Thinking about a Cetme

[Elduce]

The local shop has one for 399.00 cash and carry. It is a Century. I am thinking this a bit expensive. I see SOG has them for 295. Any advice? Thanks o wise ones!

[smittylite]

$399 does seem high to me. I got mine from J&G for $289. AIM has them for $299 I think, and they have great customer service. Granted, you'd have to pay the transfer fee, but..... Does the $399 come with anything, extra mags, sling, etc.?

[Elduce]

Comes with two extra mags.

[Elduce]

I just called my other guy. He charges about 10%. I think that I will take him my latest SOG flyer. Point to it and say order one of those for me! But he has a little trick that he likes to play. He will add his 10% and then charge tax on it. So he gets a little more that way. Oh well, he has to make a living as well.

[RetVet]

My guy does the same thing. Since he's just getting by business wise, I look at it as just an added fee. I still get a better price than buying off the shelf from a regular dealer.

[ceestand]

The CETMEs were originally selling for $399 when only the cast recievers were available. When the stamped recievers came out, they went for $299. I think nobody was buying the cast ones anymore as several places have brought the cast prices down to $299 as well. My guess is that the local shop bought this one a while ago and doesn't want to take a hit.

[Richard Simmons]

If we can get to the range sometime soon I'll let you have a go at mine and see if you like them before you buy one.

[Scoupe]

Another way to look at it is:

If the shop paid $299 for it and maked it up %33 (a fair retail mark-up) that would make it $400.

So no, I don't think that's high. I think we're spoiled because we buy at wholesale a lot of the time and we know the wholesale prices of most firearms.

Now, would I buy it from him? Nope, I can order one for a hundred dollars less.

BUT, I would also ask myself some other questions. Does he do transfers for me at a reasonable price? Has he been good when I've had a problem or question? Does he treat me like I'm interrupting him when I enter the store or is he glad to see another potential cutomer? If the answers to the above are positive, and helping him stay in business is important to me... I'd ask if he'd take $25 off and eat the tax for a cash sale today.

Having a good gun shop in business in the vicinity is worth paying a little more for to me.

[Elduce]

Originally posted by Richard Simmons
If we can get to the range sometime soon I'll let you have a go at mine and see if you like them before you buy one.

Richard, I would like that. One of my friends has a cetme on a Hesse reciever. I have shot that (maybe 100 rounds). I like the looks of the gun. With the wood stock. I called my other dealer, looking at my SOG flyer, gave him the order number and asked him how much for me. he quoted me 365.00 plus tax. 389.90. Still a little cheaper than the first guy. That is shipping included.

You know it is funny. When you know a little of the facts. (like wholesale) what they come up with is amusing. Like COD, and the such. The same original dealer had Yugo SKS's for 250.00, a K98 for 325.00. I saw a Mas 36 on the wall and asked for a price, and it was not for sale.

But still, I do not trust salesmen. Jewelry, car, furniture, and firearms!! If someone is trying to sell you something for a profit. Well then they have every angle to get the best profit for themselves.

Every day is a learning experience.

[RetVet]

Elduce,

Tried to send this as a PM, but your mailbox is full.

The one and only gunshop I know of in White Sulphur Springs (next to the bank) was supposed to get some CETMEs in. The owner mentioned that to me a month or two back when I picked up a Chicom SKS there. Might be worth checking out, though this may be the same place you're already talking about.

I take it there are some other gunshops around the area. Mind PMing me the names and general locations? Our phone directory doesn't cover much in that area. I'm planning on heading down there this Saturday for an eye exam and to get some work done on the wife's van. Not sure if I'll have any spare time, but who knows. ;)

[awp101]

Awww, that's nice...I didn't know you guys were close....:lool:

[Elduce]

RetVet, PM sent. Thanks!!

[bsims]

I think the current crop of CETME's are so hit and miss that I'd avoid buying one sight unseen from a large distributor. The extra $$$ from a local retailer is worth picking out your own, IMHO. I went the transfer route and after shipping and FFL fee, I'd paid $340. Add in another $15 to ship it back to Century because it was a complete POS and I'm up to $355. The replacement they sent was acceptable, but it still one I would have passed up if I saw it in person.

So, I think the extra $100 is not unreasonable if you can inspect it first. Better yet, hit a large gunshow - I often see them in the $350 range here, sometimes as low as $300, and there will be plenty for you to choose from. Of course, there are some problems that you can detect with a visual inspection, but the most common problems with these guns (pitted bores, ground bolt, out of spec bolt gap, crooked sights, hard cocking, etc) can be identified.

Brian

[smittylite]

Before you go hog wild over the CETME, your "Monty Python movie"(codeword) is here. (http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/158491)

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