It's true, the quality of gun shows has seriously gone down. I grew up on gun shows with my dad. As a kid with my dad we got my Remington 870 12 gauge, and my Winchester model 70 featherweight in .308 there. both were trades with guys sitting behind the tables. My dad recently let me take his Remington 700 30-06 from his closet to mine. that rifle is older than i am (i'm 31) and it's in way better shape than any of the used guns I see at the Gun shows. I now go to an occasional gun show, but i do it to see the ancillary stuff that comes with the gun show. not the guns. That, and to see what everyone is carrying around. that's where the gun deals are.
Gun Shows
- Thread starter gutterman
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mortablunt
Member
^ Look for the guys who just want to get rid of something. I remember seeing $190 for a Springfield 03 on a guy's back.
I go to a big gun show when I can. It's where I do all my buying and selling. If you can negotiate, then you can cut good deals with everyone but the most obstinate and the company representatives selling new guns. Bring something with you that you'll use as a bargaining chip, so that they're getting something they want to trade for. Sales is a game where everything is labeled at a million bucks but cost pennies on that amount. With haggling and something they want in return, it's not that hard to convince someone to change their expectations by a few hundred.
I go to a big gun show when I can. It's where I do all my buying and selling. If you can negotiate, then you can cut good deals with everyone but the most obstinate and the company representatives selling new guns. Bring something with you that you'll use as a bargaining chip, so that they're getting something they want to trade for. Sales is a game where everything is labeled at a million bucks but cost pennies on that amount. With haggling and something they want in return, it's not that hard to convince someone to change their expectations by a few hundred.
thefamcnaj
Member
One thing I noticed reading through the post was the gun shows must stink nation wide and not just in my area. I remember in the early 80's my granpa saying, "well we are going to go in here an haggle a little bit and come out with something for a good price".
He always did. There is no dickering any more. What you see is what you get, take it or leave it.
People use to go on Sundays because the dealers would give good deals to keep from lugging everything back to where they came from. Now they don't care wheather they sell anything or not.
It's really not that good of an atmosphere anymore.
He always did. There is no dickering any more. What you see is what you get, take it or leave it.
People use to go on Sundays because the dealers would give good deals to keep from lugging everything back to where they came from. Now they don't care wheather they sell anything or not.
It's really not that good of an atmosphere anymore.
I only got to 2 gun shows a year.The wanenmacher will be here this weekend and it has 11 acres of guns.I usually stay 4 or 5 hours but mostly buy parts and knives.They have some really old browning and winchester collections that i enjoy learning about.Usually i can beat the new gun prices by going to the LGS.
I mark my stuff up a little bit when I go to gun shows because the first thing somebody asks is "Whats your bottom dollar" so I come down 25-40 dollars, they feel good and I still get what I want out of it.
My gunbroker auctions, the starting bid IS my low dollar the buy it now price is what I would like to get out of it and I throw in free shipping.
I am one of the few that will also do some horse trading with you at gun shows, only time people leave my table mad is when I get my 4473's out and want them to do paperwork, I guess the gun show loophole means as soon as you walk in the door no paperwork in their minds?
The prices, I cant explain what goes on in some peoples heads, used Ruger 10/22 sell for more than new ones at gun shows, but some of that is also the people at the gun shows remembering what they gave for a 10/22 17 years ago and thinking they should still be that price.
I include sales tax on all my prices and the tags say "Tax included"
I have only had my FFL a short time compared to some, but I remember what it was like when I was on the other side of the table.
My gunbroker auctions, the starting bid IS my low dollar the buy it now price is what I would like to get out of it and I throw in free shipping.
I am one of the few that will also do some horse trading with you at gun shows, only time people leave my table mad is when I get my 4473's out and want them to do paperwork, I guess the gun show loophole means as soon as you walk in the door no paperwork in their minds?
The prices, I cant explain what goes on in some peoples heads, used Ruger 10/22 sell for more than new ones at gun shows, but some of that is also the people at the gun shows remembering what they gave for a 10/22 17 years ago and thinking they should still be that price.
I include sales tax on all my prices and the tags say "Tax included"
I have only had my FFL a short time compared to some, but I remember what it was like when I was on the other side of the table.
Beak50
Member
Going to the Gun Shows around where I live is great.All the Dealers or vendors know each other"since we had to wait for years to get a spot,no one gives them up".Plus you get to BS about our favorite subject,look for deals."A lot goes on inside before the doors open to the public".It gets me away from the old lady nagging.I just really look forward to them.
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