Are gun shows normally overpriced?

[tarosean]

I think to many of you are going in thinking you'll get half of a new gun or even a used gun at a show.

Nope generally when I go Im looking for something unique or hard to find not the run of the mill stuff I can get at any LGS. Unfortunately now-a-days it seems its the later thats more prevalent.

Im not even going to begin to bargain/haggle/etc. if they scared me away with sticker shock.

 

[jmr40]

Lots of stufff overpriced, but some of my favorite guns, and the ones I got the best deals on came from gunshows. You can walk into Academy Sports and buy new guns for less than many of the same guns at gunshows. But you won't find NIB rifles with hangtags still attached at Academy that have been out of production for 20 years there.

I'm leaving the house in about an hour to drive to one. Probably won't buy a thing, but I'm taking several $100 bills and a rifle to trade. You never know whether you'll get a deal, or not. One thing I have noticed, never go looking for a deal on a specific gun. You never find deals when you are looking for them. They just fall into your lap so it is a good idea to have lots of cash.

 

[EddieNFL]

yes
it's part of the dealers trying to get retail out of guys who want 50% off

More like dealers overpricing to try and get full retail plus.

I've never bought a gun at a gunshow. I have gotten fair prices on ancillary itews.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I buy a LOT of guns, reloading components, etc, at gun shows.
It's very seldom that I can't find a better price at the gun shows than at the Gun Stores.

Over the years I have bought guns, etc, at the shows from individuals where the price was so low I told the seller they weren't asking enough.
Like a very nice condition M1 Carbine that the seller wanted half of what they were selling for. Including a bayonet and extra 30 round magazines. No paper trail.

Recently I bought a like new, in the box, Ruger MKI bull barrel pistol for $350 from an individual. No paper trail.

Last year I bought this like new Colt Cobra from an individual for $350. Again, no paper trail.



The gun shows aren't what they use to be but (good ones) still beat what's second best.

 

[huntsman]

Also, if you don't like the price, you can see if the vendor will haggle. I have found some very good deals by haggling. Sometimes the prices are high because they expect to haggle and sometimes they are just greedy or poor business men who can't compete.

THIS and take CASH that'll get the deal flowing.

 

[Lantern]

I have found that I go to gun shows for two things. To handle guns I'm thinking of buying cheaper somewhere else and to buy cheap ammo for the guns that I already own.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Merchants can fix prices also and they won't be in the customers favor. The free market does have a greedy, unethical bad side that makes it not work just fine.

Price fixing CAN NOT work in a free market such as a gun show because there will always be some dealers willing to cut prices in order to get the sales. The only time trade specific monopolies or guilds can work is when they are backed by the force of law. Prime examples are doctors, lawyers and funeral directors.

Gun dealers are just like everyone else. They want to do what is in their own best interest and moving merchandise is in their best interest. If they can’t make a few high profit sales they will make up for it with volume. An open market like a gun show is highly competitive compared with most other forms of business. Ever try to haggle at the supermarket or gas station? Prices are high at gun shows right now for the same reason that they are high at the grocery store. It is the economy and a highly inflated currency that is backed only by the full faith and credit of a government that is sixteen trillion dollars in debt.

 

[skywalkrNCSU]

?

Haggling at gun shows is just part of it, not sure where the issue lies there. You don't haggle at a gas station because they operate on a fixed price business model. At a gun show on the other hand, most dealers are willing to haggle given the circumstances.

Not sure where your animosity towards those looking for a good deal at a gun show comes from. Are you a dealer at shows?

 

[SaxonPig]

Gee, sellers asking as much as they think or hope they can get. Who would've thought?

No matter where you shop every seller will be seeking maximum profit. You as the shopper can buy, negotiate, or walk away. I believe they call this the "Free Market System," or something like that.

Got this a couple months ago at a local show. FFL dealer with a table. Tagged at $699 I offered $550 and he took it. I figured to pay tax on it but he made the $550 "out the door price" for even more savings for me.




Same seller at a show a few years back had this at $150...




And this one at $125...




I watched about a dozen guys walk away and then offered $200 for both. Still have 'em.


This Enfield was tagged at $100. I didn't even haggle...




This Stoeger 22 Luger is just like the one I had as a kid. Bagged it for $215.




Got one for $200 at a local show and the next month I grabbed the other for $210 (could NOT get him down to 2 bills, dammit).




Another gun show find... a lot of wear to finish but functions perfectly... $215...




Ex-cop 38-44 with a lot of holster wear but at $195... need I say more?




I could go on. I have found many good deals at shows. They are like everything else in the world, they are what you make of them. Will you find killer deals every time? No. But if you keep looking, aren't afraid to make an offer, and have cash in pocket, you can walk out happy from time to time. If you don't find a good deal, the worst thing that happens is you go home with all your money. How bad can that be?

 

[buck460XVR]

Gun shows are used by most sellers to take rubes to the bank.....

Home made jerky, war relics, indian woodcrafts, and over priced guns are what you get for your cover charge.......

Pretty much how it is around here. Dealers don't bring their good stuff anymore like they used to, they sell that stuff on Gunbroker. They bring their junk and prey on those that don't know what they are looking for and will buy on a whim. New guns are much higher than what the LGSs sell them for and have been beat up by all the handling. Try to haggle with a dealer and they grab the firearm outta your hand and ignore you. Most tables have three POS guns and 400 used paperbacks for sale. For many years, I used to hit every gun show within a 100 miles........now I'd rather go garage sale shopping with my wife or do estate/personal auctions during the week. I find better gun/reloading/hunting deals there than I do at gun shows anymore.

 

[22-rimfire]

GunBroker has definitely had an impact on gunshows. It is part of the evolution of retailing for high dollar items. Retailing is all about maximizing your profit and selling quick so you can re-invest the money and do it all over again times-2.

I have always had a certain amount of success at shows in terms of getting fair prices for things I end up buying. You need to know what things are selling for, how to judge the wear of a used gun, and whether a gun is functional.

Most of the people having tables at shows have not shot whatever firearm they are selling. They really don't know how it shoots or often IF it shoots. It is up to to perspective buyer to make this judgement.

The bad thing about shows is that you are often dealing with dealers and non-dealers. You buy something, it's yours and you can't take it back to the "shop" to complain or return it. It is also part of what makes shows interesting and fun.

I go to shows with a mental list of things I might be interested in. I might be looking for something in particular, but seldom find it unless it's a new gun. So you need to have a reasonable grasp of value, some negotiating skills, and the ability to make a decision quickly if you want something.

Your gun knowledge is usually not particularly special or unique. You see something that you want and is a fair deal, discuss price, agree on price and buy it. Don't say I need to think about it and walk away for two hours expecting that "good deal" to still be waiting for you.

Attend shows for the entertainment value and the ability to see normally far more guns than any one or three gunshops put together all under one roof. You can learn a lot and it is fun to do some people watching.

 

[j1]

I have found most gun shows in Pa to be a waste of the entrance fee. In the fall when most tourists go home there are a few bargains to be found.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Must not be, as they are still selling.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

My experience with gun shows....

You need to know what you want and what it is worth, before you go.

I saw a table with an Iver Johnson top break .38 S&W and a Smith & Wesson top break .38 S&W similar condition. The vendor had $600 on both of them, because both were marked .38 S&W and looked similar.

Bargains can be found.

Rip-offs can be found.

If its too good to be true, it possible is.

Some folks don't know what they have and often ask too much (but occasionally ask too little).

The less a vendor knows about guns (particularly pawn shop operators) the harder it is to correct them.

The dealers who have police surplus trade-ins for sale very often know their stuff.

Beware of non-Inland M1 carbines in Italian repro M1A1 folding stocks selling for the same price as an all-original WWII issue Inland M1 carbine in M1A1 folding stock. Or refinished worn out Mauser Broomhandles at cherry original prices.


personal: Two non-buys I could kick myself for: 1985 passed up a Reising M50 because I could not see paying $200 registration tax on a $150 re-activated DeWat (fully papered from a Class III dealer); then a couple of years later passed on a re-imported AR7 modified by the Israelis as a survival rifle because it looked strange. And then there were the $39.95 Arisaka carbines converted to 7.62x39 for the Chinese militia/police forces.

Lately, I have only gone for parts, accessories or ammunition not available locally, or which if ordered would cost more after shipping and handling were added. Last few shows, due to lack of spare funds, I have not gone; but, oh the days that I went with a thousand dollars or so, walked about, and walked to the truck with a box a 7.63 Mauser, couple a stripper clips, carton of MREs, paracord, .45 full moon clips and $900 or so change.

 

[EddieNFL]

Must not be, as they are still selling.

Proving true the quote so often attributed to PT Barnum.

 

[gym]

No, not if you know your prices

 

[Deanimator]

Definitely not compared to Cleveland area gun stores.

Back in the '80s, the last gun store actually in Cleveland wanted more for a Taurus PT-101 than most shows want for a Beretta 92 or 96 today.

 

[Moparnut]

I believe most start with a higher than normal price. Alot of times a cash offer will get you a good deal. Some folks will not wheel and deal at all.

 

[jblackfish]

IMO there are still good buys to be had at gun shows but you have to know the market for what you want and be able to make offers and hold your ground. It's us crazy consumers Buying everything in sight (yes, I'm one of em too) who're helping to drive up and maintain all the high prices.

 

[Bhi curamach]

Aditionaly forgot to mention, there are often random items your just not going g to find elsewhere. For instance, at the last large show I attended(couple of years unfortunately) I stumbled across a small table selling bore lights made from blackberry stylus.
They shaved of the end switch to make the overall diameter uniform with the shaft and possibly added a clear tip, which the light shines through.
Drop this down any barrel and, presto, viewable barrel.
Genius, and sold at $3.00 per or two for $5.00. Still use these things to this day after cleaning or drop it in the pocket for a trip down to the LGS for a look at the recent trade ins.

 

[pmata814]

Thx so much for all the replies. This has been very educational. I was going hoping to find a fairly priced mosin nagant or a .40 cal pistol for my brother. I didnt have any luck with either. But like i said...i really enjoyed the show. Just dissapointed with the prices.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

 

[CajunBass]

I don't go to but a couple of gun shows a year. I sign my wife and I up for the NRA. I get ten bucks each off our NRA dues, and get two free tickets to the show. Pretty good deal right there I think.

 

[candr44]

Price fixing CAN NOT work in a free market such as a gun show because there will always be some dealers willing to cut prices in order to get the sales. The only time trade specific monopolies or guilds can work is when they are backed by the force of law. Prime examples are doctors, lawyers and funeral directors.

Price fixing can happen at gun shows when a promoter sets up his own tables and makes other vendors agree to not sell certain items below a specific price point so they can't under cut the promoters prices. It also happens when a large vendor who takes up two aisles of tables uses his clout to get a much smaller vendor undercutting his prices thrown out of the gun show. It also happens when there is a buying panic and gun show vendors buy up all of Walmarts lower priced ammo so no one else can get any there and then sell it at a much higher price at gun shows.

Like I said there is a greedy, unethical side to the free market. I'm not that naive to think that a businessman who is greedy and unethical won't find some way to skirt the law (or enven break it) and manipulate prices. Its in the news all the time.

 

[Owen Sparks]

If a promotor was to do that his shows would not be very competitive against others shows. The free market will always sort it out.

 

[jackblack86]

I go to look at what I want I rarley buy what I dont know what its going for therefore I rarely buy at these shows.