You knew it was comming...Man, gun show sucked!

[RPCVYemen]

Gun shows have become like a diaper that needs to be changed.

No, I think the fundamental marketing model is broken. When people rave about guns shows from years past, there were really two advantages too gun shows:

1. Access. It was hard to find some articles, since it wasn't worth the local shops' time or money to carry them.
2. Price. The gun show dealers had lower fixed costs since they didn't have to maintain a brick-and-mortar shop.

The Internet has obliterated both of those advantages. I don't see any way to change that. I can search huge inventories on line, and many of the online dealers have lower fixed costs than the gun show dealers. Even people who rave to me about how great gun shows once were mostly go now for social reasons - to see their old buddies.

Mike

 

[Kevinch]

I honestly don't know why anyone would expect to get a better deal at a gun show than at a dealer's store.

I'm in the state of Ohio now & have yet to find a new dealer. I moved here from PA in January of 08; & for about 20 years bought better than 90% of my guns from the same dealer. I went to him because his inventory was good & he seemed to always be willing to meet the best price I was able to find.

He also bought tables at the local large shows - but it had to cost him money. His store remained open during the show, so he was paying to staff both. The tables aren't free. If you aren't local, you have to get there & back plus pay for food & lodging.

I've bought 1 gun at a show & it was from him. I could have bought it at the same price in his store. I guess if I count the admission fee, I paid more.

I don't reload; for a good while I took all of my brass to 1 particular show & sold it to a reloader there - it always paid for my admission & gave me something left over to buy some more ammo with. After that opportunity expired, shows to me are entertainment first, with the possibility I might find 1 of those "must have" firearms as there are so many possibilities under 1 roof. A guy that will gouge you at a show table will do the same to you at a store counter; 1 that will treat you right at the store counter will do the same at a show. If you are an educated consumer, you'll do OK at both.

 

[Springfield_1911SS]

Hk91-762mm

I blame the wholesalers -R-Guns =CDNN-The rest of the dealers in Shotgun news--selling direct to the public and advertising prices to the public that are the same as to the FFL holders.

How is this a bad thing?

I guess I can kind of bias that I live 30-45min away from RGuns and I have C&R, I can walk-in and walk out with a low priced k98, m44, m91/30, ect. the same day.

All the gander mountains around that sell M44s seem to buy from RGuns gander sells it for $150, and Rguns for $80, its a "no brainer" Even if some one farther away and /or out of state wanted one they can order from RGuns and get it shipped to an
FFL for less that the cost of one at gander.