Ethics and re-selling ammo (at what point is it price gouging?)

4seasonhunter

4seasonhunter

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Small business owner trying to make ends meet after tax season, looking around for things to sell (I'm sure I'm not the only one right now 😃 . Ok, so I've got a decent amount of .270win ammo, maybe I can turn that back into cash for a while.. looks up current .270 ammo prices, can't find ANYTHING in stock, anywhere....

Basically I was about to put up an ad to sell the ammo, but I don't know how to price it. In "normal" times I would expect less than what I paid, and I feel weird about raising the price too much. But on the other hand, it's my personal stock, and there doesn't appear to be any available on the market, so once I've got more cash coming in I'm not sure that I'll be able to find more. What's a guy to do?

FWIW I'll probably just keep the ammo, at least until more appears available, but I'm just wondering how y'all are navigating this stuff.
 
I am in the same boat and my thinking was very close to yours. I believe at this point I would be more inclined to do a trade for something I need.
 
I look on ammoseek, list it at the lowest price comparable(if brass, don't list at steel price, for example).
Then, I accept a price up to 30% lower, as I'm an easy squeeze. I still make a profit, and don't feel like a jerk.

But, the ammo I sell won't make/break me. So, if the money you are making is vital, I would price about 15% above ammoseek, since buyer doesn't have to pay shipping, and accept 10% below, imo.

ammoseek.com

.270 Win Ammo

In-stock best prices for 270 Win Ammo | Bulk 270 Win Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com
ammoseek.com ammoseek.com
 
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It's gouging when someone needs it to survive, you're the only source and you jack up the price astronomically. Until then it's just bad business, asking an unreasonable amount for a commodity that they can either find elsewhere or just do without until the market stabilizes.
 
Tim said:
The point where it becomes gouging taxation is when you point a gun at my head and reach into my wallet. Any price/sale up to that point is market economics.
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This too, except at least you get a box of ammo out of the deal when you get gouged.
 
Stealing money from someone. Unethical.
Selling someone anything at all, at whatever price you can get, for which there are other sources available to the buyer. Ethical.
 
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Sell it for what's it's going for on the retail market. The only one complaining about the price of ammo are the people who didn't prepare for this situation. Everyone had gone though the last ammo shortage and if they didn't learn anything that's their fault. I'm thinking about selling some of mine just because of where the prices are now. So should I price it for what is was going for before this ammo shortage, I don't think so.
 
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Here's the thing. Sell it on an auction site. Then you'll get the exact amount of its maximum value without gouging anyone.

Nobody is forced to bid. And certainly nobody is required to go above his/her comfort level on price. They tap out when the price gets too high for them.

Ultimately, the buyer will be satisfied with the price because he/she voluntarily bid that price on the item. Just be sure to put "plus actual shipping" in the ad. Shipping will get you because you need a hazmat label and required adult signature.

By the way, I learned all of this second hand from a friend who flips ammo. I have never listed anything on an auction site.
 
Yeah I really should be comfortable with it as a business owner and all... for whatever reason it's much easier for me to price my labor well rather than objects. I've tended to give "too good" deals when selling things, that's a bad habit. Well, listed my ammo for what appears to be the going rate. Considering there isn't any on shelves locally and my price is lower than having something shipped, I still feel like it could be a favor to someone.
 
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There are two reasons to buy super expensive ammo right now. 1. You need it right now for a hunt or because you do not have any for defensive purposes. 2. You want to stock up because you think you will not be able to get any in the future.

I doubt many people need ammo for a deer hunt in March. A 270 might not be the best defensive firearm, but a one-gun person has to use what he has and may need to get a few rounds at whatever price he has to pay.

Lots of people are buying because they do not see ammo being available in the future except at an extremely high price. You are betting those people are wrong if you sell now in hopes of lower prices later. You have to ask yourself if you can predict the future better than those other people.
 
I had bought one of those bulk boxes of CCI blazer 9mm from Natchez and I paid about $270 shipped. I bought a couple more since then and the prices were a little higher.

A friend kept whining about not having any 9mm and asked if I would sell him one of mine. He finally wore me down and I offered him one for $500. When he questioned the price, I showed him an ad at a well known retailer for 60 cents per round, before tax and shipping, and it was in stock.

My point to him was I was "making money" off my purchase, but couldn't replace it for what he was getting it for.

He bought it, but hasn't asked me for anything else.
 
4seasonhunter said:
Yeah I really should be comfortable with it as a business owner and all... for whatever reason it's much easier for me to price miny labor well rather than objects. I've tended to give "too good" deals when selling things, that's a bad habit. Well, listed my ammo for what appears to be the going rate. Considering there isn't any on shelves locally and my price is lower than having something shipped, I still feel like it could be a favor to someone.
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I just looked at your sale price. I think for the times it is fair. Do not think you are gouging at all. I think @Charlie has it right also.
 
Goofyfoot2001 said:
There is no such thing as price gouging. The right price is the price someone is willing to pay.

I paid $800 for 1000 223. I was willing to pay. Rediculous that I was willing to pay that but no one was forcing me to.
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Wasn’t a high price if the country goes dark and you need it to survive. 1000 rounds would get you two days in a warzone. I think you made a solid purchase considering 2020 and the look of the future.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I have only sold to two people. Both times Federal .22 in a 550 box for $40. This was in January. I heard back that both people complained about me charging too much.

Never again.
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I’ll give you $40 and promise not to complain. 🤓
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I have only sold to two people. Both times Federal .22 in a 550 box for $40. This was in January. I heard back that both people complained about me charging too much.

Never again.
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I know someone that was willing to pay me $60 for 500. When I told him no he got upset that I would not sell it to him. Strange times for sure
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I have only sold to two people. Both times Federal .22 in a 550 box for $40. This was in January. I heard back that both people complained about me charging too much.

Never again.
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Unless you held a gun to their heads, they can go f....checks sub forum....umm, sit in the corner and color in their coloring books.
I dont understand people at all.
 
Nobody paid me to buy ammo when I did. I have enough to last a while but I have not been shooting they way I used to.
Back in December 2019 I bought 5000 22-LR from Cheaper than dirt for .02 a round. Why I have no idea except to trade. Have 2 older friends (75+) that do not shoot anything except 22s. One was going to drop out of the gun club because he could not find any 22s. Told him I would not sell them but I will give him a 1000.
Had another friend that got his first 9mm for PSA and they would only sell him one box of FMJ for around $38. I did something I never do, I gave him some of my "reloads" to shoot.
If you did not plan for a shortage, why should someone that did plan front you his stash that you might not be able to repay for a long time.

If it meant putting food on your table(hunting season), I would give you enough to hunt with.
 
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Price gouging can be terrible when it's a matter of life and death. This isn't.

If you raise prices, that likely means individuals will buy fewer boxes. That leaves more boxes for others. For instance, if a family of four needs a hotel room during an regional emergency, they may have enough money to get a room for each family member at regular prices, but that's three fewer rooms for others affected by the emergency. If prices go up (gouging), that same family will learn to deal with just one room and those three other rooms can be occupied by others.
 
Tempting to sell some of mine at that price! I wonder why the .270 is THAT much more than .223. I wouldn't think that the demand is greater, especially this time of year.
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I know! I don't really get it, maybe the companies have just paused production until hunting season so they can crank out more popular calibers? Or maybe a lot of folks think like me and figure a .270 is pretty ideal for disabling a vehicle at 200yds... of course hoping that's never a priority...
 
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"Ethics and re-selling ammo (at what point is it price gouging?)"

Well...at what point is it anybody else's business what you do with your personal, private property?

If you keep it and someone else wants it...you're hoarding, right? And if you sell it and someone else doesn't like your price, you're price-gouging, right?

I say people who don't like the asking price of any private property someone wants to sell can have a nice, piping hot cuppa STFU with a side order of go-find-what-you-want-elsewhere.


I have a stash of 9mm and .45 ACP WWB ammunition in 100 round boxes. I've seen 9mm ammunition going for $70 a box for 50 round boxes these last few months. What if I want to sell my ammo for $140/box, is that fair? That would be the equivalent of two 50-round boxes, right?

What if I let it go for $100/box? Some people would snap that up in a heartbeat.

Now, what if I told people I paid $10/box for it?

PRICE GOUGING!

No...I bought it years ago (1990s) when Walmart carried 9mm WWB for $9.95/box and .45 ACP for $19.95/box (100 round boxes). Call it "storage and maintenance fees".


Here's the "ethics" of the matter: It's PRIVATE PROPERTY. That means if it's not YOUR private property, you don't have an ethical leg to stand on to legitimately whine about what someone else wants to do with it.
 
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