Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Got my RS on GB

My wife is losing her job and my best 99 is for sale. I never thought i would ever sell this.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=148787251
Its a real clean early 1930s RS in .300

Well I guess my reserve was too high, any suggestions on a realistic price for this rifle?

Apparently someone considered $1200. realistic. Seller may set a reserve, buyer will determine final price if a sale is completed. GW

Start it at what you need to get out of it, and let the buyers determine the price. If your reserve is what you needed.. looks like you might need to wait a few more years for prices to keep rising.

Personally I won't consider bidding on an auction with a Reserve. Don't understand the purpose of having a hidden starting price and ain't going to waste my time. Jmho..

I have to agree with Rory. I notice many times when a seller starts the auction with a high opening bid, the auction just sits. I don't see the sense of a reserve. It's almost like you want to sell, but you don't want to sell, if you understand what I am saying. I wouldn't be afraid to start something worth a grand at $9.99. The trick is to get them bidding. Once that happens, all hell usually breaks loose. Your rifle is a fine example. Put it out there and let the bidders have at it. You should get a nice price. It's better than not selling it, if that's what you want to do.

I have sold MANY items on GB and on eBay. I start almost everything on eBay at .99 cents, and usually wind up with a higher winning bid than anyone else with the same item. LBK has it right. Buyers see a lot of bids and think what you have must be better than what the other guy has. Usually what I have is better but that it another story...!!!

As for GB, I start my auctions at what I paid for the item, with no reserve. I am happy with just breaking even. I do not sell because I need the cash, I sell because I have the desire for something better.

I hope this gives you some insight...!!!


Mike...

I don't see anything wrong with a reserve OR a starting price , but not BOTH. JMHO but I wouldn't go $999 on that one if it was the Buy It Now price , it's a 99 not a gold mine , YMMV.

Mike

When you run a reserve it seems to bring out the dreamers that want a $800 rifle for $450 or they just like to see there name in print like some around here. Put it out there for what you know it's worth, take the lose or gain. I see a lot run a reserve and the idea to my best guess is it will get up bids and interest, not for me, won't waste my time. A high percent of bidders would have a blue book, know how to do back search, can judge when the market is down and to wait 6 months, know who the seller is from sites like this and will not buy from, in general play the market. Never,never price out and hope for a sucker then think your a winner. I've seen a few scmucks bid low on GB then try to sell ther own wares at nothing but premo reserves, thinking they are wheeler dealers.
You can see what I'm trying to say, good luck.

If you want "true market value" for your gun put it up on GB for 14 days and start the bidding at $1. Everybody in the world that is looking for an RS will see it and get caught up in the frenzy and egomania of the bidding. Gun could go way higher than you think.

In my experience people don't get serious about buying unless or until they know you are serious about selling.

Randy

Failed to mention: start the bidding at $1 with no reserve.

randy

I agree with Randy. This approach might seem risky in that you run the chance that the price you have in mind may not be reached, but the more people you can draw into an auction the better. If bidders KNOW that a rifle is going to sell at the end of an auction they tend to view the whole thing with much greater interest.

Good luck!

Rod

Great advise gentlemen,
OK what about listing it no reserve, starting it with a dollar but having a "buy it now" price?

NOTHING wrong with that!!!! As soon as someone bids on it, doesn't the Buy it Now price disappear?

No, the Buy it Now stays around unless somebody puts in a bid that exceeds the Buy it Now.

So if you list it starting at $800 with buy it now of $1400.. somebody can put in a max bid of $1500, which wipes out your buy it now. But the current bid will still be at $800 until somebody bids it up higher.

And lentuk, that's what I've done. Just start it at the price you need to get out of it, and if it's worth more the bidding will run it up. A buy it now is always appreciated by the buyers, though I haven't used it myself to sell. Use it often to buy though.

Sorry to hear about your wife's job and you having to sell the gun. Heres to better times

Well I guess it automatically re-set, If it does not sell I will change it to no reserve.
Thanks all.

Good luck.. very nice rifle.

Why would you ever use a "buy now" price as a seller? If there are 2 guys somewhere in the world that really want this gun...who knows how high the price could go?

Start it a $1, no reserve...sky is the limit. It could go way higher than the price you think you wanted or needed for it.

Randy

Gun appears to be an decent honest gun. In my humble opinion well worth the $1200. Not an easy gun to find.