Blue book values...

[Noskov]

I've always wondered what the point of them was for cars and firearms since everyone has their own opinion on the value of what they have.

For example; I have a copy of a blue book value on military firearms ranging from every country and whatever was imported to the US. It lists original Russian SVD Dragunov's as being worth about $4,500...the last one I saw sold for $13,000 and the cheapest I saw sold was $8,900, both of which were genuine KBI imports. The book wasn't completely off though; it listed Mosins around $100 or more depending on variations.

I understand people don't want to lose money and that an owner would like the most bang for their buck but still kind of makes it hard to justify the use of blue books or value guides.

[deth502]

"worth" and "value" are two completely different concepts, and often times dont coinside.

i really never look at the gun blue book, as if hteres something i want, ill just watch for the best price relative to what ive been seeing, or the best example at a compatable price, but afa the car blue book, if you read teh "instructions" in it, its not a bible. you factor in things like milage and condition, then weather its a dealer, trade, or private sale, and get the "price" what that price is is teh MAXIMUM you should pay, you never "add on" because the paint new, ect.... you only subtract for defects. some ppl may not get that.

[mitchstoner]

There are plenty of dealers who will consult the book when someone brings in a gun to sell. They will do this out of sight in the back room. If the book value shows way low, they will use that to try to convince seller to part with the firearm way cheaper than maybe it should bring. If the book showed a higher than expected value, the prospective seller would never see it.

Also, tons of guns are brought into shops by non-gun people who are selling off a deceased relative's collection. They often "just want the danged thing out of my house." Bargains for the plucking, if it doesn't offend the dealers' ethical sensibilities.

I have a dealer friend who has actually asked sellers, " Do you know that gun is worth way more than what you are asking," only to be told, "I just want to get rid of it."

[Noskov]

I mean theres that feeling you'd get treated differently in a business deal if you're seen with the blue book. Show up at a dealership with one and thumb around through it while looking at cars and the cars salesmen will try to shoot down the numbers.

Same would go for a gunshow or gunshop if you started trying to bargain on blue book values. I remember one seller who had SAIGA 12's for sale at $750.00 each. I looked at them and basically from barrel to buttstock they were standard, run-of-the-mill SAIGAs, nothing special. In a sense the blue book sort of worked in principal since I knew a SAIGA isn't worth that much even brand new.

I didn't correct the seller since he had the right to list his own prices but it just seemed like he was out to gouge several hundred dollars from someone who didn't know any better.

[deth502]

it just seemed like he was out to gouge several hundred dollars from someone who didn't know any better.

thats probably EXACTLY what was happening.

just look at some of the prices on gunbroker. it dosent cost to list anything unless it sells, and you can set it to auto relist until it does, so all the seller has to do is set teh ridiculous price, and wait for someone dumb enough to pay it.

that being said, it comes back to my initial comparison of "worth" and "value"

if the saiga is valued at $500, if they are in demand and none of the dealers can get them in, one might be worth $600 to someone who wants one bad enough. otoh, if there are 50 of them, and theyve been collecting dust for a year, they might only be worth $400 to the dealer at that point.

blue books arent updated frequently enough to take supply and demand on a short term basis into account.