azhunter122
Member
Also some nice CCW holsters (not nylon).
Gunshow-What to put on My Table?
- Thread starter hobbeeman
- Start date
- Status
I think a display for conversation sake is a fine idea. I had a very nice chat with a man with old .45-70 trap door rifles at the show last weekend. I learned a lot and he enjoyed the conversation. Gun shows are a good place to see and learn about guns we have only read about elsewhere. It is all part of the gun hobby experience. There are plenty of other tables for people who just want to buy.
moooose102
Member
GOOD DEALS! it is sickening to go to a gun show, and find prices that are 20% HIGHER than a regular retail store!
Cannonball888
Member
Booth bunnies.
wcwhitey
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2006
- Messages
- 2,814
The best deals I have got at shows lately have nothing to do with new guns. Try cleaning out the closet of all the old holsters, boxes of ammo, dies, brass, bullets, primers, web gear and firearms that you bought years ago for a pittance. Put them out there with decent prices (garage sale style). You will make a profit, clean up your inventory and someone will walk away with a good deal. Nothing makes me happier than a table with boxes of old stuff that I can look through. If I wanted to pay market price or higher for a gun or ammo than I will just go to the store. Gun shows are supposed to be cheaper because the dealers have no overhead.
An example of a recent trip brought me mint box of Super Vel .357 158 SJFP ($10), 4-5rd Boxes of Winchester Buckshot ($10 total) and box of Winchester .308 for $5. A Desantis speed scabbard for a 1911 at $10. $35 at the same table, I was happy as hell. This is what I look for at the shows. This guys table was almost empty by the time I left. JMHO Bill
An example of a recent trip brought me mint box of Super Vel .357 158 SJFP ($10), 4-5rd Boxes of Winchester Buckshot ($10 total) and box of Winchester .308 for $5. A Desantis speed scabbard for a 1911 at $10. $35 at the same table, I was happy as hell. This is what I look for at the shows. This guys table was almost empty by the time I left. JMHO Bill
Wolfebyte
Member
Wait.. are you going to sell Sham-Wow?
I vote for the conversation piece(s) followed by realistically priced weapons. I realize you need to make your travel expenses, your table fee, your meals, perhaps motel/lodging if it's a 3 day show..
I've got friends in Abilene, Tx that travel to San Angelo, Tx, a distance less than 150 miles and he's GOT to make 1000.00 to 1200.00 for a 2.5 day show or it's not worth the loading, the drive, the paperwork, the setting up and all the fees that go with it..
Just keep it real ..
I vote for the conversation piece(s) followed by realistically priced weapons. I realize you need to make your travel expenses, your table fee, your meals, perhaps motel/lodging if it's a 3 day show..
I've got friends in Abilene, Tx that travel to San Angelo, Tx, a distance less than 150 miles and he's GOT to make 1000.00 to 1200.00 for a 2.5 day show or it's not worth the loading, the drive, the paperwork, the setting up and all the fees that go with it..
Just keep it real ..
Red Tornado
Member
I agree with WCWhitney, random stuff that's collected over the years. Who know who might need that old spring you have laying around that you don't remember what it's for? Somebody might. As far as conversation pieces, a box or two of stuff to dig through would be great. I don't take exception to "show" pieces. They're usually neat stuff that I'm not looking for anyway, and I can appreciate them without getting the sales pitch, or feeling like I'm wasting the sellers time.
Ammo is always good. Take several boxes of whatever you have the biggest stash of, or a few of everything. Price them fairly and they may or may not sell, but at least there's something available to buy.
RT
Ammo is always good. Take several boxes of whatever you have the biggest stash of, or a few of everything. Price them fairly and they may or may not sell, but at least there's something available to buy.
RT
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
- Messages
- 13,146
Don't do that. If I see ONE gun on a table which is clearly outrageously priced, I roll my eyes and move on to the next vendor. Instead, what you do is, for anything you don't really WANT to sell, you put a sign on it that says "Not for Sale / Display Only" or similar. If someone comes along who REALLY likes it, they'll probably try to talk you into selling it and offer you the price you're looking for.
What attacts people is GUNS. Handguns, longguns. That's what people want. Not a bunch of stuff that ain't guns. Well, they may want the other stuff, so put it on your table, but to draw them in, put lots of GUNS.
jackstinson
Member
Girl Scout cookies
I_AM_LEGEND
Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2008
- Messages
- 97
AR's and AK's will draw a crowd, even better if you don't price gouge them... Of the couple gun shows I've been to lately, all the tables with shotguns, mil-surps, and bolt guns have no people in front of them. The tables with semi-auto rifles and handguns were very busy.
WarHall
Member
My take:
I enjoy going to gun shows just like everybody else. we have 'The Big Reno Gun Show' here, and it is crammed with several of each type of people. I do enjoy the displays, I see firearms that I wouldn't be able to see otherwise. I do enjoy talking to some of these folks. I definitely look for deals and or new stuff. Some are from vendors and some look like they are garage sales. I do dicker with people over prices ( The last time I argued over how "outrageous" the price of a .308 magazine for my Ishapore Enfield was, but glad I bought it!) Buying ammo and components, no matter what it costs, seems to be the priority when I get there, as they sell out FAST! (people actually buy whole pallets! I don't particularly like lugging ammo around while at the show, but the last one, I was squeamish about buying more primers, and when I finally decide to go back and get them, they were all gone! My suggestion to you, do what you will. I do notice it's like a family get together and lots of guys go just to see what you picked up and swap a lot of stuff with each other, and don't even care if they sell anything. If I had a bone to pick, it is with the general public, not the vendors (although I do give them a good tongue lashing over raping the sheople) when they are so unknowledgeable about firearms that they are willing to pay stupid sums of money for whatever. Go, and have fun !
I enjoy going to gun shows just like everybody else. we have 'The Big Reno Gun Show' here, and it is crammed with several of each type of people. I do enjoy the displays, I see firearms that I wouldn't be able to see otherwise. I do enjoy talking to some of these folks. I definitely look for deals and or new stuff. Some are from vendors and some look like they are garage sales. I do dicker with people over prices ( The last time I argued over how "outrageous" the price of a .308 magazine for my Ishapore Enfield was, but glad I bought it!) Buying ammo and components, no matter what it costs, seems to be the priority when I get there, as they sell out FAST! (people actually buy whole pallets! I don't particularly like lugging ammo around while at the show, but the last one, I was squeamish about buying more primers, and when I finally decide to go back and get them, they were all gone! My suggestion to you, do what you will. I do notice it's like a family get together and lots of guys go just to see what you picked up and swap a lot of stuff with each other, and don't even care if they sell anything. If I had a bone to pick, it is with the general public, not the vendors (although I do give them a good tongue lashing over raping the sheople) when they are so unknowledgeable about firearms that they are willing to pay stupid sums of money for whatever. Go, and have fun !
Just One Shot
Member
How about GUNS?
hobbeeman
Member
I appreciated the opportunity to bounce my ideas off of you.
I wound up taking a few pieces for sale, at prices that got some serious consideration, but the real action that I got into was in trades. I traded an FAL for an AR15, and a Ljungman for a Ruger 1 in 7mm mag with a cheap scope. I believe that these trades will set me up for raising $$ later this year for a trip.
I also set up a sign on my table letting people know that I was willing to give a pig hunt for a bird hunt...I came home with a waterfowl hunt, a pheasant hunt, a deer hunt, and a bear hunt!
All in all, a pretty decent show!
If it weren't for the TX State Comptroller agents
coming to my table :banghead: I would be saying Hurrahs all 'round
I wound up taking a few pieces for sale, at prices that got some serious consideration, but the real action that I got into was in trades. I traded an FAL for an AR15, and a Ljungman for a Ruger 1 in 7mm mag with a cheap scope. I believe that these trades will set me up for raising $$ later this year for a trip.
I also set up a sign on my table letting people know that I was willing to give a pig hunt for a bird hunt...I came home with a waterfowl hunt, a pheasant hunt, a deer hunt, and a bear hunt!
All in all, a pretty decent show!
If it weren't for the TX State Comptroller agents
coming to my table :banghead: I would be saying Hurrahs all 'round- Status