Just had to get in on this one because I myself have witnessed this unbelievable event 
.
Are there overpriced <......> selling for unreal prices at gun shows? Yes, you better believe they are. Are there "reasonable" and decent deals made at gun shows? Yes, you bet. Although, they are NOT proportional to each other. I've only made 2 purchases at gun shows in the last year. One was from someone I know and have done business with before, the other a total stranger.
I was at a show this past Friday and saw lots of things I wanted, and could have paid for, but was UNWILLING to pay their price. Was I ripped off? No, I was not. Was someone else ripped off? In my OPINION, if they paid that price, yeah, they were. If however, they wanted it bad enough and were willing to pay the price, then no, in THEIR opinion, they were not, OR they shouldn't have bought it. Having a good relationship with a local gun store, I could easily match or beat the prices I saw on the tables for new rather than used, IF I chose to buy through a dealer. For ME, it wasn't worth it. Much of this is perspective based.
Supply and demand is the American way. Think "Prohibition" and the "War on Drugs". If someone wants it bad enough, they'll pay whatever the seller is asking. Is it a fair price? If you want it bad enough it is. If you don't, then no it's not. This is like the automobile industry in some ways. I felt like chicken choking the local Chevy house when they had a new truck I wanted "stickered" at $45K. You've GOT to be kidding me!!!!! But, I needed/wanted it, but was unwilling to pay that price, so we negotiated until I settled on what I thought was a reasonable price. If he didn't play, I would have went somewhere else. If noone was willing to play ball, I would reevaluate my "need" or narrow my "want list" until the price reflected what I was willing to pay. In this case, at least I had options. But as a consumer, you ALWAYS have the option to walk away. See how this works?
Good example of gun specifics: I saw a barely/gently used Remy 700ADL .243 with a "bargain" scope a few months ago. He was asking $450, but it HAD a scope, so it was ready to shoot out the door. He sold it for $425. At the show last week (different guy), I saw the same rifle (not THE same one), no scope or rings, and a lot more used, priced at $490. I asked if that was the best he could do for a cash price, and he looked at me as though I kicked his cat. "That's the best I can do, I gotta have that price" were his exact words. I smiled, put it down and walked away. He didn't call out to me or attempt to deal with me as I walked away. Someone else can buy it. If you don't buy it or don't think it's worth the price, then WALK AWAY, and you didn't get ripped off. Just my .02
. Are there overpriced <......> selling for unreal prices at gun shows? Yes, you better believe they are. Are there "reasonable" and decent deals made at gun shows? Yes, you bet. Although, they are NOT proportional to each other. I've only made 2 purchases at gun shows in the last year. One was from someone I know and have done business with before, the other a total stranger.
I was at a show this past Friday and saw lots of things I wanted, and could have paid for, but was UNWILLING to pay their price. Was I ripped off? No, I was not. Was someone else ripped off? In my OPINION, if they paid that price, yeah, they were. If however, they wanted it bad enough and were willing to pay the price, then no, in THEIR opinion, they were not, OR they shouldn't have bought it. Having a good relationship with a local gun store, I could easily match or beat the prices I saw on the tables for new rather than used, IF I chose to buy through a dealer. For ME, it wasn't worth it. Much of this is perspective based.
Supply and demand is the American way. Think "Prohibition" and the "War on Drugs". If someone wants it bad enough, they'll pay whatever the seller is asking. Is it a fair price? If you want it bad enough it is. If you don't, then no it's not. This is like the automobile industry in some ways. I felt like chicken choking the local Chevy house when they had a new truck I wanted "stickered" at $45K. You've GOT to be kidding me!!!!! But, I needed/wanted it, but was unwilling to pay that price, so we negotiated until I settled on what I thought was a reasonable price. If he didn't play, I would have went somewhere else. If noone was willing to play ball, I would reevaluate my "need" or narrow my "want list" until the price reflected what I was willing to pay. In this case, at least I had options. But as a consumer, you ALWAYS have the option to walk away. See how this works?
Good example of gun specifics: I saw a barely/gently used Remy 700ADL .243 with a "bargain" scope a few months ago. He was asking $450, but it HAD a scope, so it was ready to shoot out the door. He sold it for $425. At the show last week (different guy), I saw the same rifle (not THE same one), no scope or rings, and a lot more used, priced at $490. I asked if that was the best he could do for a cash price, and he looked at me as though I kicked his cat. "That's the best I can do, I gotta have that price" were his exact words. I smiled, put it down and walked away. He didn't call out to me or attempt to deal with me as I walked away. Someone else can buy it. If you don't buy it or don't think it's worth the price, then WALK AWAY, and you didn't get ripped off. Just my .02
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