Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires I refuse to pay scalper prices

No, I am saying that what you call a principle is probably just a personal policy on your part. It could be a real principle if your "belief system" is that people should play nice so that you can get a quantity of ammo you want at a price you want to pay.

And here I thought all along that principles were personal. If they are/were to be required that would be a law.



I believe in the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do to unto you". That quote might not be exact but close. miles

Why? You are only responsible for your own actions. Were it me, I would just stop bidding. Greedy people seldom see themselves that way and try to explain away their actions, but it does not change them. miles

Sooner or later the retail stores are going to get tired of selling it at 50% of the current value.

Then everybody will be charging "scalper" prices and the shelves will fill up. Then the prices will go back to pre-Sandy Hook.



Nostraflave

So if you think a 67 Camaro is worth $17000 and I think it's worth $25,000 at the auction, I won because I'm greedy?

Actually, Nastydomus
the bricks for $45 @ the gunshows I've been to don't sell.
Why the GB prices are still up there, I've no idea.

I think ole Nostraflave, has it right. I simple wont buy over priced ammo, and dont have the extra money for it either. As for gas, I dont do any extra driving since gas hit 3 bucks a gallon. I have to drive to work and the grocery store, but no more sunday drives. Besides, its starting to get warmer out, and ill start fishing, camping, and picnicking more. I just hope their not gouging on the fishing supplies yet!

�Principle� is a highly misused word. If a person can claim that something is a matter of �principle�, then what he says or does in that regard is viewed as good, while a person who does not do that is, by definition, �unprincipled�, which is viewed as bad. So, it is always a good idea to co-opt the word in the context of an argument because it makes you the good guy and the person with the opposing viewpoint the bad guy. It is like a group of Democrats co-opting the term �Progressive� for their ideas. It means that everyone who does not follow their mindset is �unprogressive� or backwards.

I cannot recall who said it (maybe Stokely Carmichael?), but there is an expression to the effect of �he who writes the definitions wins.� It applies here to your definition of �principle� and to your exhortations about the Golden Rule. You want to paint yourself a certain way by using the cool words.

Would you sell me, a total stranger, your last box of .22 LR for what you paid for it before the price hikes because you wish to be able to buy some now for the same price? I doubt it, not that I would take your last box of ammo anyway. (If you would, then you are consistent with your stated belief system, and I stand corrected as to my perception.) But, you do want me to refrain from buying the same type of ammo for twice that amount so you can get it for what you paid for it back then. You imply that I am selfish, but you are selfish in that you want a bunch other people to modify their behavior so you can get ammo the way YOU want it.

As for the golden rule, a person who lives in a grass hut and walks to work so he can give all his spare money to the poor and stop the devastation of the rain forests and the loss of plants and furry creatures has a different view of it than a guy who owns a house, has a couple of cars and a bunch of guns, and, basically, lives the American dream. I fit into the latter category, BTW, even though I pay my taxes dutifully, do community service, and try to contribute to society.

Oh. They sell. You might not witness the exact moment they sell, but sure as chlamydia burns, they sell.



Travis

Not at all what I think. miles

I am not in the business of selling ammo. I have however, given a lot away since it got hard to get. miles

Just like gasoline and diesel have gone back down. Once everyone figures out that they can create false shortages, the price will stay up. miles

Most retailers have bent over backwards in an effort to regain inventory and not overcharge their customers.

But the reason there is no ammo on the shelf is because if you buy the ammo on the shelf, you can double your money by the time you get back to your car and send a text message.

How many times have we heard the same story? "Same guys every day" "Employees only sell to their friends" "Small shop buys it from Wal-Mart" "LGS has inventory but they only sell on-line and not in the store" The problem is undeniable and it is happening in far more places than it isn't.

One of three things is going to happen.

1.) The retailers are going to raise their prices in an effort to eliminate the gap in pricing so they can regain inventory.

2.) The people profiting off the retailers will decide they've made enough money and will stop the practice of cleaning out retail stores.

3.) Everybody paying $75.00 a brick will realize they have enough ammo.

Now you tell me... Which is gonna happen first?



Nostravis

Exact same situation here, and not just about ammo. I have nothing for sale. Where we may differ though, is that someone off the street can buy any of my property from me if the price is right. It will be very high, though. This is not because I am greedy, but because the incentive will have to be high enough for me to part with something that I am happy to own and/or use. Making 3 or 4 or even 10 times the price of a box of $5 ammo does nothing to change my life. If somebody wants to offer me 1-1/2 times the fair market value of my house, though, I'll run out and get a moving van. It has nothing to do with principles.

Exactly.




Travis

After a heart to heart with myself, and much prayer, I have decided that when/if I sell anything on the auction sites, from now on it will be "buy it now" only.
And only at "fair" prices.
I will single handedly save the world from themselves.
Amen.

One of my favorite gun shops sells ammo at reasonable prices obtained through regular channels. When they can get it.

Another semi-local shop had plenty of ammo of most calibers a couple of weeks ago while I was in their store in Dallas. One price example, Blazer .22 was $10.95 a box with no volume discount. One of the clerks responded to my question about how was business, that business was off. So was foot traffic. I will not go back to that gouging store. I'm sure they won't miss me as an individual, but I have done 5-6K in business with them over the last eighteen years. If a few hundred of their customers do likewise! it will tell on the bottom line.

Because idiots keep buying it at those prices, that's why.

You realize that if they sold the ammo at "normal" prices, the ammo would be bought and flipped at double the price immediately?





Travis

You did not address my gasoline analogy. miles