Posted: 5/23/2004 11:20:20 AM EDT
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Is it just me or have these started to take a nose dive?? Just got back from Dayton. Shoulda stayed home. Not a big show like normal. A lot of dealers I talked to say the shows there are losing sellers at a good rate. Anyone else see this happening?? Or, is this jsut the bad season and it seems more apparent?? |
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Most of the time, the only reason I have to go to shows it to sell something private sale, hope to find something I want private sale, or pick up ammo if the seller bought massive quantities and I can get it cheaper than ordering off the Net and paying shipping. Too many of the dealers are clowns. I took a Colt Match Target HBAR to a show down at Westland Mall, with a fair price on it, some clown of a dealer tried to tell me he teaches kids to shoot and this and that, and thats why he wants to insult me with his ridiculously low offer. Hey pal, I dont want your friggin life story, and once the rifle is yours, I dont care if you use it to prop doors open, dig in your flower garden, or just stare at it and drool...but you aint gonna get it for some lowball price and a song-and-dance about kids. I ended up selling it private sale, and picking up a case of Port .308 and a 400 rd. battle pack of German .223. Other than that there wasnt much worth buying. A lot of the prices were outrageous. My favorite was the "rare" AMD-65 kits, 'no receiver or full-auto disconnect', for a mere $350! Same kit you can get from Centerfire all day long for about $100, delivered. About the only gun-stuff that the prices werent too bad were magazines. As long as you wanted AK, G3, FAL, or AR mags. You know, the ones that there are billions of surplus of. And from what I hear, the PRO shows have gotten to be better than the Goodman shows! If thats true, yikes! |
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I agree, went to the show today, an the number of dealers has went down hill big time!!!... but i did manage to pick up a almost new in the box Kimber pro carry in stainless for $650 (private sale). The pro shows are alot better, an the dealers seem a little more friendly/customer orientated COLT! |
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I've been noticing for the last year or so that the Goodman shows are not much to speak of, first the Sharonville show has turned into a wasted trip and the Dayton shows are not near what they used to be, I went to a Goodman show and a Progun show in Wilmington earlier this year and the Progun show was MUCH better than the Goodman show. |
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the show this weekend was the smallest I've seen there ever. ONE place selling uppers and very little walking around that I found interesting. Not the first time I've left without finding SOMETHING to buy, even ammo. Kind of sad really could have used the extra couple hours of sleep. Talked to a dealer there who said that the turn out Saturday until around 1 was more than they'd had at the last show (in Nashville) the whole week. Don't know why I even bother anymore |
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I can't remember the last time I went to Dayton, I would have to agree that it started down hill a year or so ago. I would also have to second the fact that more and more clowns show up at the shows with two $20's to rub together and nothing more. My short story, I took in a FN 98 single shot benchrest rifle, only 50 rounds threw it, 40x scope, this that and the other thing, worth over $1800. I put a steal of a price on it at $1000. Every single joker in the building had to stop me ask 20 questions then walk away. The rifle weights 20 pounds, so after a few times of having to stop, it gets real old real fast. Nothing worse than someone wanting to drowl all over the gun and cover it in fingerprints only to have them hand it back. It came down to my buddy running interference for me making smart ass comments " if you don't have the money or it's not a serious question, don't ask!" Then to have a joker try to sell me his 2 wheel dolly to cart it around on, WTF ever... Ok I'm off the soap box, I would have to agree that the Pro Shows are getting much better. The Dr. |
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Drof06- Sorry about your experience. I've found that a sign attached to the rifle with the major selling points listed and the price in big numbers really weeds out the tire kickers. On the other hand, your FN was definitely different from the run of the mill gun show fare and would attract the curious. Special purpose firearms are tough to sell just walking around. The internet or benchrest gatherings will be your best bet. If I had seen somebody walking around with a 20 pound gun I'd have offered to sell them wheels, too. Good luck |
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I quit going to Dayton last fall for the same reasons. Too small, not enough AR and 1911 stuff, too much flea market stuff. Dot worth the 3 hour round trip from Findlay for sure. I requested they remove me from their E mailing list. Told them in my E mail that the show had gotten too small for my drive time. Received a pretty snotty initial response from the son that runs them now. He did wind up offering free admission to the next show for me and my buddies but it still was not worth it. Got an in-law near Indy. The Indy 1500 is still a darn good show. |
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All the gunshows are down in vendor attendence and in paying customer attendence.Many dealers who are tired of paying $50.00 per table and not meeting expenses are dropping out.I do very few shows in Northern Ohio,esp the Eastern part.No-one wants to spend any money.I am beginning to see my internet sales per item bring more profit than me setting up at any funshow.Why go to a gunshow set-up for two days and sell somthing for less money than I can get for it on the internet? The expenses for traveling (gas prices)are up too as many of you will have noticed.Couple that with light attendence and the summer season......well.....why not just stay home and sell to out of state buyers who are willing to pay more? Business is after all business. 
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