trouble

As far as waving money at him

That doesn't always work

A few have tried it with me and all it did was raise the price

The trick to negotiating is being willing to walk away, respectfully

You may need to deal with that person in the future

Answer 2

I went into a pawn shop one time and tried to buy a gun, I haggled him and offered $100 less with cash, he was offended.  He would not even sell it to me for the listed price after that.  Be very careful.

Answer 3

You have to understand --- Pawn shop owners regularly deal with people in the lower stratus of society and folks down and out on there luck.....  Waving cash most likely wont work with them.... They are onto that game.... Remember they are not crackheads that need a fix -- they just deal with them..... And you waving cash will surely signify you have no class... Dont do that...

Instead - Be Smart.... Go to J&G Sales and print out the page that shows the cost of WASR and comparable rifles....  If that doesnt influence them then walk....

Save a few more $$$ and just get a new one.....

Answer 4

I wouldn't even buy a chinese AK.  Get a yugoslavian, russian, or romanian one.  Chinese ones tend to misfire, fire off rounds even with the safety on, or explode.

Answer 5

Check out J&G, think I saw a new Romanian for 369.  I have a number of the Romanian models and they are well made, trouble free and yada.  In point of fact there is no such thing as a bad AK.  

Answer 6

Don't buy from a pawn shop.  With your $300 you can buy a new one from www.gunbroker.com Register as a buyer and start bidding.  With a lot of the sellers you can e-mail them and get a discount.  The sellers are rated and you can look up and see what is posted abou them.  They offer a complete range of manufactures and importers. Be patient and it will come.  I looked for almost a year and finally got the Sharps Pepperbox I wanted at about 3/4 of what they are selling for here.  I bought a nice Russian AK-47 sniper scope,cleaning kit,5 mags,bayonet, and canvas carrying case,about three years ago and paid $285. plus $25 for shipping. I emailed the seller and asked for a discount and got it.  It had re-listed 4 times. The only draw back is it must be sent to an FFL holder and they usually charge a fee for the service. In my area it is $20.  Do a little research and get what you really want, not what you would settle for. Good luck