Gun Show gripe!

[gregintenn]

do people actually go to shows to buy something they don't want to begin with just for the sole purpose of turning around and selling it just to make a buck?

Absolutely! Much like the "pen hookers" who loiter at the entrance to a stock sale, I've yet to go to a gunshow where there weren't vultures lurking near the entrance trying to find some poor, unsuspecting person coming in trying to turn grandpa's Colt into cash. Heck, I've even been guilty of being that guy. If you frequent several shows in the same market, you'll recognize these same fellows at most of the shows. Evidently, it must be profitable. I consider it part of the gunshow experience.

 

[coldmold]

I have been attending local gun shows for quite awhile. Over the years I have met and made friends with a lot of dealers. Also I have come to learn whitch dealers are honest and whitch one will rip you off if they can. (I stay away from those) This is not to hard because the same dealers are at about every show.
I went to a show last summer and walked up to the table of a guy who I had dealt eith in the past. He knew my interests and said hey I got something to show you. He knows of my liking for prelock Smiths and that I worship at the altar of the 44spl.
He brought a pristine new in box 24-3 from under the table and said what you think. I said lets deal. We did. Its in my safe and he is going to make some money on my trade in. My point is we dealt in a friendly way. So if possible get to know the dealers and learn who is a who isn;t honest with you.

 

[Moonman]

GUN SHOWS

You're Selling = It's not worth a whole lot.

You're Buying = They're getting harder to come by now and the market gets a Premium.

 

[RPM1965]

My standard reply to ill-mannered inquries and low-ball offers at gun shows is, "you can't afford it". This may seem coarse but it accomplishes one of two things: The guy either shuts up and leaves you alone or he produces the cash to prove to you that he most certainly can, "afford it".

 

[mkk41]

Yep , most gun show vendors these days are just low class hucksters and BS artists. They remind me of Mr. Haney on Green Acres.

 

[RPM1965]

Yep , most gun show vendors these days are just low class hucksters and BS artists. They remind me of Mr. Haney on Green Acres.

At least Mr. Haney had a pleasant personality!

 

[Danny Abernathy]

Hit the nail on the head-front door sharks. These are the guys who hover around the entrance trying to tell you what a big favor they will be doing you by paying a fraction of what your gun is worth before you ever get inside. and then there are the guys who only want to have "digit intercourse" with your gun and have no intention of buying your gun or anything else for that matter. They take your gun, look at it, rub it, drool on it, cycle the action and slam the cylinder shut or drop the slide a half dozen times. Then they tell you that it is a nice gun, or they had one like it or they wish they had the money to buy it and walk off. Most of the time they don't even thank you for letting them look at it.
The one's that really aggrevate me is the guy who walks up with a Loricin or a RG and wants to trade for your Smith or Colt and stands there and argues that how much better his gun is than yours and almost demands that you take his offer. Makes you want to stick his gun where the sun doesn't shine.

 

[blujax01]

I go to a couple a year just to get out of the house and eat a world-famous coney dog.

In Ohio, if you're carrying to sell or for CCW you are required to declare at the entrance, remove the ammo and they put on a "peace tie" zip strip through the barrel. During this process, there are always 3 or 4 on-lookers eyeballing your gun.
It never fails, I put the gun back in my holster, clear the entrance table and am immediately approached by these buzzards: "You lookin' to sell that piece? It ain't gonna go fer much hidin' in yer pocket."

I go to buy targets, maybe some components, generally people watch. Much like the State Fair. I'm not there to save money.

 

[delta-419]

Gun Shows

I perfer the small town shows where most of the locals gather to drink a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze. It is more of a social event and dealers are few. I have found some great buys from private sales where a one table shooter/collecter will offer to thin his herd. Just picked up a nice brown all matching .44 Triplelock that had a Jinks letter for $800 with a tag that said $900 with a line thru the $1000 price. The seller said that he had just purchased his 3rd TL and wanted to sell this one. It is 100% mechanically and shoots great. He knew what he had and wanted to deal. I knew what he had and wanted to deal. And oh! buy the way, it was Sunday afternoon! Enough said!

 

[mkk41]

Yeah , there's always some buzzards hovering around the entrance trying to sell ya Teddy Roosevelts personal M-1 Garand , but lately , the shows around here have a bunch of pushy , non-gun related 'salesmen' just inside the show , telling you why you need to buy their storm windows , gutter guards , aluminum or vinyl siding. That and charities for everything shoving a donation jar in your face the minute ya walk in.

 

[sqhead]

i get better deals at pawn shops and the local gun store.I just bought 2 guns at the lgs,a mod. 60 no dash, pinned,lnib,matching mint grips,tools,vapor paper,correct box, 400 otd and a mod.37-2,no-lock,mint, matching box,etc 300 otd,i'm sure i can make a profit on both.........but they are keepers : )

 

[feralmerril]

This is old as the bible.

 

[Stevie]

This is old as the bible.

It's as true as the Bible too.

I knock gunshow vendors...but I've bought/traded for a lot of guns at the shows over the years...and didn't feel too badly raped....or have just plain found good deals.

My 686-4 came from a gunshow years back for $300...a well used import P08 Luger for $325....a really decent walnut stocked 10/22 for $90 not very many years back...a cool 1932 Tula Nagant revolver with the fine checked wood and round front sight...my Daewoo K1A1/Stoeger MAX I came from a gunshow...a Berthier 07/15..a Turk longrifle...No.5 Mk.I Jungle carbine...Chinese 9mm Tok for cheap...FEG Hi-Power clone..a brand-new SP 101 .357 DA only on sale for for $325 or $345(some years back...Sistema Colt .45 and a CZ 50 from the same guy..many others too.

I've had good times at gunshows. I just rarely go anymore. My 16 year old son has been bugging me lately to go to a show for sometime. I need to put a wad of cash in my wallet and take him just for old times sake I guess.

 

[mxbob]

Boy! I am sure glad the shows around here aren't like that.
Bob Ray 1815

 

[John Ross]

Lots of hostility here! I don't go to shows much lately as I was always there to buy if I found something interesting, and right now NYU Film School for my daughter takes precedence.

However, gun shows have always been a good place for me to find good prices on soft gun cases, gun books, bulk ammo, old reloading equipment, and interesting odd stuff. I once picked up a Line Throwing Gun that weighed about 150 lbs. I use it to shoot concrete-filled Schaefer beer cans out over the river. Paid $230 for it IIRC.

The dealers at local shows know me, know what I like, and know I carry cash. They'll draw my attention to things like older N-frames, usually offering them at what I feel is a fair price, and sometimes I buy.

Since I never come in with stuff to sell, I have no experience with people trying to rip me off with ridiculous lowball offers, but if that happened, I'd just laugh and say "I'm looking to sell this gun to someone that wants to OWN it, not flip it for a profit."

 

[austintexas]

If there is a gun show within 100 miles of my house I usually go. I hear people all the time ask how I come up with rare or unusual Smiths and I tell them gunshows and pawnshops. Then they complain the prices are too high and there is to much jerky etc at the gunshows and I tell them that collecting nice guns is like the lotto, if you don't buy a ticket you don't win. I have attended some very small or poorly organized shows and If I don't fine a firearm I usually get a deal on parts and supplys.

SWCA 892

 

[Stevie]

I ain't got any hostility for gunshow vendors...I've just changed my methods of operation.

I bought many guns at gunshows..then I bought some I couldn't find but wanted online at the auction sites...

Anymore..I do most of my buying from two family run gunstores. I just go to the gunstore...look and buy if anything trips my trigger.

I don't even worry about 'missing any bargains' at the shows.

 

[LVSteve]

I've got guns I had customized and I've come to the conclusion, I'm stuck with them. I'll never get a fair price in a trade or sale.

I'm afraid that goes for custom cars, custom guns and custom houses. You rarely break even on them.

Around here we have "the usual suspects" simply because of our remoteness. They all try to sell at the reasonable +20% level and end up bringing the same guns to multiple shows. I have lost count of the times I eventually see their stuff on GB and barely selling at reasonable.

 

[Old Corp]

It's kinda funny - the GS where I work p/t does not participate in Gun Shows, and there are some big ones in our area.

The days that Gun Shows are scheduled are always our busiest days at the store, mainly due to aggravated, disgruntled people who have left the show and want to look at a good selection of guns at reasonable prices before they return home. Last Saturday was a prime example.

I waited on many customers that expressed alot of displeasure at attending the 'sword & jerky show', due to inflated prices, crowds, babystrollers, urban thugs trolling the aisles, etc.

 

[Evil Dog]

Can't say as I recall ever actually selling a gun (or much of anything else) at a profit. Most "dealers" are right proud of their wares judging by their prices. Some are willing to dicker while others are not. Either way, if I want something bad enough I might eventually end up buying it.