2021 trade shows

[Axis II]

I drove 2hrs to a large outdoor trade show hoping to find some good deals on stuff but all I found were crooks. H&R single shots with cracked stocks, rusted barrels, welded on sights for $300-400. One guy was selling a half box of CCI Blazer 40cal for $30. Guys yelling at you when you walk by that they have the best deal on 5.56 green tip armor piercing rounds that nothing can stop. beat up revolvers for $800. Tasco scopes for $150-200. One thing that intrigued me was tables selling nothing but used pistol magazines. I wondered where in the world they got all those used mags from. One guy was even selling a savage axis with package scope he bought at cabelas for $800. Last week they had them for $250 after rebate. I honestly couldnt believe that people were actually paying $2-3 round for 5.56 and buying old boxes of 9mm blazer for anywhere between $25-40 box. One guy asked a vendor if he would come down on an AR because several stores had it new for $800 and he wanted $1300. The vendor basically told him where he could go. Bricks of small pistol primers $250-brick and people were buying them. Pounds of powder for $75 and jugs for $250-400 and people were buying them. I watched one guy get talked into an 870 express with a slug barrel and iron sights because "its a good deer gun" for $450. No one uses slug guns around here anymore when you can get a straight wall rifle for $300-400.That guy bragged to several people of what a deal he got. I feel sorry for him.

Just in case anyone is wondering why stuff is so high is because we do it to ourselves. I haven't fired a gun other than for qualifying for work since December and dont plan to anytime soon either. If you feed the wolves they will keep coming back.

 

[AlexanderA]

It sounds like you are talking about a typical gun show. A "trade show" is an industry event, like the annual SHOT show. At the other end of the spectrum are swap meets, flea markets, etc. You can find treasures at any venue, as well as overpriced junk. What you need to do is educate yourself, so that you know more than the vendors do.

 

[Axis II]

It sounds like you are talking about a typical gun show. A "trade show" is an industry event, like the annual SHOT show. At the other end of the spectrum are swap meets, flea markets, etc. You can find treasures at any venue, as well as overpriced junk. What you need to do is educate yourself, so that you know more than the vendors do.

It was supposed to be a hunting/fishing/trapping trade show. Someone told us they used to have hunting dogs for sale, trials, gear, dog supplies, etc. Vendors such as nite lite hunting lights, gamehide, Dan's, etc. It turned out to be a flea market with guns with no vendors, no dogs, etc. Neither one of us had ever been there and it took up an entire fairground property. It was nice seeing old pumps, lever guns, etc. Main reason of going was for a rabbit dog and some clothes and maybe a new gun or scope.

 

[Seedy Character]

Buyer beware and well educated

 

[CapnMac]

It was supposed to be a hunting/fishing/trapping trade show.

Sadly, there are some really bad promotors out there.
And they seem to attract a similar sort of vendor, too.
Which is a shame, as it taints the entire show industry.

There are vendors out there, that travel a circuit of shows, and they pick up all sorts of things, like magazines. As with all things human, there are greater and lesser examples of these people. There are two specific vendors who show up at the shows Premiere hosts that I go to becasue they are go-to people for finding both new and used magazines. There are a couple "regulars" that I don't buy from, too.

The announced banon Russian ammo has hit the market hard, too. So, prices that had been heading to reasonable went back to brow-raising. As in 9x19 FMJ going from $35 to $30 & $35. That's the market. Couple of weeks ago I saw guys with AL cased Blazer who wanted $40 the box for it. I didn't buy (and not many others were, either). And, that guy was sitting on four $85 tables probably wondering if he was going to break even over the w/e.

It's a hard market to be in, to travel the shows. As hard as having a brick & mortar store.

 

[Seedy Character]

I stumbled upon an online estate auction, back in June.

One Lot was a box of 80 "assorted" mags.

The auction had 388 firearms. Most of the pistols had a mag (several didn't).

My thought was, there were spare mags for what he had. The heirs or auction company had no desire to put the mags with the correct pistol.

They had removed all scopes, slings, bipods or other accessories, to be sold separately.

Somebody bought a box of mags CHEAP.