Autumn

Autumn

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Hey, Wanna Deal?

He's a player, always with a notebook in hand. He moves merchandise; jewelry, gold and silver bullion, firearms. You name it he'll find the stash and pass it along at whatever profit the market will bear.

I call him Grease Bear...short, hirsute and oily, forever trailing the scent of garlic. Grease Bear walks in this morning and begins with, "Hey, wanna deal?"

"What 'ya got."

He scratches his nose, flips his pad. "I got eight thousand five hundred rounds of .22. Can you move it for me?"

"How much?"

"It's a deal man. Only $1,400.00."

I held back the laughter.

"What. You think my price is too high...maybe..."

I cut him short, "Look man. I'm sorry but there's no way in hell I can move twenty-two's at that price. If anything I encourage everyone to wait and allow the market to settle. Supply and demand will correct these silly prices."

Him, "Okay. Sure man. How about some nine's?"

He gave me his price. Again, I held back the laughter.

Stephen
  

28 comments:

  1. You mentioned he's a business man. There's making a reasonable profit, then there's gouging and taking advantage of people.

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    1. Like I wrote, he's a player...deals in and with any merchandise he can find...kinda of a con artist. Thanks, Matt.

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  2. Never thought I'd see a financial bubble in .22. Strange times. Like all bubbles, this one will burst.

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    1. Neither did I, my old friend. The bubble will burst. Thanks, Sixbears.

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  3. What they said. He MAY sell that on the street, but not to anyone who has a clue.

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    1. He'll have stock warehoused for years, if I know my market. Thanks, my friend.

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  4. I'd like to hope that he'll lose his shirt when the markets correct, but there's a lota stupid panic buying out there.

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  5. The prices are already dropping at our favorite gun store. Not the best but better than it has been.

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    1. Indeed, it won't be long before the edge wears thin. Thanks, lovely lady.

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  6. As we said in the car business, "There is an ass for every seat". He'll find a buyer.

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  7. 16.47 cents per round before you add whatever mark up that would entitle you to a fair profit??? He's really off base unless it was match grade ammo. Even then....

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  8. All bulk ammo is still in short supply in these parts but I am seeing some rebound in the Internet supplies. Still overpriced but much lower than 2months ago. And I have started seeing some AR's on the shelf again so maybe things will settle back soon.

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    1. Prices on both firearms and ammo will return to normal, in time, and those having paid huge sums will feel very silly indeed. Thanks, my friend.

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  9. Ya it has to go back down. I am surprised the foreign producers haven't really hit into gear yet. Something is amiss from that angle.

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    1. Russia has jumped into the void. Smart folks. Thanks, PP.

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  10. I got a few boxes of 9mm for $17.00 a box, but he has a 2 box limit per day on the 9mm. I can buy 4 or 5 boxes of 7.62x39 with no problem. This week his ammo shelves look full and the rifle racks are full of guns.
    I'll get a couple more boxes of 9mm and then move on to the other calibers of .40 and 45 ACP. They are still a little high but at least he has them in stock.
    I got blind-sided by the panic buying after Newtown and while I did not have the stockpile I wanted I could afford to wait until things started to calm down.

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    1. Very intelligent moves....take care. Thanks, my friend.

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  11. Does he work for Cheaper Than Dirt?

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    1. Nope just a little pawn shop and his prices were always a little on the high side prior to Newtown. At least he is getting restocked and offering his "normal" price for ammo.
      He has a small shop and can't afford to hedge like the flashy pawn shops but he has always treated me great!

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    2. TG, good one and probably.

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  12. I'm holding out for .22's at .04 per round.

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