Thinking of stopping gun show attendance

I too have stopped attending what they call gun shows here in SE Florida, a better name would be Flea Markets. When you enter the West Palm Beach show the first table you see is pots and pans, followed by shoes, jewelry and toys. I can beat the ammo prices and the majority of the gun prices at my LGS. The one dealer that I did do most of my past business with at the shows was Florida Gun Exchange, they would work with the customer. There is a gun show this week end in West Palm, I won't be there. I'll save the round trip gas money and $8.00 admission fee and use the saved money to buy a box of Ammo at my LGS.:D
 
I try and make all the shows I can. I like to fondle before I purchase. A gun show has a lot of variety allowing a psuedo test drive before purchasing.

The trend I'm seeing is that private collections are opposite ends of the spectrum.

Worn out junk or high priced "rare, collectibles". "It was my grandfather's, so it has to be highly collectible". :rolleyes:

And vendors are hit or miss as well. There are a couple Wall-Marts, a few Macy's, and then a collection of Neiman-Marcus type dealers.

It does seem that many are hanging onto what they've got till after November 6th. Regardless of the outcome, I have a feeling that the shows around Thanksgiving will be crowded and heavily laden with cash buyers.

Deals not found.
 
I quit attending the shows a few years ago. Simpler shopping and better pricing on the internet for some stuff and the shipping is usually less than the cover charge for a show. Other things are best bought through LGS with better pricing and service after the sale.

Then there's the ambiance of the shows. Seems to have turned from mostly good ole boys and hunting stuff to mall ninjas, militaria and salesmen on commission.

Then again, the weather report ain't too nice and the show is on this weekend...............
 
I still like shows and try to hit at least one a month. Yeah, lots of high-priced insanity, and fantasy descriptions, but you still get to see lots of odd and interesting things. If you know your stuff, you can still beat the hucksters and get some good deals. I really enjoy finding old-stock ammo for below internet prices, and buying stuff for $20 that I can later resell for $200. ;)
 
Gun shows are great places to socialize and see unusual offerings by accessories dealers. And, there are the occasional old gun for sale and guns being carried around by other visitors. Shows are having problems evidenced by the increase in dealers of non-gun related items.
Yes, dealer prices are outlandish. But, they keep coming back with their overpriced stuff, they might really be selling something.
 
Two gun shows a year.

In my town we have a gun show twice a year (same show). I go to socialize and look at stuff I don't get to see very often. I usually only buy a new bumper sticker or two. Guns and ammo I can walk across the street from the show to the LGS and buy cheaper or go to Walmart, Cheaper Than Dirt, or Cabelas. I consider the shows to be entertainment rather than shopping opportunities. I did buy a pound of powder once that I can buy locally anytime for the same price. Felt kind of obligated to buy something and I needed the powder that day anyway.
 
As far as supplies and consumeables go, I prefer to mail order that stuff.

The UPS guy is paid to break his back lugging all that heavy stuff around. So let him. My contribution to the local economy ...
 
I've toyed with the idea of giving up on gunshows for many of the reasons that have been stated.

But.... when I'm looking for a gun, about 99% of the time it's not a new gun, but one that has been out of production for a long, long time.

Of the last 10 or so that I've purchased, only one has been made post 1980... Several are post WW II, but quite a few have been pre WW II.

Kind of hard finding those at the local gunshop.
 
lets see here once, $5.00 to park, $10.00 to get in the door, $9.00 if you have the dollar off coupon, walk around looking at all the jewelry, jerky, glassware, mini helicopters, flashlights, knives, body massage gimmicks, foot care products, hearing protection devices, etc., etc., you might just find a gun that you could buy for twice the price of what it is worth at your local gun shop, i told one dealer who had a large supply of powder and bullets that i could NOT buy from him any more, i could make an order from Wideners for the same products and get free shipping for half his prices......, he just grinned as i walked away with my $1,500.00 and laughed at him, for being a "jerky" peddler !!!
 
I still love going to gun shows. Here are some personal guidelines on how I approach gun shows:

1. I bring lots of cash
2. I never buy accessories, ammo, holsters, toys, food or junk, etc. at gun shows. I can find most of this stuff on Ebay, Gunbroker, Ammoman.com, and my Fridge. I buy guns at gun shows, and rarely anything else.
3. I have a mental list of about 10 guns that I am looking for. I will deviate from that list, but it really has to be something special, something that "dazzles" me.
4. I educate myself on values and don't pay attention to asking prices. I will offer a fair price on something I really want.
5. Wear sunglasses if you are attracted to shiny things. There are lots of shiny knives, and whatnots that will cause you to part with your money if you aren't careful. Ignore shiny things. Buy guns only at gun shows.
6. Buy low. What I mean by this is when the assault weapon ban thing starts heating up, don't buy military style guns, look instead at vintage and classic revolvers. When Pythons and SAA's are spiking in value, steer clear of them and look at something else that interests you.
7. Be flexible. This means look at all guns. You never know when you will find something you don't ordinarily collect (or shoot) that might be really neat to have. I recently found one of the first 50 Colt Mustangs ever made - sporting genuine ivory grips in 99% condition.
8. Don't over pay for a gun, but don't walk away over a difference of $50 on something valued at over $500. If its a good buy at $500, it's still an "ok" buy at $550, especially if you really cannot easily find another one.
9. I'm very nondescript in the way I dress - I look like I could be attending a tennis match, or taking the family to eat at a Pizza restaurant. Some might think I'm a cop - I don't get a lot of attention, and I like it that way.
10. I don't chit chat at all, unless I'm really interested in something, then I'll engage in a little "jawing". When I'm ready to purchase, I let the seller know that I really like the gun - I don't sit there and point out flaws. If I see something that turns me off on a gun, I will just walk away.

Some shows are productive; some aren't. The good thing about a show that's not "productive" is you get through sooner and you have all of your money still in your pocket!
 
Too much hard thinking for me, Skans ;)

I go to few gun shows these days. Occasionally, I pick up reloading components or a used holster. Used gun prices at shows are beyond retarded. They're all waiting for that one Rube, with a pocket-full of money.
 
mitchntx said:
A gun show has a lot of variety allowing a psuedo test drive before purchasing.
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That, to me, is the one remaining value of a gun show. I can see great variety in an hour at a show that would take the better part of a day of driving around and visiting shops.
 
I still enjoy going to the gunshows, in fact i am going to one saturday in Houston. May be different where you guys live, but here the show prices are still cheaper than just about anywhere else, atleast on new guns, i dont even look at the used ones.

I go just cause i enjoy them, whether i buy anything or not, but i rarely get out w/out buying something.
 
I had not been to a gun show in several years, and went to a local one with my son-in-law earlier this year (actually a couple of months before the wedding). Poor selection, largely dominated by Hi-Point and Jiminez, with prices above MSRP when we did see something that interested us. Tried to buy a couple of magazines without success, due to rude and inattentive sellers. The only money we spent was on admission and barbecue, and we decided we would buy the barbecue without spending an admission fee next time.
 
The deals are fewer for sure. At the biggest local gun show the best deals are by the largest dealer who already has the same prices every day at his shop. So it is fun to see them all laid out in great quantity but you can't get anything there you can pick the next week or the week before the show.

It used to be that shows either provided lower prices from lower overhead or selection of items you couldn't find locally, or saving of shipping charges for heavy stuff like ammo and bullets. Now, most tables price that back in so the prices are about the same as what you would pay over the Internet with shipping.

There may be a few exceptions now and then. Probably one of the better places to shop in person for something used, but don't expect a bargain, just wider selection and better chance of finding that elusive rifle or handgun or part. It is depressing though to see the shift in number of tables away from guns to non-gun fluff.
 
I only go to shows know for two reasons:
Powder selection. I can usually get any powder I'm looking for without having to order it and pay haz-mat shipping fees, so there is a savings there.

When I have a friend new to firearms and they're looking to buy I take 'em to the large shows here, but not to buy. They can get their hands on a lot of different firearms, find out what they like and feels best...and then I show 'em where to order it from off the net and save a few bucks.:D

There are a couple of small shows around here that only happen once a year that are worth a visit.
 
Kinda funny but my LGS travels & sells at gun shows all over Texas. His in-store prices are higher than his gun show prices. Also, due to traveling to shows every weekend, most of his stock is not on display in the store, it's loaded up in a trailer waiting to be hauled to the next show. If you ask about a certain gun, they'll tell you they have one, but it's in the trailer, You gotta really want to see it for them to go dig thru the trailer to get it out. Plus it's going to be priced higher than what yo can pick it up at the show for. So my shooting buddy & I find out if they have a particular gun and then saddle up to drive to the local gun show to purchase it.
 
The only thing I buy at gun shows is reloading supplies because I can get them cheaper then shipping to me, no haz-mat fees. Maybe small parts such as screws, etc. New guns at the show near me are always higher then MSR. Used guns are priced near new. Ammo is outrageously high. But I go just for a good laugh at the prices, and if I’m thinking of buying a new gun, the gun show is a good place to see touch and feel something. Then I go to a shop to buy.
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+10

The gun shows in my area are just that, "shows". The days of finding really good deals everytime you go is just about over. It seems like more and more they are only interested in showing off their collections instead of actually trying to sell anything. The sellers wont budge on prices and if you tell them their prices are higher then the store down the street, you get the usual: "then don't buy it", or "go buy it there", or they just shrug and walk away. I understand they need to make money but come on!

The last show I went to, a guy was selling a used Ruger 10/22 for $250. The store across the street had them for $205, new, and in stock! Seriously, why would you pay $250 for used when you could save $45 and buy new? I just don't understand their reasoning. Only thing I can think of is pure greed.

My absolute favorite at the shows has got to be the WWII 1911s. The prices on those make me laugh everytime. There always seems to be 1 or 2 guys there asking between $11,000 - $18,000 for some really beat up non number matching pistols. Gotta love the modern gun shows.
 
I still like going to gun shows but rarely buy anything there. My philosophy about the shows is 1. go there to look at/handle lots of guns of interest. 2. go someplace else and buy the one you like for a better price.
 
It used to be that shows either provided lower prices from lower overhead or selection of items you couldn't find locally, or saving of shipping charges for heavy stuff like ammo and bullets. Now, most tables price that back in so the prices are about the same as what you would pay over the Internet with shipping.
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Been noodling on this a while. I have become pretty good friends with my LGS owner and we have talked about store vs show vs internet pricing.

Volume sales is the only thing that affects HIS purchase price. And it doesn't take too many units to start getting a decent discount from his distributor price.

And he passes that on to his customers.

He told me that if the gun is under $500 HIS cost, he adds $50 for his asking price. Under $1000, $75 and $100 for anything over $1000. 10% margin isn't much when you look at his overhead.

So as far pricing goes, supply/demand drives the price. And we all know that demand is at an all-time high. I'm wondering if gun show pricing has gone up, LGS has come down or the fact that competition has closed the gap between them?
 
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