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.
 
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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.
 
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.
 
cory2015 said:
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 !
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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. .:D

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

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
 
sceva said:
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).
Click to expand...

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. :(
 
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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. ;)
 
wbraswell said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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.
 
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