Will you buy from dealers at shows?

Will you buy from dealers at shows?

  • Yes

    Votes: 162 84.4%

  • No

    Votes: 30 15.6%
  • Total voters
    192
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
Actually, I don't normally go to gunshows to buy guns. I go for accesories, parts, and the odds and ends I normally won't find around town. I have bought a few guns at gunshows, but it was about five in the span of 25 years. All from dealers also.

I don't buy from random strangers (except gunbroker and only through FFLs), there is just too much of a chance the gun might be stolen or non-functioning. Locally I buy from people I know and can get back in touch with if a problem arises.
 
Not buying from FFL's / dealers at gun shows will limit you to about 5% of all the guns there are for sale around these parts.

Sounds to me like you need to go to a grocery store and get a larger roll of Reynolds Wrap foil.

Your tin-foil hat needs another layer or two of tin-foil.

rc
 
Absolutely I will. I have no problem with it. If I luck into a private sale on something I actually want at a good price, that's good too.

will limit you to about 5% of all the guns there are for sale around these parts.
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Or less.
 
Try buying pre-1900 rifles online, see what you get. Same with early Colts and Smiths. I won't buy a valuable gun until I've held it and checked it over thoroughly.

For new factory-fresh guns, yeah you can deal with several sources, but if you're looking for a second Allin conversion Springfield rifle, try your local gun dealer. Thought so.
 
Our gun shows are mostly dealers anyway. Very few person to person sales, although at the last one my friend sold his Ruger Blackhawk to a dealer who gave him a fair price.
I don't purchase a lot but the gun show gives me a chance to look at about anything available and I have seen some very low prices from time to time - as much as $75 lower than other sellers.
 
Even a small gun show puts you within holding distance of more guns than you could see in two hours of driving from shop to shop, at least where I live. I can understand a guy who is looking to make sure he has a couple of guns with no 4473 "just in case" but that's no reason to never buy from an FFL.

Look at this way: the guns you buy from a dealer are the only ones in your collection that you know aren't stolen Or if they are then at least there's some proof that you didn't knowingly receive them as stolen property.
 
Yes, I would.

Most of the dealers are more or less local. My favorite dealer is the jerky dealer followed by the dealer who sells powder and primers. The FFL dealers typically have lower prices at the show than they do down the street at their brick and mortar shop.
 
2. If I wanted to fill out paper, pay tax, and have my background ran so a dealer can make a profit, I'll do it at my LGS where they know me, my money stays local, and I support those who regularly provide me with access year round to supplies, guns, ammo, etc...
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Good for you! However, my local gun shops generally can't touch gun show prices. In fact, one of them sells at the gun shows and their inline store operation's prices don't touch their gunshow prices.

So when you buy from the LGS, you must really be wanting to fill out forms, have a background check, pay tax, and make sure the dealer makes a profit. Is that right?

The only gun show I have been to where most of the guns were not new retail stuff was Wanamaker's in Tulsa. Even then, many of the relic/antique vendors were dealers with FFLs.
 
So, let me get this straight......you go to a gun show to find guns, you find guns you like but you don't buy them because you have to fill out some papers? Seems odd to me.
 
Sniper66 said:
So, let me get this straight......you go to a gun show to find guns, you find guns you like but you don't buy them because you have to fill out some papers? Seems odd to me.
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Some people are paranoid about government officials taking their guns away plus people with criminal records will get delayed if paperwork is done.
 
Many of the licensed FFL's at shows are there to buy as well as sell. I can't understand boycotting them because they abide by the laws they are compelled to operate by. I have purchased or considered purchasing any number of interesting pieces that a sharp eyed FFL exhibitor purchased from an individual attending that show.
 
savanahsdad said:
I voted NO. I don't care about the paper work, I'd fill that out all day , but the 48hr wait for a hand gun is just a joke ! why a dealer from 60 miles away would even bring handguns to a show just erks me ! I have bought long guns from dealers at shows , but very rare, and when I have I tell them I'll pay sticker price but they have to eat the tax, I got a Moseburg 835 for $207 from a dealer at a show because thats all I had , take it or leave it :neener: but for the most part I just walk right past them,
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I am missing something with the 48 hour wait? Around here I go to the show. If I choose to buy from a licensed dealer be it handgun or long gun they run the background check on the spot and I walk out with my gun. Would this be a WI thing?

Ron
 
"I want used, discounted, no background checks, flea market action - not retail."

I want to only buy guns from young, beautiful women. I've been disappointed for about 40 or 50 years.
 
Usually the overpriced stuff is from the private sellers, and sure their are a lot of basically home based dealers that have big mark ups. But at least here in Houston there are 2-3 major dealers that always show up and to be honest you usually can't beat their prices even at the big box stores.

As far as not wanting to pay tax, no background check etc., I couldn't care less. As for not wanting NICS checks, so what, I can pass them any time. And if you think that keeps you off the .gov's radar screen you better quit posting on the interwebz.
 
Reloadron said:
I am missing something with the 48 hour wait? Around here I go to the show. If I choose to buy from a licensed dealer be it handgun or long gun they run the background check on the spot and I walk out with my gun. Would this be a WI thing?

Ron
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yes WI has a wait peroid for handguns, so do some other states, even if I walk in with a handgun to trade I still have to wait to get what I traded for from a dealer. so at a gunshow that means 2 days later I would have to burn $4 per gal. gas to go get my new gun , so much for a good deal !, now I have bought long guns from dealers at shows in the past but I tell them "I'm not paying the tax" I know I do, but they have to do the math, and knock the tax off the sticker price , but most wont, I guess they don't want my money that bad , so for the most part I don't deal with dealers at gun shows, no big deal there may be 3-5 dealers at shows around here, and half of them are selling gun-cases and reloading stuff
 
Reloadron said:
savanahsdad, thank you for the info. I am now enlightened. :)

Ron
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so if that were the case in your state would you buy from a dealer at a show ?? keep in mind there are few dealers at the show I go to , and flea market stands are not welcome at most of are shows up here
 
savanahsdad said:
I have bought long guns from dealers at shows in the past but I tell them "I'm not paying the tax" I know I do, but they have to do the math, and knock the tax off the sticker price , but most wont, I guess they don't want my money that bad
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I very very rarely "eat" sales tax, I simply remind the buyer " If I didn't have to send it in, I wouldn't collect it"

In 7 years of doing 3-5 shows per year, I have had exactly ONE guy walk away from a purchase upon learning that I wouldn't eat the tax on a TWELVE dollar item I was losing money on to begin with, this after he spent 30 minutes beating me down from FIFTEEN bucks.


And for what its worth, NO I do NOT "need" that kind of customer
 
I am an equal opportunity gun buyer. If I'm at a gun show and a gun catches my eye and the price is right I'll buy it. The same applies to local gun shops and the different forum's classifieds I frequent. All depends on the gun and if I consider it to be a good deal. If it is, it will go home with me. :)
 
savanahsdad said:
so if that were the case in your state would you buy from a dealer at a show ?? keep in mind there are few dealers at the show I go to , and flea market stands are not welcome at most of are shows up here
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Actually at one time it was similar as there was a 3 day waiting period under the old Brady Law. This presented problems for licensed dealers at shows. I live in Cleveland area and we have some very good shows up here. Dealers come in from all over the state.

So would I buy from a dealer who actually has a shop locally? Yes, I would. Would I buy from a dealer located in Cincy about 4 hours one way south? Thinking NOT! :)

This was pre the NICS system. In Ohio we had a toll number to call ($15.00) to the Ohio BCS (Bureau Criminal Investigation) and provided the information. If the dealer did not hear a negative in 3 days you proceeded with the sale. Thankfully all of that ended with NICS.

Anyway, to answer your question yes, I would buy from a local dealer but no if I have to drive half way across the state to get my gun.

Thanks again for the input on your state.

Ron
 
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