Thoughts on NIB items in the marketplace.

I think the "new in box" thing does occasionally happen. Right now I've got a new scope sitting in a box on a shelf next to my gun cabinet. It was a replacement provided by a manufacturer when a springer busted the original scope I purchased. I don't have a gun that I need it on and haven't sold it because it wouldn't bring much (just not a high end scope). 

Situations like that make me think that, yeah, it could happen. Personally, a new gun, oh yeah I'm gonna be shooting it to try it out, but with accessories, yeah it's feasible. 

Even if it is NIB, it's used. Go to a gun dealer and buy a new gun, then turn around and try to trade it back in on something else. He'll give you 50 percent for it, even though you never took it out of the box. Same thing with cars.

OP, I don't believe you are overthinking things. One thing I've noticed in the air gun arena is that, for some reason, sellers believe that their used items, whether NIB or otherwise, are worth close to new retail prices. And they believe that added accessories and little things they add to them add value.

I come from a different world where a used item begins at 50% of retail, and added gimcracks and geegaws don't add a dime of value, although it might increase curb appeal. And that's the way I approach purchases in this world, whether or not that's normal convention. I've seen TONS of air rifles that after you add shipping etc, are within 5-10% of new, and for that, I WILL buy new! Thataway I don't get somebody else's lemon, or something they've toyed with and ruined, and I can have the added benefit of returning the rifle to the retailer if it's a lemon. To me, that's absolutely worth a hundred dollars more, plus I get a rifle that somebody hasn't slobbered on!

For me, the only time that's not how I approach it is when I want a particular rifle and it isn't easily available from retailers, then I might bend my philosophy. I haven't actually pulled the trigger on one of those, since I eventually found what I wanted from retailers, but I've considered it.

And I agree that when something is "new in box" and hasn't been shot...that sends up a red flag. Either the sucker is lying, or...it's a scam. And those guys like to prey on the low hanging fruit among us.

I bought a few items, some on impulse buys, ended up finding something better, was gifted or won something I did not need so I have NIB items. I think they are worth a bit more than the used price myself as they are new. Trying to get the off the shelf new price for them is likely not going to happen. Still there are plenty of honest people out there and I take most at their word especially if they have been around on the forum for awhile. It's a judgement call we all have to make as we purchase an item.

Even if it is NIB, it's used. Go to a gun dealer and buy a new gun, then turn around and try to trade it back in on something else. He'll give you 50 percent for it, even though you never took it out of the box. Same thing with cars.

Click to expand...

EXACTLY! 

I purchased a $3000 shot gun 30 years ago from New invited in a case. Although at an individual's home, his gun safe was a safe as big as most people's bed room and was full of new guns. Point , some have ALOT OF expendable income. I have a couple new scopes on the shelf, as I decided to go up the food chain before I purchased a gun. I don't think it's unusual to have a nib.

If the box is not sealed, I believe the term to use is ANIB - as new in box - which means unwrapped, but not otherwise molested. The discount is around 10%.

I will soon be selling several classic Theobens and Hawke scopes left over from when our business closed after Theoben went into Receivership in the UK. I will list them as "new, old stock". All were opened for inspection, as a normal part of the business to see if there was any shipping breakage or patent/latent defects. Most still have air in the bottles from the factory when they were tested. So, air in a rifle does not, necessarily, mean it has been shot.

So, from my perspective, NIB should only be used if the box has never been opened after it left the dealer. The NRA has pretty good standards for grading used guns and the appropriate terms of art for descriptions of any changes after it left the factory/dealer. Demos, absolutely, must be identified.

The bottom line should be full disclosure, so that prospective purchasers know the degree of risk they are taking. Perhaps there could be posting guidelines for the Classifieds here and elsewhere.

New in box, lifetime warranty scope, I don’t worry about much. I bought a unused Burris scope, couldn’t hit anything with it. Two different rifles, same problem. Burris fixed it.

OTOH, I have bought two, “new in box, never fired” springers that were hopeless out of the box. Both were about half of msrp or a little less. The one had a serious droop and random elevation problem. The harder it was shut (breakbarrel), the less droop it had. I got a goodwill repair from the manufacturer, actually a swap for a different one, about a week turnaround. The replacement was very accurate, but had monstrous droop. Adjustable mounts fixed that. The other rifle (Walther Parrus), has a barrel of random size, as you push a pellet through, various levels of little to no resistance. Hates every pellet I’ve tried. I would be ashamed to sell it as an air rifle.

My experience with cans of pellets leads me to think I was buying cans of culled pellets with carefully reapplied tape. Live and learn.

There is always a different point of view for anything. Knowing and being able to trust the seller is key here. 
I will give you an example: I have tried very hard to earn a reputation as a trusted seller. Just recently I won a Brand New Aztec Emerald at EBR. It’s still in the box, I have not ever mounted it. Have thought about selling it. IF I do, it WILL be advertised ANIB, because, it is. 

Aloha,

OP this is a great topic to discuss, I too have thought about what goes for sale here. I think it comes down to trust like the others started, I was looking at a gun awhile back and if I can remember correctly the seller listed it as new but shot it less that 10 times. I messaged the seller to call me or I would call him/her because I had a couple of questions. But never got a response. If they did not have anything to hide why the no call, like I said I think it comes down to trust. 

Aloha,

Keone

I have a D56 that I purchased 4 years ago for USARB that's still in the box, no plans on selling as I want to revisit 25M Springer BR. Sometimes life gets in the way, I have other hobby stuff also that still in the box :-(

But yeah people are funny, I like this one:

"I have sat down and shot it 2 times from the bench for about 30-60 rounds each time. Awesome gun. It's still brand new."

So this happens to me .. I order a TAIPAN veteran from a vendor in the Netherlands...it gets stuck in customs. In the mean time I was on a pre order list from a vendor here in the states when the same gun comes in stock. The dealer calls me and says the gun is now in stock and I take that one also just because I have no idea when or if the one in customs is going to get through customs. So I get the one from the US dealer while the one the Netherlands is still stuck in customs. So if I get the one that is stuck in customs I will sell it as NIB. Because it literally is NIB. True story and it's a current situation lol.

I purchased a $3000 shot gun 30 years ago from New invited in a case. Although at an individual's home, his gun safe was a safe as big as most people's bed room and was full of new guns. Point , some have ALOT OF expendable income. I have a couple new scopes on the shelf, as I decided to go up the food chain before I purchased a gun. I don't think it's unusual to have a nib.

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but a 30 year old gun, even unfired, is a used gun. $30.00 or $30K. IMHO, of course...it may have handling wear, rust in the barrel, etc...it got taken out of the box, so it's used. Finger oil...whatever you chose to pick.

And the 1000's of "NIB' shot 2 or 20 times always makes me laugh. Like new or as new would be the term those guys are looking to use.

And yes, it's all about the seller. If Derek or Centercut or blackdiesel have a listing, I'll believe every word typed. Some other regular listers...way to free with their adjective use for my liking.

Interesting post. I have a Crosman 1720T that I ordered. When It arrived I opened the box and realized It wouldn't be for me. I have a wrist joint that flairs up from time to time. After holding it without a scope I realize the leverage from that length barrel won't work for me. Thats been several months ago. I haven't put it up for sale not knowing how to advertise and I hate selling.

Anyway I would probably put out the same definition as I just wrote. But wouldn't expect anyone would buy it for 100%. I thought about buying a Black Friday regal from AOA and listing the free Aztec scope for sale thinking that may take more off the price. but I hate dealing.

There are ways things can be NIB people win some of the items in shows. 

As to price you do realize that you are shooting yourself in the foot, are you going to try and tell me you buy a gun for 1000 you would rather take 500 than 800, part of the reason for the higher price than what a "gun store" would give is mutual respect for our hobby. If both the seller and buyer can win in a transaction then why not. 

Interesting topic for sure. What gets me, coming from a sellers standpoint, is when a NIB gun is being sold, that came from a tuner who the seller paid extra $$ for to have it tuned to perfection, and for whatever reason(like wifey finds out, or medical issues come about, or worse yet, loss of job) the gun is being sold close to new, and buyer disregards the fact that it had a custom tune done to it. Seems no buyer want to consider the fact that a lot of $$ were put into a gun, $$ that he(the buyer) would’ve saved by not having the tuning or parts put in himself.

Sadly, I see that a lot with marauders being sold, that have $300 or more aftermarket parts added on to it. Yeah, you’ll see comments like “it’s still a Marauder no matter what’s been done” but as you Marauder owners know, a well tuned one with aftermarket goodies shoots almost as good as some of the higher dollar guns from Europe. Buyer wants to buy the gun, but doesn’t want to acknowledge the money put into it. 

Have to add this also, where when the price being asked is say, $200 below retail, then the buyer tries to dicker and say, I can buy new for a couple hundred more, and it comes with a factory warranty. But truth be known, and I’m going out on a limb by saying this, most mechanically inclined folks work on their own guns anyway, so why throw the warranty thing out and use it as leverage?