Gun Show gripe!

[Danny Abernathy]

I am 60yrs old and have been going to gun shows since Moby Dick was a minnow.
Now before I get threatened with being drowned in a barrel of Hoppe's let me tell you emphatically I have no problem with people making a profit. I have no problem with people trying to get the best deal that they can, but I do have a problem with people insulting my intelligence and trying to out right steal.
I made the trip to Jackson yesterday, they usually have a large show and a lot of trading going on. Got there about 10am an the parking lot was full and line to get in wrapped around the building. After freezing my bunns off for about thirty minutes finally made it inside. Brought a mint 19-3 four inch and a Sig p220 and a Ruger MKII unfired to do some trading.
Before I could get my hand stamped people were all over me asking how much. I was asking $550 for the Smith, $500 for the Sig and $300 for the Ruger but was really looking to trade for a Colt 1911 or a Browning HiPower as these are the only thing that interest me right now. After about two dozen people told me after asking how much, I had all I could stand of hearing "that's too much, I can't make any money".
Now correct me if I am wrong, but do people actually go to shows to buy something they don't want to begin with just for the sole purpose of turning around and selling it just to make a buck?
I always went to trade or sell guns to get what I wanted, not to try to screw someone out of their gun just to turn around and sell it so I could brag about how I put one over on somebody. But that seems to be the accepted practise now, at least here where I live.
And one more gripe, before I get off my soapbox. Why is it when you have something to sell and a dealer has the same thing as yours on his table though most of the time it is in worse condition then yours, his is worth it's weight in gold but yours isn't worth half or less than his? But if you sell your gun to him for little or nothing it quickly becomes worth it's weight in gold?
If I have offended anyone, especially any dealers, you have my apology, but this is my take on the current state of affairs.
What does your experiences have in common with mine?

 

[Tom Beavert]

What does your experiences have in common with mine?

Alot!
I also go to trade, and find it hard to do so with most dealers.
tb

 

[diamonback68]

Danny, I hate to tell you, but that's way it always has been and always will be at gunshows. You are asking retail prices. A dealer can't possibly buy at retail and sell at retail, how could he make a profit and pay for his table rental? I just tell them upfront I'm asking retail and move on. You need to find non-dealer buyers to sell your guns, then take the cash and buy your 1911 or Hi-power.

 

[Danny Abernathy]

Well it's good to know it's not only me!
I have had only fair and honorable dealings with Forum members when I post a gun here. I think that this is where I will keep my dealing from now on.
As for dealers making a profit, I have no problem with that, but a large percentage of people who have tables at shows are not dealers. I know a whole lot of them and they work normal jobs just like me. They set up at shows and try to "act" like dealers just to get peoples guns for nothing and then like I said they brag about how they got over on someone.
As for retail, I don't know what guns sell for in your neck of the woods but I thought that I had them priced within reason and would have "come down" if I had to. But like I said, I really didn't want to sell. I was more interested in trading. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't buy guns at retail and then sell them for wholesale, even with my limited "edumakashun" that doesn't make a whole lot of common sence.

 

[deadin]

I've been going to gunshows since the mid '60's and there just isn't any trading anymore. It used to be you could always find a trade with your two $100 cats for a $200 dog. Now it's all about "profit". It seems that everybody is a dealer, or a dealer wannabe. It seemed to begin going bad when they started allowing real dealers to sell at shows. Now everybody wants to be one. Shows are no longer a gathering of enthusiasts, but more like a shopping mall.
Because of this, I probably only go to two or three shows a year anymore.

 

[WR Moore]

Amen, when I was hitting shows back when, Guys would repeatedly ask me if I was interested in their whatever. My response was generally that I could buy a new one from the factory for less. What you paid for it, spent 'customizing' it and/or that your great grand-daddy carried it up San Juan Hill doesn't matter.

And yes, whatever is being sold by a vendor is a steal and what you're trying to trade is trash. That's a universal truth. If you think gun shows are bad, check out a horse auction sometime.

 

[Sebago Son]

These days the only thing I ever take to shows to trade is cash. And frankly, I've grown so tired of getting my toes stepped on, my ribs elbowed and my ear bent that I haven't been to a show in years. The last couple I went to resembled Black Friday at the Walmart with the same cast of people ...

 

[JamesArthur60]

I've stopped going to gun shows. I feel the same as many and I'm sick of it. Seems EVERYONE wants something for near nothing. Whether it's a gun, washer, dryer, car or a casket. I've got guns I had customized and I've come to the conclusion, I'm stuck with them. I'll never get a fair price in a trade or sale. Before the recent hard times, I don't remember firearm owners trying to rip off one another. A profit is fine, but insults are just not right.

 

[TNFrank]

Not been to a Gun Show in years. They started charging us $10 bucks to get in to the show, the Dealers wouldn't deal and prices were the same if not more then I can order for online.

 

[Stevie]

I but rarely go to gunshows anymore. However..when I do go the pattern is the same.

Sharks....The sharks are 'grifters' circle around searching out the folks coming into the show with firearms..They try to wheel and deal the incomers out of the wares cheap..and then put the guns on their tables for sale at high prices.

The greedy....The Greedy are the guys that have all their wares marked up 20% above reasonable...these guys also work with a 'shark' usually.

The 'at every show guys'...dealers..ammo sellers...militaria guys...these are generally ok fellas...prices won't be bargains..but if you are familiar with them...and know what they carry..business can be done.

The desperate...this is why I always go to gunshows on Sunday afternoon. These folks are the ones with everything marked so high..nothing sold all weekend..they were 'the greedy'...but they spent money buying guns to mark up(sharks)..or bought a Browning Superposed for themselves..drove 300 miles to fleece some okies...table rent...everybody went to the other tables to buy...they are sitting there now desperate for a sale to recoupe some expense...They are now willing to deal on prices...but only on Sunday afternoon...when it dawns on them nobody will pay their high prices and the truck needs gas so they can get home.

The strange...these are the weird people...the 40 something lady with funbags almost hanging out and nose-rings who sells your 12 year old daughter a switch-blade and a fake diamond ring...the guy that wants to sharpen your knife...the fella selling beef jerky made from the 'golden calf'....the young couple selling swords made from 'toledo steel' truck-springs...the dude with garage sale junk on the table plus a cheap home/kit muzzle loading pistol...the guy with three Glenfield .22 rifles and half a 20ga shotgun priced like prewar Model 70's...

Yeh..I rarely attend gunshows...

 

[Maximumbob54]

I guess I just don't understand why a dealer at a table would even make an offer to someone like that. I get that they are in the business of making money and I guess that they get enough people that are either desperate to sell or just don't care what they get, but I don't see why they make such ridiculous low ball offers. When did they go from salesmen to used car salesmen??? If I want to be ripped off and feel like a used call girl then I will just go to a local pawn shop and start selling my guns. But when I go to a gun salesman, I keep feeling like I should expect better. I expect him to look at a gun, know how well they are selling for, where they may sell better if it's worth buying to hold onto for the next show or two, and to make an offer that is enticing enough to make the guy want to sell one and end up buying another. But instead you get this slap in the face offer and then want to act all indignant when we get a little upset and being offered this pittance for our goods. If the show charges too much for the tables then maybe the dealers need to gang up on the show's hosts. If the hosts can't get a hall for a good enough price then maybe they need to shop around for a better deal on a place to have the show. But flat out, I see fewer people than ever before buying or even visiting. It should really be more of a warning flag being waived that there are so many disparaging remarks and comments about gun shows to keep ignoring there is a problem. They haven't always been like this, and if they continue to be like this then I'm guessing they are going to continue to turn into flea market junk shows since fewer of us are doing the real wheeling and dealing any more. But clearly the dealers aren't hurting for customers yet or there would be changes.

 

[TNFrank]

Hit the ol' nail on the head with deadly accuracy there Stevie.

 

[Alpo]

I've got guns I had customized and I've come to the conclusion, I'm stuck with them. I'll never get a fair price in a trade or sale.

Well, yeah. Of course not. I've got a 28-2 I paid 2 and a half for, and then spent another 400 having converted to 38/40, 'cause I wanted an N frame 38/40.

Can I sell it? Maybe, if I can find another fool that wants a 4" N frame 38/40. Can I get what I've got in it? Doubtful. Can I make a profit on it? I'd say there's a 99% probability of NO. Unless I want to give it away, I'm pretty much stuck with it.

On the other hand, I've got a 6 1/2 inch 29-2 I paid 400 for. Can I sell it? Yep. Can I get what I've got in it? Yep. Can I make a profit on it? Heck yeah.

Difference? One has been customized. I had it altered to what I wanted a gun to be. That seriously cuts down the potential customer base.

 

[Rule3]

Before I could get my hand stamped people were all over me asking how much. I was asking $550 for the Smith, $500 for the Sig and $300 for the Ruger but was really looking to trade for a Colt 1911 or a Browning HiPower as these are the only thing that interest me right now. After about two dozen people told me after asking how much, I had all I could stand of hearing "that's too much, I can't make any money".

When you state the above, what people were all over you? Customers going to the show or actual dealers that had a booth/table??

If they are dealers your prices are close to what they should sell for retail, if they are dealers then no they will not pay your price (not that your prices are bad but they need to turn them over)

I see dealers all the time at my local gun/pawn shop that buy items for a a really good price and then jack them up at shows for people who do not know what the prices should be.

We only have the Suncoast Gun show here and I will not go to it. More deals are made in the parking lot.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

It was a sad day when I finally realized that the gun show dealer - whether a gun shop owner or a hobbyist with an FFL - that was happy making $20.00 - $25.00 on a gun sale no longer existed, or didn't habitat the gun shows anymore. I will occasionally visit the gun shows, but I try to leave my anticipation at home.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[growr]

But the REAL question is "How much beef jerky did you buy?"

Gunshows to me are simply a source of entertainment...an opportunity to
see old friends and visit with new ones. On rare ocassions, when I happen to have money and the exhibitors actually have something I am interested in, I will purchase something.

An example of that is I was using an obsolete Winchester powder to load for my .40 S&W's as I had purchased an 8lb can of it and was nearly out and needed some more to finish my run.

In the last show here in Billings a dealer had a bunch of reloading gear from the estate of a deceased friend so I knew the integrity of both.

He just happened to have about 4 lbs of Winchester WAAP that I was looking for. I offered him $20.00 for it which he took and away we go.

He sold something that I needed, we had a good visit and both of us were happy....how do you beat that?

Randy

 

[Peter J.]

I've been going to gun shows since the early 1970's. I think I've only bought one or two guns at a show in the past 2-3 years. I've probably bought 7 or 8 online at auction websites. Now my main goal when going to a show is finding ammo and visiting friends. I guess thats good enough.

 

[dirty gary]

I still go to shows, but its very different than the good ol' days. I've been keeping an eye out for a PMR 30, suggested retail $419, I'm on a list with LGS promise price of $395 but hard to get. See them at every gunshow for $600. I know they have to pay the rent, but I'm not supporting them exclusively. Sometimes its nice to go to a show and just run into old friends I haven't seen in a while

 

[ralph7]

It was a sad day when I finally realized that the gun show dealer - whether a gun shop owner or a hobbyist with an FFL - that was happy making $20.00 - $25.00 on a gun sale no longer existed, or didn't habitat the gun shows anymore. I will occasionally visit the gun shows, but I try to leave my anticipation at home.

well, that may be because back then the tables only cost $25 as opposed to the $75 they now cost.
i mostly go for the entertainment value. i look for gun accessories more than the guns themselves, and know that the real deals are walking around, not on the tables. i get there early and look for the single table newbie guy as opposed to the old time dealer that has multiple tables.
i have made far more great deals in line waiting, asking somebody walking around, or outside in a parking lot than i ever have off of a table.

 

[deadin]

With me it may also have something to do with the 200 miles round trip it takes me to get to a show, except for one that is only 90 miles RT. (It's only a once or twice a year, but I usually make it even if it does leave a lot to be desired.)