Went to the St. Louis Weapons Collectors Gun Show

[Moptop]

Went to the St. Louis Weapons Collectors Gun Show in St. Charles this weekend with my son-in-law and my shooting buddy. These are usually good shows to buy at. They had a good turn out with lots of dealer tables with a very wide selection of HIGH PRICED ordinary stuff!

It was very disapointing to see all of the used and all used up pistols and rifles with ridiculous prices on them. While there we overheard one dealer saying that if he didn't make a 100% profit margin on a item he wouldn't sell it. Then another one said that he barely broke even at the last show he was at because no one was buying! GEE, I wonder why?:banghead:
We kept asking each other if this was a gun show or a museum! There were a lot of folks as well saying something simular to "they can keep it". And of course, anything you where wanting to sell or trade was almost worthless as far as they were concerned. Hmmm, that's a good way to create business, don't you think?

There was this one dealer who had a little sign in his display case that read "NO, you can't touch it, hold it, droole on it, or touch it in any way. I'm trying to keep it nice for the customers with REAL MONEY!"
Even if he had the last one of whatever it was that I wanted I wouldn't buy it from him for sure. Not with that attitude!

Now I do realize that these dealers need to make a profit to stay in business but HOLY COW, and all the while hear them say that no one is buying anything. It's a shame to see these dealers ruin something good for everyone this way , including themselves.

It wasn't a total loss thought. My friend and I each managed to score a new set of Hogue Monogrips for $19.00 OTD.

It will be quite a while before we make a 120 mile trip for another show.

Hope all had a wonderful and Blessed Holiday weekend.

 

[Vonderek]

I always wondered if a lot of these guys were retired or had normal jobs during the week and did the gun show thing on the weekends just as a hobby. I would see the same guys with the same inventory show after show and their business model just didn't make any sense.

 

[wow6599]

They got spoiled with the insane prices they got before Obama was elected. Not trying to turn this thread in to a political discussion, but the prices at gunshows haven't gone down since the "scare" of '08.

 

[Liberty1776]

Very similar experiences here - I just don't go to the local shows anymore. Some of these guys have had the same guns for sale at the shows for 6-7 yrs! My wife's theory is that the guys doing this told their wives - "Ok, honey - I'm trying to sell my guns but no one is buying anything!"

 

[gocards]

It's for these reasons that I've quit going to gun shows, as well as my local gun shops. I tried like heck to pay a little extra and support the little guy. But, I go so tired of the attitude that comes along with "gun guys" that run shops, it's been strictly the internet for me for a while now. I've never had an internet dealer sigh when I ask about a gun, and internet prices make gun show prices look insane. I'm willing to pay more for service, but if you're going to charge that much more, you should treat me like you appreciate my business.

 

[BillH]

re: my reason for going....

Has been just to look around and compare prices (shop). I tend to buy FTF anymore, via either at the gunshows or someone on this and a couple of other forums. I had to stop carrying money ($$$) with me to the shows cause I'm always finding someone with something I can't live without.

 

[cardinalfan]

Great reason to attend the gun show once a year.
You can buy primers cheap ($24/1000) and powder and not have to pay the $25 HazMat charge.
Well worth the $9 admission, other than that....I went the first weekend in November and there was a guy selling USED Glock mags for more than the guy selling NEW mags (both still overpriced).