gun show prices

[JUSTinTYME]

I go to several gun shows a year. I've been to 3 this year and it seems like everyone there is charging absurd prices for everything they have. I used to be able to find good deals but not any more. For example, my lgs has hi point carbines for 289 for the 9mm, 299 for the 40 and 309 for the 45. All are brand new rifles. I seen a few hi point carbines at the show for 350! Not to mention their ammo prices on everything. Is this the norm around the country now or just in pa? Oh and all rifles were the old style.

 

[candr44]

Gun show vendors aren't any different than gun shops, some have good prices and some don't, some negotiate and some don't. Some of the best deals I have ever found have been at gun shows. I also find a lot of prices that aren't even close to competitive and leave me wondering if they are looking for a sucker or just poor business men who can't compete.

 

[arizonaopa]

Not bad here

We had a gun show in Sierra Vista recently and the prices were not too bad. Had a couple of people asking way too much but at the end of the show, they still had most of their items remaining. Those that were reasonable sold very well.

 

[Glenn E. Meyer]

TX guns shows have better prices on standard items than most big box or mom and pop shows.

For example, I bought a new Gen 4 G-17 for $539 at the show which is equal to the best LGS price at a store quite a distance away. Best best box price was 20 more and I think 539 match Bud's.

I have gotten better deals on used guns from Mom and Pop.

 

[DMZX]

When I go to gun shows, I am usually looking for some specific items I do not care to buy online, e.g. grips, gun parts, milsurp stuff, cast bullets.

Sometimes I see some good prices on old firearms, but not often.

Ammo and reloading stuff is almost always priced above retail, so I pass.

One of my best buys at a gun show were a pair of walnut target grips for my Ruger MK II, with the Ruger badge. That was 30 years ago, but that pistol still wears those grip panels. $12.

 

[Ole 5 hole group]

Everything is getting pricey - years ago and not that many years ago, an 8 foot table cost the vendor $12 to $15. Add to that the price of motel room, gasoline and food. That is pure expense and comes right off the top.

Well, today the tables are anywhere from $30 to $50 for that 8 foot table and everything else has gone sky high as well, so that is one of the reasons you see the same dealers at every show with about the same prices.

Another little tidbit is when the vendors are setting up the day before - they all have a pocket full of cash and look over the tables belonging to the guy who is just selling his "personal stuff", which in some cases is priced for the "average guy" and guess what - all the priced right stuff is purchased by other vendors before the show opens - they will sell those items at the next show at a marked up price.

When I go to a gun show I'll always find something to purchase, but lately it's been maple syrup, jelly or some other non-firearm related item.

 

[jmr40]

Most stuff is overpriced. But I've also found my best deals at gunshows too. I don't expect to kill a B&C buck every time I walk into the woods. But I sure won't kill one sitting on the couch. You just have to get out there and look.

If you go expecting to find something specific at a good price you'll likely be disappointed. Show up with a pocket full of cash just looking and planning on buying nothing and something seems to always turn up at a price too good to pass up.

 

[gandog56]

About the only times I seem to find real deals is about 5 minutes before the show closes.

 

[leadcounsel]

Gun shows boggle me... it just seems like a losing proposition for any vendor.

I've been to tons of shows, and even helped friends set up and tear down, and monitor their stuff.

Table rental is over $100 for 2 days typically. Right out of the gate you're in the hole. Then there's travel time there, set up, and tear down, travel time back, and likely loading and unloading at home/business, which takes hours of time, gas, etc.

Cost of paying a few employees. Or the value of time sitting there for 2 days - factor your daily worth at minimum $100 - $200 or more per day tending your merchandise, etc. And let me tell you, standing or sitting there ALL DAY sucks. Time goes by very slowly, standing behind a table, constantly getting low-balled. And I imagine there are sticky fingers at shows, so a person is bound to have some inventory shrinkage.

So, a vendor is looking at a sunk cost of $300, $500, or more before he makes a dime over 2 days. Possibly more if they lose any merchandise in transit.

Now, vendors either charge less than market value, and lose money. Or they charge as much, or more than market value, which means they don't sell much or anything. In any event, unless their cost is much lower than retail, they are losing money in nearly every scenario. To get low costs, they often get estate deals, or suckers that walk in with guns and have no clue of value (which is a shrinking market in the internet era).

Given the very low markup in guns (and risks inherent with sales), this is why guns hows have less guns and more beef jerky, leather vests, beanie babies, knives, etc.

I have concluded that many vendors look at it more of a hobby and less of business. The other ones rely on one big sucker to overpay for their guns and junk.

Well priced guns and mags and ammo move so quickly that you often never even see them. It's the overpriced stuff that sits for days, and multiple shows.

With all this in mind, I have scored amazing deals at shows! Probably 25/75 with vendors or folks walking around. It's the folks walking around that generally have the best deals... So, I keep going back!