Bargaining at Gun Shows

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I love going to gun shows and seeing the prices. I give a fair offer, they decline, and I show the MSRP on my iPhone to be less than what they offered me. I ask if they'd like to try again. Believe it or not, if you treat them like you know more than they do, and are informed about your topic, you can sometimes make them realize that their guns are not worth what they are asking.

Sunday afternoons are usually the best time to do this, because its something they haven't sold...
 
Can't hurt to try. I've been going to gun shows for almost 30 years and have never regretted going to one.
Do I find a deal every time? No.
Do I find enough deals to keep going? Hell yes.

The last deal I made (last month) was for 550 rounds of 10mm for $200 - which made me very happy that I ignore the gunshow naysayers...
Click to expand...
I just bought 1000 rounds online for just under $300 shipped to my door. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=438497
Ammo is one thing that I seldom find a deal on, unless it is a private party who has recently sold his gun and wants to get rid of the no longer useable ammo.
 
Personally, I stopped going to shows years ago.

These days, you can find better deals on gunbroker. And like shows, you can haggle on GB too. There were several times I found something I liked at the right price, but with shipping factored in it was too much. So I just shoot an email saying "hey, I'll buy this if you can ship for free" You'd be surprised how many times the answer has been "sure"

And just a couple weeks ago I found a new gun that I wanted listed for $330 plus 30 shipping. I checked the closed listings and saw that it had been listed over and over for months and hadn't sold. So I looked up the shop on google, and gave them a call. I told them I had seen it had been listed for months on GB and hadn't sold and told them I'd give them $310 shipped and could mail the money out that day. He told me he'd think about it and call me back. Not even two hours later, I get a call with him saying "its a deal"

You never know if you never ask.
 
For me gun shows are far more about the human interaction with participants than the merchandise displayed. "Buying" is a secodary consideration. But if I find something that resonates, then I'll enter a dicker.......Whlch may take all the time I'm there - or several shows......Only rarely have I gone to a "gun show" to find a particular type gun.

OTOH, I've gone to selected shows to purchase particular non-gun items not readily available in my area > >MW
 
hiawatha knows about Garands.

A military reserve marksman friend who has spent time at both CMP stores (mostly while shooting in Camp Perry matches) and has contacts working in the back room, told me that the CMP is always the best source. This friend has eighteen Garands, mostly won in matches, and has sold two Navy 7.62 types for about $2,500 each.

The CMP certifies their guns, but even If an M-1 at a gun show is Not marked up at least $200 over the price paid to the CMP, how do you know the condition of the parts, and which might have been swapped since the rifle left the CMP?
 
here are a few good rules for trying to get the best deals at a show.

#1 act like you do not know much about a certain gun and then have the seller spend 10 minutes explaining everything about it and then offer about 1/4 of what he has on it.

#2 stop and ask the seller what he suggest is the gun you should have. when he ask what you want it for just tell him you have not decided yet but are just seeking advice as you plan on buying something a few shows from now.

#3 always go to the old dude with the cool collectible guns and ask to handle most of them then ask if he has any Glocks.

#4 When a dealer is trying to buy a gun from someone who has stopped at his table always offer a few dollars more for it before the dealer can finish the deal.

No seriously here is a few tips that will work on me.

Know the value of what you are looking for and unless its rare and in that condition not often seen make a fair offer.

Most often you can get it for a lower price if it is a used gun.

New gun prices can be found easily but often the dealer is pretty much stuck close to the price he has if he has competition.

When you see a known deal do not wait long as it may not be there when you get around to coming back for it. Every show I have folks come back to get some used gun and it has been sold.

Cash is king to most dealers at shows as they know its good and to a smaller dealer it may just let you get a smoking deal as with cash he has buying power and does not have to wait to get his funds as with a check and he takes no hit on a credit card.

Good luck as searching for a bargin is really kinda fun.
 
No seriously here is a few tips that will work on me.
Click to expand...

You had me going for a second.
Unfortunately many of my customers seem to have missed the second part of your post.
 
Go for it. I have done such things, but not for guns. But, the worst that can happens it that the dealer says, "No." If they get angry then to heck with them. Bargaining is part of the job.

FWIW - I've gotten and given great deals at gun shows. It's all about patience. You have to wait on it to come along, and then pounce. If you walk through at warp speed looking at the tags with asking prices and not taking a minute to ask, "What's your bottom dollar?" Or some such, then you'll never find a deal. Granted you MAY not find a deal anyway, but if you don't ask then you DEFINITELY will not find a deal. I always put a few bucks on my prices for negotiating purposes, and never come down the entire way the first go around.

BTW - it's not a straw purchase if everyone pools their money, fills out their own 4473, and takes their own gun home. If that's not what the guy had in mind though I'd be concerned that he was setting me up for a fall.
 
@Jon: I get the feeling that you've had the first four tips happen more often than you would like. I honestly couldn't believe that those were tips until I got to the lower half and realized the level of sarcasm in your post. My goal is not to waste anyone's time, so I promise I won't engage in any of your "tips".
 
Whenever I pay cash, I always ask if there is a cash discount. That is the extent of my bargaining skills. That and if I am with my eastern European father-in-law and don't ask for a deal he makes fun of me...
 
Actually there was nothing bad ment in the first part of the post other than a little humor. I could not sleep and seeing so many post lately go off in a bad way just like I said a little late night laugh.

I have given some very good deals to folks that are cheerfull and friendly as spreeding a little good cheer just might get you a better day.
I look at it this way when I worked in a hospital I would never in most cases know what kind of day someone was having and they were most likely having a more stressfull day than I was. But a smile and some friendly talk might just cheer that person up even for a few minutes.

So what I mean is when you aproach the table and after you say may I look at this pistol being friendly. You just may say somthing like you have a nice collection of firearms. and after a little look at a few of them ask if it was possible that he could work with you on the price. I have found about 75% or moer of the time that person will in fact work with you.

If it is a good deal then grab it. but if you are going to walk away just let the dealer know that its a fine gun and you wish to think a few minutes. then walk around and when you go back you may say something like I know we are close but would you take $XXX cash for it and it may save you a few more bucks.
You have done a few things here and all positive and maybe just might have set yourself up for the good guy deal.
#1 you are friendly
#2 you have said all positive things about his set up or firearms or something.
#3 you have asked hime IF he cold work with you which is a better aproach in many way's.
#4 offering cash at the end as a small incentive may just save you a few dollars at the end of the deal.

Good luck
 
Jon, you are 100% on target with your post.

Those guys who walk into a gunshow with the negative vibes I've seen in this (and every other gunshow thread) are bound to have a bad experience - it's what they are looking for to validate their opinion of gunshows.

I go to about ten shows a year - sometimes more. The first thing I do is walk around and say hello to all the vendors I know from past interactions and purchases. I walk up, shake hands, smile, ask them how they are doing, compliment their wares, and ask how business is going today. Shooting the breeze is a great tool when hunting for deals.

Vendors who know you and know you as a nice guy who actually buys stuff every show are much more likely to wheel and deal.

Knowing the msrp on new guns, the current selling price for used guns, and being tuned into what you actually want go a long way to giving you better odds on getting a deal. Being systematic about reviewing what's on every table at the show before you start haggling is my technique for getting the best deals. I may lose out on a deal every once in a while, but my method works pretty well for me.
 
Jon,
Thanks for the tips. My general policy is to try and be nicer/more polite than the guy I'm dealing with. My father-in-law was a car salesman back in his youth and he has tried hard to teach me the fine art of bargaining well. I'll admit that I'm not that good at it. However, I can definitely be nice to people and am smart enough to know when to walk away.

Thanks again.
 
My Dad always gets good deals through haggeling at gun shows. He's pretty ruthless. The seller knows what the gun, etc is worth and frequently says "no deal". Nothing personal. My Dad moves to the next table the process continues. Part of the time I feel sorry for the seller, but, when the sale is finalized, I think everybody feels like they got a square deal and feels good about it. Usually he deals with the older dearlers who are familiar with the game. Me, I usually buy ammunition and/or components and go to watch my Dad.
 
Three of the absolute worse words to say to any vender whether at a gun show or another venue is "I'll give you!".

My wife was a dealer for 20 years at the Shipshewana Flea Market in No. Indiana, and those three words would end any possible deal whatsoever, even if it benefited her.

I believe peoples attidude changes markedly when at a gun show, flea market ect., compared to a b&m retail outlet.
 
I don't pay to go to the local shows. I joined the gun club that sponsors them so I can get in a 1/2 hr. early and the show is free. It cost me $20.00 to join the first year and $15.00 every year after that.

They put on shows in 3 different states (hence the name Tri State Gun Collectors Inc.) and I can gain access to any of them by just showing my membership badge or card.

One thing to keep in mind is, the vendors have an added expense in setting up a display at a show. Things like rental space and fuel usage (not to mention giving up their weekend time) cost them hard earned dollars so they have to add some to their price to try and make up the difference.

I'll admit that there are some who take it to the extreme but many are just trying to make a few dollars to cover their cost and make a small profit for their efforts.

Personally, when I go to the shows looking to purchase a gun I seek out the individuals who are walking around carrying something I may be interested in. If a dealer has something that interest me I will ask them for their bottom dollar price. If it's too high I will thank them and walk away.

If you go on the final day and it's close to the closing of the show sometimes you can get a better deal from a vendor, especially if the dealer hasn't made very many sales. The down side is, if there was something specific that you wanted, it may not be around if you hesitate because of a few dollars.

It's up to the individual to decide if the extra money is worth getting it right now as apposed to waiting and possibly missing out on getting it at all.
 
It sounds like it might be fun to attend with a group. It would provide a chance to get price & other information about items of interest as people discuss what they see among themselves.

But doing that also runs the risk that more than one person in the group will want the same gun. If that happens than the price may go up on that gun as individuals make their individual pitch to buy it. Then someone would need to back down. Not every gun will be current or recent production so if there's only one available then going in a group becomes who saw it first or is willing to pay more. If the group is too large then the tables won't be large enough for the entire group to gather around to examine guns.
The group may also scatter into separate subgroups and lose its purpose. If part of the group is not interested in what is at a table then they may want to split and move on while others are hemming & hawing or making a purchase and filling out forms.
If it happens then it would be nice to hear details about how it works out. :)
 
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I bargin with them,but I keep it real.I also try to be polite about it.I avoid the tables that are way out of line.I usually do something like this; I'm really interested in this,I have cash,can you help me out a little.If the guy displays any since of humor,I may tell him that I'm too tight to pay the asking price,and ask if having cash will get me a discount.I know they have to make a profit,and I'm willing to pay a fair price for something that I want.
I enjoyed reading all of the above post and picked up a few ideas to use,and even a little insite from those who are sellers. Thanks, Lightman
 
the only time you get a bargain is if everone is selling the same guns. Then you can play a little betwen dealers, but don't go back and forth more than once with a price to the same guy, or he's going to tell you to stick it. Make the rounds see who has the lowest price haggle with him a bit, then go to the largest dealer and see if he will beat it, show him the cash, and he is likelly to do a little better. But you committed yourself at that point..Also as mentioned a private sale, someone walking around is usually going to save you money as a buyer, but you have no recourse if there is something wrong with the gun unless it's waranteed by the manufacturer. Selling is easier, you will be stopped if you are carrying something and someone wants it. Five guns will save you a couple dollars, no more.
 
If you are buying four of the same gun like a Glock you won't get much of a deal. Maybe a $10 discount. That's not worth the trip. The best sellers at Dulles are Trader Jerrys and Dark Sun. They are the biggest sellers and they have the best prices. But I doubt they will haggle because they know they are already beating everyones price.
 
Gun show bargains are a thing of the past, at least from my experience and it has little to do with my attitude. Every seller is trying to get rich off every sale. I can't remember the last gun I bought at one, if ever. I hardly remember the last one I should've bought and that has been a while. I buy powder, primer and cast bullets at shows but that's about it.
 
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