Specialty Sports in Co. Springs. (Review)

[Colorado Osprey]

Example 1
Circa 1990
I was looking for a small .380 and the gun mags had just reviewed a newcomer ... the Bersa Thunder.
Retail in the magazine was $190

I went down there and there price was $325

I stated that the magzine that was just released listed the MSRP at under $200 and they said it was a mistake.

I looked on Bersa's web site...yep MSRP $190

Looked online at a few websites like Davidsons and sure enough they were selling them for $175.

Example 2
Circa 1994
I was looking for a 12 ga 3" auto shotgun for my wife.
I own a couple of Remy 11-87's but I was leaving town to go duck hunting, so I though, what the hech, I'll pisk up one in an SP for my wife.
Didn't look at teh price, just paid for it and went hunting.

After getting home I was putting it away and I looked at my reciept. I paid $850 for this shotgun. Last year my Premier was only $597 at Jumbo Sports.
So I looked up MSRP and the Premier was $799 and the SPS was $699
Looked up again what they were selling for on Davidsons....wham!
Permier $625 and SPS $525.

That's over $300 mark-up

Example 3
I was looking for a H&R Ulta rifle MSRP $250
They didn't have one and would order one for me for $350
Went to the "Gun Vault" and had them order it for $215

Example 4
I was looking for a medium barrel .308 and had settled on a Winchester Coyote...rare in .308
I went in and they would again have to order it for $750
yep over again......MSRP $725
I went to Dicks's and picked up the rifle for $605

Example 5
I was looking for a Heavy barrel 300 Win mag
Decided on a Remington Sendero
They had them in stock at $750
Yep over again....MSRP $699
Went to Long's drugs on Austin Bluffs and bought it for $599

Example 6
I has looking at O/U shotguns by Baikal
They had them in stock for $550
MSRP...yep again...$499
Went to Longs Drugs on 31st Street and got it for $399

You know I can go on and on.....I collect firearms...I know going prices..they are over priced.

These are not the only ones...and I have my friends examples too.

[7idl]

Example 1
Circa 1990
I was looking for a small .380 and the gun mags had just reviewed a newcomer ... the Bersa Thunder.
Retail in the magazine was $190

I went down there and there price was $325

I stated that the magzine that was just released listed the MSRP at under $200 and they said it was a mistake.

I looked on Bersa's web site...yep MSRP $190

Looked online at a few websites like Davidsons and sure enough they were selling them for $175.
...

am I to understand that back in 1990 you were on the internet and bersa had a website back then????

[Hoser]

am I to understand that back in 1990 you were on the internet and bersa had a website back then????

Al Gore was a thinking man, even back then...

[michael_aos]

am I to understand that back in 1990 you were on the internet and bersa had a website back then????

Technically, HTML and the first web-browser were invented in 1990.

I started using NCSA Mosaic v1.0 in 1993 on a Slackware Linux box running a pre-1.0 kernel (I want to say .93).

And I thought I was ahead of the curve...

Mike

[Colorado Osprey]

1990's....sorry...not 1990

Lets say it was yesterday....MSRP has gone up to $275...still it is overpriced.

Do I really need to look up my receipt to get an exact date?

I was trying to make a point that thay were and still are overpriced.

I have stated before that their used firearms are priced well though....which means somebody got taken on their trade-in as well.

[Colorado Osprey]

I think my previous purchase over at Specialty was a S&W Model 64.

Retail is $632. I think I paid $399. I'd have to find my receipt. Ozark Guns (website) lists one for $450.

Before that, it was a S&W Model 67. Retail is $687, I paid $579. That same Ozark Guns site lists it for $490.

I paid $739.99 for a S&W Model 357PD. Retail is $1067. Again at Ozark Guns, $724.

Mike

I agree they are priced well on S&W...and most Ruger handguns as well. Colt, Kimber, Sig and Glock are all high or MSRP though.
Taurus is below MSRP but above average retail.

[michael_aos]

I was trying to make a point that thay were and still are overpriced.

I have stated before that their used firearms are priced well though....which means somebody got taken on their trade-in as well.

I agree their used prices are good, and I traded-in a revolver there once and felt I got "taken". Agree there too.

I used to visit other local gunstores, and call all over the place for items I wanted. They never seemed to have anything in stock. One time I found a Hi-Power 9mm over at the Shootin' Den. It was more-expensive than Specialty, but Specialty didn't have them in-stock.

I usually poke around on the web, do some research and check prices via Google before I head over there.

I'm never pleasantly surprised to find that Specialty is LOWER than anybody else, but they're always close enough that it's worthwhile to just buy from them. Rather than hassle with ordering from somewhere, paying shipping, transfer fees, and never really know what you're going to wind up with.

It's also handy for me, in that I live within walking distance...

:mrgreen:

Mike

[shrapmetal]

i still have to say i love specitaly sports. they may not be the cheapest game in town, but they always treat me great. they specail order me almost anything just for asking. they hands down have the best selection. stuff they have ordered for me has allways been below MSRP. they greet me by name every time i enter the store.

my last experiance i did a transfer on a 1919A6 thru them. honestly i have no idea how to set up or head space one of these. lawrence walked me thru the whole process and said if i had any problems with it that he would meet up with me at a range and help me get it running.

when i bought my Weatherby SSC they gave me 4 free rounds of clays to try it out.

they have mounted parts for me that i didn't even buy from them, because they didn't stock them, free of charge no questions asked.

they have actually talked me out of buying higher priced items when they felt another gun would do a better job ata better price. they have done this about 5 times so far saving me well over $1000.

i am willing to pay a little more for the product when the service shines, and as far as i am concerned the are the only gun store in town.

i still go to places like sportsmans warehouse but everyone i deal with is as knowlageable as the guy sweeping the floor at walmart.

i am covered with tattoos and am judged almost everywhere i go. i understand why and i am ok with it. Specitaly is the one place that doesn't seem care and doesn't treat me like a criminal just another customer.

[car-15]

my ps-90 was $1,899.00 there got it at arctic here in pueblo for $1,635.00
my sons walther p-22 there $269.00 arctic $200.00 my romanian ak $369.00 there $289.00 arctic my fn 5.7 around $900.00 there 779.00 arctic. my .500 s&w was over a $100. cheaper down here, I can not remember the exact price's though, I just remember being happy i saved over a hundred bucks. those are just what i can remember im sure there are more. also all prices are rounded off, if I need to pull reciepts for more examples i'm sure I can dig some up. :cool:

[michael_aos]

my ps-90 was $1,899.00 there got it at arctic here in pueblo for $1,635.00
my sons walther p-22 there $269.00 arctic $200.00 my romanian ak $369.00 there $289.00 arctic my fn 5.7 around $900.00 there 779.00 arctic. my .500 s&w was over a $100. cheaper down here, I can not remember the exact price's though, I just remember being happy i saved over a hundred bucks. those are just what i can remember im sure there are more. also all prices are rounded off, if I need to pull reciepts for more examples i'm sure I can dig some up. :cool:

That's actually funny or ironic or something.

I was going to mention Arctic. I've purchased a grand total of 1 firearm from them. I special-ordered it and paid 75% up-front.

They charged me retail, plus some for good measure.

I'm in the market for some cheap 308 ammo, and I was thinking Arctic might have some, but I'm not planning to do business with them again.

Mike