Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What Are Vendors At Gunshows Thinking???

I love gun shows...I get deals usually, if not I dont buy...simple enough.

A few shows ago I purchased a Leupold 1.5x5 Vari x 3 for $130.00

It wouldnt hold a group but I sent it in to Leupold and a few weeks later it arrived back as good as new....*free*

Like I say I usually get good deals.

The price of pet rocks and candles are skyrocketing at gunshows to....................

Everything you say may be absolutely true but that does not explain having exorbinant prices on the stuff they're selling at a gunshow.
My local dealer has his expenses as well, like property tax, rent/mortgage, lights, employees and so forth but he would go out of business if his prices were as high as those at a show.
I think many of the folks who sell at shows count on the unwashed masses, attracted by the show, to spend too much money on an item available elsewhere for less.

I was at the Gunshow here in Kingsport last weekend . There was a vendor selling some AR Parts. He had a Yankee Hill Gas Block that cost me 52.00 new from Brownell. Retail is about 80.00 on Yankee Hill Web site . I ask what he wanted for it and he said 125.00. I just looked at him and handed it back and walked off. These vendors must think people are really stupid. Another thing, the admission fee to get into the show is now 10.00 per person. I told the girl i could to the theater cheaper. The gun show are now 10% quality merchandise and 90% junk.

On the side I overheard 2 vendors talking at the last gunshow and one of em said he was charged $750.00 to rent a table.....that if true sounds rediculous.

Maybe they have the PT Barnum plan- You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time......

That is a pizz poor excuse to justify the outrageous prices at the tables anymore. If you can't get there and put out merchandise at competative and realistic prices, it isn't the fault of the buyers.

I've put gun shows on a back burner. They're ENTERTAINMENT any more, the ridiculous prices, the gapers. Once in a while I'll spot something I didn't know I needed, do some quick math in my head and go from there.
I have no sympathy for the gougers. Let them unload and reload their junk after the weekend.

Yep. What I take I want to SELL, and there.

Been looking for a Python, and have seen a few OK deals at gun shows for those. Probably gonna buy one soon now.

I mostly quit going to gunshows several years ago. About once every two years I'll get to rethinking that and decide to ride the 60 miles to Jackson to go to one. After paying the $7 admission charge and it taking all of 20 minutes to walk through to tables looking at the hopelessly overpriced junk I'll leave swearing I'll never come back. About two years later I'll get to wondering if there just might be something worth buying there and repeat the scenario. I honestly haven't found anything worth buying at a gunshow in about 15 years. I guess the internet has taken over and all that's left at the gunshows are those looking to sell a $500 gun for $800 and those selling the made in china replica confererate swords. It's depressing really. I guess most of us still go to them because we remember 20 years ago when they were actually fun and you could spend an enjoyable day there while finding a good deal now and then. Between the admission charge and gas to get there I'm out about $20 bucks to get there. I'd rather spend to $20 on a pizza and six pack of beer, at least I'll get some enjoyment out of the pizza and beer.

The only time I go anymore is when I want a brand new pistol. Normally the bigger shows around here will have a few guys with nearly every new handgun made in every caliber/finish combination. I can go there and pick up everyone and look at them. Price is normally right at the same price as gunbroker or as cheap as anywhere else.

I agree a lot of stuff is overpriced but I guarantee a lot of stuff people on this site tag as overpriced will sell to someone....

I go, realy dont know why anymore, only about 2 shows a year that are any good. I rent a table about every 2 years , just to get rid of ammo and stuff that I dont have a gun for, about 30-45 a table, I sell alot of my stuff, cause I want to get rid of it, Iv had vender come over & bitch, about my Low, Fair prices, I tell them to buy my stuff then charge what they want for it on there table! geting alot harder to find a deal on anything anymore!

Most folks are idiots, I think that sums up either side of the table.

You forgot the teapot warmers!

We have a few local dealers who rent tables and they are way lower on prices then the others traveling more than a 100 miles. I mostly go for powder and bullets, but I have been surprised the last couple of times by a rifle on the table. Only form the locals though.

The buuthole will get something passed.
How will he get gun salesman of the year for 2010 if he don't?

Trust me.......there were no vendors that travel more that 80-100 miles for this show.

I thought they were beef jerky shows. Didn't realize that those were prices on the tags, I thought they were serial numbers.

I was selling a rifle once and one of the slackazz table dealers gave me the "hey boy, come here with that rifle" So I showed it to him and he gives me a lame low ball offer. I told him I'd pass. He proceeds to tell me "lookey here, I ain't gonna buy nothing i cant make no money on..."

I asked him "how is that was my problem?"...

I set up at four Gun Shows a year. All local Sportsman Club shows. (50-75 tables) Most of the mainstream dealers avoid these shows, so they are not too bad. About half of the vendors are just members cleaning out stuff they don't use any more. This is the stuff I go for. I might buy an old obsolete peep sight or set of scope mounts. I recently picked up a NIB Timney trigger for a Husqvana for the princely sum of $40. In the last three shows, I've sold one gun and traded one.

The major gun shows in Michigan are all promoted my one person. The shows are mainly black rifles, handguns, and flea market items. I don't bother to go to his shows any more. I went to one the other day by accident. The only Ruger #1 in the show was the one my buddy carried in. Best offer he had was $400 for a 200th Yr 1-B in 98%+ condition with decent wood. I figured that was an insult.

The two better gun shops in the state will sell used guns cheaper over the counter than one can buy at the gun shows. Sadly, most are a waste of time.

Edw

I love the smaller rural shows as well. More affordable stuff and more FUN! Like all gun Shows used to be.