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?

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Danny A.

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

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frontsightnsqueaz

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.

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Dick

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.

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Danny A.

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.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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S&W M642-2,
ATI 1911a1, 4.25"

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...

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.

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

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S&W M642-2,
ATI 1911a1, 4.25"

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.

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I always take precautions

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.

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Still Running Against the Wind

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

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

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.

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

[QUOTE]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.

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.)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Absolutely! Much like the "pen hookers" who loiter at the entrance to a stock sale, I've yet to go to a gunshow where there weren't vultures lurking near the entrance trying to find some poor, unsuspecting person coming in trying to turn grandpa's Colt into cash. Heck, I've even been guilty of being that guy. If you frequent several shows in the same market, you'll recognize these same fellows at most of the shows. Evidently, it must be profitable. I consider it part of the gunshow experience.

I have been attending local gun shows for quite awhile. Over the years I have met and made friends with a lot of dealers. Also I have come to learn whitch dealers are honest and whitch one will rip you off if they can. (I stay away from those) This is not to hard because the same dealers are at about every show.
I went to a show last summer and walked up to the table of a guy who I had dealt eith in the past. He knew my interests and said hey I got something to show you. He knows of my liking for prelock Smiths and that I worship at the altar of the 44spl.
He brought a pristine new in box 24-3 from under the table and said what you think. I said lets deal. We did. Its in my safe and he is going to make some money on my trade in. My point is we dealt in a friendly way. So if possible get to know the dealers and learn who is a who isn;t honest with you.

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shoot one gun but shoot it well

GUN SHOWS

You're Selling = It's not worth a whole lot.

You're Buying = They're getting harder to come by now and the market gets a Premium.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

My standard reply to ill-mannered inquries and low-ball offers at gun shows is, "you can't afford it". This may seem coarse but it accomplishes one of two things: The guy either shuts up and leaves you alone or he produces the cash to prove to you that he most certainly can, "afford it".

Yep , most gun show vendors these days are just low class hucksters and BS artists. They remind me of Mr. Haney on Green Acres.

At least Mr. Haney had a pleasant personality!

Hit the nail on the head-front door sharks. These are the guys who hover around the entrance trying to tell you what a big favor they will be doing you by paying a fraction of what your gun is worth before you ever get inside. and then there are the guys who only want to have "digit intercourse" with your gun and have no intention of buying your gun or anything else for that matter. They take your gun, look at it, rub it, drool on it, cycle the action and slam the cylinder shut or drop the slide a half dozen times. Then they tell you that it is a nice gun, or they had one like it or they wish they had the money to buy it and walk off. Most of the time they don't even thank you for letting them look at it.
The one's that really aggrevate me is the guy who walks up with a Loricin or a RG and wants to trade for your Smith or Colt and stands there and argues that how much better his gun is than yours and almost demands that you take his offer. Makes you want to stick his gun where the sun doesn't shine.

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Danny A.

I go to a couple a year just to get out of the house and eat a world-famous coney dog.

In Ohio, if you're carrying to sell or for CCW you are required to declare at the entrance, remove the ammo and they put on a "peace tie" zip strip through the barrel. During this process, there are always 3 or 4 on-lookers eyeballing your gun.
It never fails, I put the gun back in my holster, clear the entrance table and am immediately approached by these buzzards: "You lookin' to sell that piece? It ain't gonna go fer much hidin' in yer pocket."

I go to buy targets, maybe some components, generally people watch. Much like the State Fair. I'm not there to save money.

I perfer the small town shows where most of the locals gather to drink a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze. It is more of a social event and dealers are few. I have found some great buys from private sales where a one table shooter/collecter will offer to thin his herd. Just picked up a nice brown all matching .44 Triplelock that had a Jinks letter for $800 with a tag that said $900 with a line thru the $1000 price. The seller said that he had just purchased his 3rd TL and wanted to sell this one. It is 100% mechanically and shoots great. He knew what he had and wanted to deal. I knew what he had and wanted to deal. And oh! buy the way, it was Sunday afternoon! Enough said!

Yeah , there's always some buzzards hovering around the entrance trying to sell ya Teddy Roosevelts personal M-1 Garand , but lately , the shows around here have a bunch of pushy , non-gun related 'salesmen' just inside the show , telling you why you need to buy their storm windows , gutter guards , aluminum or vinyl siding. That and charities for everything shoving a donation jar in your face the minute ya walk in.

i get better deals at pawn shops and the local gun store.I just bought 2 guns at the lgs,a mod. 60 no dash, pinned,lnib,matching mint grips,tools,vapor paper,correct box, 400 otd and a mod.37-2,no-lock,mint, matching box,etc 300 otd,i'm sure i can make a profit on both.........but they are keepers : )

This is old as the bible.

It's as true as the Bible too.

I knock gunshow vendors...but I've bought/traded for a lot of guns at the shows over the years...and didn't feel too badly raped....or have just plain found good deals.

My 686-4 came from a gunshow years back for $300...a well used import P08 Luger for $325....a really decent walnut stocked 10/22 for $90 not very many years back...a cool 1932 Tula Nagant revolver with the fine checked wood and round front sight...my Daewoo K1A1/Stoeger MAX I came from a gunshow...a Berthier 07/15..a Turk longrifle...No.5 Mk.I Jungle carbine...Chinese 9mm Tok for cheap...FEG Hi-Power clone..a brand-new SP 101 .357 DA only on sale for for $325 or $345(some years back...Sistema Colt .45 and a CZ 50 from the same guy..many others too.

I've had good times at gunshows. I just rarely go anymore. My 16 year old son has been bugging me lately to go to a show for sometime. I need to put a wad of cash in my wallet and take him just for old times sake I guess.

Boy! I am sure glad the shows around here aren't like that.
Bob Ray 1815

Lots of hostility here! I don't go to shows much lately as I was always there to buy if I found something interesting, and right now NYU Film School for my daughter takes precedence.

However, gun shows have always been a good place for me to find good prices on soft gun cases, gun books, bulk ammo, old reloading equipment, and interesting odd stuff. I once picked up a Line Throwing Gun that weighed about 150 lbs. I use it to shoot concrete-filled Schaefer beer cans out over the river. Paid $230 for it IIRC.

The dealers at local shows know me, know what I like, and know I carry cash. They'll draw my attention to things like older N-frames, usually offering them at what I feel is a fair price, and sometimes I buy.

Since I never come in with stuff to sell, I have no experience with people trying to rip me off with ridiculous lowball offers, but if that happened, I'd just laugh and say "I'm looking to sell this gun to someone that wants to OWN it, not flip it for a profit."

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JR, the 500 Specialist

If there is a gun show within 100 miles of my house I usually go. I hear people all the time ask how I come up with rare or unusual Smiths and I tell them gunshows and pawnshops. Then they complain the prices are too high and there is to much jerky etc at the gunshows and I tell them that collecting nice guns is like the lotto, if you don't buy a ticket you don't win. I have attended some very small or poorly organized shows and If I don't fine a firearm I usually get a deal on parts and supplys.

SWCA 892

I ain't got any hostility for gunshow vendors...I've just changed my methods of operation.

I bought many guns at gunshows..then I bought some I couldn't find but wanted online at the auction sites...

Anymore..I do most of my buying from two family run gunstores. I just go to the gunstore...look and buy if anything trips my trigger.

I don't even worry about 'missing any bargains' at the shows.

I'm afraid that goes for custom cars, custom guns and custom houses. You rarely break even on them.

Around here we have "the usual suspects" simply because of our remoteness. They all try to sell at the reasonable +20% level and end up bringing the same guns to multiple shows. I have lost count of the times I eventually see their stuff on GB and barely selling at reasonable.

It's kinda funny - the GS where I work p/t does not participate in Gun Shows, and there are some big ones in our area.

The days that Gun Shows are scheduled are always our busiest days at the store, mainly due to aggravated, disgruntled people who have left the show and want to look at a good selection of guns at reasonable prices before they return home. Last Saturday was a prime example.

I waited on many customers that expressed alot of displeasure at attending the 'sword & jerky show', due to inflated prices, crowds, babystrollers, urban thugs trolling the aisles, etc.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Can't say as I recall ever actually selling a gun (or much of anything else) at a profit. Most "dealers" are right proud of their wares judging by their prices. Some are willing to dicker while others are not. Either way, if I want something bad enough I might eventually end up buying it.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

Gunshows seem to be like the county fair that comes around every year. Same people, same stuff, same games , same rides, same food, different prices that go up every year.

I didn't realize there were so many easily offended people on this forum? Just say bug off and walk on. I did make a mistake a few weeks ago and went to an RK show at the fairgrounds. These are generally lousy shows and this one was no exception. still it was fun, I saw friends and got $20 worth of entertainment.

I'm a buyer and a seller and I'm good at both. I don't get upset at lowball offers but I don't take much guff either. If I didn't go to gun shows I wouldn't be able to call Dick Burg, Joe Ruby, GF, Keith44spl, Matt and John Fugate and many others real life friends of mine as well as forum friends.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

The one thing an astounding number of people don't grasp is that to a dealer, a used gun (without special circumstances-and great grand-daddy carrying it up San Juan Hill isn't.) is worth no more than wholesale when sold retail. So, they must get the piece at a price that allows them a decent markup when sold.

The local pawn shops frequently don't seem to understand that either. Then they wonder why the used whatever priced at new retail plus their add-ons doesn't sell.

I've been on both sides of the tables at Gun Shows and what I have observed is that there is greed on both sides; it seems more so on the vendor side; it's a mere reflection of our today's society. I've watched a used gun go from one vendor to another with an increase in cost each time, and this is prior to the show openning. When the show opens the price is well above full retail for that same gun purchased new. I could get a better deal at a local gun dealer. I also have notice when a woman brings in her deceased husband's gun collection that people are like vultures, and paying her pennies on the dollar for his guns, and she has no idea that she's been screwed. I think a large percentage of buyers, at the Gun Shows, are individuals who don't want to go through a background check and not have the gun registered to them. For me, going to a Gun Show is more of a "social gathering". A topic of conversation at every Gun Show is always when and if our elected officals will "outlaw" or restrict Gun Shows. I think we are own worst enemy and eventually Gun Shows will become a thing of the past because they have priced themselves out of business. I am making no judgements, I am just relaying what I have observed over a number of years.

While I've long given up any hope of finding any great deals on guns I'm looking for at these flea markets they call gunshows. But along with the beef jerky , turquoise jewelry , cheap Chinese knives , mall ninja gear and soldier of fortune 'tactical' clothing , I do find variety and stuff I can't seem to find locally. Bulk paks of cleaning patches , GI cleaning brushes for a buck apiece , plastic cartridge boxes , 100pks of targets.

Don't find the deals on ammo I used to find. I recall buying Port or German or Spanish 7.62 ammo for $125-149 a case of 1000rds. Closing time on Sunday sometimes got a discount on two or more cases as they didn't want to lug it back home.

Seems to me that the original gripe was about the attitude.

If I come to you and offer to sell my gun, and you tell me I want too much, whether it's nicely put (Sorry, that gun's just not worth that much) as crudely put (If I paid you THAT much, I couldn't make any money on it), I kinda need to accept that attitude, 'cause I came to you.

But, if you come up to me, while I'm standing there picking my nose or admiring the sunset or whatever, and say, "That's a nice gun. What'll you take for it?", and then when I name a price you say, "Oh, that's too much. I couldn't make any money on it if I bought it for that.", well who gives a ****? Where does it say I'm supposed to help you make money? You came to me. You don't like my price? Tell me, "That's more than I'm willing to pay". But don't tell me, "I can't make any money on it". I don't care.

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I always take precautions

One that really gripes me when selling a gun is being asked
"What did you pay for it?"
Depending how I feel at the time my answer could be any of the following:
"$5.00"
"$5,000.00"
"I ashamed to tell"
"Just because I got a deal doesn't mean you do"

or I just shake my head and walk away.....

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

I went to a show in Market Hall in Dallas, a couple of weekends ago, and really had a nice time. I sold a gun and traded another. For the prices you wanted, you would have more luck trying to sell to someone in the aisle rather than behind the tables.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

deadin, that brought up a situation at a gun show one time. While I was at a show with a friend of mine he had a gun he was trying to sell. Guy walks up to him and seemed to know him and they talked for a minute and the guy says" hey, I see you have so and so's old gun. What do you want for it?" My friend told him a price and the guy says "that's too much I know what you paid for it and you are doubling your money". My friend replied that the price he asked was well below what the gun was worth even though he was doubling his money. They bantered back and forth for a few minutes then my friend was getting aggrevated so he blew back at the guy "if you bought a brand new Cadilac for a hundred bucks would you sell it to me for two hundred?" the guy stepped back and said "heck no, it's worth more than that". My fried replied "but you are doubling your money" and laughed and walked away. Get the point? I try to sell something for what it is worth, I don't wholesale and I sure can't buy it for that! I can't afford to support every cheater and gun show shark there are.
I was just airing a gripe of mine in the original post and it has gotten a little off topic concerning dealers and their profit. I have no gripe with them and apologize if I stepped on some toes.

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Danny A.

An old friend that traded a lot told me " You can shear sheep every year,but you can only skin them once"