Used and consignment guns are often the most interesting part of a gun store's floor, and the hardest to price. There's no manufacturer's suggested price to lean on, condition varies piece to piece, and a consigned gun involves a second party with their own expectations. This guide covers a simple, repeatable approach.
General information only. Firearms transactions are regulated at the federal, state and local level; follow ATF and state requirements for acquisitions, records and transfers.
Step 1: Set a clear starting price
A consistent method makes pricing faster and easier to defend. Most shops weigh four things:
- Recent sale prices for the same make and model in similar condition, from your own sales history and from completed sales elsewhere.
- Condition, using a consistent grading scale your staff all apply the same way.
- Current new price. A used gun priced too close to new rarely sells.
- Demand in your area. Some models move fast locally; others sit.
Write down how you arrived at the number. It helps staff answer "why is it priced that way?" and helps you spot patterns later.
Step 2: Build a markdown schedule
Used inventory that doesn't move ties up cash and floor space. A markdown schedule removes guesswork. A common structure looks like this:
| Days on the floor | Action |
|---|---|
| 0–30 | Starting price |
| 31–60 | First markdown |
| 61–90 | Second markdown |
| 90+ | Review: final markdown, wholesale, or return to consignor |
The exact percentages depend on your margins and inventory mix. What matters is that the schedule is written down and applied consistently.
Step 3: Get consignment terms right
Consignment adds a second set of rules: the consignor's. Before a consigned gun goes on the floor, your agreement should spell out:
- The starting price and the lowest price the consignor will accept.
- Whether and when markdowns can happen without asking.
- Your commission or fee and how it's calculated.
- What happens after a set period: return, further markdown, or another arrangement.
Then make sure the price on the tag always matches the terms. A markdown that drops below the consignor's floor is a dispute waiting to happen.
Remember too that federal rules treat firearms businesses carefully. ATF's regulations define dealers and pawnbrokers specifically (27 CFR 478.11), and taking in consigned guns has record-keeping implications. Check ATF guidance and your state's rules for how consignment acquisitions and dispositions must be logged.
Step 4: Keep markdowns honest
The FTC's Guides Against Deceptive Pricing (16 CFR Part 233) apply to used goods too. If a tag shows a "was" price, that price has to be one you genuinely offered for a reasonably substantial period, not a number set briefly to make the markdown look bigger. A markdown schedule helps here: each price step is real and dated.
Step 5: Keep the tag and register in sync
In many states, inspectors check that shelf prices match register prices, often using the NIST Handbook 130 procedure, which sets a 98% accuracy threshold to pass. Used racks are a common trouble spot: the markdown happens in the system, but the hang tag on the gun still shows the old price.
Options that help:
- A weekly "markdown day" when someone updates every tag that hit a new threshold.
- Tags that show the date a gun was placed on the floor, so anyone can see where it sits in the schedule.
- Digital tags that update on the scheduled date without anyone touching them.
Where digital tags help
Digital tags make markdown schedules practical. Instead of a staff member re-tagging dozens of guns, the price changes on the right day and stays consistent with what you've recorded.
PriceTaglet started with coin and bullion stores, but the same setup works for a used-gun rack: E-Ink tags, a hub that plugs into an outlet, and a browser dashboard where you set or override any price. Automated markdown schedules for firearms aren't built yet, and that's exactly what we want to develop with a real store.
We're looking for our first gun store pilot partner. If your used and consignment rack is a headache to keep priced, contact us through our early access page and help shape the tools.
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PriceTaglet
Price tags for your retail workflow.
PriceTaglet is price-tag technology for all retail operators, with ready-made software primarily for coin stores. Tags can integrate with POS systems; contact us to assess compatibility with your setup.
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