You won't have to wait a year, I think it'll be back around Chirstmas.
I was disappointed too, but I guess I'm getting used to it. People selling items at above retail -- trying to trap the unsuspecting buyer into a quick sale. I peeked at a Bushmaster XXV anniversary, and was quickly told that those two were the LAST ones and the special stock couldn't be bought any other way (The ARFX). I laughed. It must work on some people. He saw me laugh and asked me if he should get me a purchase form.
I can't handle people selling factory glock holsters for $25 when they should cost $10. I feel like everyone there is trying to rob me -- the minute I see a nice gun that I'm not infinitely knowledgeable about condition and market value, I become interested, but immediately feel like I might be robbed. I saw a nice 41 Magnum Redhawk and just couldn't trust the seller to tell me what it's condition or story really was. He just started talking about the .41 Magnum's high collectability because it's no longer produced. I asked him if he knew anything about the S&W 657 and he said yeah, but this is a .41! Wow. I left. Books you can buy at Amazon are marked full retail price. $35 for a $35 book. Seem strange? Even shops at the mall knock off a couple percent.
If you go to a show to shop, chat, learn, and buy, why should you have to feel like if you aren't absolutely the 100% authority on anything you might buy, it just isn't safe to pull out your wallet?
I know the sellers at these shows (and often the buyers) are typically low tech, but really, how is charging retail or over retail acceptable? It's basically the highest price you'll ever pay for these items, and they're everywhere in the show. I know it's not fair to compare retail to mail order, but this isn't supposed to be retail -- it's a gun show. $999 for a S&W 500? They retail at $899 and you can buy it at Gibraltar Trade Center for $829.
The Ammo deals were there. Saw .40 S&W 180gr cases of 500 for $89. Wanted 165gr but it was $119 so I passed. Picked up a RRA lower for $105. Wife bought a nice range bag. Found 2 nice 20rd colts for a fair price.
Prebans galore. Getting cheaper too. Lots of rough condition stuff though. Some just beat down hard. None looked unsafe to fire.
I'll be back at Christmas though!
-Dan