Gun show tables with no prices on the tags

drpete826 · Tuesday at 12:56 PM

Compadres,
I was at a gun show last year in the Mountain West. Small show, maybe 80 tables. Put on by a well-known local promoter. Nice show, worth attending. There were a number of tables that had no prices on the tags. The sellers were obviously old gun show hands, judging from their age and how the tables were set up (vertical racks, nice table covers, etc). The tags contained all the usual information and the wear and smudges indicating that they had been at many previous shows. But no prices. I didn't ask the table holders why no prices, as I have found in 50 years of walking or setting up at gun shows that some folks take every question as an invitation for an argument.
The most obvious theory is that I get quoted one price, you get quoted another price and the buddy from down the street gets yet another price. What's your theory?
Dr Pete

crstrode · Tuesday at 1:03 PM

Lazy.

bigggbbruce · Tuesday at 1:09 PM

Walmart doesn't put prices on tags anymore so they can increase them at any moment.

CALREB · Tuesday at 1:14 PM

No price tag, then follows the inevitable "Well what do you think it's worth" and the game is on. Maybe they hope someone will offer much more than they would have asked. Maybe it's a way to at least get people to stop at their table. In those cases, if it's something I am interested in, I act stupid and always say "Oh a couple hundred at least" like that's a lot of money. Drives them crazy.

wproct · Tuesday at 1:20 PM

Some table owners are there as much to just display their collection as they are to do any selling and I get no price tags in that situation but if it is a table there basically just to sell I would not like having no price tags. To me they are needed just to let you know if it's gonna be worth your while to try to buy or deal on one of their guns. But that's only one mans opinion.

Now when it comes to trading guns price is irrellevant. You just have to determine which one is going to owe the other some difference and then how much difference is gonna be owed.

Bald1 · Tuesday at 1:54 PM

Some guys want to sell guns. Some guys want to display and talk about their guns

Truckman · Tuesday at 2:06 PM

You'll never see a "price" on any of my guns on my tables...Prices are for people in the business of selling guns for a profit...I'm retired, but I certainly value my guns, and if you're interested I'll tell you the dollar value I have for them...You're welcome to disagree with my valuation, and if you're just looking for bargains there are plenty of other tables in the venue...I acquired each of my guns because I like them, and if I go home with all of them, I'm just as happy as when I got there...

...Ben

ladder13 · Tuesday at 2:16 PM

I keep walking assuming they don’t want to sell.

375hh1973 · Tuesday at 2:18 PM

I just walk right on past those.

Put ur price on.

I hate haggling. I dont haggle at the grocery store for beer and steaks. Why the hell are gun related things any different?

I get an idea of what I want to pay for something and if that item is in my window, I buy it. No haggling.

Empe · Tuesday at 3:09 PM

If a seller can't be bothered to put a price on an item and I have to ask the price of each individual one I may interested in ....I've lost interest already .

rockquarry · Tuesday at 3:25 PM

I like to see prices, too, but the table holder is paying for the table space; you're not. Not a big deal and hardly worth arguing about.

65-2x2 · Tuesday at 3:28 PM

The price may vary a great deal depending on the interaction with the potential customer.

TXBryan · Tuesday at 3:39 PM

Haggling is fun but I've seldom found it terribly productive with regards to reducing someone's inventory and/or building my collection. Usually the owner and I are pretty far apart but sometimes one of us can make inroads on the other's sense of value. I sure don't mind telling someone what their firearm might be worth to me and don't have expectations we'll be in agreement. I've been known to initiate the haggling.

I walked past a nice Ruger #3 in .375 Win at a seller's table at three consecutive gun shows in Ft. Worth years ago - probably all within 18 months or so. He had a price marked, and I tried to get it for less, twice to no avail. Third time I saw it I gave him what he wanted which was unchanged from my first perusal, and probably a "fair" price on something they weren't making any more of. I still have it and it's worth a lot more today even adjusted for inflation.

Bryan

ladder13 · Tuesday at 4:15 PM

I guess the ammo guy could do likewise, but why would anyone want to load up a ton or two of ammo just to bring back home.

Ivan the Butcher · Tuesday at 4:21 PM

When I did gun shows, I learned quick that an assistant will allow you to lose money really quick if prices aren't clearly marked!

I usually just had accessories; my specialty eventually became two areas: 1) heavy for caliber cast bullets. 2) Magazines, strippers for loading and end blocks. I haven't done a show in over 15 years, and I see the last set of prices. I need to double or triple my prices to still be the cheapest supply around!

One show (in the 90's), the going rate on a Chinese SKS was $100-125, there was an NRA article about them and the next show the price was $225-up. You have to update your tags if you want top dollar! 10-round SKS strippers were free with ammo or about 50 cents in the 80's, I had bundles of 10 in the 90's for $2. Now, a dollar each is a bargain! (I still have about 600-700!)

In the early 2000's, you couldn't give away 15-round M-1 Carbine mags, I bought 100 for $1 each. Now, "They are rare!" and now command outrageous prices (good thing I kept 10 for myself).

Ivan

s&wchad · Tuesday at 4:24 PM

If I see unpriced guns of interest, I'll politely ask. The sellers are typically not dealers and aren't sure how much to price their goods. This has worked out well for decades.

PLEASE keep walking by!

THE PILGRIM · Tuesday at 4:41 PM

I don’t always go around looking for an argument, but when I do, it’s often because somebody’s doing something weird that I wanna find out about.
A while back now, Ruidoso Gun Show.
See a No Dash 629, no price tag.
How much?
Not for sale. Say what?
It’s for trade, I want a Browning Citori.
Long story short, I did walk down to the table who had the browning, bought the Citori, traded it for the 629.
Just a regular bureaucratic transaction.
Measured with a micrometer then chop it with an ax!

rockquarry · Tuesday at 5:09 PM

s&wchad said:
If I see unpriced guns of interest, I'll politely ask. The sellers are typically not dealers and aren't sure how much to price their goods. This has worked out well for decades.

PLEASE keep walking by!

A good sensible post is always welcome.

SMSgt · Tuesday at 5:12 PM

Gave up on gun shows years ago. Everyone thought their guns were made of gold.

Warren Sear · Tuesday at 5:41 PM

CALREB said:
No price tag, then follows the inevitable "Well what do you think it's worth" and the game is on. Maybe they hope someone will offer much more than they would have asked. Maybe it's a way to at least get people to stop at their table. In those cases, if it's something I am interested in, I act stupid and always say "Oh a couple hundred at least" like that's a lot of money. Drives them crazy.

That is pure genius!!!

I have a friend who wants to sell stuff from time to time, but is always afraid to state his price, thinking he might lose a dollar or two. He always wanted top dollar or more. He would ask if I wanted to buy something. Of course, my first question is going to be, "How much?" He would reply, "What will you give me for it?" I would always give him a price that he considered to be insultingly low, and he'd get all butt-hurt. I soon got sick of the game. It got to where I wouldn't reply to his initial question.

Next time he asks what I'll give him for something, I am going to act dumb and tell him, "Oh, well, that's gotta be worth a couple uh hunneret dollars, at least." LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!

rockquarry · Tuesday at 5:42 PM

SMSgt said:
Gave up on gun shows years ago. Everyone thought their guns were made of gold.

Not everyone. There are reasonable people who like to sell their guns at fair prices. Shop around; you'll find them.

quikdraw67 · Tuesday at 5:46 PM

SMSgt said:
Gave up on gun shows years ago. Everyone thought their guns were made of gold.

And the gun you want to trade against it is a turd and priced as such.

Haven't been to a show in 20 years. If I don't go for another 20 that's fine with me.

Bekeart · Tuesday at 6:13 PM

I view it just like the UNPRICED merchandise on walmarts clearance end-cap.

Must be ashamed of the price.

NO PRICE - I KEEP WALKING.

Bekeat

Kestrel · Tuesday at 6:37 PM

The best reply I've heard for "What's the least you'll take" is;
"What's the most you'll pay ?".

Kestrel · Tuesday at 6:39 PM

quikdraw67 said:
And the gun you want to trade against it is a turd and priced as such. [...]

I'm certainly guilty of enjoying the give&take of bargaining/trading, but no way would I ever stoop to badmouthing what someone else has. That's like kicking someone else's dog or something.

Top Strap · Tuesday at 6:41 PM

THE PILGRIM said:
I don’t always go around looking for an argument, but when I do, it’s often because somebody’s doing something weird that I wanna find out about.
A while back now, Ruidoso Gun Show.
See a No Dash 629, no price tag.
How much?
Not for sale. Say what?
It’s for trade, I want a Browning Citori.
Long story short, I did walk down to the table who had the browning, bought the Citori, traded it for the 629.
Just a regular bureaucratic transaction.
Measured with a micrometer then chop it with an ax!
View attachment 897970

You forgot mark it with chalk!

JohnRippert · Tuesday at 6:47 PM

If I say to them 'What are you asking for this one?' and they reply 'Make a offer.' I will then give my top offer. They often take that as a starting point for bargaining and get riled up when I tell them, 'No, that was how much I am willing to pay'. Then I head down the aisle until something else catches my attention. No skin off my back if they don't like what I say.

rwsmith · Tuesday at 7:16 PM

They can read the customer and bargain accordingly.

sigp220.45 · Tuesday at 7:33 PM

I gave up on gun shows years ago. I’m glad some folks still go.

My last one was as a vendor. All of the dealing took place before the doors opened to the public. If my buddy hadn’t wanted to sell some stuff, I would have left. He was my ride.

ladder13 · Tuesday at 7:41 PM

I go mostly for ammo, and to support the promoter and vendors, but not as many shows as years past. It’s a few dollars to get in (no parking fee, I am not paying just to park), and won’t affect my lifestyle.

Gun show tables with no prices on the tags

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