What is the SOP for trying to buy guns from people participating in these turn-in’s? If you saw a person willing to turn in a Mini-14 for $100 do you offer them double or triple, or does an informal auction ensue amongst the buyers?
People usually ask how much the person wants for the gun. If they name a price that is agreeable, that is that. Informal auctions occur when more than one person wants the gun. I have even seen people give guns away because they wanted to turn them in but did not want to wait in line for the grocery card.
A friend picked up an “old west” Smith & Wesson .44 Russian revolver in this way. He gave the owner $20, because he did not feel right getting it for nothing. He had no idea it was worth $400 - $500, which we found out after I did the research for him.