Gun Show Pricing - Too High?

[DR505]

I just got back from a gun and knife show in Albuquerque. I think the prices here are way too high.

Example:

• Brand New Jerry Miculek 625 going for $975.00
• Used Model 57-5 .41 Magnum 4" Mountain Gun (has lock) $900.00
• Used Model 29-3 .44 Magnum 6" for $925.00

Those are a representative sample and seemed quite high to me. Is this typical pricing at shows?

 

[usm1rifle]

Yes, normally most gun show dealers ask way too much IMHO.

Watch the for sale ads here and pay note to what sells.

 

[murphydog]

Also, you never know if the sellers want to haggle on their stated prices. If you have the patience and time to do so you may find the prices negotiable, but I have neither so usually find very little at shows.

If you can get in during "dealer"/setup time or just before closing, however, apparently that is a different story...

 

[nipster]

The 29-3 price seems way high...

The other 2, I am not sure what they go for, you can still buy them.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I check the local Iwanta & trader papers. Have found several deals this way. Sadly our news papers stopped carrying gun ads several years ago. If you have the time flea markets and yard sales will turn up a good deal occasionally.
GS's are usuallly too high.

 

[panamajack310]

DR505, I think if you took a survey from everyone that has been to a gunshow lately, you will find that the prices really suc. Everything seems to be over market price and to top it off there is more arts and crafts at the gunshows here in NC than I have ever seen.

 

[jughed440]

Today at a gun show i saw a $500+ price difference in two of the very same guns (6" Model 57s)...granted, one was a nice shooter grade and priced at $400, the other was in slightly better shape and priced at $935, it sat on the table of a dealer known to usually want more than what S&Ws are worth.
I did see a LNIB 4" 625-3 priced slightly below what they seem to go for these days

 

[MichiganScott]

The gun show cowboys typically hope to snag a sucker. We need to realize that those of us that are enthusiastic enough about firearms to frequent the S&W Forums are negligible compared to the total number of shooters.

I'm surprised that jughed440 found such a difference in prices. It's been my experience at gunshows that there appears to almost be price fixing, particularly with anything in demand.

 

[RussellD]

gun shows are interesting events. if you are selling those guns would be worth half, if you are buying...they are the last specimens in existence and command a premium..LOL

 

[BCDWYO]

I listed a excellent condition 6" 29-3 with original box on here in the past year for $725 and it didn't get a bite. It finally sold when I dropped it under $700 as I recall. So yeah, $925 definitely seems high for that one!

 

[nipster]

gun shows are interesting events. if you are selling those guns would be worth half, if you are buying...they are the last specimens in existence and command a premium..LOL

That's exactly right.

It's especially fun to find a guy with a table full of overpriced stuff when you are trying to sell something.

It goes like this: you present the gun, he lowballs you for more than half of what he is selling the exact same gun on his table for. You present this fact, and he is speechless. Gun show people are not like gun stores and cant use the "overhead" excuse.

 

[DMSC]

I went to my first show in a couple of years, today. I have to agree with previous comments...about 40% of the vendors weren't even selling gun-related items...much less guns!

I agree that for the most part, prices were ridiculous at the show.

Having said that, I found a nice 66-4 with box/manual for a good price. Yes...it followed me home.

 

[AveragEd]

Most of the gun shows in this area are way too heavy on the side of black guns and survival gear for me. Accordingly, it often takes me only as long as a lap around the room(s) requires before my curiosity is satisfied and I'm on my way home.

There are two shows that I enjoy and from which I almost always come home with something. They are at a small gun club and a small local fire company; both seem to draw at least as many collectors selling their duplicates as dealers selling their inventories.

Maryland must be heaven for gun show dealers. I know a Pennsylvania dealer who specializes in Rugers - he will not set up his display at shows here in Pennsylvania but never misses one in Maryland. He says we are too cheap to pay a fair price for his goods.

No one is making you as much as speak with dealers who ask ridiculous prices for their guns and gear, so where's the foul? I go to shows more for the little things - new brass and factory loads for cartridges no longer in production, for example. Several years ago, I was having a custom varmint rifle built in .243 Ackley Improved. I was prepared to handload and fire-form 100 pieces of brass until I came across six boxes of Remington .243WIN factory loads for $15 each at one of those two shows I mentioned. I bought all six boxes for $60 and had my new barrel broken in and 120 fire-formed cases made and ready to load with test recipes in a few hours.

Even if I strike out, I can always think of times when I wasted a lot more than the usual five to eight dollar admission fee.

Ed

 

[Backlighting]

Re: Gun shows-The idea of me, a potential customer, being charged an admission fee for the privilege of seeing what's for sale, I find outrageous. The vendors should pick up the fees.

 

[crazyponie]

I have talked with a number of local gun store clerks about this very thing. They all with out a doubt love gun shows. Everyone goes to the shows, see the stupid prices and go directly from the show to a local store and purchase the same gun for a lot less. Around here a number of stores have flyers for the gun show for this very reason.

 

[BUFF]

"Gun show people are not like gun stores and cant use the "overhead" excuse."

Many of the vendors and table holders at gun shows are also brick-and-mortar shops and many of the others are home-based dealers.

I do find it interesting that, if you attend any particular show for a number of shows, you will see the same guns and same other merchandise on the same tables being offered by the same folks for the same, too-high prices. It makes you wonder if they really want to sell anything.

 

[exdetsgt]

My experience here in Arizona is that, in many cases, the gun-show price for Pistol A and Revolver B is higher that what you could buy them for at most local gun shops. Or on line, for that matter. Other posters have noted that gun shows may be worth a visit if you are looking for something other than a gun.

 

[nipster]

Many of the vendors and table holders at gun shows are also brick-and-mortar shops

That is very true at most of gun shows in my area. There is a handfull however that are real "old school" type gun shows. Using the one I was at today as an example, small venue, only 2 dealers / FFL's at the entire show, the rest were individuals. Cash ruled, no call-in. Cash and carry like the old days.

and many of the others are home-based dealers.

I will tend to agree with this. The same faces at these shows tends to tell me that these people are "wanna-be" dealers, probably making more money than they should selling guns outside the "legal mechanism" of the ATF as non-FFL's. Some may in fact even be C&R's walking the fine line of the restrictions of that framework. But these people, technically dont have overhead, unless you consider their living expenses. But if they are doing this for a living, to get technical, they are breaking the law. I am not going to get into that ethical or legal debate. So long as they dont sell illegal guns, I dont really care how they make their money.

I do find it interesting that, if you attend any particular show for a number of shows, you will see the same guns and same other merchandise on the same tables being offered by the same folks for the same, too-high prices. It makes you wonder if they really want to sell anything.

I agree with that 100%. I guess you figure, if they sell at least 1 or 2 guns, they pay for the table, so even if they make SOME money, it's money nonetheless.

 

[chud333]

What i have observed;
On some of the more popular stuff dealers are competitive.
Rarer and older hard to find guns/items are priced too high.
As stated though, don't be hesitant to try and haggle with
the seller. Most always, i can get a guy to come off his listed
price on an older model. The newer stuff he probably does'nt
have the wiggle room to come down much. But he might cut
you a small price break anyways if approached at the right time.
Never hurts to try. Be friendly and courteous. Ask to handle,
before you handle his wares. Don't come off with an (i know it all
attitude), and most guys will work with you some.
I also agree with the member who stated that when you have
something to sell or trade it instantly becomes a piece of ****,
unless it's NIB and rare, and everything the dealer has is ultracool gotta have stuff. Be prepared for this also. Reverse-Haggling....

Chuck

 

[ma deuce]

>
>
Maryland must be heaven for gun show dealers. I know a Pennsylvania dealer who specializes in Rugers - he will not set up his display at shows here in Pennsylvania but never misses one in Maryland. He says we are too cheap to pay a fair price for his goods.
>
>

Here's one Marylander who's pretty much stopped going to Maryland shows. There's no bargains to be found, and too much space taken up with non-gun related items. I'd rather deal with the handful of LGS where I can expect to be treated fairly. I do like the York, PA show for the inverse reason as that dealer you cite - some good deals to be had.

I also go to the Chantilly, VA show which, BTW, is close to NRA headquarters and its museum, something no shooter or collector should miss. Few bargains to be found at the show, except usually on ammo, but a great selection.