SunCoast Gun Show (What a Joke....)
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Guns and more
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Not to bash the store in Tampa, but it's literally 1/2 mile from the gun show and their prices are often above list (by a lot). I used to go there because the sales people were nice, but the last time I went, I couldn't get anyone to pay attention. (20 sales people...5 customers) If I did ask, I got, "If we have any they'd be over there." Where I used to get, "Here let me show you. Have you thought about xyz too?"
To those who haven't been to the Tampa show, Shoot Straight's display is so big they have two guys on Segways running back and forth with (?), and 20 salesmen.
I've bought at the show from them, but you have to know what a good price is. (today $399 +tax for a Mossy 500 in .410 was not.)
You know, the place was crowded, and at $8 +$5 parking, somebody made a lot of money.
I think Shoot Straight pretty much calls the shots at all the Florida gun shows (no pun intended) so they're laughing all the way to the bank.
This was my first show since getting my CCW, so I was looking forward to walking out with a gun. (no waiting period) I didn't.
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OP
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sig228
Member
My Post, Back from the Dead!!!
LOL, three years old, glad to see nothing has changed. I still go to the shows, primarily the Miami show, better venue, wider aisles than the Ft. Lauderdale show. Last time I bought an M&P 15 lower for about $125, which I thought was fair. I mostly go to crowd watch, look for private deals and touch and hold the guns that I buy later online, always at better prices. Primarily Davidson's, they are the easiest, no FFL faxing and annoyances like that, but I have also had my occasional purchases from Gunbroker too. Go to the shows for what they are, entertainment. Same price as a movie these days, and a lot more fun.
LOL, three years old, glad to see nothing has changed. I still go to the shows, primarily the Miami show, better venue, wider aisles than the Ft. Lauderdale show. Last time I bought an M&P 15 lower for about $125, which I thought was fair. I mostly go to crowd watch, look for private deals and touch and hold the guns that I buy later online, always at better prices. Primarily Davidson's, they are the easiest, no FFL faxing and annoyances like that, but I have also had my occasional purchases from Gunbroker too. Go to the shows for what they are, entertainment. Same price as a movie these days, and a lot more fun.
cleardiddion
Member
As much of a zombie post as this is it still kinda made me chuckle thinking about the segway code talking shoot straight guys.
I do remember about 2 years ago some guy was over on the surplus section looking and asked what the 380 dollar rifle was. The shoot straight guy had no idea and they just kinda sat there scratching their heads. I kinda popped in and said 'it's a Carcano' but the guy who was on the segway didn't believe me. He started saying that it was a WW1 Mauser and yaddy yaddy yah. Well I came back 30s later with a bud of mine with an iphone who had pulled the wiki page of the carcano. Lo and behold they matched! You should've seen how red the shoot straight guy got!
Totally worth the 8 bucks it cost to get into the show.
I do remember about 2 years ago some guy was over on the surplus section looking and asked what the 380 dollar rifle was. The shoot straight guy had no idea and they just kinda sat there scratching their heads. I kinda popped in and said 'it's a Carcano' but the guy who was on the segway didn't believe me. He started saying that it was a WW1 Mauser and yaddy yaddy yah. Well I came back 30s later with a bud of mine with an iphone who had pulled the wiki page of the carcano. Lo and behold they matched! You should've seen how red the shoot straight guy got!
Totally worth the 8 bucks it cost to get into the show.
FLAvalanche
Member
When I was a kid I used to help my father and his buddies from the local Marine Corps League set up and take down their gun show. It used to be a great show even though it was 20 years ago.
There was an old man who used to sell nothing but shotguns. He had 4 tables of any and every shotgun you could imagine. He'd show up in an Dodge conversion van about midnight Friday night every year and I'd help him unload his van and set up his tables.
Well one year I was looking for my first shotgun. I had my eyes on a 20 gauge Harrington and Richardson single shot. Sunday, near closing time, I asked him how much he wanted for the old 20 gauge. He said "How much you got?". I told him I had $30 and that my Dad would pay for the rest. Keep in mind I was 13 at the time. He said "You helped me unload all this stuff and I assume you're going to help me load it all back up. I can hardly walk and this is the only show I go to that has people helping me. I'll sell you this shotgun for $30.". And he did...
The next year he showed up at his usual time and I again, helped him unload and set up. He happened to see me looking at shotguns and he asked me if I was looking to upgrade from that 20 gauge I bought last year and I said I sure was. Sunday night, after the show, he asked me if I had found anything I liked and I said that I hadn't. And he said he might have something I liked. From under the fold down bed in the back of that old Dodge van he pulled out a 12 gauge H&R brand new in the box. He asked if I brought that old 20 gauge and I said that I did and he told me to go get it. He thanked me for helping him unload 2 years in a row and took that 20 gauge, put it in the box and handed me that 12 gauge.
The next year I helped him load and unload again. Same with the next year. That year I was 16 and I would be staying over night in the building with my father to provide security. He showed up at his usual time. Again, I was looking to upgrade that single shot 12 gauge and I was looking at Mossberg 500s. Didn't find anything in my range and he waved me over. He asked what I was looking for and I told him I was looking to trade the single shot he traded two years ago for a pump. He pulled out a 500 that had a couple of years on it but was in great shape. He asked to see the 12 gauge H&R so he could see if I took care of it. He said I took great care of it and traded me the single shot and $50 for the Mossberg. And at the end of the show I helped him load all his stuff back in, thanked him for what he did for me through the years and said I'd see him next year.
He didn't show up the next year. He died 2 months before the gun show. I've still got that old Mossberg sitting in the gun cabinet.
That's how gun shows are supposed to work...
There was an old man who used to sell nothing but shotguns. He had 4 tables of any and every shotgun you could imagine. He'd show up in an Dodge conversion van about midnight Friday night every year and I'd help him unload his van and set up his tables.
Well one year I was looking for my first shotgun. I had my eyes on a 20 gauge Harrington and Richardson single shot. Sunday, near closing time, I asked him how much he wanted for the old 20 gauge. He said "How much you got?". I told him I had $30 and that my Dad would pay for the rest. Keep in mind I was 13 at the time. He said "You helped me unload all this stuff and I assume you're going to help me load it all back up. I can hardly walk and this is the only show I go to that has people helping me. I'll sell you this shotgun for $30.". And he did...
The next year he showed up at his usual time and I again, helped him unload and set up. He happened to see me looking at shotguns and he asked me if I was looking to upgrade from that 20 gauge I bought last year and I said I sure was. Sunday night, after the show, he asked me if I had found anything I liked and I said that I hadn't. And he said he might have something I liked. From under the fold down bed in the back of that old Dodge van he pulled out a 12 gauge H&R brand new in the box. He asked if I brought that old 20 gauge and I said that I did and he told me to go get it. He thanked me for helping him unload 2 years in a row and took that 20 gauge, put it in the box and handed me that 12 gauge.
The next year I helped him load and unload again. Same with the next year. That year I was 16 and I would be staying over night in the building with my father to provide security. He showed up at his usual time. Again, I was looking to upgrade that single shot 12 gauge and I was looking at Mossberg 500s. Didn't find anything in my range and he waved me over. He asked what I was looking for and I told him I was looking to trade the single shot he traded two years ago for a pump. He pulled out a 500 that had a couple of years on it but was in great shape. He asked to see the 12 gauge H&R so he could see if I took care of it. He said I took great care of it and traded me the single shot and $50 for the Mossberg. And at the end of the show I helped him load all his stuff back in, thanked him for what he did for me through the years and said I'd see him next year.
He didn't show up the next year. He died 2 months before the gun show. I've still got that old Mossberg sitting in the gun cabinet.
That's how gun shows are supposed to work...
OP
OP
sig228
Member
FLAvalanche, good story. I know there are still good people like that at the shows, but certainly (as your story shows) they are a dying breed.
Last time I went, there were two young men trying to sell a beater shotgun with a real long barrel. It was a crapper, they asked me, and trying to be diplomatic, I said I was looking for something with a shorter barrel. Next thing I know they tracked me down again, this time with a hack saw. "we can cut it to any size you want". I quickly had to stop myself from cracking up, and said "sorry I'm going to have to pass on that".
Deus Machina
Member
Whoa, wait. Shoot Straight has the best prices? I didn't notice that one. I thought the only way they 'kept anyone in check' was by marking the upper limit.
I must be mistaken on the $720 CZ 75's, and the $240 Savage Mk2's, or the $1300 baseline DPMS AR's, or the $180 rusted Mosin Nagants, or the $200 single-shot 20-gauges that don't lock up, or the $480 Taurus 85's, or...
Or the guy with an admittedly very nice Nagant revolver for $449. He tried telling me it's hard to find working ones. I laughed in his face.
Ahem. Anyway, as usual, yesterday's show was mostly vastly overpriced. Some looking around found some acceptable prices (a friend got a mint SP101 for $375 otd. Wish I had the extra money.), but most of the worthwhile buys were on accessories. Some were right around Midway prices, and not having to pay shipping was nice.
Ammo was mostly overpriced, but at least a few of the big sellers had prices that beat out buying plus shipping online. Georgia Arms is always worth a look, because where else can you still find acceptable SD ammo for $15/50?
I must be mistaken on the $720 CZ 75's, and the $240 Savage Mk2's, or the $1300 baseline DPMS AR's, or the $180 rusted Mosin Nagants, or the $200 single-shot 20-gauges that don't lock up, or the $480 Taurus 85's, or...
Or the guy with an admittedly very nice Nagant revolver for $449. He tried telling me it's hard to find working ones. I laughed in his face.
Ahem. Anyway, as usual, yesterday's show was mostly vastly overpriced. Some looking around found some acceptable prices (a friend got a mint SP101 for $375 otd. Wish I had the extra money.), but most of the worthwhile buys were on accessories. Some were right around Midway prices, and not having to pay shipping was nice.
Ammo was mostly overpriced, but at least a few of the big sellers had prices that beat out buying plus shipping online. Georgia Arms is always worth a look, because where else can you still find acceptable SD ammo for $15/50?
gkdir
Member
"the rant"
:banghead:Have got to agree with most of whats been said here. Being a dedicated gun nut (we really can't help ourselves) I plan to haunt any gun show within 100miles of the house (beats hell out of staying home and mowing the lawn) ,and like most have said, its the same ole' tired guys trying to sell the same ole'crap. But every once in a while ya run across a sleeper that makes it all worthwhile. I work the parking lots and ticket lines. The private sales are where the "deals" are.
There is only about 20% of the crowd at any given time, that have even a hint of what they are looking at. The "Rambos", the "Mall Ninjas", the "Wantabes", and the "Tire Kickers", make up the rest of the crowd. These are the ones the "vendors" depend on for sales. If you're not smart enough to recognize that a Stevens 200, with a "rattle can" camo job, topped with a junk Barska scope, and a $5.00 nylon cartridge holder,, isn't in reality a $1200.00 "Tactical Sniper", then you deserve every bit of the hosing you just took.
Don't even get me started on the "TACTICAL" crowd--thats got to be the biggest joke that was ever played (and bought) by the shooting public. Really guys--you got enough useless chitt hanging on that over priced AR to pay my kids tuition this semester.
I will continue to attend these things,as the $300.00 03-A3, the $300.00 Remington Rand GI, the $450.00 Weatherby Mark V, and the $200.00 Win. Model 12 "Pigeon Grade", do actually show up once in awhile.
:banghead:Have got to agree with most of whats been said here. Being a dedicated gun nut (we really can't help ourselves) I plan to haunt any gun show within 100miles of the house (beats hell out of staying home and mowing the lawn) ,and like most have said, its the same ole' tired guys trying to sell the same ole'crap. But every once in a while ya run across a sleeper that makes it all worthwhile. I work the parking lots and ticket lines. The private sales are where the "deals" are.
There is only about 20% of the crowd at any given time, that have even a hint of what they are looking at. The "Rambos", the "Mall Ninjas", the "Wantabes", and the "Tire Kickers", make up the rest of the crowd. These are the ones the "vendors" depend on for sales. If you're not smart enough to recognize that a Stevens 200, with a "rattle can" camo job, topped with a junk Barska scope, and a $5.00 nylon cartridge holder,, isn't in reality a $1200.00 "Tactical Sniper", then you deserve every bit of the hosing you just took.
Don't even get me started on the "TACTICAL" crowd--thats got to be the biggest joke that was ever played (and bought) by the shooting public. Really guys--you got enough useless chitt hanging on that over priced AR to pay my kids tuition this semester.
I will continue to attend these things,as the $300.00 03-A3, the $300.00 Remington Rand GI, the $450.00 Weatherby Mark V, and the $200.00 Win. Model 12 "Pigeon Grade", do actually show up once in awhile.
mljdeckard
Member
I'm a capitalist. I love to see consumers interacting directly, and sellers getting hammered because they overestimated how desperate the demand is at a given time. They will go home, lick their wounds, and readjust for the next show.
Unless of course, there were plenty of suckers there and they cleaned house. They may actually have a better plan in mind than just; "Let's go to a gun show, mark everything up 200%, and hope that the other dealers won't try to undersell us." Just sayin'.
Unless of course, there were plenty of suckers there and they cleaned house. They may actually have a better plan in mind than just; "Let's go to a gun show, mark everything up 200%, and hope that the other dealers won't try to undersell us." Just sayin'.
doesn't it seem quite possible that the prices are NOT overinflated? I mean, it's a price for a cash deal FTF transaction...(the so called 'loophole', right?) so, the gangbangers and other assorted hoodlums can walk in and overpay someone cause they've got excess cash laying around, right?
not sure if i'm making much sense here, i'm running on fatigue fumes today.
oh, and I don't generally bother going to these shows because i'm just not that interested in being in such a weird environment. I prefer shopping guns at my local gun shop...
not sure if i'm making much sense here, i'm running on fatigue fumes today.
oh, and I don't generally bother going to these shows because i'm just not that interested in being in such a weird environment. I prefer shopping guns at my local gun shop...
Deus Machina
Member
This isn't including the 'loophole' you hear so much about.
The vast majority of the booths here are dealers, not private sellers, so you still need to get the background check run. It's not, as some people claim, an inflated price so anyone can buy with no questions asked.
On the dealer booths, you actually get a better deal (read: less shafted) with cash in hand, anyway, so the inflation is still just inflation.
OP
OP
sig228
Member
Actually, we refer to ourselves as Tacti-COOL.
But seriously, the guns you refer to tell me you might be a "old generation" hunter vs. "new generation" who primarily are into concealed carry, self defense and target shooting.
You probably have no room in your safe for an AK, an AR, or something tacti-cool like a Crimson Trace forward laser / flashlight grip.
But then again, old vs. new generation is a WHOLE DIFFERENT thread.
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oneounceload
member
There is no such thing as gouging - if you willingly pay your money, then you must have thought it to be a good deal, even if someone else doesn't. Just because something sells cheaper n another area, doesn't mean that the local price is out of line. If you feel it is, you do not buy - the customer sets the price. Things are worth exactly what someone is willing to pay - no more, no less
Deus Machina
Member
True, and the beauty of capitalism.
I, personally, consider it gouging when the price is inflated, and the sellers tell you "we know, but you pay this or get nothing," and often in less polite words.
The last few times I've gone to these shows, I just haven't seen many people walk out with new stuff. I'm more upset because Shoot Straight is largest new seller (I don't see how, with much better prices two boothes away!) and most of the rest of the sales are used stuff.
I'm more upset because I had several sellers tell me, face-to-face, that they haven't managed to sell much, and just don't understand it's because of their 300% markup.
oneounceload
member
Still not gouging because you are not FORCED to buy from them.......walk on by, and if everyone does, then they will have to re-evaluate their business model
killchain
Member
Or change it to sell to someone who's looking for that "foh-tee."
Yeah, that good old FTF in-cash gun show loophole.
so, what you're saying is that all these dealers who set up tables at shows are 'high road' type folks who wouldn't *dream* of telling a cash buyer...well, i've got this here 9 that i'll sell ya outside in the lot (for 3x what it might go for online) and we do it FTF? i'd like to believe that i'm wrong, but i'm just too cynical for that...
philpost
Member
Same with the new store in Ft. Myers. Not only have they over-inflated everything so much that they can "work with you on the price" and still gouge you, but the clerks are not too well-informed.
I've been to the Suncoast show out here a couple of times, and have found some decent deals on accessories, boots, etc., but I'd feel weird buying any high-ticket guns. I prefer a shop where I can try things out and ask as many questions as I want.
OP
OP
sig228
Member
Yes. I mentioned this in my post above. Prices aren't necessarily better, but better venue, wider aisles. Costs more than Ft. Lauderdale, but parking is free, so I guess it evens itself out. Personally, I enjoy this one better, but sometimes I go to the Ft. Lauderdale show if I can't make the Miami show. Again, I consider it ENTERTAINMENT $$ well spent.
Guns and more
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Since someone brought it up, here are the cities controlled by the "Suncoast Gun Show" group.
Tampa, Ft Lauderdale, Palmetto, Ft Myers, Lakeland, Ft Pierce.
Tampa, Ft Lauderdale, Palmetto, Ft Myers, Lakeland, Ft Pierce.
italian biker
Member
I noticed the down fall of good deals at gun shows during the Clinton administration. When he persecuted "kitchen table dealers" with legislation, that took away alot of competition at the shows, and with less competition, prices at gun shows aren't any better then at the gun stores.
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