[phixion]

Over the years, there have been police trade-in Glocks of all generations on the market. The consensus says that they are great guns; carried a lot, shot little.

A quick search shows there are even Glock 17.4 police trade-ins on the market. A member on another forum documented over 71,000 rounds through his Glock 17.4; much more than any department is putting through their guns (speculation, not fact).

So I'm curious: why are departments unloading these guns well before their service life? It seems like a waste.

 

[fallhunter]

Money. Caliber change. Switch to a different brand. Chane in policy, such as being able to choose what you carry on duty versus having to carry what they Supply you.

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[ChillyB]

Ability to waste tax money without consequence.

 

[boilergonzo]

The key contributors regarding why so many Glock trade-in exist will be:

• Glock has more guns in LEO holsters, therefore more available for trade-in
• Calibers fall in and out of favor, and police departments shift
• Guns age, and new guns are brought in to replace older guns
• People running departments change, and they have preferences (can cause brand flipping)
• Gun companies fail to meet support needs (guns with issues not resolved to the department's satisfaction), and switching vendors
• Guns with more ergonomic options push older variants out of the armory
• Deals are offered that coincide with money in budgets, and decisions are made for perceived good deals.
• Liability/legal risk mitigation (types of triggers, etc.)
• Role criteria (marine environment, capacity changes, having backup guns in the same form factor in smaller sizes, etc.).

In the end, LOTS of police departments carrying Glock's combined with a myriad of reasons for changes/updates in those departments simply result in a larger number of used Glock's on the market.

Good for us!

 

[Lt. Donn]

The key contributors regarding why so many Glock trade-in exist will be:

• Glock has more guns in LEO holsters, therefore more available for trade-in
• Calibers fall in and out of favor, and police departments shift
• Guns age, and new guns are brought in to replace older guns
• People running departments change, and they have preferences (can cause brand flipping)
• Gun companies fail to meet support needs (guns with issues not resolved to the department's satisfaction), and switching vendors
• Guns with more ergonomic options push older variants out of the armory
• Deals are offered that coincide with money in budgets, and decisions are made for perceived good deals.
• Liability/legal risk mitigation (types of triggers, etc.)
• Role criteria (marine environment, capacity changes, having backup guns in the same form factor in smaller sizes, etc.).

In the end, LOTS of police departments carrying Glock's combined with a myriad of reasons for changes/updates in those departments simply result in a larger number of used Glock's on the market.

Good for us!

Best explanation available...nothing further needed on this topic

 

[OXMYX]

"Chief, your new boat is in slip 13 under the name John Smith".

 

[Liftedpsd2010]

Over the years, there have been police trade-in Glocks of all generations on the market. The consensus says that they are great guns; carried a lot, shot little.

A quick search shows there are even Glock 17.4 police trade-ins on the market. A member on another forum documented over 71,000 rounds through his Glock 17.4; much more than any department is putting through their guns (speculation, not fact).

So I'm curious: why are departments unloading these guns well before their service life? It seems like a waste.

I’d be willing to bet most police officers don’t even shoot 500 rounds a year and that’s probably pushing it. Most likely it closer to 100 rounds max.


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[jstrange]

We traded ours in a few years ago because it simply made financial sense. By the time we replaced recoil springs, night sights, and magazine springs, the cost was not far off on just trading in the gun and using the money that would have been spent on parts to get a whole new gun. Not to mention all the labor and logistics that would not have to be undertaken.

Couple that with the fact that some manufacturers will trade brand new guns and holsters for the old trade ins for little to no additional costs, and you see that it’s not as wasteful as you might think.

 

[nmglock]

Most police change out guns every few years. Just a fact of life.

 

[LPD ret.]

We swapped out G17/19 for G22/23 when we did a caliber change. All at no charge to the city. No need to change holster and mag carriers. Then, about 6 years ago we swapped out all Gen 2 G22/23 for Gen 4 G22/23, again at no cost. That's how Glock keeps its LE customers carrying their pistols. When the last change came about, S&W was pushing their M&P line, which would have required new holsters. Glock hates losing an LE customer.

 

[cciman]

NO cost trade up?? And costing more to change out parts?
That's a line of BS being sold by someone pocketing the hidden monies...Ask to see the accounting, or financials.

City, township budgets are made, approved, and thus need to be spent - otherwise the firemen get new microwaves, and the EMT's get the next generation defibrillator. You really have to make up fancy sounding reasons to use the money. (see the previous post). Check the expiration dates on equipment made these days, and blame the lawyers.

All trade-ins are good deals for dealers (who buy them in bulk), and part them out (slide, frame) or sell for cheap on gunbroker. Good deals for civilians too, because the majority are hosltered much but shot little. It looks nasty on the outside, but the inside is pristine.

 

[LPD ret.]

The distributor had to submit a written proposal for the exchange which was approved by City Council after public hearings.

 

[MSgt Dotson]

We traded ours in a few years ago because it simply made financial sense. By the time we replaced recoil springs, night sights, and magazine springs, the cost was not far off on just trading in the gun and using the money that would have been spent on parts to get a whole new gun. Not to mention all the labor and logistics that would not have to be undertaken.

.

What's a recoil spring cost? $7-$8? mag spring, the same or less? Night sights, $95? (I'm sure someone getting 100-200 sets of night sights can get better pricing)

 

[fallhunter]

For us, it was due to the fact that it changed from having to carry the issued sidearm to being able to choose your own, should you be willing to supply it. And then you have to supply your own holster and mag carriers. A lot of us went that wrote, most opting for a DA/DK Sig P226 or P229. Then they habe the option to buy their old service gun, or turn it in. The ones that were turned in were then sold off. For me, the P320 was the winner.

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[fallhunter]

What's a recoil spring cost? $7-$8? mag spring, the same or less? Night sights, $95? (I'm sure someone getting 100-200 sets of night sights can get better pricing)

Factory Glock night sights are sold in bulk for $52 a set. Unless they are using Trijicon Bright & Tough sights.

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[jstrange]

What's a recoil spring cost? $7-$8? mag spring, the same or less? Night sights, $95? (I'm sure someone getting 100-200 sets of night sights can get better pricing)

Ok, using your figures (and the $50 quote for sights elsewhere in the thread) we are talking around $70 in parts, and that is if nothing else needs replacing after 10 years or so. If they take the old gun and around $100 why then you have a brand new gun for about $30 morethan thecost of replacement parts. And you don’t have to try and pull guns off he street to work on them. Sounds like I good deal to me.

Also you seem to have ignored the part where I said that some companies have given new guns and holsters for just the trade in guns. That’s a brand new firearm and holster for ZERO outlay.

I am not saying there isn’t some waste going on, or change for changes sake, but such is not always the case.

 

[7th District]

We traded ours in a few years ago because it simply made financial sense. By the time we replaced recoil springs, night sights, and magazine springs, the cost was not far off on just trading in the gun and using the money that would have been spent on parts to get a whole new gun. Not to mention all the labor and logistics that would not have to be undertaken.

Couple that with the fact that some manufacturers will trade brand new guns and holsters for the old trade ins for little to no additional costs, and you see that it’s not as wasteful as you might think.

I’m on my 4th issued sidearm and 3rd BUG in two and a half decades. The reason stated by Jstrange was in part the reason for the turn over. Other factors such as the switch from 9mm to 40, and back to 9mm also played a role.

What's a recoil spring cost? $7-$8? mag spring, the same or less? Night sights, $95? (I'm sure someone getting 100-200 sets of night sights can get better pricing)

For larger, statewide agencies you have to also factor in the costs of travel & accommodations for armorers.

SiG use to make the trade in process for new very cost competitive when compared to servicing a fleet of sidearms. That fleet being 1,600 sidearms at 70 worksites that are spread over 95,000 square miles. I’d be willing to bet Glock will do the same. Another plus for Glock over SiG is that we now have a lot more departmental armorers then we ever had with SiG.

 

[BamaTrooper]

In 1996, my old agency traded all the Smith and Colt revolvers, 5906s and Sig P220s and purchased Glock G22 (2nd gen). In the swap, the dept paid $1 each gun. Holsters and mags were 1:1 swap.
Fast forward to 2013ish or Gen 4 time. The older 22s (which had badge numbers as serial numbers) and some younger 3rd gen 22s and 23s are traded up for 4th Gen 22s. No holsters were swapped mags were upgraded. Although some high mileage guns were experiencing minor issues, only a few had frame issues. The switch was mainly upgrade to G4 grip, recoils system, mag release, etc... If you bought your old Glock it was $359. LEO price for 4th gen was about 429 at that time IIRC
About 2014, Beretta swapped us 1:1 for our Winchester 1300s and GAVE us the new 1301Ts (SuWeeeeett gun) as a way of getting into the LE market here.
Now my new agency is switching from 2, 3, 4th gen G22 to the 4th gen 17 so as to assist with logistics and help weaker shooters. Officer purchase price is $269 so even though I don't need a 3rd .40 cal, I will buy it. Maybe buy a 357sig barrel?

I don't think Glock is losing money; I'm sure the distributor is making some and I know I get a deal and somewhere a lover of the 2nd gen finish is smiling as they hit the market.

 

[jstrange]

Good points, and I forgot to add we also went from 40 to 9, but that wasn’t the main reason for the change.

 

[G19 DB]

Ability to waste tax money without consequence.

^^ most probable explanation.