Posted: 10/17/2011 2:47:01 PM EDT
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After reading a recent thread here it left me with a few questions.
Why do people expect to pay less for a new item (assuming it's the same item in the store/online/where ever) at a gun show than they would pay in a store? Why do people expect dealers/vendors to do deals and cut prices just because someone asked? From the previous thread the person asked to buy a $5 item for 3 for $10, but seemed upset of miffed that the vendor said no right away. But later at a retail store the same person instead payed $12 for 3. Why didn't he ask for the dame deal at the gun show? Had he purchased one or jst two of them I might have understood. Is there some un-written rule that items at a gun show must be cheaper? Do people forget that these same items had to be shipped to the vendor? Shipping isn't free after all. So what gives? |
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My take... Number one, you're paying to get in. Two, the setting is kinda like a flea market. Three, the seller typically has lower overhead than a full on gunshop. Four, if I have a problem with a purchase, there is no store to walk into to try and make things right.
I think it adds up to an overall perception (right or wrong) that purchases should be cheaper. |
There should be a concession for me having to put up with the smell and attitudes that typically aren't found elsewhere.  Seriously, I do agree with your point. I can't speak for him –– though using the example, it was priced higher at the gun show than in retail, which doesn't make sense and leads one to wonder WTF people are thinking at gun shows. But yes, getting miffed over someone not adjusting prices or taking an offer is not right –– they can sell (or not sell) for whatever price they want. I go to the gun show with the expectation of "finding a great deal" on something I want. More often than not that doesn't happen. It does seem to be trending towards always and I –– as I see others are as well –– am starting to wonder if it is worth going, especially having to pay to get in. But again, I have no issue with people having the freedom to do whatever the hell they want with their selling. That said, I've never been able to understand how some of these folks stay in business or rather why they would pay to do business there. Many guns don't sell off the table because of outrageous pricing. It's more like social hour for a large percentage (not all) of folks selling. You might be the exception but for every one of you there are a dozen idiots. Especially if you listen to them speak about what they pretend to know. I'm going off point so I'll stop. ETA –– after I thought about this more, I guess the same freedom applies for someone to make an offer, not like the answer and post about it. Vote with your dollars I guess. |
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#1 reason that this is the expectation is because that's the way it used to be. Flea markets and swap meets are places where deals can be had and haggling can be done.
If I make a fair cash offer on something at a gun show and the guy doesn't want to do business at my price, that's fine. If he gets a chip on his shoulder because I would have the nerve to offer him only a fair price instead of his asking price of 20% above new retail, then he can go fuck himself. I can get most every consumable delivered to my door for cheaper from vendors who appreciate my business, and surf for gun deals a few minutes at a time from the luxury of my couch. Gun shows are basically dead. It's not a swap meet any more. It's a place where you can pay way too much money for a paperless transaction. It's hard to even get a fair exchange because the unlicensed dealers hawk the fuck out of every walker that comes through the door and vacuum up anything fair and re-offer for a mark up the next day. People are only going to shows for nostalgia and to celebrate their rights. Arrogant vendors whose only mode of business is stalking the one dumb fuck who doesn't know that their shit is over priced are going to run off the last of us that bother stopping by. None of this is directed at you as a business man, Todd. Everything I've ever transacted with you has been square, and even when I needled at you out of gun show habit there was never anything cross from either side. I don't heap you in with my post at all. ** This post expires shortly. |
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I don't go to gun shows looking for a good deal on something new. I never go to a gun show to buy something new. If I did, I would expect to pay close to what it is sold for in the store.
What I have a problem with is the clowns who are trying to charge $300 for a beat to hell Mosin, and their claims that, "All the supplies have dried up. You can't get these anymore." |
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I have a different view of gun shows than most people on this board probabaly. I don't think that a gun show is the place to go to buy a new gun, they are where you go when you want something old, odd, or unusual. It's where people go to sell a collectable gun without loosing their shirt by selling it to a store that would pay them less because they obviously needed to make a profit on them.
When I go to gun shows I will walk right by the tables with new guns, bulk ammo, cheap Chinese counterfiet scopes, tables full of AR accessories, etc. I'm there to see, and buy, quality collectable guns. I try to not even go to the shows that are basically a firearm theemed flea markets. But like waht was said above if it's a new gun that I can get at any local store I'm not going to pay the same for it as I can get at the store. If I was going to pay that price I want to be able to go back to the store if I have a problem, plus I then know that the gun really is new and not used with a box. |
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I don't go near as much as I did in years past. And when I do go I go for:The environment, to people watch, see as many firearms as I can, see what's new, check to see what vendor is screwing people out of the most cash, and maybe just maybe pick up a good deal on something. I might go in with $20 in my pocket. Might have a grand. Used to buy a LOT of stuff from M&A at every show they were at, but Bills demeanor towards me is no longer tolerable. If someone wants to treat me like shit, thats what they will get back from me. Shit. I always buy something from PT Firearms, and Todd, and usually laugh at Boom to (Assholes) Zoom. Used to be you could make an offer, I still do time to time. I go because a lot of the people who do go are of a similar mindset to me. Even the stinky ones. I really enjoy it when Tom, Kris, Irv and I go. Just a good time hanging with buddies. |
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In the age of the internet the only reason I go to a gun show is for the deals. So written or unwritten I'm not going to part with my money unless it's cheaper then I can find it elsewhere. It's a captive focused audience, should be a sellers dream.
That being said, I'm rarely shopping for new stuff at shows. Why do (some) dealers charge ridiculously more for items at gunshows? $300 mosins, $500 sks, $30 for a box of winchester 333 ammo, $400 for a used 870 express.... |
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In the age of the internet the only reason I go to a gun show is for the deals. So written or unwritten I'm not going to part with my money unless it's cheaper then I can find it elsewhere. It's a captive focused audience, should be a sellers dream. That being said, I'm rarely shopping for new stuff at shows. Why do (some) dealers charge ridiculously more for items at gunshows? $300 mosins, $500 sks, $30 for a box of winchester 333 ammo, $400 for a used 870 express.... I wish I knew. Waiting for the same pople that shop at Gander Mountain? |
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#1 reason that this is the expectation is because that's the way it used to be. Flea markets and swap meets are places where deals can be had and haggling can be done. If I make a fair cash offer on something at a gun show and the guy doesn't want to do business at my price, that's fine. If he gets a chip on his shoulder because I would have the nerve to offer him only a fair price instead of his asking price of 20% above new retail, then he can go fuck himself. I can get most every consumable delivered to my door for cheaper from vendors who appreciate my business, and surf for gun deals a few minutes at a time from the luxury of my couch. Gun shows are basically dead. It's not a swap meet any more. It's a place where you can pay way too much money for a paperless transaction. It's hard to even get a fair exchange because the unlicensed dealers hawk the fuck out of every walker that comes through the door and vacuum up anything fair and re-offer for a mark up the next day. People are only going to shows for nostalgia and to celebrate their rights. Arrogant vendors whose only mode of business is stalking the one dumb fuck who doesn't know that their shit is over priced are going to run off the last of us that bother stopping by. None of this is directed at you as a business man, Todd. Everything I've ever transacted with you has been square, and even when I needled at you out of gun show habit there was never anything cross from either side. I don't heap you in with my post at all. ** This post expires shortly. Here is your answer... And since your talking about me in the Fond Du Lac Gun show thread... RD has it spot on... In the age of internet, the Gun show is a thing of the past, that has not realized it's time has come and gone.. And since that gun show was not my first rodeo, There are a few things I know.. and one is that the guy was overcharging for those chamber brushes... Hell, the price I paid at precision was high. what I should have done was just ordered a bunch along with some other stuff I needed and could have got them for even less... but after that guns show, it was a pleasure to buy them from Precision. Lets be honest. the only deals most folks get is from vendors who make mistakes on pricing certain items... the majority of them are overcharging and have old stock that they bought at an inflated price and just can't let it go for today's market price... So they sit on it and carry it from show to show to show... Hell, a lot of those guys I still remember from guns shows back in the 80's and 90's for christ sakes... there not making there living off these shows.. Most of these guys are basement dwellers... It's a social event, and they tell the same boring stories to anyone who will listen.. I mean c'mon.. who the hell is still selling Used GI Mags for $25?? It's almost like they do it just to prove a point, that they WILL find that one sucker who will finally take it for that price.. so they can have the satisfaction of not having to lower there price... Most of them don't want to face the facts that most of that stuff can be had cheaper from the internet... they know it, but yet enough people still go to these things and perpetuate the stupid... |
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Harv and Hyper are both correct.
What's also missing is the fine art of haggling. In countries all over the world except the US and Canada, people still haggle. IN this country, it's a lost art. Sure, you go buy a car off a dealer lot, new or used, the salesman has all kinds of tricks he's been trained to do, but it's not really haggling. The flea market atmosphere of a gun show should encourage haggling, but the vendors are too hidebound to do this. I mean, the guy selling the bore brushes could have at least at least counteroffered. As a general rule, the more expensive the item, the more back and forth there should be. Both buyers and sellers don't understand this lost art. |
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#1 reason that this is the expectation is because that's the way it used to be. Flea markets and swap meets are places where deals can be had and haggling can be done. If I make a fair cash offer on something at a gun show and the guy doesn't want to do business at my price, that's fine. If he gets a chip on his shoulder because I would have the nerve to offer him only a fair price instead of his asking price of 20% above new retail, then he can go fuck himself. I can get most every consumable delivered to my door for cheaper from vendors who appreciate my business, and surf for gun deals a few minutes at a time from the luxury of my couch. Gun shows are basically dead. It's not a swap meet any more. It's a place where you can pay way too much money for a paperless transaction. It's hard to even get a fair exchange because the unlicensed dealers hawk the fuck out of every walker that comes through the door and vacuum up anything fair and re-offer for a mark up the next day. People are only going to shows for nostalgia and to celebrate their rights. Arrogant vendors whose only mode of business is stalking the one dumb fuck who doesn't know that their shit is over priced are going to run off the last of us that bother stopping by. None of this is directed at you as a business man, Todd. Everything I've ever transacted with you has been square, and even when I needled at you out of gun show habit there was never anything cross from either side. I don't heap you in with my post at all. ** This post expires shortly. Why? You have some good points in it. |
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Everytime I go with something to trade or sell I have dealers asking to see it and then offer me 1/4 the going price, now I know they are there to make money but it seems like if you go there to trade or sell everyone thinks you're desperate for money and treat you like you have no idea of what you have and how much it's worth.
Example of this- I had a 4inch S&W 686 with ammo holster etc and the highest offer was $285 in which I was told was very generous  . Now let's go home and put it online and I'll get $400 easliy without haggling the price around. I would have traded it for something they had on the table (Glock 26) that was priced at $450 (to me would have been a fair trade) but I was told the Smith wouldn't sell as quickly at the same price...
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Quoted: Quoted: #1 reason that this is the expectation is because that's the way it used to be. Flea markets and swap meets are places where deals can be had and haggling can be done. If I make a fair cash offer on something at a gun show and the guy doesn't want to do business at my price, that's fine. If he gets a chip on his shoulder because I would have the nerve to offer him only a fair price instead of his asking price of 20% above new retail, then he can go fuck himself. I can get most every consumable delivered to my door for cheaper from vendors who appreciate my business, and surf for gun deals a few minutes at a time from the luxury of my couch. Gun shows are basically dead. It's not a swap meet any more. It's a place where you can pay way too much money for a paperless transaction. It's hard to even get a fair exchange because the unlicensed dealers hawk the fuck out of every walker that comes through the door and vacuum up anything fair and re-offer for a mark up the next day. People are only going to shows for nostalgia and to celebrate their rights. Arrogant vendors whose only mode of business is stalking the one dumb fuck who doesn't know that their shit is over priced are going to run off the last of us that bother stopping by. None of this is directed at you as a business man, Todd. Everything I've ever transacted with you has been square, and even when I needled at you out of gun show habit there was never anything cross from either side. I don't heap you in with my post at all. ** This post expires shortly. Here is your answer... And since your talking about me in the Fond Du Lac Gun show thread... RD has it spot on... In the age of internet, the Gun show is a thing of the past, that has not realized it's time has come and gone.. And since that gun show was not my first rodeo, There are a few things I know.. and one is that the guy was overcharging for those chamber brushes... Hell, the price I paid at precision was high. what I should have done was just ordered a bunch along with some other stuff I needed and could have got them for even less... but after that guns show, it was a pleasure to buy them from Precision. Lets be honest. the only deals most folks get is from vendors who make mistakes on pricing certain items... the majority of them are overcharging and have old stock that they bought at an inflated price and just can't let it go for today's market price... So they sit on it and carry it from show to show to show... Hell, a lot of those guys I still remember from guns shows back in the 80's and 90's for christ sakes... there not making there living off these shows.. Most of these guys are basement dwellers... It's a social event, and they tell the same boring stories to anyone who will listen.. I mean c'mon.. who the hell is still selling Used GI Mags for $25?? It's almost like they do it just to prove a point, that they WILL find that one sucker who will finally take it for that price.. so they can have the satisfaction of not having to lower there price... Most of them don't want to face the facts that most of that stuff can be had cheaper from the internet... they know it, but yet enough people still go to these things and perpetuate the stupid... (in red) I sure hope you're way off base about this Harv. I really do. The last three trips to a gunshow with my daughter have been my favorite by far. I even bought her a little .22 and she and I had an absolute blast!  Maybe a lot of us who have been around the tables for too many years have become jaded towards some of the overpriced dealers. But remember, this is a great place to show young shooters all kinds of guns, ammo, knives and of course beef jerky! My wife even went with me a time or two, and she had no idea just how many different types of guns there were. I for one hope they never go away, because that will just be one more things the lefties win, and something I've loved dearly since my youth will be gone, and forgotten by the younger generations in no time.  |
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It looked like Bob was going to shut down his shows a few years ago, and the thought of that really scared me. Yeah, there's a lot of crap at the shows, but I think that as long as these still go on, they provide a good way for some of us to walk around and trade with other attendees.
Yeah, I am trying to score a deal when I'm at a gun show, but I'm also there just to support the concept. I'll almost always go to the Milwaukee and Union Grove shows and occasionally get to the Waukesha one. The other thing I look at as the advantage of the gun show is that I can easily see and handle just about anything I'm looking for and if I like it, I can walk out the door with it (if it's not a pistol). I'm still kicking myself for passing on a Ruger 10/22 that I saw at the U.G. show a couple of weekends ago, and I didn't catch the dealer's name. Anyway, I'm hunting for a youth .22 and 10/22, so the sooner I can get to another show, the better!
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase.
tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf |
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I mean, the guy selling the bore brushes could have at least at least counteroffered. This. Come back with an offer; without a heaping dose of crappy attitude. It's not that hard. I've had some folks be real honest when I told them that I was offering a fair price. "I hear ya, but I picked it up at the wrong time and have too much into it. I'd rather take it home than take a loss on it. No hard feelings at all on that one. Matter of fact, if I believe he's not bullshitting me, I'll revisit how much I want it and maybe come up a little on my offer. Tell him he has to make it up to me next time. Whatever. There's no excuse for being a crotchety asshole to folks that are trying to hand you a fist full of cash. Quoted:
I for one hope they never go away ... I don't want them to go away either. It makes me feel good about being an American that if someone who never bothered with guns decides that they have a need for them, they can go from zero to a full combat load out that fits them well in one afternoon with a pocket full of cash. Even if the price is high and a bunch of assholes see you coming from a mile away, at least the option is there. I also think that gun shows legitimize and mainstream private transactions in everyone's mind. Those assholes behind the tables are all someone's family and provide concrete examples that record-free transactions are the purview of law abiding folks that don't hurt anybody. If they go away and all private deals happen via internet postings, it will be a lot less visible and become easier to outlaw. I used to go all the time and had fun at the shows. I'd always find something I couldn't say no to. I'd pick up a cheap milsurp that I wasn't familiar with, read all about it, strip it down, scrub it, learn it .... and then generally trade it off in better condition than I got it at the same price I paid. A lot of them I didn't even shoot. I just wanted something cheap to play with and hobby over. There would always be a beat up .22 that could be had for $50. If I couldn't find anything for me I'd get one of those, clean it up, function check it, and take a newbie out shooting. If they had a good time I'd gift them the rifle. I gave away quite a few like that. You see, I haven't 'needed' a damned thing from the show for a long time, but I still take the time to go there, pay admission, and spread a few dollars around; just because I believe in what's happening there. A lot of times I feel like I'm doing them a favor by attending and even making present-day value offers on stuff. So it chafes my ass when someone can't be polite, or want's to mouth off at me about the whole thing. |
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf And right there explains the attitude of many retailers! Go use their investment, paw it all up, deside which one you want, and then go buy it from someone on-line with hardly any overhead. If you are going to go ultra cheap and try to buy everything on the net then at least man and have the decency to not use other people's property to decide what you want. What you describe is very unethical in my opinion. |
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#1 reason that this is the expectation is because that's the way it used to be. Flea markets and swap meets are places where deals can be had and haggling can be done. If I make a fair cash offer on something at a gun show and the guy doesn't want to do business at my price, that's fine. If he gets a chip on his shoulder because I would have the nerve to offer him only a fair price instead of his asking price of 20% above new retail, then he can go fuck himself. I can get most every consumable delivered to my door for cheaper from vendors who appreciate my business, and surf for gun deals a few minutes at a time from the luxury of my couch. Gun shows are basically dead. It's not a swap meet any more. It's a place where you can pay way too much money for a paperless transaction. It's hard to even get a fair exchange because the unlicensed dealers hawk the fuck out of every walker that comes through the door and vacuum up anything fair and re-offer for a mark up the next day. People are only going to shows for nostalgia and to celebrate their rights. Arrogant vendors whose only mode of business is stalking the one dumb fuck who doesn't know that their shit is over priced are going to run off the last of us that bother stopping by. None of this is directed at you as a business man, Todd. Everything I've ever transacted with you has been square, and even when I needled at you out of gun show habit there was never anything cross from either side. I don't heap you in with my post at all. ** This post expires shortly. Here is your answer... And since your talking about me in the Fond Du Lac Gun show thread... RD has it spot on... In the age of internet, the Gun show is a thing of the past, that has not realized it's time has come and gone.. And since that gun show was not my first rodeo, There are a few things I know.. and one is that the guy was overcharging for those chamber brushes... Hell, the price I paid at precision was high. what I should have done was just ordered a bunch along with some other stuff I needed and could have got them for even less... but after that guns show, it was a pleasure to buy them from Precision. Lets be honest. the only deals most folks get is from vendors who make mistakes on pricing certain items... the majority of them are overcharging and have old stock that they bought at an inflated price and just can't let it go for today's market price... So they sit on it and carry it from show to show to show... Hell, a lot of those guys I still remember from guns shows back in the 80's and 90's for christ sakes... there not making there living off these shows.. Most of these guys are basement dwellers... It's a social event, and they tell the same boring stories to anyone who will listen.. I mean c'mon.. who the hell is still selling Used GI Mags for $25?? It's almost like they do it just to prove a point, that they WILL find that one sucker who will finally take it for that price.. so they can have the satisfaction of not having to lower there price... Most of them don't want to face the facts that most of that stuff can be had cheaper from the internet... they know it, but yet enough people still go to these things and perpetuate the stupid... (in red) I sure hope you're way off base about this Harv. I really do. The last three trips to a gunshow with my daughter have been my favorite by far. I even bought her a little .22 and she and I had an absolute blast!
Maybe a lot of us who have been around the tables for too many years have become jaded towards some of the overpriced dealers. But remember, this is a great place to show young shooters all kinds of guns, ammo, knives and of course beef jerky! My wife even went with me a time or two, and she had no idea just how many different types of guns there were.
I for one hope they never go away, because that will just be one more things the lefties win, and something I've loved dearly since my youth will be gone, and forgotten by the younger generations in no time.
I feel the same way you do... Back in the 80's I would hit them all.. Fond Du Lac... Oshkosh... Appleton... Green Bay over the Xmas Holiday...Hell, I bought a 3x Colt Scope from a guy and paid wayyy to much... Then along comes Al Gore and his internet and the Assault rifle ban and the gun show circuit went right down the drain... And the thing that chaps me is when I try to deal with these guys.. I'm respectful and look them in the eye.. that's after I can get their attention to even come over by me as they fiddle fuck with something under there table... and they act like they can't deal with the public.. attitude and in many cases down right contempt for the folks looking at there wares.... Hell, the guys with wife's who help them work the table are more pleasant to deal with... Optics Planet sells them for $2... Brownells for $4... I could easily wait and then order a bunch of stuff I need/want and the shipping would be minimal. And How come I can get a 50 rd box of wolf 9mm cheaper at fleet farm then at a gun show.. even manufactured ammo is expensive... WTF?? But as usual... the worst enemy the gun owners have... sadly, are themselves... Perhaps as these old school guys die off, they may be another generation who can pick it up and lay it down somewhere else.. |
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf And right there explains the attitude of many retailers! Go use their investment, paw it all up, deside which one you want, and then go buy it from someone on-line with hardly any overhead. If you are going to go ultra cheap and try to buy everything on the net then at least man and have the decency to not use other people's property to decide what you want. What you describe is very unethical in my opinion. You must work at gm. So when you buy a car do you buy it without a test drive? Or do you test drive a few cars then decide?....All from only one dealership i assume because going to another after driving ones car is unethical right? |
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As others have said - it's the fea market atmosphere. It's like a tent sale - people just expect stuff to be ridiculously cheap.
I go to gun shows to look for old weird stuff. I buy scopes/parts/handloading stuff online, but I could never bring myself to buy a gun online. I don't care if it's never even been touched - I cannot buy a gun without thouroughly inspecting it. Even with parts, dealing with guys on gunbroker, etc., can be a major pain. |
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf And right there explains the attitude of many retailers! Go use their investment, paw it all up, deside which one you want, and then go buy it from someone on-line with hardly any overhead. If you are going to go ultra cheap and try to buy everything on the net then at least man and have the decency to not use other people's property to decide what you want. What you describe is very unethical in my opinion. You must work at gm. So when you buy a car do you buy it without a test drive? Or do you test drive a few cars then decide?....All from only one dealership i assume because going to another after driving ones car is unethical right? I don't go to a dealer that I have no intention of buying a vehicle from to drive them and waste their time. I decide what I want and then go to a couple dealers and havethem give me their best price. I actually buy the same truck every couple years so I don't have to test drive them. When I get the best price I have that dealer allow me to take it for a quick test drive. And no I don't work at GM! If you want to be a cheapass then fine but don't go wasting other people's time so that you can be a cheapass. |
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf And right there explains the attitude of many retailers! Go use their investment, paw it all up, deside which one you want, and then go buy it from someone on-line with hardly any overhead. If you are going to go ultra cheap and try to buy everything on the net then at least man and have the decency to not use other people's property to decide what you want. What you describe is very unethical in my opinion. You must work at gm. So when you buy a car do you buy it without a test drive? Or do you test drive a few cars then decide?....All from only one dealership i assume because going to another after driving ones car is unethical right? I don't go to a dealer that I have no intention of buying a vehicle from to drive them and waste their time. I decide what I want and then go to a couple dealers and havethem give me their best price. I actually buy the same truck every couple years so I don't have to test drive them. When I get the best price I have that dealer allow me to take it for a quick test drive. And no I don't work at GM! If you want to be a cheapass then fine but don't go wasting other people's time so that you can be a cheapass. So new trucks never change? That's weird when I bought my tundra they changed everything the next year...You must have the perfect life, snickers and flowers for everyone Well welcome to life, call me a cheap ass but I'd rather give the money I save to my children to enjoy it,even if it means going to a basement bandit 
Besides they get paid by the hour to be there so no I wouldn't be wasting their time that's life |
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf When I sell a gun to a customer I expect to be able to give them an unmolested, as new as possible, in the box weapon. Can I really do that if every Joe Blow and his uncle comes and finger f$%^s every item I have in stock?? I am doing my first gun show this weekend, this thread is making me reconsider... |
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf When I sell a gun to a customer I expect to be able to give them an unmolested, as new as possible, in the box weapon. Can I really do that if every Joe Blow and his uncle comes and finger f$%^s every item I have in stock?? I am doing my first gun show this weekend, this thread is making me reconsider... I would go, if for nothing else than the experience. I see a lot of what people are talking about first hand. Yes there are many vendors out there that seem to be total jags to the peole that are suppose to be their customers. I don't condone the way they act, but I do understand how they got that way. What you have to do is just be polite and friendly and view every customer as a potential sale. Treat them like you would like to be treated. It's really not all that hard. It is helpful to have someone sell with you. If for no other reason to have them there so you can go to the bathroom. They have to respect your business or they won't work out. Personally I think you need to let people be able to handle your wares. I am not of the belief that raking the slide and dry firing a gun makes it used. ALL guns are fired from the factory and some more than others. So with that logic all guns are used. I have never had any issues with people handling my product. In some cases it's funny to watch people, because some will take great care to either not tuch it with bare fingers ( I guess to keep their prints off it) or they wipe it down after for the same reason. I personally cannot stand the people that won't let you touch thier stuff. If I am going to buy, I want to touch. People are tactile creatures, they want to touch and feel. I don't fault people for it. Bring lots of business cards. People like business cards. I go through on average 150 per weekend. If nthing else it gets your name out. Be sure to let them know you stand behind your products and will help them should a problem arise. Of course if your are a compitnet business man you already know these things. Many of the vedos I have come across seem bitter for some reason. Some are bitter and racist. Those kind are not hard to find. I have found many that are decent folk that want to sell their stuff. Some new and some old to the shows. Last show I sat behind a nice guy that was happy to pull out a gun blue book if someone contested a price. Some venders are down right indignant. A friend wanted to unload a nearly new 870. I mean nearly new because it had only 250 rounds through it and the finish was flawless, and one of the usual Bob and Rocco vedors was a total tool to us/him when my friend asked if he wanted to purchase his shotgun. Told him they are a dime a dozen and he would olny give him $100 for it. It's assholes like that guy that ruin it for many. Not everyone is stupid. A modicom of respect would be nice once in a while. So yes I know what people are talking about, but int he same token just because asomeone has a product at a gun show does not automatically mean that you should be able to buy it for less than it's actual worth or value. I get the impression that many think that guns at a show are purchased for pennies on the dollar and then sold for 40% more than their actual value. I think in the rare case this might be true, but I think it is rare. I think many of the vendors tend to get bitter from being low balled all the time. At the end of the day/show the dealers talk to eachother and ask the inevitable. How did you do? Most times I hear "crappy". Of course I don't want to say "perhaps you should lower some of your inflated prices", so I am polite and say something like well maybe it will be better tomorrow. MY answer is usually Great!", I often sell out, by Saturday and have nothing to bring for Sunday. For a while it was a really chaotic. I had 4 guys helping me sell and my tables were surrounded most of the show. I really enjoyed those times. But I digress. I know vendors tend to hawk out all the guns as they come in the door, but if the guy selling the gun is happy to accept the agreed upon price, then who is losing out? Perhaps he could spend more hours walking around trying to sell the gun to a "regular Joe" but why if you have someone willing to pay a price you agree on? It sucks that regular guys sometimes don't get the oppotunity to buy them, but that is how it works out sometimes. You could sit at the door all show long and look for the deals, right? But most don't. Well now that I have rambled incohearently I will say this. Go to the show. As elluded to previously be the new good vendor that these shows so desperately need. Out with the old and in with the new. It's time to take over. Like a gun show revolution. Most importantly be polite and fair to your customers and you will do fine. It helps to have a bunch of really cool fun guys to help you out when you are there, like I did. Talk to people enjoy the time there. Be the loud table at the show, like we were. lol I thought were were going to be kicked out. It was a great time had by all. Energy draws people. |
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I had 4 guys helping me sell and my tables were surrounded most of the show. I really enjoyed those times. I had a freaking blast at your tables, man. Most fun we've had at a gun show in a long time. It was a carnival of asshatery, but the tables were packed with all of our interesting shit and your ammo was going like hotcakes. It was the best stand in the show. People wanted to be around just because the group was having such a good time clowning around. |
| I always low ball for the hell of it. Usually the only times i do that is when dealers put MSRP tags on guns that you still have to legally buy not through private sale. Thats just me, but things i know are already a deal, ill ask for maybe a buck or two off to make myself feel like i won. Last gun show guy had 6 Stainless cmc 8rd mags for 28 a piece. thats already an awesome price seeing how thats what you can get them for on the net minus shipping, i offered 140 for all he said no so i asked what bout 150 for all and got them for 3 bucks off what was already a nice price. I ask because well, it doesn't hurt to try. |
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Thanks for the pep talk!! One of my favorite sayings is "You reap what you sow" It's so important to me I've based my company on it. I try to treat every person with respect. I price my stock at what i think is fair and reasonable. Basically a little more or less than it would cost to buy online, pay shipping, then find a dealer to transfer it for less than $75. I think my prices are fair so i plan on doing very little or no haggling. Is that going to make me a bad guy!?!? I hope not, especially when my intention is to list fair prices, not 50% gun show markups. I'll be at Players Choice Sat and Sun, we'll see how it goes!!
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf When I sell a gun to a customer I expect to be able to give them an unmolested, as new as possible, in the box weapon. Can I really do that if every Joe Blow and his uncle comes and finger f$%^s every item I have in stock?? I am doing my first gun show this weekend, this thread is making me reconsider... I would go, if for nothing else than the experience. I see a lot of what people are talking about first hand. Yes there are many vendors out there that seem to be total jags to the peole that are suppose to be their customers. I don't condone the way they act, but I do understand how they got that way. What you have to do is just be polite and friendly and view every customer as a potential sale. Treat them like you would like to be treated. It's really not all that hard. It is helpful to have someone sell with you. If for no other reason to have them there so you can go to the bathroom. They have to respect your business or they won't work out. Personally I think you need to let people be able to handle your wares. I am not of the belief that raking the slide and dry firing a gun makes it used. ALL guns are fired from the factory and some more than others. So with that logic all guns are used. I have never had any issues with people handling my product. In some cases it's funny to watch people, because some will take great care to either not tuch it with bare fingers ( I guess to keep their prints off it) or they wipe it down after for the same reason. I personally cannot stand the people that won't let you touch thier stuff. If I am going to buy, I want to touch. People are tactile creatures, they want to touch and feel. I don't fault people for it. Bring lots of business cards. People like business cards. I go through on average 150 per weekend. If nthing else it gets your name out. Be sure to let them know you stand behind your products and will help them should a problem arise. Of course if your are a compitnet business man you already know these things. Many of the vedos I have come across seem bitter for some reason. Some are bitter and racist. Those kind are not hard to find. I have found many that are decent folk that want to sell their stuff. Some new and some old to the shows. Last show I sat behind a nice guy that was happy to pull out a gun blue book if someone contested a price. Some venders are down right indignant. A friend wanted to unload a nearly new 870. I mean nearly new because it had only 250 rounds through it and the finish was flawless, and one of the usual Bob and Rocco vedors was a total tool to us/him when my friend asked if he wanted to purchase his shotgun. Told him they are a dime a dozen and he would olny give him $100 for it. It's assholes like that guy that ruin it for many. Not everyone is stupid. A modicom of respect would be nice once in a while. So yes I know what people are talking about, but int he same token just because asomeone has a product at a gun show does not automatically mean that you should be able to buy it for less than it's actual worth or value. I get the impression that many think that guns at a show are purchased for pennies on the dollar and then sold for 40% more than their actual value. I think in the rare case this might be true, but I think it is rare. I think many of the vendors tend to get bitter from being low balled all the time. At the end of the day/show the dealers talk to eachother and ask the inevitable. How did you do? Most times I hear "crappy". Of course I don't want to say "perhaps you should lower some of your inflated prices", so I am polite and say something like well maybe it will be better tomorrow. MY answer is usually Great!", I often sell out, by Saturday and have nothing to bring for Sunday. For a while it was a really chaotic. I had 4 guys helping me sell and my tables were surrounded most of the show. I really enjoyed those times. But I digress. I know vendors tend to hawk out all the guns as they come in the door, but if the guy selling the gun is happy to accept the agreed upon price, then who is losing out? Perhaps he could spend more hours walking around trying to sell the gun to a "regular Joe" but why if you have someone willing to pay a price you agree on? It sucks that regular guys sometimes don't get the oppotunity to buy them, but that is how it works out sometimes. You could sit at the door all show long and look for the deals, right? But most don't. Well now that I have rambled incohearently I will say this. Go to the show. As elluded to previously be the new good vendor that these shows so desperately need. Out with the old and in with the new. It's time to take over. Like a gun show revolution. Most importantly be polite and fair to your customers and you will do fine. It helps to have a bunch of really cool fun guys to help you out when you are there, like I did. Talk to people enjoy the time there. Be the loud table at the show, like we were. lol I thought were were going to be kicked out. It was a great time had by all. Energy draws people. |
| I go to the shows for ammo cans, some ammo from Todd, and see if anyone is walking around with something used for sale at a good price. When looking at vendor guns, its typically for used or harder to find. If it's new and priced at or over MSRP(like gander mtn/cabelas) I won't even stop walking. I'm not expecting internet price+shipping, but somewhere in between that and MSRP is not unreasonable. If I wanted to pay full retail store prices, I'd go there instead of a show. |
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I agree i buy all of my guns and accessories off the internet including ammo never hear we don't have it browse somewhere else returns are not a problem cost is cheeper no tax shipping is cheap or free depending on what and the season. only downfall you have to wait for your purchase. tip go to the store pick up play with the item you want to see if you like then surf When I sell a gun to a customer I expect to be able to give them an unmolested, as new as possible, in the box weapon. Can I really do that if every Joe Blow and his uncle comes and finger f$%^s every item I have in stock?? I am doing my first gun show this weekend, this thread is making me reconsider... I would go, if for nothing else than the experience. I see a lot of what people are talking about first hand. Yes there are many vendors out there that seem to be total jags to the peole that are suppose to be their customers. I don't condone the way they act, but I do understand how they got that way. What you have to do is just be polite and friendly and view every customer as a potential sale. Treat them like you would like to be treated. It's really not all that hard. It is helpful to have someone sell with you. If for no other reason to have them there so you can go to the bathroom. They have to respect your business or they won't work out. Personally I think you need to let people be able to handle your wares. I am not of the belief that raking the slide and dry firing a gun makes it used. ALL guns are fired from the factory and some more than others. So with that logic all guns are used. I have never had any issues with people handling my product. In some cases it's funny to watch people, because some will take great care to either not tuch it with bare fingers ( I guess to keep their prints off it) or they wipe it down after for the same reason. I personally cannot stand the people that won't let you touch thier stuff. If I am going to buy, I want to touch. People are tactile creatures, they want to touch and feel. I don't fault people for it. Bring lots of business cards. People like business cards. I go through on average 150 per weekend. If nthing else it gets your name out. Be sure to let them know you stand behind your products and will help them should a problem arise. Of course if your are a compitnet business man you already know these things. Many of the vedos I have come across seem bitter for some reason. Some are bitter and racist. Those kind are not hard to find. I have found many that are decent folk that want to sell their stuff. Some new and some old to the shows. Last show I sat behind a nice guy that was happy to pull out a gun blue book if someone contested a price. Some venders are down right indignant. A friend wanted to unload a nearly new 870. I mean nearly new because it had only 250 rounds through it and the finish was flawless, and one of the usual Bob and Rocco vedors was a total tool to us/him when my friend asked if he wanted to purchase his shotgun. Told him they are a dime a dozen and he would olny give him $100 for it. It's assholes like that guy that ruin it for many. Not everyone is stupid. A modicom of respect would be nice once in a while. So yes I know what people are talking about, but int he same token just because asomeone has a product at a gun show does not automatically mean that you should be able to buy it for less than it's actual worth or value. I get the impression that many think that guns at a show are purchased for pennies on the dollar and then sold for 40% more than their actual value. I think in the rare case this might be true, but I think it is rare. I think many of the vendors tend to get bitter from being low balled all the time. At the end of the day/show the dealers talk to eachother and ask the inevitable. How did you do? Most times I hear "crappy". Of course I don't want to say "perhaps you should lower some of your inflated prices", so I am polite and say something like well maybe it will be better tomorrow. MY answer is usually Great!", I often sell out, by Saturday and have nothing to bring for Sunday. For a while it was a really chaotic. I had 4 guys helping me sell and my tables were surrounded most of the show. I really enjoyed those times. But I digress. I know vendors tend to hawk out all the guns as they come in the door, but if the guy selling the gun is happy to accept the agreed upon price, then who is losing out? Perhaps he could spend more hours walking around trying to sell the gun to a "regular Joe" but why if you have someone willing to pay a price you agree on? It sucks that regular guys sometimes don't get the oppotunity to buy them, but that is how it works out sometimes. You could sit at the door all show long and look for the deals, right? But most don't. Well now that I have rambled incohearently I will say this. Go to the show. As elluded to previously be the new good vendor that these shows so desperately need. Out with the old and in with the new. It's time to take over. Like a gun show revolution. Most importantly be polite and fair to your customers and you will do fine. It helps to have a bunch of really cool fun guys to help you out when you are there, like I did. Talk to people enjoy the time there. Be the loud table at the show, like we were. lol I thought were were going to be kicked out. It was a great time had by all. Energy draws people. I think that part of the problem is that a lot of these sellers are at the show for the "social" experence and not to run a business. Since they aren't running a business (or need it to really make money), you don't get service like you would from a good business. Get bitter. Don't understand that if you buy high, sometimes you get stuck selling for a loss. And, if a customer sees a super high price, maybe they think the seller increased the price to make up for haggling, which leads to a lower lowball with a guy who was bitter already and then that buyer haggles with everyone. Like others have said, the more professional dealers always have stuff moving and good prices. The sooner you unload the over priced stuff no one wants, the sooner you can stock inventory people do want. In th end, this is a "hobby" to some and not a business, so it doesn't get run like one. In the end, we are a country where we tip for food service and we haggle at gun shows. Why? No one knows, but we do. Like it or not. |