How does the current panic situation impact gun shops

[Fenway]

For those of you in the biz I'm sure the past couple of weeks have been great... but what happens the next couple of months when suppliers might not be able to handle your orders for more guns and gear. I noticed Bradis mentioned they went through about 2 months of inventory in days.

Your thoughts INGO?

 

[printcraft]

They need to see it for the fluke windfall that it is and not count on it happening next year or regularly.

In other words, don't gear up as the madness won't continue.

If they are in business, they already know this.

 

[daddymikey1975]

I bet they're reaping decent profits.. However, like any bubble, it's subject to burst (or at least slow down to last month's levels)

As printcraft said.. Surely they're already aware

 

[ZbornacSVT]

To be honest, ever since the re-election, our numbers are way down. Only thing I can attribute it to is everyone is buying guns and ammo...not targets. We usually slow down a hair this time of year, but not like this....

 

[coltaceguy]

The smaller gunshops start folding, if you have nothing to sell you have nothing to make a profit on.

Happened in 2008, happening again....

 

[DownByTheTracks]

Make money now with the understanding the "bubble" will be popping. Diversify inventory for the future so there is something to sell besides 30 round PMags.

 

[hANNAbONE]

...it stinks...

 

[valmoth]

I can imagine that all gun shops are very, very nervous. Once the panic buying subsides and any restrictions kick in, there business starts to dry up. So while there is a short term spike, long term it could crater.

 

[ZX-14R]

The smaller gunshops start folding, if you have nothing to sell you have nothing to make a profit on.

Happened in 2008, happening again....

No, No, No, No! Business "Experts" on this site will tell you this is just a myth. They are making such a killing right now, in the future they won't need inventory to stay in business.

 

[Miller Tyme]

The smaller gunshops start folding, if you have nothing to sell you have nothing to make a profit on.

Happened in 2008, happening again....

+1 My LGS is very concerned about having anything to offer in the forseeable future. He is actively looking for anything available and beating the bushes for EBR's and AK's to sell on consignment.

 

[45calibre]

I can imagine that all gun shops are very, very nervous. Once the panic buying subsides and any restrictions kick in, there business starts to dry up. So while there is a short term spike, long term it could crater.

and in return for business drying up they will raise prices.

 

[coltaceguy]

No, No, No, No! Business "Experts" on this site will tell you this is just a myth. They are making such a killing right now, in the future they won't need inventory to stay in business.

haha

+1 My LGS is very concerned about having anything to offer in the forseeable future. He is actively looking for anything available and beating the bushes for EBR's and AK's to sell on consignment.

Yep, thats what my LGS is concerned about too. Sure he made a killing last week(Sold all 9 AR's he had in stock), but now he's cleaned out. Will he be resupplied any time soon? He cannot even get RRA or Bushmaster to return phone calls let alone take orders(which I have heard they are not currently taking...).

 

[Quad]

The smaller gunshops start folding, if you have nothing to sell you have nothing to make a profit on.

Happened in 2008, happening again....

My LGS said he can't get anything but revolvers right now, and they are even tough to find.

 

[coltaceguy]

My LGS said he can't get anything but revolvers right now, and they are even tough to find.

Yep, thats what I've heard also.

 

[Sajer]

We are still getting limited amounts of items in. However, demand is outstripping supply for everyone.

The small guys are going to be left out in the cold as all available monies go towards items they cant get. It's going to be a rocky road for the next 6 months.

 

[coltaceguy]

Heck Aimsurplus isn't even taking back orders on stuff they "normally" get resupplied with quickly.

They keep digging out only to get hammered again, still processing orders from Dec 16th lol

 

[Dave-O]

The really bad thing that happens in a scenio like this is the long term damage to the collectors and people that use their guns. The collectors suffer because that sp1 that is pristine on a lgs wall or on gunbroker for $1800 has been there because all the lay people that see it not for what it is but just see the price and say no way in hell would I pay that. But today they walk in and grap it because it is the only gun left. Now that mint 1972 sp1 has quad rails installed, stock changed etc. gun survived 50 years and is now destroyed from a collectable standpoint. The parts suffer because people buy them in droves just to have them but they will never get used, they lay in someones garage and rust or get lost. Now you guys wanting to finish a build can't get the parts. And if these do get banned most of the people that have bought the stuff won't know what the hell to do then............Insane.

 

[LarryC]

To be honest, ever since the re-election, our numbers are way down. Only thing I can attribute it to is everyone is buying guns and ammo...not targets. We usually slow down a hair this time of year, but not like this....

Sorry for your losses, I am sure you are correct, I do think HC mags are on the list for a ban, and like most people have a limited amount of money allotted to my hobby. At this time I am spending for ammo, HC mags etc. and some AR parts if price is right. Targets sales should rise greatly after the "ban scare" is over. There will be a whole lot of new shooters as well as the old ones like us that will need to try out the new firearms.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Out of curiosity, I went by Dunham's and Walmart, here in Bedford, yesterday to see how the carnage has affected them. Our Walmart doesn't carry EBR's but all their common SD ammo was gone except for a box of .380's. Dunham's was out of everything that was auto-loading. Their shelves that usually have SD ammo was bare.

 

[drillsgt]

Part of the problem is that some of the LGS's only have accounts with a few select distributors so if they don't have it they can't get it. When I was trying to find a 2-tone Glock Lipsey's exclusive one of the Indy stores didn't even know about this distributor (forgot which one now). The store I worked at if we weren't factory direct we had accounts with everybody, sports south, davidsons, accusport, lipseys, ellett brothers, camfour, outdoor sports, point, lew horton, cdnn, graf, zanders, and that's just the ones I remember. Some are likely not in business anymore but we knew which distributors had the best deals on say S&W etc. Some like Elletts were usually more expensive but it was an option.