Another gunshow etiquette question

pharmer

pharmer

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I was at the O-show yesterday and while cruising around I came upon a table with boxes, $5 each any on the table. Mostly plastic clamshells from the big manf's; S&W, Colt, Ruger, Sig, Beretta, and some cardboard boxes. All recent. So while I'm picking through the S&W boxes this mullet cut yahoo reaches under the table and pulls out a bin. In it are some valuable 2 piece S&W boxes a couple Colt and some early Ruger ones. I asked "What are you doing?" He says "I'm looking for a certain Ruger box but I don't see one." I calmly said "I don't think those are $5 boxes" and suggested he push that bin back under the table. He got a little ticked "I don't need anybody getting mad at me over this ****" and walked off. I don't know if I handled it correctly but the tablecloth is deliberately positioned so the items on the table hold it to cover the table and the front of the table on the aisle side to the floor. If'n It was my table he'd draw back a stump if he reached under and pulled out a bin. Entitlement mentality is rude and rampant. Joe
 
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pharmer said:
I was at the O-show yesterday and while cruising around I came upon a table with boxes, $5 each any on the table. Mostly plastic clamshells from the big manf's; S&W, Colt, Ruger, Sig, Beretta, and some cardboard boxes. All recent. So while I'm picking through the S&W boxes this mullet cut yahoo reaches under the table and pulls out a bin. In it are some valuable 2 piece S&W boxes a couple Colt and some early Ruger ones. I asked "What are you doing?" He says "I'm looking for a certain Ruger box but I don't see one." I calmly said "I don't think those are $5 boxes" and suggested he push that bin back under the table. He got a little ticked "I don't need anybody getting mad at me over this ****" and walked off. I don't know if I handled it correctly but the tablecloth is deliberately positioned so the items on the table hold it to cover the table and the front of the table on the aisle side to the floor. If'n It was my table he'd draw back a stump if he reached under and pulled out a bin. Entitlement mentality is rude and rampant. Joe
Click to expand...

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
 
To me it's a toss-up. What Smoke does is certainly OK, and what I would ordinarily do. But I'll bet pharmer got some satisfaction, and all he did was state a fact and make a suggestion, a LOT more civilized than rummaging through other folks' private property.
 
From what I've seen over the years it's not unusal for dealers to put boxes of items below their tables but towards the front. The clue here usually is if the items are priced. Lacking pricing I'll ask the dealer if these items are for sale before touching anything.
Jim
 
pharmer said:
I was at the O-show yesterday and while cruising around I came upon a table with boxes, $5 each any on the table. Mostly plastic clamshells from the big manf's; S&W, Colt, Ruger, Sig, Beretta, and some cardboard boxes. All recent. So while I'm picking through the S&W boxes this mullet cut yahoo reaches under the table and pulls out a bin. In it are some valuable 2 piece S&W boxes a couple Colt and some early Ruger ones. I asked "What are you doing?" He says "I'm looking for a certain Ruger box but I don't see one." I calmly said "I don't think those are $5 boxes" and suggested he push that bin back under the table. He got a little ticked "I don't need anybody getting mad at me over this ****" and walked off. I don't know if I handled it correctly but the tablecloth is deliberately positioned so the items on the table hold it to cover the table and the front of the table on the aisle side to the floor. If'n It was my table he'd draw back a stump if he reached under and pulled out a bin. Entitlement mentality is rude and rampant. Joe
Click to expand...
Joe,thats what I expect at gunshows.No etiquette here.Entitlement is where its at.Leave it go and walk away.We can't fix it.
 
As far as I'm concerned there is no gun show etiquette aside from just paying N entrance fee. Prices are all over the place, gun knowledge is all over the place, even antique from vendor to vendor changes. Some get mad if you even look at their stuff while others shove stuff in your hands.i just go along with it. I don't get mad, I don't have a way to "handle it". If someone flies off the handle for something silly.....well I'll just let him know which orifice he can shove his goods into and continue on.
 
model70hunter said:
Rude, crude and ignorance is now accepted now that manners are not taught at school or at home.

Is it OK? Just ask one of em.
Click to expand...
Gimme a break. We are talking about gun show vendors, they are not 15 year olds from the corner. They are usually in their 40s, 50s, 60s....quite a lot are curmudgeony old men
 
pharmer said:
I was at the O-show yesterday and while cruising around I came upon a table with boxes, $5 each any on the table. Mostly plastic clamshells from the big manf's; S&W, Colt, Ruger, Sig, Beretta, and some cardboard boxes. All recent. So while I'm picking through the S&W boxes this mullet cut yahoo reaches under the table and pulls out a bin. In it are some valuable 2 piece S&W boxes a couple Colt and some early Ruger ones. I asked "What are you doing?" He says "I'm looking for a certain Ruger box but I don't see one." I calmly said "I don't think those are $5 boxes" and suggested he push that bin back under the table. He got a little ticked "I don't need anybody getting mad at me over this ****" and walked off. I don't know if I handled it correctly but the tablecloth is deliberately positioned so the items on the table hold it to cover the table and the front of the table on the aisle side to the floor. If'n It was my table he'd draw back a stump if he reached under and pulled out a bin. Entitlement mentality is rude and rampant. Joe
Click to expand...
Clearly, from the earlier responses, it's not all that important to this discussion, but what was the opinion of the person who paid for the table about this?
 
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 know it was none of my business but the fellow lifted the tablecloth to slide out the bin. Just seemed wrong. I tried to make it a "teachable moment" and not an accusation. Next time I'll just pay the $15 (to any random person behind the table) and walk. Joe
 
I, as a browser, don't see it as my place/responsibility to protect the seller from another browser, unless I see an activity that is something like actual theft.

Teachable moments? I think that only exists between parents and kids - in the best of circumstances. In another thread I describe an event that happened to me today at the range: A guy touched his gun while on a cease fire. Clear rule violation I pointed it out to him when he did it. And he looked at me like I was close to the line of getting in his business when it wasn't any of my business. Maybe he walked away having learned something. But he only conveyed anger from what I could see.

I too have started staying away from local gun shows. More and more it seems like I'm paying for the privilege of looking at high priced stuff.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
gunshow ettiquette

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 !
 
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.
 
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.
 
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