Buying at a gun show vs local dealer

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KentuckyBlue

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We're expecting to be snowed in tomorrow, but in the event we're not, I was thinking about going to a gun show that is in town this weekend. What is your feeling/experience buying at a show vs at a local gun shop? I also wondered, with the background checks and all that, how one actually buys at a show that is here for only 2 days. Thanks for your advice. I'm a new member here and look forward to chatting with you.

Ray
 
If you buy from a dealer at a gun show, the exact same rules apply as though you were buying from your local dealer. All background checks and waiting periods apply. If you have a waiting period to deal with and buy from a dealer at a gun show, you must make arrangements to travel to his licensed premises to take possession of the firearm.

If buying from a non-dealer, the same laws that apply to face-to-face purchases in your state apply to the gun show.

IMO, prices from dealers are higher at gun shows.
 
Sometimes the local dealers will set up at a gun show. If it's not a local, where will he be if you have a problem with the gun?
 
Here in Texas, gun show prices are generally lower than local gun shops ... sometimes a lot lower.

If buying at the gun show and you know that you will be subject to the waiting period, make sure you buy from one that will return to your city quickly at the next gun show so you can pick it up from there. Otherwise, you would have to travel to where they are from.
 
I find many of the gun show guns are priced higher than the local dealer, but there is a much larger selection at the show and the rare deal of the century.
 
Hey KY, welcome to The High Road. I guess it's just a personal thing with me, but I'd rather deal with a local gunshop (unless he/she's got a table at the show. I hear that you can occasionally get a deal at a show, and more often hear that you can get a "steal" online; and these things may be true. But I'd rather start a love affair with someone I can see face-to-face when I feel like seeing them, than "score" now and then. I kinda base it on my car. I drive a 16 year old car with a bunch of miles on it. I used to do all the work on it myself until I met a guy at a service station/gas station down the street. He replaced some front-end parts for me a couple of years ago for for not much more than I could have done it myself... sans the "pain in the ass factor" in the snow. Turned out that I could trust him. He lets me know what I need without selling me anything I don't. I have the same kind of relationship with a guy (Forrest) at my local Gander Mountain. He's quite knowledgeable, doesn't push, and is always ready and willing to help. Others there are also about the same. They treat me right, and I spend money with them. I've also been called when they got something in that they knew I was interested in. The same is true at a gunshop North of me in Merrill. None of us are beer drinking, Packer's watching buddies, but they look out for me, and I spend my money with them.
If you try your local people and they're rude to you or aren't willing to work with you (and it CAN happen), THEN you go online. But first I reccommend that you try and establish a relationship with the folks where you live. I'd rather hire my neighbors than a stranger.
I know that this is becomming a foreign concept now that we all have computers and are connected to the whole world, and we can save a few bucks in Miami or 20 cents in some other country. My "friends" are always close to the best price, it not willing to match or beat it. I hope you'll try them at least.
Robb
 
Hkmp5sd said:
If you buy from a dealer at a gun show, the exact same rules apply as though you were buying from your local dealer. All background checks and waiting periods apply. If you have a waiting period to deal with and buy from a dealer at a gun show, you must make arrangements to travel to his licensed premises to take possession of the firearm.
Click to expand...
Quite correct, although it would surprise me if Kentucky has a waiting period. Most likely the dealer would call in your NICS check. As for myself, I just show my CCW and there isn't even the phone call. :cool:

Very often, local dealers will have tables at gun shows. Some dealers may be from out of the area. If you have a problem with the merchandise it may be very inconvenient to travel 100+ miles to complain about it. This is your call, but is something to watch for.
 
I go to gun shows for older used guns, usually no longer in production for my collection. I also check out the local dealers but the gun shows have a lot more variety to view than any single shop. A lot of the local dealers sell at the guns shows along with some out of towner's. You have to know prices no matter where you shop, there's no single place that I've found to have the "best" prices all the time.

I've seen few real bargains on the web and can usually find a particular gun I'm looking for cheaper locally or at the shows. Though I have bought a few hard to find items off the web. At the shows or a dealer I can at least examine and touch the product vrs looking at pictures on the PC.

Some of the best bargains will be from private sellers.

Arizona has a telephone instant check for purchases and if you are a CCW holder you just use your card. Other jurisdictions will vary in their proceedures and requirements.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I always prefer to buy locally as well. I want good shops to stick around and I'll give them my business. I was just curious as to how shows were set up. The show this weekend is in Lexington at Heritage Hall.
 
I agree with staying away from most of the dealers. What I've found that has been somewhat successful in price & quality are the "aisle walkers" selling their firearms.
I observe the check-in tables quite frequently and if there is a piece that attracts my eye: will make contact.
Caveat: Many that sell have a "lemon" on their hands so be sure to ask questions & examine the pistol carefully. No tax, no FFL fee, no background check..:)
 
If your going to a gun show and know what you want and know the price from the local dealer, then you will know if your getting a deal. Plus you can usually dicker with the seller at a show. The best deals I have gotten was on the last day a few hours before the show is ending. Have fun, Bob
 
Also, if you have access to a reasonably priced FFL, there's a lot of good stuff for sale/trade here and on TFL. I'm very lucky that my FFL charges $15 per 4473 (up to 3 guns) and $15 to flat-rate mail a handgun for me.

Before I found this fella, buying, selling, and trading online or through the forums was just to expensive.

I still go to the gun shows here but to be honest I've never seen anything that even remotely resembles a good deal...
 
Ala Dan is exactly right about buying from individuals. Prices at gun shows are very negotiable on used guns. I've never seen a dealer anywhere budge on a new gun. One local dealer sets up at every gunshow within 100 miles from here and he prices the gunshow guns higher than the same guns in his shop. He says it is because everyone at the shows expects him to come down on his price.
 
In TX - you save significant monies on standard new guns at the shows. For instance - a Glock for $459 vs. $499 (at our best big box stores). Similar for a 642.

Ammo is not particularly cheaper at the shows.

Bargaining - do it politely. Sometimes you can save. If you do see a dealer with a significantly good deal, then don't be a butt about bargaining for $5.00.

It is always amusing to go from table to table and see the same gun vary $100 in price.

Most gadgets - you do better on the Internet. However, I will spend a touch more at the show if the dude is pleasant. I spend about $5.00 on a knife from dealer I vs. II as I was polite and let me play with other things for a bit. II was a snarler.

Then, you can always eat Jerky! Go with friends and after go eat some food that will make your wife mad if she knew you were eating it.
 
Gun shows are good for those esoteric items that are hard to find. If it is a basic easy to find firearm, I'd rather get it from a dealer so that if there is a problem with it, they will usually make it right, whereas gun show folks leave the area. Of course, if the price is right (a rare thing at a gun show), it may be worth the gamble.
 
Support your local gun dealer. They are a dying breed.
Click to expand...
+1

I will pay a little more locally if it comes down to that and they have or can get the gun I want.

Most all of our local gunshops have bit the big one after Walmart came, and later after Cabala's opened a store 20 minutes away.

Now, Wal-Mart doesn't sell guns anymore, and Cabala's is higher then a cats back!

True, you may save a few bucks at a gunshow, or buying online.

But where will you have to go to find a FFL to buy on-line after the local guys all go broke waiting for you to buy something?

rcmodel
 
At the gun shows I went to, most of the sellers where not local, but were either out of town shops or some how seemed to travel around and sell. I prefer to buy from a local store with good service that will be there to help. I always stress, buy from a place with good service, so goes the saying, buy the seller. I have done some business with one store and now they help me look over and inspect FFL transfer that come in through them. Always helps to have another more knowledgable person look it over first.

Shows are fun to go to look and check things out, but I don't buy much. Everyone's different though.
 
I wouldn't buy any new gun at a show. But used stuff, surplus stuff, etc...well, you find one you want, you jump on it.
Other than that, I spend more time checking out ammo, scopes, reloading materials, etc. Stuff I can't get locally, or want to handle before I go through the trouble of ordering.
 
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