The Internet is, frankly, by contemporary standards "the 'other' market". The 'real world' of earlier days, a spectrum of course. But the Internet if included in "ordinary gun shop/gun show sales, often a considerable distortion resulting. There are actually two markets. The Internet actually remains relatively small considering the traditional sources. But in "profile", is gigantic. The "armchair gunshow", a term as coined by the prominent S&W Standard Catalog author. Perhaps a haven for guys with too much disposable income and too little free time. The analogy I've used before, if you're hauling in $1K per hour billable time, far cheaper just to 'buy big' & let chips fall; that compared to investing hours as the billable meter paused! There are the big Internet seller firms also, blowing their hype re overpriced products. Use of superlatives to gloss over ho-hum goods. The 'net' affecting all of us, is viewing the relatively small number, but highly publicizes, Internet sales and construing such as true "retail value". Not the absolutely wild sales, but Internet mainstream, "real price" as net to seller, a better measure. Such as the classic definition of value: What a willing seller and willing buyer agree for such product. Here the "Gorilla in the midst", distorting!
Our solutions are two. One, buy & sell direct thru good Forums such as this one, advertising & commission free. The other, to propose... As epitaph here, perhaps what we all need is an Amazon of the Internet gun brokerage market! Small profit margin amplified by volume!
Just my take!
Best & Stay Safe!
John
Last edited by iskra; 01/05/21.
