The death of small LGSs?

[Veer_G]

Just saw this on another board, texted to a member there from someone who works for a small, three-store chain:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Employees are no longer able to buy any ammo or guns at the store. As of today, unable to order any semi-auto pistols, mags, or tac. shotguns. Also at this point, they said it will take 2 years for manufactures to catch up. Also 10 months on ammo.</div></div>

How are the mom n' pops gonna make it? I was sitting here thinking to myself of the best of the local shops, and how the owner was complaining about having to drive to shows at great distances to get orders in with wholesalers, and how they've been told not to expect ammunition for anywhere from six to nine months. Now, with Wal*Mart apparently suspending ammunition orders, they can't even resort to "midnight raids" in order to secure goods for resale.

I suppose that there will be some backwash from panicked purchasers selling firearms back into the system, but if conditions continue to worsen, the likelihood of people selling much of anything to such shops would seem to be less and less.

 

[CASDB]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

My LGS is still on the upswing because of panic buying. They are smart business people, though. Rationing started immediately, including pmags. They still charge pre- panic prices, and I think the rationing has helped them stabilize their supply. Who knows, maybe gun stores will be deemed "too big to fail"? I know, I'm laughing too..

 

[Blueclawz]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

Veer - I made this statement in the beginning and I stand by it now. They were never gouging - they were staying alive.

People were very quick to shit on the LGS and say "oh I was in on the wed before and pmags were $15...now I go back and they want $25"...that shop owner has to take his profits where he can..he is not the vast market of the internet where everybody price compares. He does not have the .gov ready to infuse money into the system because he is "too big to fail" (ala GMC, Chrysler, AIG)He has to price stuff at a point where he cane replace it and make a profit - do you believe those 1M+ PMAGS on backorder will ever see the light of day..Honestly?
You and I have frequented some of the same establishments - think about Xring for instance. Werner probably runs a decent margin on firearms because he has selection in his favor....as that inventory dwindled he begins to depend more on the remaining stuff as the supply chain is in basic lockup at this point. Other than guys like me bringing in consignment "Hot ticket items" - how is going to keep the lights on?
Now there is one light at the end of the tunnel and that is the fact that most SMART gunstores SHOULD have been submitting re-stock orders (priory to Sandy Hook)for the first few weeks after XMAS...expecting the normal holiday selldown in inventory. (also managing the on hand inventory for tax purposes) Those stores as they begin to receive those orders and price them according to the current market demand will dictate the future of the LGS. Either way the ATF is pulling 01FFLS left and right for very minor infractions. This will wreak havoc on the "internet shoppers" who constantly chisel down the LGS because they saw it priced $5 cheaper on gunbroker or DSG Arms etc. So if the LGS does not have inventory to sell....and nothing he is selling is priced to what consumers feel is fair....and there is no alternative to handle the transfer....where does that leave the gun buyer?

We are living in strange times gentlemen - I have never seen it this bad or coming from so many fronts. The time to buy a generator is not when the lights are flickering....this panic was brought on by desperate people who cared more about having the newest gadget and just ASSUMED that the firearms and accessories they wanted would always be there. Until these idiots fulfill their wishlists the lifeline for the local LGS will be strained.
Personally this panic has been a godsend for me. I have pulled off some extraordinary deals over the last month and still have stuff rolling through the system. I know plenty of other guys doing the same thing. Its all how you look at it...Half Empty - Half Full?

 

[Guest]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

The people that call it gouging are the same people that will be late to the supermarket or gas station when those supply's dry up.

I have nothing for those who always wait until the last minute to do anything. They are part of the problem, and always well be. They don't have a clue until it slaps them up side the head, then their response is always the same.
They are but sheep,...

 

[pawprint2]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

As the real experts on this board have pointed out, this isn't gouging- this is the free market at work. It's not like the govt is putting in place new Regulations and restrictions (that wouldn't be a Free Market), but just good old supply and demand at work. It's just like trying to buy tickets for an event that is sold out. Some people have the nerve to call those good people that want to resell their tickets at 10Xs the original price "Scalpers", when they should be held up as Great Free Market Operators! I hope the mfgs are able to increase production 10 fold in a hurry- tulips come to mind.

 

[50calibercruiser]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Now, with Wal*Mart apparently suspending ammunition orders, they can't even resort to "midnight raids" in order to secure goods for resale.</div></div>

I spoke at length with the sporting goods manager yesterday regarding all the Walmart rumors floating around. In the past she has been very knowledgeable so I take this as good information.

My store has stopped ordering ammo, sort of. It was explained that the warehouses are not shipping ammo orders until they are filled for each store. I think this on a caliber by caliber basis and not an entire ammo order as every other morning or so there is new ammo on the shelf. But the manager explained that she could not order more ammo until the current order was filled. Really, there is no ammo to order it seems.

My store no longer has the ability to order AR15s (which they did carry, I bought the last one the Monday after) they have been completely wiped from the computer, the option to order is not there.
She wouldn't/couldn't give me a reason for this. She was sure this was company wide.

The limits on ammo as of yesterday are on a store by store basis, not corporate. My Walmart has no restriction but the one 10 miles away has a box per caliber per person per day restriction.

 

[The Gump]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

Hopefully they decided to rat hole the money away to cover their bills while they can not get stock.

 

[Veer_G]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blueclawz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You and I have frequented some of the same establishments - think about Xring for instance. Werner probably runs a decent margin on firearms because he has selection in his favor....as that inventory dwindled he begins to depend more on the remaining stuff as the supply chain is in basic lockup at this point. Other than guys like me bringing in consignment "Hot ticket items" - how is going to keep the lights on?</div></div>

The latest emails that I've received from CDNN have been bizarre, to say the least. Rather than the typical offerings of police trade-in pistols, wholesaler closeouts, and FFL buyout goods that they usually flog, they seem to have had to turn to stripping the walls of hanging trophies in order to vend something and keep the lights on:

Last week, as I recall, you could get whichever of the lowers that you wanted, up to and including number 10. It's like the end of "Waterworld," and we're standing on top of Mount Everest, which has now become an island.

 

[aur0ra145]

Re: The death of small LGSs?

Veer, those are silly prices...

However, if I ever happened across a rifle with my birth date as the serial, I'd buy it pretty much at any price.