Gun Sales Slow??? Recent Gun Show

[TheHobbyist]

Hope all is well. Recently, I went to my first gun show of the season, which I consider Fall to be the start of. Largest show in the State and it was rather quiet. I talked to SWCA members, exhibitors, FFL's, asked them how it's going...slow. Some said they thought people didn't even bring cash with them, just wasting time.

I have been so busy I haven't really gave attention. I noticed several very good buys that a few years ago would have been almost double.

Are you seeing this in your area too?

Market forces will drive items up and down, it happens. I wonder what the next few years will bring.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Not sure why they call some of them "Gun Shows" - food - clothing - jewelry - etc.

 

[fmflorida]

We just had a gun show in my area this past weekend I didnt attend but a few friends and guys at the local gun shop did and they said it was pretty slow as well.

I havent gone to a gun show in 2 or 3 years because the few gun shows I did go to, maybe 4 or 5, all the prices were the same or sometimes higher on guns than if I were to get them at the local store. There were some decent deals on certain items but generally speaking it wasnt as if the show had "amazing" prices or anything.

Also as the post above me says the show had a lot of "artsy" stuff, jewelry, leather work (yes some holster stuff) but mostly leather purses/bags, and then some food vendors.

It just wasnt really appealing for me to go back.

Not to say if a few friends got together and wanted to go I would decline but I certainly wouldnt just "go to go"

 

[Stevens]

There used to be one yearly in Thibodaux, I usually attended, a couple of years ago it stopped. There was one in nearby Houma too, it went on till a year ago when it stopped too. Now the nearest is about an hour's drive away, I haven't made that one maybe this year. As others have mentioned the local shows had turned out selling lots of "other stuff" not so much guns.
Steve W

 

[df06]

I go to 4-5 gun shows a year. I occasionally buy reloading components or some other items that are gun related. It's extremely rare that I'll buy a gun at a gun show. The reason is that the vast vast majority of them are over priced. People seem to think that their used gun is worth a premium, or their used and in good condition is worth more than the exact same gun NIB off an internet seller. The internet has produced a lot of price transparency. Lots of sellers seem to not understand or recognize that.
I do find myself going to fewer and fewer shows every year.

 

[Golddollar]

This weekend is the York, PA gun show. Good sized show, I know a number of the vendors. If I didn't show up I think one of the ladies at the entry would call Missing Persons, because she always likes to trade for the Golden Dollars I pay my admission with.

I'm probably not buying much in the way of additional guns anymore, but it only takes one to make the trip worthwhile. At the last show the crowd was down, but most of the regular vendors were there and one of them clued me in on a Russian Nagant revolver he had with Finnish capture marks. It was in great shape, he gave me a good cash price, and I gave him a deposit that included 10 Golden Dollars and he held it for me to go to the bank to get the rest of the cash. He told me that there were a couple of guys interested in it, but as the saying goes, "Money talks, baloney walks."

 

[Tim Tom]

I typically go to one or two gun shows a year as well. The biggest one I have planned in the Wanemacher Gun Show in Tulsa next month and I'll be sure to update this thread then.

 

[oneounceload]

Last gun show I attended was 15 years ago; stupid admission and parking prices, gun prices at 10% above MSRP (let alone street pricing), and add in a lot of non-gun junk I can get at any street craft fair - what's the point?
I can find better deals at organized flea markets

 

[pharmer]

Went a couple weeks back. Slow in more ways than one. I spent $19. Fall show prices have a 20%"hunting season premium.". Joe

 

[italiansport]

The December Crossroads Show held in Phoenix in conjunction with the SAR is the best western show in the Country. I wouldn't miss it for anything!|
Jim

 

[doublesharp]

Louisville's National Gunday is this w-end and I have a table as I have for the past 20 years. Steady decline over the past 4 or 5 years but still worth doing for me since it's basically in my backyard, about 15 minutes from my driveway to the fairgrounds parking lot.

NGD has gone to a new 2 show per year format as opposed to the 4 always before. No more Dec/Jan and no summer show. I think that's a good move but will know more Sunday night.

 

[srsmyth]

I have been considering discontinuing traveling to the shows in the cities, I missed the last one. I see the same dealers lugging the same high priced guns over and over and the traffic is horrible. I must use the internet to find what I want anyway.

 

[BigBoy99]

I stopped going to "gun shows" because they were not gun shows. They were more tables of jewelry, jurky, tacti-cool equipment, clothing, personal care products, etc. than guns! The few tables of guns which were there, were so far over retail prices, I though each gun had a telephone number associated with it.

 

[pharmer]

..,... They were more tables of jewelry, jurky, tacti-cool equipment, clothing, personal care products, etc. than guns!

Where else can you get AG10 batteries, dental picks, BreakFree, And Elk jerky all in one place. They only need one gun to call it a "gun show.". Joe

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I only go to gun shows if I have something to sell or trade. Then only
buy or trade with non FFL folks, I did find a guy wanting me to forge
him some meat cleavers, just didn't want to pay my price, oh well.

 

[LittleCooner]

I have quit going to the gun shows, buying too many guns. I have learned to keep my mouth shut. On Sunday afternoons when everyone is throwing guns in cases and hauling the out the door to go home, I started making ridiculous low ball offers on the overpriced S&W revolvers. Don't do that, you will rid yourself of those benjamins in the pocket really quick sometimes

 

[john14_18]

I set up at the AGCA show in Birmingham and that is the only one I go to. They only have 3 a year and are pretty strict about having non-related gun items so it's not like a yard sale. A few years ago they moved to a new facility that is wonderful. Wide aisles, LED lighting and a ton of security. A lot better than when they use to have it at the Civic Center downtown where your biggest concern was getting mugged going back and forth from your car.They usually average about 650 tables per show. The last one in October had a good steady crowd but sales were a little slow. Usually all the dealers are overpriced but usually can run across some pretty good deals with individuals. I also sell a little ammo and that market has really slowed down

 

[mr.jbk79]

I will say that things seem pretty soft right now. The past 2 weekends I attended a show, and saw some decent buys but no takers. Just looking at table items briefly, and the sellers start dropping $$ off their prices without being asked or even an offer put forth from a potential buyer. Really nice collectible, desirable guns that a year or 2 ago would've been snatched up in no time at all.

 

[Golphin]

The Gun Shows I have been to the last few years here in North Central Florida are not even worth what they charge to get in the door. Most all of the guns are priced high retail and most of the booths have some new gimmick whatumacallit for sell. Half the guns for sale are with the local retailers for the same prices they have everyday.

 

[R.A. Rifleman]

From my observations, seems the entire market is soft right now, at least for big ticket items. I have a Stag AR15, a Seekins SP10, and 2 scopes listed on another site for hundreds off. No bites. And that same site has many great bargains for rifles and optics that just sit month after month while decently priced accessories sell within days. Go figure.