Went to a Local Gun Show, No real surprises

Status
Not open for further replies.
n2omike said:
There is NO COMPARISON between gun shows 20+ years ago, and gun shows today.
You could actually find good deals and a wide variety of stuff back then. Nowadays, it's just the same new stuff... all at ridiculous prices.
No cheap mil surp, no cheap ammo, no cheap anything... Almost all regular gun dealers just bringing their normal store inventory at jacked up prices. Very few regular guys/collectors. Use to be mostly regular people and very few dealers that you had to do paper work for.
Click to expand...

Isn't that the truth. Not too many years I went to a local show (usually a great show) and there was an older gentleman that had a lone table with maybe 10 guns, none were priced. By his looks he appeared to have been straight off the farm. When I inquired about the price of a particular Smith he immediately said "one sold on Gun Broker a couple of weeks ago for X, that seems fair". I thanked and walked away. This is getting to be more prevalent.
 
Nature Boy said:
The venues should increase the space rentals to vendors 10x.
Click to expand...
n2omike said:
I think they should charge certified businesses 2-3X the cost of private individuals for their tables.
Click to expand...

That's complicated. The show promoter--who is not the venue owner--has to rent the venue for a typically fixed price. Often with a number of required "soft price" issues like hiring security. As the promoter you have to entice people to rent the 'product' you are providing. Part of what the promoter has to provide is what the industry calls "exploitation"--which is all the marketing & advertising costs. And those costs have increased. (Especially TV & radio ads; but even billboards are not cheap.)

So, using Amon G Carter Exhibit hall as an example (since I can). The floor area is 94,460sf. If you drive off the FFL it's going to look pretty empty with only 20-30 tables rented. Which is part of how a promoter, like Premier, sets the table rates. So, that $86 was just for the one 8' table, no electricity, no landline, no internet. (Being hardwired for internet has significant advantages over trying to vie for wifi with 6-700 other vendors and all the visiting public with their cellphones.

It's complicated.
 
Bush Pilot said:
Isn't that the truth. Not too many years I went to a local show (usually a great show) and there was an older gentleman that had a lone table with maybe 10 guns, none were priced. By his looks he appeared to have been straight off the farm. When I inquired about the price of a particular Smith he immediately said "one sold on Gun Broker a couple of weeks ago for X, that seems fair". I thanked and walked away. This is getting to be more prevalent.
Click to expand...
Gun Broker has ruined everything. People think there beat up Glock 17L is worth $950 because that’s what GunBroker said. I prefer The Blue Book of Gun Value.

I bet that old fellow sold Zero guns that day, and someone came by at the end of the day and offered 1/2 for everything
 
Mark_Mark said:
Gun Broker has ruined everything. People think there beat up Glock 17L is worth $950 because that’s what GunBroker said. I prefer The Blue Book of Gun Value.

I bet that old fellow sold Zero guns that day, and someone came by at the end of the day and offered 1/2 for everything
Click to expand...
Yeah I am really wanting to get a hard copy of one of those Gun Value books but which one is the most accurate as far as "actual" sales goes? Cause here in Oklahoma a 300PRC rifle will collect dust but in Colorado it wont even make it off the UPS truck before somebody buys it lol.
 
270OKIE said:
Yeah I am really wanting to get a hard copy of one of those Gun Value books but which one is the most accurate as far as "actual" sales goes? Cause here in Oklahoma a 300PRC rifle will collect dust but in Colorado it wont even make it off the UPS truck before somebody buys it lol.
Click to expand...
I see it like this… Have your ammo in the fight; BBofGV, retail prices, and what people will realistically buy for. The goal of Sales is to SELL and SELL a lot. I always take the Costco Model. Stack Up Cheap Sell them Deep
 
@Mark_Mark I find it funny you mention ammo cause we have match grade 5.56/223 ammo for less than academy, price wise, and people still scoff at our pricing lol... Winchester 69gr MatchKing 223 Rem ammo for $22 a box and at Academy the Federal Gold Medal Match version is $29, and we don't have purchase limits lol. Oh and we had a lot of people this weekend ask if they could avoid paying sales tax by paying in cash, like you do know we are an actual, factual (THR friendly F word), business right? We also had people shocked that when they gave me 15 bucks for a box of ammo and were mad when I said its $16.41 with tax lol. Which is funny cause we tried having our signs have the price with tax included and people were even more turned off cause they saw the dealer next to us had the exact same thing for 2 bucks "cheaper" when after paying tax at their table it was actually more than what we had it marked as... So we quit doing that after like two shows lol...
 
270OKIE said:
@Mark_Mark I find it funny you mention ammo cause we have match grade 5.56/223 ammo for less than academy, price wise, and people still scoff at our pricing lol... Winchester 69gr MatchKing 223 Rem ammo for $22 a box and at Academy the Federal Gold Medal Match version is $29, and we don't have purchase limits lol. Oh and we had a lot of people this weekend ask if they could avoid paying sales tax by paying in cash, like you do know we are an actual, factual (THR friendly F word), business right? We also had people shocked that when they gave me 15 bucks for a box of ammo and were mad when I said its $16.41 with tax lol. Which is funny cause we tried having our signs have the price with tax included and people were even more turned off cause they saw the dealer next to us had the exact same thing for 2 bucks "cheaper" when after paying tax at their table it was actually more than what we had it marked as... So we quit doing that after like two shows lol...
Click to expand...
if has a table, I would buy the cheapest bulk ammo I can get my hands on from the distributor and try to sell it all!!! Try having a lost profit items like .223 steel crappo, and sell it for what you paid plus expenses. Have a limit of say, 2 boxes. That way people have their wallet out and you can sell $20 mag pouch that you bought for $5!!!

Don’t forget creative, hands friendly displays items. And Mood lighting, and pretty girls that wave like you were dating them
 
Mark_Mark said:
if has a table, I would buy the cheapest bulk ammo I can get my hands on from the distributor and try to sell it all!!! Try having a lost profit items like .223 steel crappo, and sell it for what you paid plus expenses. Have a limit of say, 2 boxes. That way people have their wallet out and you can sell $20 mag pouch that you bought for $5!!!

Don’t forget creative, hands friendly displays items. And Mood lighting, and pretty girls that wave like you were dating them
Click to expand...
Hmmm we are working on getting a couple of those led signs like I said earlier, but as far as accessories and stuff like that, that is kind of hit or miss whether or not the main distributor has exactly what we are looking for... Like shotgun scabbards for instance, we have a FDE one that is included with a Charles Daly semi auto 12ga "other firearm" (Not NFA) with a 14in barrel, and multiple people will ask to buy it and we are like, sorry we are including it with that gun, and we haven't seen any in stock for a reasonable price recently... But this weekend while doing research for a order, I saw some finally for 17ish bucks plus shipping so we will have to order a few to have on hand. We have an account with Chattanooga Shooting Supplies, which is the dealer side of Natchez Shooting Supplies! They have a good overall selection but some stuff like primers are obviously not ever in stock, lol. Do you know if a cardboard cut out of 1993 Shania Twain would work in lieu of a model lol?
 
Last edited:
270OKIE said:
Hmmm we are working on getting a couple of those led signs like I said earlier, but as far as accessories and stuff like that, that is kind of hit or miss whether or not the main distributor has exactly what we are looking for... Like shotgun scabbards for instance, we have a FDE one that is included with a Charles Daly semi auto 12ga "other firearm" (Not NFA) with a 14in barrel, and multiple people will ask to buy it and we are like, sorry we are including it with that gun, and we haven't seen any in stock for a reasonable price recently... But this weekend while doing research for a order, I saw some finally for 17ish bucks plus shipping so we will have to order a few to have on hand. We have an account with Chattanooga Shooting Sports, which is the dealer side of Natchez Shooting Sports! They have a good overall selection but some stuff like primers are obviously not ever in stock, lol. Do you know if a cardboard cut out of 1993 Shania Twain would work in lieu of a model lol?
Click to expand...
Sell what people are looking for!!! NICE! but only display a few and sell for 3x. $40 is not asking much for a unique item like that!

Oooh yeah! put a sign on the Shania cut out “Strawberry Wine -17 - not in my House” and have Shania hold a shorty Shotgun that you have for sale! MONEY!
 
Mark_Mark said:
if has a table, I would buy the cheapest bulk ammo I can get my hands on from the distributor and try to sell it all!!!
Click to expand...
Just remember, you have to lug all the ammo in on Friday afternoon.
And you need to hang around on Fridays, as that's when all the dealers trade amongst themselves (and often, when they earn the table rent for the weekend--the bargain is in "buy.")
You then have to sit all day Saturday, and most of Sunday, too. And pay for a motel room. And sweat whether your trailer is safe in the parking lot.
And did you bring enough Rolaids for the junk food you are eating the whole time (or the jerky from the table right next to you o_O). Nacho cheese is nacho friend :)
Last FW show, there was a guy selling exotic meat sausage, and was grilling bite-size samples. Man, I felt bad for the vendors who spent the weekend just feet away :)
 
CapnMac said:
Just remember, you have to lug all the ammo in on Friday afternoon.
And you need to hang around on Fridays, as that's when all the dealers trade amongst themselves (and often, when they earn the table rent for the weekend--the bargain is in "buy.")
You then have to sit all day Saturday, and most of Sunday, too. And pay for a motel room. And sweat whether your trailer is safe in the parking lot.
And did you bring enough Rolaids for the junk food you are eating the whole time (or the jerky from the table right next to you o_O). Nacho cheese is nacho friend :)
Last FW show, there was a guy selling exotic meat sausage, and was grilling bite-size samples. Man, I felt bad for the vendors who spent the weekend just feet away :)
Click to expand...
You guy make me want to go to a gun show , buy beef jerky and horse dewormer
 
Mark_Mark said:
Gun Broker has ruined everything. People think there beat up Glock 17L is worth $950 because that’s what GunBroker said. I prefer The Blue Book of Gun Value.

I bet that old fellow sold Zero guns that day, and someone came by at the end of the day and offered 1/2 for everything
Click to expand...

The televised Barrett Jackson and Mecum automotive auctions have done the same thing for old cars. Everyone with a beater that hasn't run for years sees fully restored cars going for crazy money... and believe their old beaters needing 100's of hours of work and $$$$ in parts are worth big bucks.

As for Gunbroker,ots of people look at the often wishful 'asking' prices that stay there forever because nobody buys them... instead of looking at the completed (SOLD) items and prices. Same for Ebay.
 
n2omike said:
The televised Barrett Jackson and Mecum automotive auctions have done the same thing for old cars. Everyone with a beater that hasn't run for years sees fully restored cars going for crazy money... and believe their old beaters needing 100's of hours of work and $$$$ in parts are worth big bucks.
Click to expand...
Same with HOUSING! Everyone with a Junk House in Seattle thinking there 1932 Tutor is worth Millions…. thanks HGTV..

wait they do sell for that much! lol
 
Mark_Mark said:
wait was Deana Carter as pretty as Shania?
Click to expand...
This may be getting to far off topic so I'll leave it at this, blonde vs brunette is like the 9mm vs 45acp debate, it will never end. Anyway, back to discussing frustrating things like the fact that according to @CapnMac, a gunshow let someone bring in a freaking GRILL to the show when you are around powder and primers??? That's got to be a fire hazard lol. Unless it was electric and not propane/charcoal...
 
Mark_Mark said:
if has a table, I would buy the cheapest bulk ammo I can get my hands on from the distributor and try to sell it all!!! Try having a lost profit items like .223 steel crappo, and sell it for what you paid plus expenses. Have a limit of say, 2 boxes. That way people have their wallet out and you can sell $20 mag pouch that you bought for $5!!!

Don’t forget creative, hands friendly displays items. And Mood lighting, and pretty girls that wave like you were dating them
Click to expand...
How long have you had your FFL and business license?
It’s easy to pick apart the people doing something; it’s another thing altogether to be the one doing it.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
How long have you had your FFL and business license?
It’s easy to pick apart the people doing something; it’s another thing altogether to be the one doing it.
Click to expand...
I think Mark is just being devils advocate here, I doubt he actually means to come across as rude or anything... That's the thing with online forums, text read verbatim isn't exactly a true understanding of the authors intentions, lol.
P.S. we have had our FFL since February 2021, just FYI.
 
270OKIE said:
I think Mark is just being devils advocate here, I doubt he actually means to come across as rude or anything... That's the thing with online forums, text read verbatim isn't exactly a true understanding of the authors intentions, lol.
P.S. we have had our FFL since February 2021, just FYI.
Click to expand...
what??? I’m the meanest, most ruthless, most arrogant, most illiterate guy on THR
 
Mark_Mark said:
never had a FFL but had a business license and LLC for 15 years including a brick and mortar
Click to expand...
Selling what?
I ran a tech consulting firm for 6 years, made a lot of money with my business partner; and lost it all after he was left a vegetable by a drunk driver. Found out even though I was good at managing and negotiating contracts, I had no head for business.
If you been at it for 15 years you are doing way better than me.
Advise away. Maybe it’ll help somebody?
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Selling what?
I ran a tech consulting firm for 6 years, made a lot of money with my business partner; and lost it all after he was left a vegetable by a drunk driver. Found out even though I was good at managing and negotiating contracts, I had no head for business.
If you been at it for 15 years you are doing way better than me.
Advise away. Maybe it’ll help somebody?
Click to expand...
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that, Geo... My deepest condolences to you. But yeah I'll take any advise we can get lol. Even if it's from from some random dude on a gun forum, cause it might just work, haha.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Selling what?
I ran a tech consulting firm for 6 years, made a lot of money with my business partner; and lost it all after he was left a vegetable by a drunk driver. Found out even though I was good at managing and negotiating contracts, I had no head for business.
If you been at it for 15 years you are doing way better than me.
Advise away. Maybe it’ll help somebody?
Click to expand...
was a national known Wedding photographer, people would fly me out all over the country to shoot. I did all the marketing, advertisements, contracts, sales, everything… from day one in designing my website (old school Dreamweaver days) to when I called it quits volunteerly. I’m doing well now! no regret. I did venture into to food truck business with a partner and learned that I don’t work well with other. I liquidated that business FAST!

Sucks about your partner leaving you in the dust. But, there is no friends in business, even if they are family. People & Money = Haters & Greed
 
270OKIE said:
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that, Geo... My deepest condolences to you. But yeah I'll take any advise we can get lol. Even if it's from from some random dude on a gun forum, cause it might just work, haha.
Click to expand...
Yeah, didn’t hit me like his family. He was my dearest friend and a former Marine combat vet (Korea). My wife and I did our best to take care of him and his kids after but it was just too much. We ended up putting him in long term care. Made it almost a year after the wreck. This was around 1997 and I still think about him just about every day. I’m pretty good with technology and people but I don’t understand money. Not even a little. Jim did. RIP buddy. Good luck with your new business. Remember: profit is not a goal, it’s a consequence of doing business the right way.
 
Mark_Mark said:
was a national known Wedding photographer, people would fly me out all over the country to shoot. I did all the marketing, advertisements, contracts, sales, everything… from day one in designing my website (old school Dreamweaver days) to when I called it quits volunteerly. I’m doing well now! no regret. I did venture into to food truck business with a partner and learned that I don’t work well with other. I liquidated that business FAST!

Sucks about your partner leaving you in the dust. But, there is no friends in business, even if they are family. People & Money = Haters & Greed
Click to expand...
He didn’t leave me in the dust, he got hit head on by a drunk driver and died after being in a coma for six months. Tough break for everyone but the drunk driver. He got off Scot free because daddy is a politician. Power and money buy justice.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Gun Show Score!
Replies
2
Views
741
ColoradoShooter77
C
B
Went to a Gun Show Yesterday
2
Replies
29
Views
817
CapnMac
CapnMac
K
  • Locked
IMR 800-X for handgun reloads
Replies
6
Views
934
BluewaterLa
B
M
  • Locked
Cabela’s Surprise
Replies
22
Views
2K
Hondo 60
Hondo 60
C
  • Locked
Price of powder and primer and gun shows
Replies
6
Views
1K
REL1203
R
Back
Top