Gun show experience, told to leave his stand!!

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superpelly

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Went to a local gun show this past weekend. I rarely go to one unless i'm looking for a gun part or accessory, because the gun prices are ussually high. I recently purchased 2 P64 pistols at SOG for 159.00each, both came in great shape.
While walking around Sunday at the gun show I came accross a stand that had a P64. The vendor had a 3x5 card next to it with a price of $349, but had the price crossed out and had a new price of $249.00
(sunday special). So I played stupid, I asked him if that was a good price for that pistol and he gave me this big sales speech on how great it shoots and how hard they are to get, and yes, thats a great price!!, ..... bla bla bla..bla....
He said that he just wanted to break even on the pistol. This vendor had over 50 pistols, a bunch of rifles, AK's AR's, so he was not your average Vendor, he knew his prices. I finally told him that I recently bought 2 P64's for 159.00 each and why his prices were so high, well that did not go over well and he told me not look at his guns and leave his stand.

If he didn't have the price of 349.00 crossed out and just had the one price of $249, I would of not have said anything but......................
 
They're his guns. He can ask anything he wants for them. What you paid for yours has nothing at all to do with what HE wants for HIS.
 
It's nothing different then what you would find at any other gun show. Lots of the private sellers are opportunist looking for the unknowing.
 
It's his right to try to sell for exorbitant prices and it's your right to look for a better deal. You don't need to worry about it. Free enterprise will take care of the situation.
 
He can ask anything he wants for his guns, until he says he just wants to break even, then he is asking for someone to call "BULL":)
 
Mutual Respect

I never argue or go out of my way to insult a dealer's asking price, I do negotiate but only if I'm interested. I also don't accept attitude about my asking prices. I always have the last word; I say, thanks or no thanks, even when they don't deserve it. .... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
So in spite of the fact that it would seem, based on your post, you had zero interest in buying his gun it was really important for you to lecture him on his pricing strategy?

The guy's a business man, you don't like his prices....move on, don't waste his and your time.
 
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It's one thing if you were actually trying to negotiate a better price with the intention of buying, but just griefing vendors for the sake of griefing them is pretty low-rent. Not to mention, the price he was asking wasn't unreasonable compared to the "Buy Now" prices on Gunbroker.

I'm surprised they didn't kick you out of the gun show all together.
 
If he didn't have the price of 349.00 crossed out and just had the one price of $249, I would of not have said anything but.....
Click to expand...

This was the fellas selling strategy. Variations of this strategy are used by stores and vendors all over to convince folks they are getting a good deal, even if they are not. It could also just have been his idea of a good place to start the haggling at. He had already "lowered" the price which could be an invite for a counter offer.

The seller could have bought the guns from SOG with the idea of reselling them for a profit. Nothing wrong with that. Gunstores all over do the same. Sometimes the taint of foul ethics is involved, other times it's just business.

So you saw a fella asking way too much for a gun (in your opinion). This is common at gun shows and elsewhere. Sellers who do this regularly develop a bad reputation all on their own without anyone's help. They will not get repeat buyers.

You will get into a good many arguments over time if you take it on yourself to be a gun price cop exposing unethical retailers. You may also find that sometimes you misread a situation or dealer and you are in the wrong.

Consider that getting a decent reliable piece for $250. bucks could be considered a good deal for the person looking for just that.

tipoc
 
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Why were you beating the guy up on his prices? Sounds like he had the lowest priced P64's for sale at the gun show when you approached his table.
 
It was plain you weren't shopping for a gun, but to argue prices. He had the right to ask you to move on sense you were blocking space preventing others from looking at his wares. He paid for the space to sell items.

Many times I've come to tables I wanted to check out, but moved on because the table was blocked by people more interested in arguing.

There is normally a coffee or eating spot set up where the arguing can occur.
 
Where did you buy your guns?
You consider he is fronting the money for his inventory, dealing with FFL cost, insurance, tranporting inventory, table fee, and lots of other things. There are lots of guns I can buy online for $100 or more dollars less than I can buy locally, especially in the low end surplus category.
 
Superpelly, you sure are getting some grief here, but I’m on your side. There’s a difference between making an honest living as a businessman, and raping the public. Morals and ethics in business are a thing of the past.
 
Complaining about high prices is one thing, baiting someone by pretending to be ignorant just so you can say 'gotcha' is low.
 
We need some slack !!

Fellas, it's starting to bother me, to see us beating up on superpelly. .... :rolleyes:

We can't control what the other guy/dealer, thinks says and does; only what we think, say and do. .... ;)

Some lessons are hard learned and we have all made our share of mistakes. I have never left a Gun Show with bad feelings. In fact, I look forward to them. It's similar to the old Mountain Man Rendezvous. One of my gripes is that I do more conversing than looking. .... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
There’s a difference between making an honest living as a businessman, and raping the public
Click to expand...

Mike38, you are absolutely right. The difference is the element of FORCE.

If a business forces you to purchase their product (e.g. the mafia selling you "fire insurance"), rape is a reasonable analogy. I didn't see anything to indicate this was happening at the gun show. That seller may have been an expensive date, but he wasn't a rapist.

Paying a higher than "usual" price for something (anything) can happen for a lot of reasons. Ignorance of the current market on the part of the buyer is just one of those reasons.
 
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