Another Gun show rant.
- Thread starter jsalcedo
- Start date
- Status
Wannamacher show
Yap, but hey Hutch, can you verify for us what Krochus said, that this year's Oct Tulsa show was massively declined in size and/or quality from previous ones? If so, then I'm VERY sad to hear it. Larry A, was the last one you went to the April one? Anyone else besides Krochus & Hutch go to the Oct one? Thanks. Now I'm really curious if it's starting to stink to high heaven like the local shows.
Central Texas, lol, nice song lyrics - I DO got the gunshow blues!
Yap, but hey Hutch, can you verify for us what Krochus said, that this year's Oct Tulsa show was massively declined in size and/or quality from previous ones? If so, then I'm VERY sad to hear it. Larry A, was the last one you went to the April one? Anyone else besides Krochus & Hutch go to the Oct one? Thanks. Now I'm really curious if it's starting to stink to high heaven like the local shows.
Central Texas, lol, nice song lyrics - I DO got the gunshow blues!
A mixed bag
There seems to be a show here in N.W. Indiana about every 3 weeks. You do get a mixed bag of nice folks and nut bags. I've got some good deals on guns. What is really amazing is the incosistancy in the pricing and what the dealers will give you on trades. I walked around one show recently with a Dan Wesson .44 Mag looking for something that is a little more concealable.
One guy told me he would be happy to take my DW and 80$ of my hard earned in trade for a Taurus Millennium Pro 145. He told me it was the best deal that I would get at the show. I told him maybe I would return after I looked around. I went to another dealer who took my DW for a Stainless Millennium Pro 145 plus gave me a crisp 100$ bill to boot.
I do agree with the originator of this thread, trying to get any one to talk to you much less make eye contact with you is nearly impossible. Ammo prices are not really a bargin for the stuff I shoot. I'm better of buying ammo at WalMart or Gander Mountian. If I do need camo clothes therr is a 300 lb lady there who could set me up with the same stuff I can buy at Army Surplus for about a quarter of the price.
I took my daughter with me last weekend. She said she wanted to go along but once we got ther she was in a hurry to leave. I guess she just doesn't appreciate the whole cultural experiance, and she told me she was dissapointed that we didn't get to shoot any guns while we were there
All in all it's a fun way to spend a couple hours. Just get home before you have to use the bathroom!
There seems to be a show here in N.W. Indiana about every 3 weeks. You do get a mixed bag of nice folks and nut bags. I've got some good deals on guns. What is really amazing is the incosistancy in the pricing and what the dealers will give you on trades. I walked around one show recently with a Dan Wesson .44 Mag looking for something that is a little more concealable.
One guy told me he would be happy to take my DW and 80$ of my hard earned in trade for a Taurus Millennium Pro 145. He told me it was the best deal that I would get at the show. I told him maybe I would return after I looked around. I went to another dealer who took my DW for a Stainless Millennium Pro 145 plus gave me a crisp 100$ bill to boot.
I do agree with the originator of this thread, trying to get any one to talk to you much less make eye contact with you is nearly impossible. Ammo prices are not really a bargin for the stuff I shoot. I'm better of buying ammo at WalMart or Gander Mountian. If I do need camo clothes therr is a 300 lb lady there who could set me up with the same stuff I can buy at Army Surplus for about a quarter of the price.
I took my daughter with me last weekend. She said she wanted to go along but once we got ther she was in a hurry to leave. I guess she just doesn't appreciate the whole cultural experiance, and she told me she was dissapointed that we didn't get to shoot any guns while we were there
All in all it's a fun way to spend a couple hours. Just get home before you have to use the bathroom!
MountainPeak
Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2002
- Messages
- 784
Yup, you are right. No need to go to "a" gun show. Hell, you didn't find what YOU wanted. The whining class lives on!
Yep, last April. And no way I think it could have gone downhill that fast. We plan on being there next April too.
Having been in retail for the last 35 years, I've found that some people will find something to complain about, no matter what. A very small minority, I grant you, but if they can't find something to whine about, they are not happy.
I fully expect next April's Wannenmacher show to be as good as the other ones I've been to, and I'll bet I'm not disappointed.
I didn't make it to Tulsa but following the thread over on OKshooters the consensus was that it was down in size this fall and not as crowded as normal. Part of it was rumored to have to do with all the 'canes that have hit the GOM.
Hopefully it'll be good again in April. I'll be 1 month from full time employment and will have my signing bonus in hand
Hopefully it'll be good again in April. I'll be 1 month from full time employment and will have my signing bonus in hand
We don't have "a" gun show we have "the" gun show that is identical every month. Every first weekend it's like that movie groundhog day.
I prefer to call it ranting... whining is done in a higher pitched voice and I couldn't find an emoticon for that.
I had that similar 10/22 experience with a dealer. He basically had overpriced junk at his table, except (arguably) for an older 10/22 with a walnut stock. The gun had scratches on the receiver and trigger guard, dings in the stock, and some rust around the muzzle. I figured it was a $100 gun, something my boys could shoot. On Saturday, he had a tag on it with $225 in ink scratched out and $210 written below in pencil. After asking permission to handle it, and doing so, I asked him what was the best he could do, and he told me it's already below book. (I knew for a fact the book was $195 for NIB, $170 for 98%, $135 for 95%. This wasn't any of them.) I said "really?" He puts down his coffee, walks down the table to me, squares up, looks me right in the eye and says "Really." I said "My book says $195 NIB" He says "This IS NIB, never been fired."
Resisting my first instinct to just put it down and walk away, I replied "Well it's obviously been carried, at the very least." He kind of tilts his head sideways, and not even admitting he'd just lied about the NIB thing, asks me what I had in mind. I said "a hundred bucks." (I would have given him as much as $120 originally, but at this point, he'd just pissed me off, and I knew I wouldn't be buying the gun) He shook his head and said "You're out of your damn mind." Not just my mind, but my "damn" mind. I just smiled, said "Good luck with that," and walked away. He wasn't smiling, and eyeballed me as I left.
Sunday I found myself walking by his table again, and saw a new tag on the gun with $220 in ink, which was scratched out with $210 written below it in pencil. I just smiled at him. For some reason he didn't smile back.
spartacus2002
Member
Gun shows around here are 15% guns, 85% beef jerky, airsoft guns, knives, and moldy surplus clothing.
Creeping Incrementalism
Member
spartacus2002 said:
Never been to a gun show before, but I love beef jerky.
MountainPeak
Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2002
- Messages
- 784
I still find the good, and sometimes great deals at gun shows. Thanks for not competing with me guys/gals!!! Of course, I'm a gun show junkie, that goes to more than one or two a year. Whine on, it's great for those of us, that LOVE gun shows, the deals, and the people we meet at them! 
I went to my first gun show in York, PA yesterday. Got there early (which I think ended up being the key to my success) and walked around a bit before the 10am CCW class I was taking there to satisfy the requirement for my FL non-resident permit. I had a bit of cash burning a hole in my wallet, and had a few things in mind (Lee-Enfield for my wife, commander sized 1911 for me, and my normal "list of stuff I'm looking for a good deal on").
There were at least a few hundred tables, and relatively few of the junk vendors I hear about in threads like this. Sure, everybody thought most of what they had was solid gold (I saw $400+ for an Enfield. Sure, it was one of the US made Savages, but it wasn't THAT great). After about 3 rows of tables, I spied a stainless 686+ w/ a 4" barrel. My wife had one of these years ago and has regretted selling it ever since she did. It's been tops of my "If I find a good deal" list for a while now...Problem is I usually see them for $450-500. Well, this one looked in great shape (if a little dirty) and was marked $375! I walked past figuring I'd look around and see what prices were on a 686+ from other dealers. Made it about halfway down the row and turned around. Talked to the guy, checked it out. Everything looked in good shape. Picked it up for $350 OTD. I also didn't see another one all day at the show.
Had to run off to class then, finished that up and wandered the show some more. Most of the good deals seemed to look less good to me now, and I'd spent a fair chunk of what I came with on something I hadn't expected. Decided to pack it up and go home a winner while I was still ahead
Got home, nervous that my wife would be a little peeved at me coming home with more guns since I was just going for the CCW class ($$ is a little tight right now, but I've been socking away cash from overtime hours...), but thankfully she was suprised and quite happy with the new addition to the family
So, I suppose not ALL gun show stories suck. I still think the trick is to go with a list of things you want, a set price you'll pay for each, and get there before the doors open...it was only 9:25AM when my NICS check got called in...
-d
There were at least a few hundred tables, and relatively few of the junk vendors I hear about in threads like this. Sure, everybody thought most of what they had was solid gold (I saw $400+ for an Enfield. Sure, it was one of the US made Savages, but it wasn't THAT great). After about 3 rows of tables, I spied a stainless 686+ w/ a 4" barrel. My wife had one of these years ago and has regretted selling it ever since she did. It's been tops of my "If I find a good deal" list for a while now...Problem is I usually see them for $450-500. Well, this one looked in great shape (if a little dirty) and was marked $375! I walked past figuring I'd look around and see what prices were on a 686+ from other dealers. Made it about halfway down the row and turned around. Talked to the guy, checked it out. Everything looked in good shape. Picked it up for $350 OTD. I also didn't see another one all day at the show.
Had to run off to class then, finished that up and wandered the show some more. Most of the good deals seemed to look less good to me now, and I'd spent a fair chunk of what I came with on something I hadn't expected. Decided to pack it up and go home a winner while I was still ahead
Got home, nervous that my wife would be a little peeved at me coming home with more guns since I was just going for the CCW class ($$ is a little tight right now, but I've been socking away cash from overtime hours...), but thankfully she was suprised and quite happy with the new addition to the family
So, I suppose not ALL gun show stories suck. I still think the trick is to go with a list of things you want, a set price you'll pay for each, and get there before the doors open...it was only 9:25AM when my NICS check got called in...
-d
22-rimfire
Member
I still enjoy gun shows a lot. I don't like all the flea market stuff. You have to understand how things are done there and to know your pricing for stuff you might be interested in. I take a Blue Book with me to the show and leave it in the car pending a need for some backup information on something that I'm not famaliar with. This works on smaller shows but not the really big shows as you may be parked quite a distance from the show. Recent market activity on Smiths and Colts show that the Blue Book pricing is low typically. It is a starting point on the negotiation. The buyer can also throw the "book" around on values, but it usually doesn't work. You just have to follow your instincts on value and not worry about it too much. Life is a give and take.
B
Boss Spearman
Guest
Where was this show?
aerod1
Member
I still enjoy the gun shows in our area. I feel I have made some good deals and been treated fairly by most people. At times we have gun shows about every other weekend. I try to make them all.
B
Boss Spearman
Guest
I think these 'people' used to setup at Indy. Fortunately almost everyone ignored them, so they have since disappeared.
MAURICE
Member
Careful not to confuse the Big Tulsa show held twice a year with the smaller ones that are held every couple of months.
The Wannamacher Show is not bad, but it takes time to find deals since it is so big. One problem I have with it is the 'collectors' selling off their 'collections'- almost always near new or new guns- at every show. Of course they charge more than the legitimate dealers. To me cash and carry is not worth extra cash vs. buying from a reputable dealer.
Bought a S&W Model 28, IIRC from a regular table holder who sells mostly custom knives. Had probably a dozen people stop me and ask what I wanted for it. I would explain that I just bought it and it was not for sale. They then tell me "Well what would it take to get it off your hands?" I name a reasonable price (what I paid for it) and they reply with something along the lines of "Ha! I would have to buy that for 150 bucks."
Thats why its not for sale you time wasting low baller. Go away.
Now when I attend I make sure to carry a backpack. Still get asked what I got in that pack. I tell them its marital aids and move along.
Hate to be a jerk, but I am there for my benefit, not theirs.
The Wannamacher Show is not bad, but it takes time to find deals since it is so big. One problem I have with it is the 'collectors' selling off their 'collections'- almost always near new or new guns- at every show. Of course they charge more than the legitimate dealers. To me cash and carry is not worth extra cash vs. buying from a reputable dealer.
Bought a S&W Model 28, IIRC from a regular table holder who sells mostly custom knives. Had probably a dozen people stop me and ask what I wanted for it. I would explain that I just bought it and it was not for sale. They then tell me "Well what would it take to get it off your hands?" I name a reasonable price (what I paid for it) and they reply with something along the lines of "Ha! I would have to buy that for 150 bucks."
Thats why its not for sale you time wasting low baller. Go away.
Now when I attend I make sure to carry a backpack. Still get asked what I got in that pack. I tell them its marital aids and move along.
Hate to be a jerk, but I am there for my benefit, not theirs.
mrmeval
Member
Better shows have a waiting list for dealers just waiting for some idiot to piss off management. I'm hoping "blinky boy" at the 1500 gun and knife show goes SOON. As well as the other non-gun related vendors. I don't need your carbs nor your badly processed meat sticks.
WarMachine said:I don't why, but for some reason the mere mention of a firearm can turn some people into total ***holes.
Even the cut-throat used car industry isn't nearly as bad as some of the stuff I have encountered. It's almost like they don't want you to buy their worthless crap.
- Status
