Very Quiet Gun Show

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Gunshows are a complete waste of time. Sounds like more are figuring this out
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1. Definition of a good gunshow is when you find gun(s) or other items you are wanting at a price equal to what you are willing to pay.

2. Definition of a great gunshow is when you find gun(s) or other items lower than what you expected to pay.

I mainly go to gunshows to find misc. items not worth trying to order via the Internet due to shipping costs. I especially have found some great prices (see #2) on holsters. Sounds like we have different wants and expectations.
 
I used to like going to gun shows, but in my neck of the woods (Green Bay area) they are pretty lousy.
 
Cooldill said:
The rest are full of Chinese toys, junk knives, poorly made "native American" crafts, T-shirts, jerky and salsa.... basically everything in the world EXCEPT what I came there for.
GUN AND AMMUNITION !!!
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I recall going to a show years ago based upon the promoter, show content and particular inventory that I had. Among other stuff that I brought for this show were the remnants of a military armory filled with 50s on up stuffage.

Now, keep in mind, while I'm not going to give items away - I fully hope to return from a show with next to nothing... Prices adjusted accordingly.

So, I'm loafin' about, talking to folk selling this and that and getting a kick outa watching the "Jerky Hut" guy across from me making a dead killing. He had this carnival huckster method of luring people in with his samples and never releasing them until he was certain they weren't going to give him anymore money. It was better than a football game.

Come Sunday, I see a couple fellas and note their sense of urgency in moving out looking for their wants. When they get set to pass jerky-boy he all but throws a net out and gets them to actually turn around for the free samples. Over a half hour later, after each of them has (no kidding!) 4-6 bags in EACH hand they finally dislodge and commence to move on. Instead of proceeding directly in their intended direction, one of them spots some of my vintage stuff and veers towards my tables. After a very quick look he hollers over to his pal to come over "He's got one!" and starts tapping on one of my cases.

When his buddy gets over he notes my slab-side carriers, early FPRP (firing pin retaining pins), early charging handles and such.

I'm thinking he's looking at the full, complete early chrome BCGs but in fact he only needs an early FPRP but that;s cool as I had something like 2 dozen... $8.00.

By now they've both set their 20-30 ponds of jerky down and are fishing through their pockets like 10 year olds pulling out gum wrappers, pennies, lint and crap and setting it all on the case.

Eventually they come up - together with like $3.00 and are crying about being out of money.

Remember now this is before all the re-pop vintage M-16 stuff came out.

One of them tries in vain to return some jerky items but of course, jerky-boy can't take food items back.

Eventually one of them tries the "we're all in this together brother - help a brother out" crap and quickly descends to insult.

REALLY! $8.00? IN ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT PART WRAPPERS!?!

My parting words were that maybe he could find a $3.00 one at the next beef jerky show that he goes to.

Ended up selling most of it to a local retired armorer. He had come around asking after the prices - known him for years - and told me what he'd pay and anted up at the end. Bought all the pins among other things for what I was asking.
 
About 15 years ago, I used to do the computer shows. As in, I was a vendor and had about 3 tables each show. We sold new and used stuff. The shows were always packed and we made a good amount of money doing them.

And then the cell phone accessory people showed up. It was just a few tables at first. Cases and chargers mostly. A good selection but the market only needed one of the vendors. Eventually there were five vendors all selling the same little pieces of plastic each show.

People stopped showing up as often because there were now less computer vendors. The company running the shows saw their profits dropping. Instead of trying to get back to their core market, they raised prices. For admission and for vendor tables.

Less vendors showed up as the table prices and lack of customers didn't make it worth the time and trouble of doing the shows. And still the cell phone accessory people bought more tables.

The computer shows are long since gone, but I can see the same downward spiral at the gun show now.

Strangely enough, the building that houses the gun show now is the exact same building I did the computer shows in 15 years ago. The cell phone accessory people are still there, they are just selling different little pieces of plastic now.
 
Buy everything u can righ now (guns & ammo) when HRC gets to the WH in 2 years it will be a sellers market again: for 8 years!

^^^^^
This:cuss:
__________________
 
Went to a local GS last week. Much slower than the previous shows in the past year. This is a fairly large show.
Prices are falling. One regular dealer had gen 3 Glocks at $475. S&W shields were a buy @ $365 NIB also. WASRs are on the high side to me at $550. One nimrod had a few bulk pac 22 LR on a table for stupid money. Mosin Nagants look to be played out @ $169... No takers. Pistol powders are still in short supply.
There were fewer dealers and foot traffic was WAY down. My guess is at least 50%.
I picked up a nice set of Badger grips and some $5 Korean mags for a G19.
 
I imagine online vendors and the goggle universe are contributing. I can often find the best deals on Gunbroker. Though buying an expensive item online without having held it can be risky.

I still purchase from my LGS though even if the prices are a little higher. Their service is so good I'm happy to send money their way rather than at a gun show where I won't see the guy from the other side of the state for another year.

My LGSis usually pretty reasonable on prices though.
 
Potential gun buyers tend to buy only when there is a panic. They seem to like paying 50%-100% premium on guns and ammo.

Like other posters said, now is the time to buy.
 
BSA1: Lower prices, or smaller increases, could easily be the case if the Senate gains a GOP majority.

But if so, let's hope that our "Presidential Leader";) doesn't sign multiple executive orders to ban more types of imported guns or ammo (as he and the ATF did recently with Russian Saigas).

One good thing about gun shows, even with higher prices which allegedly cover their expenses such as hotels etc, we can immediately handle any guns we want, where in a gun store it's usually just one or two at a time after a bit of a wait.

In addition to the quicker access at gun Shows, as a contrast, most have a good selection (not just MNs and WASRs) of milsurp rifles and handguns.
If I can't afford $8-10 to attend a gun show now and then, then as a substitute I can't afford three bottles of cheap beer,
or two scoops of yogurt/ice cream. Choices.
 
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I try to go to a couple shows each year. I never go expecting to find good deals, but sometimes I do. I mainly go to talk guns and look at the new plastic pistol of the year.
 
I support my local show and usually go about two of the four times per year it comes around.

I have generally gotten fair pricing. Gotten rather lucky a couple of notable times, too. That's always nice... it does happen occasionally.



A lot of people don't do online gun purchases for whatever reason. I would much rather see the item in person whenever possible. My local gun show affords me this opportunity. Also a great place to get ammo; the competition for business usually keeps prices at least reasonable, and sometimes very good (compared to big box stores).
 
Maybe all the people that normally frequent the gun show decided to hit the walmarts and other sporting good stores to start stockpiling gun stuff at the true market value for the possibility of another panic due to the recent happenings in Washington??

Just a theory though, maybe the weather was crappy.

Perhaps everyone is already content with their collection of كافر (infidel) clothes, German WWII
memorabilia, witty bumperstickers and Uncle 'fill-in-a-name' jerky.
 
I do agree that I've seen less people at my regular show since the days of peak attendance.

During that time, the line to get inside was sometimes 30 to 45 minutes long. Once inside, it was almost standing room only.

Past 3 or 4 shows I've been to, there was only a 5 minute wait at most and plenty of room to walk and browse without having to jockey for a spot at the side of a table. I much prefer things that way from a personal standpoint.



I think people are just spent out, basically. Gun/ammo sales couldn't stay in 5th gear forever. A run on .22lr didn't help things; some people overpaid for it and got even more spent out. I think most people who were serious about getting items have largely done so in the relatively recent past. Consequently right now a lot of dealers have full inventories, and pricing is often better than average for buyers. Great time to get that first AR - which I am considering.
 
I am with the majority here who have not been to a gun show for awhile. The last one I went to a couple of years ago had about 50 gun vendors and 300 either crystal, jewelry, or food vendors.

The other thing I finally realized was that I was paying $15 to $30 for entrance into a gun show where I was seeing gougers sell ammo for 3x to 4x what it was worth. One table actually had a guy selling 500 round bricks of .22 for $100 and people were buying it. That was enough for me.
 
It looks like they are only good for selling a gun to another guy who is looking for that model, based on the prices of used guns from the dealers.
They will offer you half of what they sold it to you for a week before.
Also it's a good place to see that guns that you read about, and actually get your hands on one rather than think you may want something that once you see and feel it, you realize you didn't.
 
gunshows

I just go to shows now when a new gun comes out and I want to be able to hold it before I order one. Although one in a while I find a deal it is becoming a lot more like Arms List and Gun Broker, I do not see how any one can sell a used firearm for more than the same model sales for new, and expect for it to sale. It's the same at the shows, there are very few used guns any more, and those you see are listed as rare collectable. Some of the prices I see on the tables just me laugh, maybe that's why I still go to the shows, comedy relief.
 
I was at the Ft. Pierce show, on Saturday. I did see the new Dan Wesson revolvers. The shroud is different, but the price is out of sight, $1250 for the new 357 mag.

I came out with a knife sharpener, that's it.
 
several friends and i go and make a day of it. we start by getting a early breakfest, make the show and start roaming the ilses for certain things we like and talking to vendors, take a break for dinner and roam some more. and stop for a early supper on the way home and split the cost of gas and parking between us. at the last show i bought a very nice enfield mk4No1 for 200.00 and a vx111 new in the box 2.5x8 leupold rifle scope for 300.00 and several older tang sights for win lever actions for 100.00. all in all a very good day. i never tell my wife i have a good time,no need to pee her off. eastbank.
 
I used to think shows were just the place to handle every type of firearm I was wanting to checkout, then I'd go local and buy.

Here lately, I've found the prices more in line with the shops I use.

I'll spend months online reading everything I can about every firearm I'm interested in. I'll go there knowing what he online prices, FB prices for used, and any LGS prices for a group of firearms. Normally I'll have a set price +/- 40 bucks and I'll look at the price on every specimen at the show. Sometimes I'll go with the absolute lowest price, sometimes not depending on the dealer/person.
 
Yeah... right.

So many people commenting about how they not only don't currently go but in fact haven't for years or even decades.

Kinda reminds me of all the people that never voted for incumbent politicians or how so many people say they don't watch television.

Yeah... right!
 
Heck, I'll go to gun shows just for fun, worth the price of admission to feel up previously unfelt gun models, keeping a running informal survey of which vendors have good prices and which are gouging, seeing the RC helicopter guy (one day I'll get one), chatting up the cute girl vendors, regardless of what they're selling, and just generally keeping a finger on the pulse of the local firearms/tactical goods scene.
In SA, at the height of the panic, it was only mildly difficult to get in - I never waited more than 10 minutes, but I skipped a few, too.
Lately, only the biggest monthly Saxet show is still going strong, and I've seen some very good prices at a couple vendors (new Remington R1 for $499 for example) and some still gouging. Even commodity guns (Glocks, etc.) are coming down in price - having "ask for price" on the tag because the going price has gone below some threshold where they can't advertise. The other shows (Liberty and Premier) are getting smaller and seeking smaller venues, they're the ones that have a high percentage of non-firearms related vendors, so no big loss. No screaming great deals, but it's definitely becoming a buyers market.
I, of course am out of money at the moment. :cuss::D
 
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