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Yeah, it was nice to get a chance to meet Rfb, and bullshit for a while. We'll definitely have to get to those Old Fashioned's sometime, haha!
It's been a damn slow show, and the only thing I've managed to find was a pair of Zipperback P228 mags, for $25/ea.
The crowd actually "feels" different. There's not as much banter, questions, and examining guns. Rothschild and Merrill were far better. My stuff's always priced with wiggle-room, as some guys like to dicker, but this was different. People just weren't as engaged or happy as they usually are.
The next one we're at isn't until July 31st, in Manitowish Waters. Last year that one was pretty decent, so I'm hopeful.
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It was nice to meet another arfcommer in person.
I was suprised at the small size of the crowd for a rainy saturday, on a 3 day holiday weekend. But OTOH, I wasn't. As the overall crowds and traffic up here are down this year. My wife grocery shops every saturday, and she dreads the holiday weekends, because aisles are jammed and shelves get emptied out. But she said the store was empty yesterday. Almost like a normal weekend, not a holiday one. Why is the traffic in the stores, and at the gun show, slow? *$4.50* per gallon of gas is why. I only had to drive 2 miles to get there. If it was 25 miles away, in Rhinelander or Minocqua, I wouldn't go due to the high cost of gas. My grandson-in-law didn't come yesterday because he lives in Arbor Vitae and drives a K2500 Chevy truck. He wasn't going to use his gas, he needs it to get to work next week. I haven't gone to an Antigo show for a few years, and that's partially why... ESPECIALLY this year! I used to go to both of those yearly shows. And people don't like paying a 300% increase on stuff like primers. Sheesh... $12-15 per hundred? 2 years ago it was $4. Supply & demand...I get it. But that price kills
my "demand". If I did drive 200-300 miles to get up north for the weekend, I wouldn't be spending any money at gun shows, craft fairs, souvineer shops, etc. IOW, I wouldn't "shop" at all. Discretionary funds now all go into the gas tank and for food. I usually go to the Manitowish Waters show in July too...not this year. I need to save my gas to go to work.
FJB.
The crowd feeling different is likely due to current events, and the overall condition this country is in. It's not good, and it's starting to show in attitudes. People are mad, people are scared. I fully expected a bunch of sign waving liberal assholes to be there. Glad there wasn't. I even told my wife before I left "there's bail money in my safe".
*$4.50 per gallon of gas was
yesterday's price. Today, sunday 5/29, it's $4.70.