Another gunshow etiquette question

[M3Stuart]

I have to say; I don't believe I have ever heard the words "gunshow" and "etiquette" used in the same sentence before.

Although, one time - on TV - I heard some Cali surfer dude use the words "stoked" and "escrow" in the same sentence.

But never "gunshow" and "etiquette"....nope, nossirrreeeee.

 

[Bekeart]

He's lucky he didn't get accused of attempted theft and removed by security! Items not on the table or in plain sight for display in a case are not to be messed with !

TOTALLY AGREE ON POSSIBLE THEFT.
I have had items stolen at the Paducah KY shows.

The actual tableholder, whom I had spoken to earlier in the day, had left his 4 tables under the supervision of his pard who had 4 tables of his own to run.

I would have LOUDLY told the table watcher "This guy has a question about the stuff under this table." and let him handle it.


If owner was not at table I would alert SECURITY about the possible problem.
I pay rent for my table and am entitled to have the promoter provide security services.

I have NEVER seen anyone lifting cover to look under a table YET!

Those of use renting table watch out for each other. Personally, I appreciate ALL security/theft related assistance from attendees also.

Bekeart

 

[the ringo kid]

No problems like that a the gun shows I go to. I know most of the dealers and know who to go to and who to stay away from. Also,if another dealer comes in who isnt usually a gun show regular--and treats people like crud--most of those I know-shy away from the man also tell me about them. In kind--I also spread the word too.

Ive got a good friend wanting to attend the shows with me and wants to start a gun collection. Ill be steering him to those I know while avoiding those who deserve no business. Ive already got him interested in possibly buying his first handgun from Ringo as well as aa rifle from my "'relatives""who have: Southland Arms. .

Anyway,point to my rant is--the turds in the punch bowl are easy to spot and avoid.

 

[Autococker07]

And now I understand why some guys have conduit sewn into the edges of their tablecloths.... I have never seen this, nor would I ever dream of doing it.... sounds to me like walking into someones shop and making myself welcome to whats behind the counter....

 

[otisrush]

If I'm browsing a table I have no *******' idea how the table owner is running their business. Who am I to tell someone looking under a table whether 1) those items aren't for the price listed on top of the table or 2) the table owner doesn't want someone looking at them? That table owner might be just as upset at me for interfering with his business. It's not my business it's the table owner's. They have the right (and the responsibility) to run it as they see fit. In my effort to "protect" the table owner I might actually be damaging him/her.

Unless it seems illegal the issue is between them. I have no "standing" as they say.

Upon further thought I'm going to back off a bit from my own statement:

Rummaging around under the table should be called out - by anyone. "Hey man. If the owner wanted stuff under there to be sold it would have been put out." I agree that under the table is "private" - for whatever reason.

But to represent whether stuff under the table is a certain price or not - I have a harder time going there.

OR

 

[arjay]

How about "planning to steal that?"

 

[diamonback68]

This was not at a run of the mill, open to the public gun show. Pharman was at the OGCA show which is open to members ( and guests that must be vouched for).

SCEVA, better look again, the OP is Pharmer, not Pharman and he was at the Orlando FL gunshow, which he calls the O-show, not the OGCA you referred to.

 

[JSR III]

I never touch anything on a sellers table unless there is a sign directing one to do so. I always ask if I may pick something up but that is the way that my mentor taught me 40 years ago.

As far as the OP's example, I probably wouldn't have said anything to the looker but might have called the seller over and asked him about something just to get him in the area. I'm not very confrontational.

The difficulty here is that many times sellers do have boxes of stuff for sale under the front of their table as a way of doubling their sales space. Usually when this is done, the boxes are priced or the table cloth is hiked up real high and the boxes are pushed slightly into the isle.

Either way, proper manners would be to ask. IMHO, better to ask and be told "Oh sure everything is for sale" than to have the seller come over and get ticked off.

 

[Smoke]

Sounds like some of you need to stay away from gun shows if you don't know how to act. We won't miss you. The problem with our society is those who say, "It's not my problem." If you pull something out from under a table that's not yours, you need to be called into line. You should know that's not acceptable. All the problems some of you have with gun shows were there back in the 70s too. Over priced guns and ornery old coots are nothing new. Neither are stupid, rude browsers.

I want to be careful how I say this because my intent is not to be insulting but what authority do you have to call some random stranger "Into line"?

Understanding that I wouldn't be pawing around under the table in the first place, if you started trying to "Call me into line" I'd ask if it was your booth and then I'd tell you to mind your own business. Now once I do that (without escalating the situation) what's your next move?

At most I'd mention it to the proprietor other than that it's not my business and I'm not interjecting myself into someone else's drama

 

[X Ring Ranch]

Attend a gun show about every weekend since we have so many in Texas. Over the years I have noticed a change in the crowd and their behavior. I see more gang tattoos, attitudes, and rude behavior. For instance, I was looking at a gun an individual had for sale and he priced it to me. Another person was standing there and watching. I had the gun in my hand and the watcher reached over and took it out and my hand and said "I'll buy that !" . The seller took his money. I walked off. Both were jerks.
I am seeing private sellers (with a table) doubling up on a potential buyer. One will walk up when you are trying to buy something and the private seller's friend walks up and offers him more money. I just walk off.
I also seeing private sellers selling broken guns. Individuals are required to have their weapons checked by an LEO at the door but the private sellers come in with the broken guns and tie their own. They will rotate the cylinder where the bluing has been worn off or banged around and hide it under the back strap and then tie it. About 20 % of the revolvers around here have issues and I demand they cut the tie so I can check it out.

What this change all boils down to is called "GREED" and lack of integrity.

 

[Geno44]

Could these boxes have been for the guns the dealer had on the table?

 

[carpriver]

"was it your table?

I don't get involved in other people's drama , if it's not my booth or what he's doing doesn't directly affect me MMOB"

I think that's the problem; No one want to get involved. We let bad behavior continue.

 

[wbraswell]

That's OK Smoke, if you're not poking around in someone else's stuff, no problem. If I have a table next to or across from one where someone is poking around under someone's table, and I haven't seen you around there, or if you are perhaps handling a gun that the owner hasn't seen you pick up and are, say, abusing the merchandise. You may get a notice from me. By what authority? By the authority that I am an American man of good character and decent morality,(usually) and I will try to look out for my neighbor. Shows can be a long haul, and the guys behind the tables have to go away now and then for a few minutes. You tell me it's NOMB, I tell you, it is now, what about it? Your move.

 

[Smoke]

That's OK Smoke, if you're not poking around in someone else's stuff, no problem. If I have a table next to or across from one where someone is poking around under someone's table, and I haven't seen you around there, or if you are perhaps handling a gun that the owner hasn't seen you pick up and are, say, abusing the merchandise. You may get a notice from me. By what authority? By the authority that I am an American man of good character and decent morality,(usually) and I will try to look out for my neighbor. Shows can be a long haul, and the guys behind the tables have to go away now and then for a few minutes. You tell me it's NOMB, I tell you, it is now, what about it? Your move.

I keep doing what I'm doing and dare you to try and stop me.

Do you see the situation escalating and heading into "this is not going to end well" territory?

ETA Seriously what are you going to do when the guy turns around, throws the entire box at you and dares you to step to him? Before you answer remember that you're here because you stuck your nose in something that wasn't your business in the first place

 

[moralem]

Sounds like some of you need to stay away from gun shows if you don't know how to act. We won't miss you. The problem with our society is those who say, "It's not my problem." If you pull something out from under a table that's not yours, you need to be called into line. You should know that's not acceptable. All the problems some of you have with gun shows were there back in the 70s too. Over priced guns and ornery old coots are nothing new. Neither are stupid, rude browsers.

Ok I understand your position on this, but what are you going to do if the guy does not walk away and continues? Are you going to further intervene and try to stop him? What next when he cusses you out? So what if he took the boxes out, he was going to have to try and pay for them so let the table proctor school him, not you. Was he just going to walk off with them? Well, that's another story, but just being stupid and rude was his only crime so why rush in to stop him, embarrass him or insinuate he was up to something no good....just my two cents.

 

[sceva]

Thank you for the Correction; I missed that. I will delete that particular post.

SCEVA, better look again, the OP is Pharmer, not Pharman and he was at the Orlando FL gunshow, which he calls the O-show, not the OGCA you referred to.

 

[zzzippper]

I would not get involved but neither would I dig under the table cloth, anymore than I would walk behind the table or a gun store counter.

 

[A-37]

Involved

I had a table at a gun show selling a few items. A nice old guy carrying a pristine early Marlin 39 (octagonal barrel, case hardening, etc.) walked by the table next to me and the vender called out, "What do you have there?"

After the "not worth much" typical vendor BS, the old guy let the rifle go for $200. I wanted to tell the old man, "Hey, your rifle's worth at least $1500. Don't sell it for less!"

The vendor and his pal were laughing at how they screwed the guy. I should've intervened on the old guy's behalf but didn't get involved. Shame on me.

 

[wbraswell]

Smoke and moralem, no I don't see a problem or this escalating, this is a gun show and that ain't happening here. Security is on the way, they will sort it out. Jails are full of people who say they were just stupid and rude.

 

[Smoke]

With all due respect, what I'm hearing you say is you'll get involved if there's someone there to back you up.

I do security for a living and it's been my experience that people couldn't care less about some security guard, they're going to do what they want.

Also based on my experience I absolutely DO see this escalating
if for no other reason than because YOU'VE already escalated it.

I'm not going to change you any more than you're going.to change the guy across the aisle so if you think the hassle is worth it that's your call

Let us know how that works out for you