14daMoney
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What Is Happening To Local Gun Shows?
- Thread starter jmiles1960
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Been going to shows since the late 60’s. Times change. Largest issue IMHO is there are WAY TO MANY GUN SHOWS. Seems any and everyone thinks they are show promoters. People dont have the money when there are 4-6 shows every weekend( Florida). Online sites also attract more buyers. The good ole days are about over for gun shows.
GypsmJim
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When I tell my buddy I went to a gun show, he always says "did you find a good deal?" To him a "deal" means cheap. There is no cheap stuff at a gun show.
I can go online and find "stuff", or go to Cabelas (all the LGSs are basically gone) and find other "stuff".
At gun shows they have primers and powder and new firearms that are over priced. So, we don't buy those things. But every once in awhile we find something at a gun show that can't be found anywhere else, and even though it may be a little over priced, we come home with a true gem.
Even if we buy nothing, we come home seeing items we already have selling for $695, that we only paid $19 for 20 years ago. THAT's worth the price of admission.
Even if you don't see the things that make you feel good, what could be better than window shopping on a cold, snowy Winter afternoon? The option is playing on your tweeter or watching TV. I'd rather shovel snow....
I can go online and find "stuff", or go to Cabelas (all the LGSs are basically gone) and find other "stuff".
At gun shows they have primers and powder and new firearms that are over priced. So, we don't buy those things. But every once in awhile we find something at a gun show that can't be found anywhere else, and even though it may be a little over priced, we come home with a true gem.
Even if we buy nothing, we come home seeing items we already have selling for $695, that we only paid $19 for 20 years ago. THAT's worth the price of admission.
Even if you don't see the things that make you feel good, what could be better than window shopping on a cold, snowy Winter afternoon? The option is playing on your tweeter or watching TV. I'd rather shovel snow....
I bought lots of bangers & stuff at the SC gunshows in 70's-80's-90's.............Now the prices are too high and too much junk there.
it BURNS ME to have to pay to park and some "moan backer" telling me where to do it.
it BURNS ME to have to pay to park and some "moan backer" telling me where to do it.
.357magger
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I've been going to local New Orleans area gunshows for 40+ years and yes they've changed. So have I. So have you. (well, most of you anyway 
)
But 2 things I'd like to share as observations.
One, what else would I rather be doing than fondling guns for a couple of hours? Uh...let me think...not much. If I can snag something cheaper online, I'll do that, but I don't get mad at the seller at the show. I just think they're not smart business persons.
And two, it's in the corners and glass cases of the smaller sellers, or the items traded in from the larger sellers, where I find items interesting to me. It's sometimes pure gold in the former and underpriced in the latter (see smart business persons comment above). For example, this Colt 380 Model M was listed @ $425 because to the seller it was "an old gun" and he was trying to be a high volume Combat Tupperware salesman.
And if I don't find "a deal " that show? Well then I refer you to my first comment.
Just my $.02, YMMV.
)But 2 things I'd like to share as observations.
One, what else would I rather be doing than fondling guns for a couple of hours? Uh...let me think...not much. If I can snag something cheaper online, I'll do that, but I don't get mad at the seller at the show. I just think they're not smart business persons.
And two, it's in the corners and glass cases of the smaller sellers, or the items traded in from the larger sellers, where I find items interesting to me. It's sometimes pure gold in the former and underpriced in the latter (see smart business persons comment above). For example, this Colt 380 Model M was listed @ $425 because to the seller it was "an old gun" and he was trying to be a high volume Combat Tupperware salesman.
And if I don't find "a deal " that show? Well then I refer you to my first comment.
Just my $.02, YMMV.
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Abbotson
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Someone said they're entertainment. They were right. I go to see a few unusual things, a few things I've never seen etc. Bargains are, not nonexistent, but very, very rare.
lawandorder
Member
I also think that there are too many gun shows. It has greatly diluted the quality of merchandise. Also think folks are trying their darnedest to price shows( & merchandise ) out of everyone's reach.
The one thing that has kept me spending $ for overpriced attendance is one thing. I don't know what that one thing is until I see it on the table between the jerky seller and the vinyl siding vendor 's tables.
It might be a pristine pre war set of magna grips for &50.00 or a long time ago, a set of Ivory grips the dealer said was plastic and priced them at $20.
It might be a revolver that had a presentation on the backstrap from blank to blank. The dealer did not recognize the names, I did. Two famous lawmen from the 1890s.
It might be a S.D. Myers floral carved holster with a tag for $5.00 or A a half a dozen Tyler T grips for $10.00s take all. OK.
Then again it might be be a 30% finish K22 for $1,100 dollars wearing some kind of plastic grips.
Gun shows are like old Forrest says, never know what you are going find.
Treasures are sometimes buried in plain sight.
The one thing that has kept me spending $ for overpriced attendance is one thing. I don't know what that one thing is until I see it on the table between the jerky seller and the vinyl siding vendor 's tables.
It might be a pristine pre war set of magna grips for &50.00 or a long time ago, a set of Ivory grips the dealer said was plastic and priced them at $20.
It might be a revolver that had a presentation on the backstrap from blank to blank. The dealer did not recognize the names, I did. Two famous lawmen from the 1890s.
It might be a S.D. Myers floral carved holster with a tag for $5.00 or A a half a dozen Tyler T grips for $10.00s take all. OK.
Then again it might be be a 30% finish K22 for $1,100 dollars wearing some kind of plastic grips.
Gun shows are like old Forrest says, never know what you are going find.
Treasures are sometimes buried in plain sight.
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Agree on the idea, “its something to do” and looking at guns one likes(if they can be found) beats sitting at home watching tv. I really can not figure out how promoters are making enough money to make their business successful? Perhaps they operate at a loss and show business is with another business they make $$$ with??????
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