Posted: 2/7/2004 3:24:08 AM EDT
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I'm sure many of you have what is true to the name, "Fun shows" where you can get all sorts of deals and see new and exciting hardware & inventory. Well, I have been to many, many shows around my area and all I can say is that they are complete bullshit. The crap displayed there is completely overpriced, sold by the same greedy bastards who fill the same booths (in the same location) every time. There is no flexibility on firearm prices whatsoever. Many of these unsold rifles (due to outrageous price tag) are so familiar to me that I have started naming them. You would be lucky to see 3 quality prebans in the whole show but of course the price doesn't reflect what you're getting. To make matters worse, at least 1/3 of the floor is occupied by vendors of shitty nunchaku, blowguns, and assorted junk cutlery; DIY beef jerky; and now scented candles! (Is this a gun show or a flea market?!) Speaking of floor space, the tables are jammed together so tight that movement is all but possible. I'm amazed that the Fire Marshal hasn't shut them down. I will be fair. In the past you could find fair prices on AR/AK mags If you know what you are looking for (yet some remain stubborn on USGI range condition mags for $30). I have also bought ammo there where it is more than the internet (incl. shipping) but you have it immediately & it's marked up within reason. The big thing that leaves a foul taste in my mouth are the many unscrupulous vendors that take advantage of the new guy getting into the hobby. Note: I fully exempt them from hustling the thug-life "gangsta" SOBs, but that's my personal exception. At least I get some revenge by hanging around awhile driving them nuts by taking a new guy aside & explain to him that such-&-such is overpriced by $175. To those of you who have a problem with this a bit of justification is in order: IMO, you are an asshole if you go into the storefront of Jake's guns, hang out w/o buying anything for a 1/2 hour, & rudely announce to customers how overpriced he is. You are well within your rights to ruin this jerk's sales when you are not inside his store and pay $5-$15 to be there, & you are speaking truthfully. (Oh, "he pays for a table" somebody says? Well he pays for a storefront too. The difference is that his customers aren't charged $10 admission to look at his overpriced crap at his store.) I just had to get that off my chest seeing that the UnFunshow is in town this weekend. I also want to make some points clear to some of you who are burning under the collar reading this. - I am only speaking about my local gun shows, not your shows. I'm sure somewhere there are some great places to be. - I am not trying to insult most of you who spend time & money to get a table at your own gun show. I am not talking about those that are fair dealers. If you haven't tried to sell a Romanian SAR for $479, then you are probably not the guy(s) I'm talking about, & I wish I could see more guys like you at our tables. That's it for now. Thanks for the bitch outlet. BTW does anybody else have the same experience? |
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I still go to the 1 they have here every 3 or 4 months, just incase thier is a deal and I dont have anything better to do with a few hours of my life anyway. When I lived in CO where they had gunshows more often I saw exactly what you mean about the same people. I still see the same stuff 3 or 4 times a year here though. I can somewhat understand a few people who are selling shitty knives, jerky and stuff. They might have to get a few of these dealers in the show so the people running the show can make some money, Id rather have 3 or 4 of them in a mid sized show then pay $10 to get instead of the $7 I pay now. It seems alot of dealers at the show with overpriced stuff are waiting on people who dont know any better and think its a good deal because its a gunshow. I really dont like most of the ammo dealers, when your charging $6 for 20 rounds I can order shipped for less then $2 you must be high. There sometimes are people with fair deals though, I did find somone selling ammo who had good prices and cut me a lower rate when I bought a few thousand rounds. Also sometimes thier is a dealer who doesnt know that he has a gun thats worth something and will sell it cheap. So I will give you most of the show is bullshit, but sometimes its worth it and I still go because it gives me something diffrent to do. |
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For the most part you are right. I laughed to myself one time when a guy pasted me and I overheard him tell his buddy he got a great price on Wolf ammo $75 for 500 rounds. Your right about seeing the same people with the same stuff. They must believe it is truly a "Show" and not a place to sell stuff. Anyway, there are 3 tables out of the entire show that are always full and always have people buying stuff, including me because they have the real gun show deals. One table is a lady with a lot of cleaning stuff, the second is a reloading table and the third (believe it or not) is a local Gun Shop who rents about 2 complete rows of tables. They always have a good deal and willing to bargin. You can check them out anytime of the day and you will see 2-3 people completing the paperwork for purchases. It is these 3 people that make my trip worthwhile. |
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I think the shows are like a highway car wreck in the other lane: You know you SHOULDN'T look, but you just can't help yourself. I HAVE to go every so often just to remind myself why they (mostly) suck. However, the occaisional deal on ammo, accessories, mags, etc. makes it worthwhile. I also enjoy meeting fellow Arfcommers at the show. [:D] The one thing that pisses me off the MOST is the crap on display that has nothing to do with the "theme". Gun show means guns, not snack foods or stuffed toys. Even the computer shows are going the same way: not just cell phones but one moron selling hats, gloves and scarves. Gimme a break. |
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Hey Pulp, What shows you been going to? I live near Lafayette and the shows here have really slowed down. The show in Baton Rouge is this weekend at the Bellemont. That is a decent show for the area. If you want to go to a nice show, head to Houston this weekend for the Houston Gun Collectors Association show at the Reliant Center. I have attended twice and it is worth the drive. Takes all day to go through it. Other that that plan a weekend drive to Tulsa to go to the Wanenmacher Show. Back to the topic tho, I couldn't agree with you more. Been going to the shows in Lafayette and Baton Rouge for years. I see the same old faces behind the tables. Occasionally find a decent deal but it is usually not on a firearm. I like to go to people watch and listen to lies from both sides of the tables. |
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It would seem to me that they would want to lower prices to sell more stuff. Make money through volume. I always laugh when I hear them (dealers) bitching about nobody buying anything. I've always wanted to say..."That's because everything is overpriced!" The internet has made things alot different for me. I'd rather give my money to "AMMOMAN" than pay more for some overpriced crap at a show. It's also funny to see them all jumping on someone carrying a gun to sell and the dealers find out the guy wants the same unreasonable price they would ask. [:D] I like to go but really think it would be smarter to lower prices and not have to haul anything home. When I go to the show I WANT to buy stuff but I'm not going to pay to much for it. COZ |
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I still remember going to a gun show when I was 12 with my brother and father. We bought some 35 ammo for my dad's marlin so we could see if my bro could handle a 308. We found a dealer with two PERFECT rifles for us as well as 35 ammo. My dad bought the "factory" ammo and took the guy's card with the guns to be sold on the next weds after my dad came home from work. The next day, we went to the range and started shooting this "factory" ammo. Primers were popping, we couldn't load the ammo into the chamber and the range officer then stopped us, looked at the ammo and threw it away. He said we were prohibited from using dangerous reloads. We thanked him (he was a great guy) and we left. Called the dealer that night and told him he lost a $1200 sale because of the reloads he sold us. You live and learn. |
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Been going to gunshows for 30 years.I have seen many "new wave" dealers come and go.I have seen the same tired assed selling gimmiks used again and again,and have also seen some things that have been truly inspiring.I find that if somthing unique is offered for a fair price.Sometimes it sells.Somtimes two competiters will have identical products....only "his" is for MUCH more money.MANY buyers go and buy "his" because they are convinced that if they pay more they get more.I have seen people pay many hundreds of dollars more for a piece because "more $ is better." The buying public is a strange animal. I have seen so many "experts"(another name for witless retard)at shows that I wonder where the dummy tree is."Experts" can be entertaining to follow and listed to."I can buy that same gun out of shotgun news for $xxxxx.00 less than any dealer.When I hear that I hand 'em my cell phone a copy of SGN and say "show me,Hell I thought you had to be a FFL holder to order guns." I had one expert tell me "All you gotta do is give'em your drivers license number,so they can check up on you,and you can order any gun you want" Hmmmm."Experts".I really enjoy the "Spectech-a-rechtech-paratech-soldiers of fortune wanna be mercs,who buy an AR-15 and attach every gismo known to God to make their "Weapon"combat ready.Example:A 37 mm flare launcher,flashlights,lasers,bowie knives,scopes,extra mags,bottle openers,survival kits a canteen,compasse and tool kit and when, these "troopers" have about a fourty pound "Star wars rifle"they walk around the show in their "just got off the chopper from the hot LZ, ripped up Rambo-camos"....Would I miss a show?HELL NO! It is far better than Reality based TV....Deals?..........you betcha...just gotta sniff 'em out.What is better than a day at a gunshow? |
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Hey pulpsmack I am in your area and used to attend those shows alot. The Bellemont show is this weekend and I have had enough, they aren't getting my 5 dollars. Same old garbage stuffed into an old Hotel ballroom with stinky carpet, aisles not wide enough for two people and overpriced shit. At least the show down at Lamar Dixon (Mar.20-21) is alot more open, wider aisles, well ventilated for the unwashed masses and overzealous ripoff dealers. Thats the one I usually go to. I bought a Russian M44 for $109 with no accessories last show. He tried to sell me a sling too for $20. Thought i got a good deal till I saw them on the Net for $50 with accessories and C&R license. Typcial. |
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pulpsmack, huggybro, and SkiandShoot. If you go the show in [s]Kenner[/s] Kenya [;D], don't by and reloads from the dealer from Pearl River! I don't remember his name but I doubt that there is more than one ammo dealer from that turd kickin town. His ammo is the sorriest shit I have ever seen. Smokey, greasy, primer popping trash! Caveat Emptor bra! BTW, y'all about ready for the crawfish to get plentiful? It's about that time of year. Remember Steinburgs in B.R.? |
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The first time I went to a show, there was some decent stuff I could have picked up, namely tables and tables of loose parts (barrels, pistol frames, etc)... This vendor, for whatever reason, hasn't been back since... Our shows in WI usually fit your description. We have our local off-brand AR vendor (M&A Parts of Chicago), and the local gun store community with their tables of modern & some used hardware, and the milsurp guys... Throw in your junk dealers (candles/chinese knives/etc), and that's it... |
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Quoted: who buy an AR-15 and attach every gismo known to God to make their "Weapon"combat ready.Example:A 37 mm flare launcher,flashlights,lasers,bowie knives,scopes,extra mags,bottle openers,survival kits a canteen,compasse and tool kit and when, these "troopers" have about a fourty pound "Star wars rifle" Ya don't have to go to a show for that... Plenty of those right here on ARFCOM... We can even set you up with side-mounted sights &optics on your AR.... Ya know, because it's so much fun to shoot horizontally... ;) |
| Last show I went to was a somewhat small one. I picked up 500rds of 7.62x39 for $45 and 3 30rd ar mags for $12per and they were all 90% or better condition. everything else was overpriced. Had a guy tying to convince me that $1500 was a good price for a norinco type 84(IIRC) underfolder. to bad the guy to rows back had one exactly the same for 1k. |
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what's funny is when a guy has a complete preban AR on his table for $750 (saw this last summer) and everyone walks right by it...but they stop at the next guys table and drool over his $1,000 Colt uppers. that's right, upper only. wtf? i've seen a AK underfolder for around $700 in WI. that was a year and a half ago though. i also know a guy who found an all matching vet bringback K98 mauser for $150! |
| When I go to the gunshows I say hello to my two favorite guns. The $1100 dollar IBM M1 carbine and a $1200 dollar Sterling AR 180. So far they have been at every show I go see at the State Fairgrounds. If I was independently wealthy I would give them good homes. |
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I went to a gunshow today (2/7) and it was one of the small ones. Though I didn't get what I was looking for, it was actually kinda eye-opening and different. The Crossroads of the West show is generally what everyone hates about gunshows-always the same guys with the same overpriced guns. I usually only go only to get targets and 357s ($7.50/box). The one I went to today had some guns with pretty decent prices: a pre-64 Winchester mod. 70 .270 for $650 (VGC), a Colt 1991A1 for $525 and a SA 1911A1 for $399 (both NIB). I went looking specifically for walnut grips for my HiPower. No one there had them. Would appreciate any good suggestions if anyone has any. Oh-and about the taking advantage of people thing-I was at a Crossroads show a couple of years ago and was at the booth next to American Spirit. I overheard the salesman giving his spiel to the wannabe buyer. The gun was a nothing fancy, similar to a Colt HBAR post-ban, no free-floated barrel, no flattop or optics, nothing. The rube asked how much. $2300.[shock] |
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the indian jewelery is what bugs me. hell, there was a bunch of that at the bike show i went to today. there's a show this next weekend. hopefully, it'll be better than the last few. the last ones in the atlanta area have been sad and depressing in their lack of vendors or patrons. part of it is the way the show owner charges too much for table space, and too much for admission. the other part is a continuing lack of new product, because they all try to sell it for really high prices, but it never sells. |
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[b]Well I just had to go after all this resentment[/b] (to prove myself right). $6 admission. my favorites: PWA preban $1,500 SP1 (well worn) $1,850 Oly preban w 5.5 vortex $1,650 I said hi to all the old "friends" on the racks & in the lucite cases that I knew so well. there were about 9-12 tables with firearms for sale (maybe I missed one or 2), at least 2 cutlery/throwing star/junk katana tables, Beef Jerky, Those goddamned scented candles, & a used book sale (most non-firearm/military relates). Captain magazine (my name not his, was nowhere to be seen-- a first in Bellemont history). My favorite part was that 4 long tables (approx 20% of the floorspace) stood bare. I hate gunshows here and vow NEVER to go to another in this area again. |
| I have been going to shows in Virginia for years and alot of them are not that bad. There are always the handful of dealers with overpriced stuff, but there are some decent dealers there also; some of which I have made friends with and they give me good deals and also let me special order firearms, etc and I buy them at the show. There is a reloading components dealer there with excellent deals. Also I have found some hard to find items like USMC Thompson mag pouches and occassionally learn something. Excellent deals on AR, FAL, Thompson, Grease Gun mags, and the beef and elk jerky I get there is really good-although overpriced. Some shows are better than others but generally there are some pretty good ones. |
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Quoted: what's funny is when a guy has a complete preban AR on his table for $750 (saw this last summer) and everyone walks right by it...but they stop at the next guys table and drool over his $1,000 Colt uppers. that's right, upper only. wtf? Last summer? I saw a guy with a complete preban for 800 two weeks ago, people were just glancing at it and walking away...to look at a table further down the row (it had an overpriced 9mm upper). Too bad I didn't have the $$$. |
| Hey Pulp, Was Waguespack there? I need some reloading components. He always has some decent prices on bulk bullets. The show here at the Heymann Center has the same old tired dealers. I just like to go and do a little shopping and get out of the house. Occasionally I will even buy a firearm. |
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Quoted: Hey Pulp, Was Waguespack there? I need some reloading components. He always has some decent prices on bulk bullets. The show here at the Heymann Center has the same old tired dealers. I just like to go and do a little shopping and get out of the house. Occasionally I will even buy a firearm. I first bought reloads by L&S at the shows. there was easily a 10% failure rate. Since then I have never bought another reload from a show. I've seen Waguespack's banner many times @ the shows but I never look at reloading supplies or reloads. Somebody was doing reloads there, but since I don't fool with it I can't say if it was him or not. |
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I went to the Bellemont show myself this weekend . I needed a case for my AK and an ammo can . And that's exactly what I left with . If you go with a definite purpose , it will probably be worth the trip . I too am getting tired of the scented gel candles , fantasy knives, toys and other flea market trash . The Lamar -Dixon show is pretty decent . If you'r looking for 5.56 or 7.62 ammo , check out Ken McCollum's table . Good prices and a straight guy . He doesn't make every show though . |