Gun Show Dissapointment

[TAB]

I've said it before and I'll say it again( and again and again)  

Gun shows are like strip clubs, you get to see alot, touch a little, but nothing every comes home with you.





Now I have bought stuff off guys with signs on thier back saying they have X for sale, but never from a vendor.

[Badgersmilk]

Shows at Gibralter trade center in MI. I used to go to were half decent.  And again, these guys http://cegunshows.com/Default.aspx are doing a great job IMO.

The guns I've bought at their shows were well below internet prices.  And the number of people buying is mind blowing!  Venders had tables to sit at so you could fill out the paperwork and there were lines to get at each chair. The booth I bought my LCP from had one person dedicated just to running credit cards through the machine, three helping with paperwork, and none of them could keep up!

The link has a schedule of upcoming shows in a bunch of states.  Go check one out!  How good the deals are is ultimately up to your local vendors...  Next time you visit their shops ask them what they think of the shows.  May find out why your not seeing good deals from them (crappy promoter?).

[dipisc]

Hi;

     On many of the prices for firearms, I have to agree with the complaints about them. When I go to the local gun shows - it is for ammo and accessories. These items are within and maybe cheaper than ordering w/shipping involved. For the ammo I alsways walk the entire show area and get prices, then go to the cheapest guy. The prices can vary up to $25.00 per 440 rd spam can.
     Taking into account is if I had ordered online and had to pay the added shipping charges. Accessories are my main item purchase lately. Stripper clips can be had cheaper at the gun shows than online. 25 year lifespan on foodstuffs are the same as online but cheaper at the shows because of the savings on shipping.
     Buying used magazines at the gun shows are better than online - you get to see and play with the mags prior to buying and no dissapointments so far, again saving on shipping and the dissapointment on getting leftover junk to clear out the warehouse or item.
     After going to and chatting with a vendor, I can find out if they have more in stock back home, If and when they will be back at the next gun show, and preordering items with them at a specified price. I always try to joke around with vendors because they are stuck there and have to listen to "war stories" from some cheap SOB that wants something for nothing. Doing this at times get me accessories free or at a reduced price. You have to consider the vendors view of what totally goes on. If YOU talk nice and get to the point - vendors tend to want to do business.   I have never been a vendor but know from seeing some of the people attending that it is not all milk and honey for the vendor.

     For the $8.00 admission and $8.00 dollar parking, I get my monies worth. I get what I want then and there and actually save at the gun shows than online.

[tt11758]

The last show I attended was the one, several months ago, at which I met up with m58 in southwestern Minnesota.  We had a good time, but more due to the company than the deals.  With VERY few exceptions, the folks there were REALLY proud of their inventory.  Made me reconsider my estimate of the value of the contents of my safes here at home, in fact.

It was addressed earlier in this thread that some of the vendors don't seem to realize that the post-election price bubble has burst.  I have to wonder if that's the problem, or if it's more that the vendors are trying to avoid losing their shirts on stuff they bought BEFORE the bubble burst.  Either way, nothing followed me home from that show.

On the upside, Mikey introduced me to a REALLY nice couple that make VERY nice custom leather holsters for an amazing price!!  Soon, my favorite 1911 will be nestled inside one of their IWB holsters on my ample right hip on a daily basis.   

BTW, if you wish contact info for these folks, just send me a pm.

[CJS3]

I was at a show about three weeks ago, mainly to sell a couple of pieces. The new firearm dealers were, for the most part, very proud of the products. Although I did find some good deals on some rifles of intrest. The milsurp dealers had some excellent rifles and prices, but the pistols were ridiculous.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

Here in Phoenix the only one worth going to is the Small Arms Review Show at the beginning of December. The rest are all the same. Same vendors at the same tables in the same areas, selling the same stuff. Usually overpriced for what you can get it locally for, or on the Internet. At the SAR Show there is usually some interesting stuff, but when you find it, you'll find prices out of this world attached to it. Some theme stuff as well. Hot babes in camo passing out flyer's and such.

I think last year they had 6 buildings. But when you subtract all of the jewelery, tee shirts, John Wayne "autographed" posters, beanie babies, "real" WW II German Nazi helmets, yelping puppy dogs for sale in cardboard boxes, "Bag-O-Bullet" ammo vendors, it comes down to about 4 buildings total. I don't think I'll be going this year because I work weekends, and the whole place is such a zoo. The older I get, the less I can tolerate crowds, along with the "free" $8.00 parking.   Bill T.

[robheath]

We have free parking at this show down here but 8 bucks to get in.  I always seem to buy from the same three guys.  I used to go and do some trading and bartering.  Not anymore.  They seem to stick to there prices a little too hard.  That takes some of the fun out of it.  I found a few things and picked them up but not much.  Years ago I picked up a S&W mod 59 I think.  after 4 years of trading at the shows I had thrown in about $200 bucks and had a colt AR H-Bar just by trading up a little each show.  I guess those day are gone for good.

[alfsauve]

The small routine shows (same vendors, same tables) do have their ups and downs.   Some of the dealers do have good deals.  Like car dealers they need to move a certain amount of merchandise to stay in good stead with their wholesaler.   You have to know what you're after and know the market.  Pass on the $150 91/30 (unless it was US made).  Snap up the S&W66 no-dash for $500.  (I actually tried to help a dealer sell that one.  I knew more about it than the dealer.  I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't raise the price at the next show.)

[alfsauve]

<snip>  My big concern is that gun shows are a big part of our 2nd A rights and always under attack...........

I've posted this before, but the threat to gun shows is an attack on the 1st amendment as well as the 2nd.  "Free assembly" is threatened anytime they start talking about regulating gun shows, and what they're really after, regulating sales between individuals.  Some anti-gun groups will sacrifice the rest of the constitution to nullify the 2nd.