gun shows
Is there a web site that shows all the gun shows across the country.
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Who generally has the best deal at the gun shows:
1. Dealer w/table
2. Non dealer w/table
3. Guy w/bag or gun slung over his shoulder walking around the show
Any experience members have any tips on getting a good deal.....0 -
I try to corner the guys with the bags who are strolling around the show and find out what they might have for sale...sometimes you can score! After that I'll look over the non dealers with tables and see what they have sitting around. I am a dealer myself and I can say honestly that I seldom make purchases from other dealers at these shows unless it is a very rare or hard to find item that I simply must have.
"Nothing can ever be made 'idiot proof' because idiots are simply too clever"!
Mark T. Christian0 -
in this order.........2, 3, and 1. 0 -
Hi vroyce,
In my opinion, the guy with a gun walking around because you have the best chance to secure a bargin and since it is a person-to-person sale, no paperwork.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
I agree with Mark....3-2-1.
The gene pool needs chlorine.0 -
odds are, if a guy has a table, it aint stolen. the guy walking around guy...you take your chances. i stick to 2,3,1. 0 -
Call me a party pooper if you must. I do not like the idea of "unknown", uncredentialed people walking around peddling their goods on someone elses turf. You have bonafide people, who pay good money to display their merchandise, usually after being screened by the show promoters. This makes me feel better as a customer/visitor at the show. I do believe in private sales, and do not wish to eliminate or discourage them, but I believe we should police ourselves before it is forced on us. I feel this guys walking around (with the bags or guns slung over their shoulders)show disrespect and disdain for the "fee paying exhibitors" at the show and dilute their income potential for which they are paying for. Try going into your local gunshop and attempt to sell your private guns inside their premises. Feels the same to me. It should be simple enough for the show promoters to require these "alley walkers" to register with them, even if no fee is charged to them, to allow them to display their wares for sale. It used to be that the reason you brought in personal guns for sale implied you intended to sell or trade them to an "exhibitor" in the show, not directly to another customer. I am sick and tired of hearing in the "media" as to how easy is to go into a gun show, even if you are a convicted murderer or terrorist and buy a gun from one of these "no paperwork" peddlers, or even a stolen gun. The writing is in the wall. We have a good thing going with the Gun Shows, and I for one do not want to lose them because of the greed of a few disrespectfull people. Does this answer your question? 0 -
Personally I can't tell the difference. I buy 4 to 1 from dealers. I just don't see all that many firearms that I like being carried in. I seem to have the best luck at auctions. I know most of the auctioneers in the area and I am on their mailing lists Usually I have a week or more to decide on what I am willing to pay for the items being offered. I even set a limit on the ones that I'm not really interested in, just in case it goes way too cheap.
tobefree
My wife said,"Either the guns or me." I sure do miss that woman!0 -
Hands down #3.
Rad...If it were your way many people including myself would no longer attend the gunshows.
Not only do i not consider it disrespectful or showing disdain to the fee paying table dwellers because it is a public gunshow.
Frankly it does not surprise me that you as a dealer feel this way.
Especially considering everything i have walked in with the dealers offer a pittance of what it's worth only to turn around if they can buy it for such a low ball price and put what they bought from you at much much higher.
By the way i paid fee of $6.00 yesterday to walk inside a gunshow.
Most dealers prices are so high that it is a welcome sight to see some guy trying to sell his hunting piece for a lot less than the table fare is pricing the same rifle/shotgun.
I have made some very good deals like this.
Yesterday was one of those days.
I would have no problem registering with the show promotor if i wanted to sell something as a walk in.
But remember if you make these gunshows a one way street they will die.
And deservedly so.
That's my two cents on this.
mike0 -
Welcome to the forum vroyce! Good question! I have to agree with most, 3,2,1 when dealing.
I usually take one of my Winchesters along with me with me for dealing. I'm always looking to up-grade my collection. What I run into are quite a few condiscending dealers. Most of them have the attitude that know one could possibly know more than them, about a particular gun. When I pull out my choke guage to measure, (especially on full choke guns since steel shot came out) some have been offended! When I ask if it's ok to remove the barrel assy. to check the adjusting sleeve on a Md 12 or Md 97, they usually say "Oh it locks up tight", which is just like adjusting the brakes on a used car before selling it and saying the brakes are good! If they wont let me look, I wont buy.
As far as the prices go, I feel that a lot of people have forgotten about the art of haggeling. I see dealers trying to sell a gun that may be rare in their shop, but not rare since the internet! I see that here at GB too, when they list a gun for auction. So many never bother to do a little research to see what the gun should sell for. In the last 5 years I bet close to 95% of the Winchesters I've bought are from GB or one of the other auction or listing sites. I always ask questions, if I don't get answers I don't buy or bid.
The best advice I can give you, is do your homework! Learn everything you can about the guns that interest you. Look on the net and see what they are selling for. Remember asking price and selling price are two different things. Finally, CASH always talks the loudest! Good Luck! Regards Dave0 -
The "beauty" of the gun show venue is the mix of people.
You have:
1.) The "licensed dealers", some better than others.
2.) You have the "unlicensed collectors or casual sellers", again some better than others.
3.) You have the "aisle rats" tyring to snag bargains at the entrance and then flip 'em for a quick profit by scurring up and down the aisles. They too pay the entrance fee.
4.) You have the "combos" in which there are 3 or more people, they take a table and while one minds the table the others are covering the entrances for bargains that can be brought back to the table. There are "combos" that have a licensed dealer involved, but more often than not none of them are licensed.
5.) You have the "casual buyer/seller" that pay their money at the door and take in the show.
6.) You have your basic "scuz bucket crooks" looking to buy or sell. And they too pay to get in.
As for who do you do business with????
1 and 2 in either order is your safest bet, however w/ a licensed dealer you have some BATFE leverage, but it isn't as much as most people think. However, there are some licensed dealers that have questionable practices. Look at what they are selling and the amount of what they have for sale ... if it is basically low end stuff, priced to move ... then ask yourself if you really want to go there. If it is a non-dealer ... again look at what they have. Is there a common thread to what is offered or is it a jumble. Does the seller have a plausible rationle for the pieces that are obviously outside of their stated interest. If all you looking at is a mish mash of pieces and lame answers to your questions ... walk away!
3 and 4 are close cousins ... if you go to shows on a regular basis you get to know the faces and perching places ... unless you like risk taking, avoid these folks. They bought the gun for cheap, know nothing of it's condition (or legality) and are only looking for a quick turnover. Their strength is basically the "private sale" concept and the "one-off" sale. At the shows the table holders know the "aisle rats" and "combos" very well and most will not deal with them.
5 is the reason gun shows exist. They are not going to be folks that are loaded down like a pack animal with guns, nor will you find them hanging around the entrances trying to chat up anyone carrying a gun. They are also the folks stopping at tables and actually looking, not repeatedly cruising the aisles like cash starved wolves. If you see something you like talk to them ... do they know anything about the piece they are carrying, are their responses credible?
The 6th group, unfortunatly, are a by-product. If they look like they don't fit what they are trying to sell. Such as a city style kid trying to sell a hunting gun, or a collectors piece at unrealistic prices. Or if they seem nervous/edgy. Or just plain anxious to buy your gun and take off ... reconsider your decision to do business. If they are reluctant to show ID or give some lame story about forgetting it or whatever ... don't do business with them. Leave them to the "aisle rats" and "combos" as they are preferred food for these types and the 2 groups have much in common. You can bet that at any show there is a BATFE presence and they are looking for blatent 3rd and 4th category folks as well as good old type 6 so the more we let them mix together the easier they are to spot.
Lastly, there are the remarks about selling prices. People going to gun shows need to realize that there are clearly 2 price levels and that those levels correspond to what side of the table each party stands on. Your average table holder (dealer or non) does not know how long a given gun may be in their possession so their buying prices or trading allowances are generally lower. Hey! It's just like buying and selling cars/trucks ... you have the trade in price and the private sale price ... it's in the blue books and I wish the books for firearms were more like that, but they aren't.
If a table holder in non-licensed and has what appears to be higher than average prices on their pieces you can bet that they are looking to leverage their unlicensed status and that odds are better than even that they will not be to selective in who they sell to. In a situation like this where there is a piece that you've been wanting for a long time ... stand back a bit and watch how they operate. If they make a sale do they check ID's .... actually your better off no doing business with them if for no other reason than the pricing is out of line, but, if your in the "have to have it" mode recognize that your paying a premium and assuming a certain amount of additional risk.
And to those that can find any gun in a gun shop that is cheaper than what they can find one at a gun show ... heck, your momma didn't raise a dummy did she? Buy it from the shop. Lord knows the small shop owners need all the business they can get ... and you might be suprised as to how many of them take tables at gun shows to reach a larger market ... Or go the the "big box" stores and get your gun there ... it will more than likely be the lowest price. Just hope there isn't a problem w/ it because the "ABCXYZ-Marts" of this world will Generally just tell you to contact the mfg.
There now I feel better for having gotten that out of my system, at least for a little while.[;)]
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0
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