How Will The Bad Economy Effect The Gun & Shooting Industry ?

[billt]

I was at a gun shop here in town that I frequent quite regularly, and one thing I usually have a problem with every time I go there is parking. His shop is located in a large "L" shaped strip mall, and one of the biggest issues was the lack of parking space because of all the stores located there. Gradually this became less and less of a problem because some of the stores went away. Victims of the poor economy. The last time I was there picking up my new Marlin .22 I noticed his gun shop was the only store open in the entire strip mall! At least a dozen stores have disappeared. Every single one except for his is vacant.

I talked with him and he told be while business is way down, and he expects to see it get far worse before it gets any better, he is hanging on. He has some of the best prices in town, and always has. But gun sales in general are really dropping everywhere. I live very close to the Glendale, Az. Cabela's and go there quite often as well. I'm seeing guns remain on the racks for weeks that used to be gone in the matter of hours or at worse, a few days. They've removed their "Take-A-Number" system at the gun counter, and it's been replaced by salesmen and women who all but jump at you asking if they can help as soon as you approach. They are running flyer's almost weekly in the paper with very large discounts on semi auto pistols and black rifles that used to go for full price, or close to it.

I know there has been a big lull in gun purchases since all of the "Hussein Fever" has died down, and people have both lost the fear of his banning weapons, and have run out of money to buy them at the same time. A lot more people are unemployed now, than were right after the election 2 years ago. The economy has really deteriorated. With more than 3 million new home mortgage foreclosures expected this coming year, things are looking to really get far worse. This can't help but hurt the firearms business big time. Shooting and hunting are recreational activities and those are usually the first things people give up spending money on in bad times.

What really scares me is the only light at the end of this very dark tunnel appears to be a train coming the other way. There doesn't look to be any end in sight. At least not for a long time. Real estate, both commercial as well as residential, along with the building trades it supports, are totally dead, and look to get much worse before they get any better. It could in fact take a decade or longer for it to recover in many of the harder hit areas. Also you have to factor in all of these people who went through foreclosures are finished as far as ever being able to get another home mortgage down the line. And even if they are able to qualify, they'll be paying such a large interest rate it will severely diminish the amount of home they will be able to buy. Most will be limited to small "fixer upper" type properties.

Add it all up and I hope the gun business in this country survives it all. The gun manufacturing business is a tough business to make it in during good times. I can't help but wonder how long they can survive for an extended period of a bad one?  Bill T.

[crusader rabbit]

I frequently visit Deerhunter Guns, a small gun shop in Clearwater.  It's owned by a father-son team and they are both exceedingly knowledgeable about all things gun-related.  I recently noticed that their inventory seems to be a great deal higher than usual and I asked about it.  The father told me they just aren't moving guns like they were even 6 months ago.  

After the initial scare of the Odamna presidency when gun sales soared and ammo was scarce, gun sales have drifted slowly lower until now they just aren't moving much at all.  The gun stores have dropped the prices on their black rifles/carbines by a substantial margin, and at Deerhunter I'm told Glocks don't move at all.  They say they are still selling some conceal carry pieces, some shotguns for turkey season and home defense, and a few deer rifles.  They even have substantial ammo stocks in essentially any caliber.  That's something unseen (and even unheard of) only a few months back.

They are still doing their Friday pizza feed.  They bring in something like 8-10 pizzas in different varieties at noon every Friday, and provide pizza and soft drinks to anybody who comes in.  They've been doing that for years as part of their P.R. and customer service programs.  They are continuing to generate a Friday crowd (of pizza eaters). When that stops, I will know the end is near.

[jaybet]

They are no different than most other businesses. The difference is that it took longer for the economy to hit the gun industry because people were spending what LITTLE MONEY they had left buying guns and ammo. Like any boom it wasn't going to last forever. The fact that there is stationary inventory is just the readjustment from the crazy buying boom that went on for the last two years. There will be fallout, but hopefully prices will come back down to where us regular gun nuts can enjoy without breaking the bank.

[fightingquaker13]

The gun industry has always had two problems.
The first is that its a discretionary purchase. You may "need" one. You don't really need two.
The second is that they last a long time. A twenty year old rifle that is well maintained is not all that different from a brand new one in the same caliber. There is no real drawback to buying used if you can inspect the gun.
However, just like sex, alchohol and gambling, the desire for them remains constant regardless of the economy.  
FQ13

[twyacht]

MANY GUN PRICES ARE STILL TOO DAMN HIGH!

Maybe that will be my new phrase, like the NY Gov. "Rent is too damn high" Party...

Sure there are "deals",...Some of the "less" expensive brands are still selling fast. But the $1300 Kimber, $1000 Para, etc,... "some AR's", are just too damn high, and the sellers, that I talk to are complaining that folks are coming to look, but NOT SPENDING...

Gee,....demand is down. I received my X-mas, local range catalog. They dropped the price of their Sig pistols $20-40.....They are over $700!!! Not enough.

Some trades are even ridiculous. A holster worn, very used Colt .45, should not be $75.00 less than a new one.

J&G sells guns cheaper than local guys. Eventually they will get it. The Internet should be teaching dealers something. It's starting in ammo prices.....(of which we should all be stocking up)....So until my $459 FN9, purchased at Bass Pro Nov. 08., returns to that price, they will be getting dusty.

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