Whether you are looking to downsize your collection or selling off a gun to help pay for a different one, there will come a time when you want to find a nice place to sell your used airsoft gun.
Multiple factors come into play when selling used airsoft guns. Rarity, condition, upgrades, and how fast you’re looking to sell will impact the price you should be aiming for, but there’s one thing left to figure out: Where is the best place to sell used airsoft guns?
Online, you can sell used airsoft guns on eBay, the HopUp app, and forums such as AirsoftSociety, AmpedAirsoftMarket, and Reddit's AirsoftMarket. You also have in-person options such as Craigslist, second-hand stores, and swap meets.
Now that you have some ideas for where you can sell your used airsoft guns, let’s go a bit further into what they offer and some general guidelines for getting those items sold!
Since you are hoping to sell your used airsoft gun, it will be helpful to know some things that will help you value it. Condition, rarity, upgrades, and how fast you want to sell it are factors that we’ll discuss to help get you ready to sell!
The gun's condition is the first and biggest indicator of what people would be willing to pay for your gun. When you sell an airsoft weapon that is not working, it will yield a much lower price than a fully-functioning one. No one is going to want to pay full price for something that can’t shoot!
Generally, guns that are sold as non-functioning or "for parts" sell up to 40% of their standard retail value. When you are missing certain items, such as grips, stocks, or handguards, try to factor the cost of replacing the missing part into your price.
If your airsoft gun has everything and yet it mysteriously is not working, just be honest with potential buyers. They may be willing to find the source of the problem and fix it since they are buying it at a lower price.
Since second-hand airsoft weapons are commonly sold as functional, the condition of different parts are what usually varies. If your weapon is functional and includes all externals, you only have to worry about cosmetic damage.
Generally, most people sell second-hand airsoft guns at 50%-70% of their retail value. If there are small, broken pieces or rust, be prepared to sell on the lower end of that range. If you choose to sell online, try to capture any small cosmetic issues. Although few airsofters have issues with a few scratches, it is better to play it on the safe side and allow people to see what exactly they are buying!
Rarity can have a good impact on how much you can get for an airsoft gun. Not all guns that are now-discontinued are considered rare enough to justify a higher resale price. Some collectibles, like Asahi, MGC, or STAR, can hold their value quite well.
Some limited-edition rifles, like the Ares WA2000, currently sell twice the price than when the rifle was originally sold. If you are unsure if your airsoft gun is rare, try finding some past examples of players selling it.
Upgrades will help boost the value of your airsoft gun. Still, upgraded components follow the same depreciation that the airsoft gun itself follows. Buyers can often be wary of upgrades installed by strangers as there’s no guarantee the work was performed correctly.
With these guns being sold online, the buyer cannot test them. Not being able to test them means there is often hesitation for buyers to pay higher prices for the added work. If you have a $300 rifle with $150 in upgrades, you can expect to see it sell for $270 - $340.
Now that you know some aspects that impact your gun's pricing let us go into the places you can sell them. Each method has its pros and cons, as well as the level of familiarity you may have.
eBay is an extremely popular website for buying and selling. Plenty of people already have an account, which helps with reaching countless potential buyers. eBay is one of the costlier options as it has higher fees, but it provides a lot of protection for both buyers and sellers.
Since eBay's fees can change, be sure to look into the appropriate category lists for seller fees. These fees should be taken into consideration, along with shipping costs. Someone may be willing to spend $250 on what you have, but that is their total cost, which means you will receive $250 minus shipping and fees.
Knowing this, you will have to adjust the price, balancing between a price you're comfortable with and a price that will sell.
Another online method some use for listing airsoft related items online are community forums. These include a few places like Reddit's AirsoftMarket, AmpedAirsoftMarket, and AirsoftSociety. These places are just a few options that not only provide a platform, but some level of guidance to help users buy and sell.
These may be slightly more difficult to navigate, and the rules may vary depending on the site. These community forums may reach a smaller audience, but it is definitely a good target demographic. These places will usually rely on some 3rd party for payment, such as PayPal.
The fees for these sites are lower than eBay. PayPal, for example, currently uses a 3% fee for Goods and Services. This reduced fee means you can keep your items at a price that sells fast but lets you keep a tad bit more.
Most of these places offer buying and selling advice, helping those who may not be too experienced. They normally instill rules to protect buyers and sellers from scams or other problems. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these rules and guidelines!
An alternative for online selling is the app made specifically for Airsoft: HopUp. This app acts as a cross between forums and eBay. It allows posts for those wanting to buy or sell and gives sellers the option to keep it local, use a 3rd party for payment, or using their own system.
Like eBay, their payment system provides a convenient layer of protection but at the cost of a higher fee. Just like forums, make sure to take every step you can to protect yourself from scams.
If you choose to go with a third party, be sure to use something trusted like PayPal's Goods and Services to add a layer of protection.
Finally, there’s the option to sell locally. Craigslist can be used to help reach a greater audience in your city. If you have any airsoft stores or even second-hand stores, you can take your airsoft gun to see how much they will offer you.
Taking it to one of these stores that will resale may yield even lower prices because the store needs to sell it for profit while also being at an appealing price. A few options that can often be overlooked are a local swap meet and the local fields.
These places are great ways to find potential buyers and allow them to make sure the airsoft gun they’re buying works as described. Just remember to always properly store your airsoft gun when taking them to these public places!
Now that you are familiar with what impacts airsoft guns' value and where to sell them, you are all set to sell! If you sell online, make sure you take good pictures and take steps to protect yourself from scams.
Regardless of where you sell, be honest, and have a good time!